Casinon utanför Sverige - så fungerar de

Today we present a guest post

There are currently three land-based casinos in Sweden - in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. In addition to these, there is an almost infinite range of online casinos to play at, both Swedish operators and those based abroad. The internet has significantly changed our entertainment habits.

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The web has become our entertainment

Only about 20 years ago you had to travel to a big city to play at a casino. Since the internet entered households and smartphones were in the pockets of the majority of adults in Sweden, this has changed. What used to require us to visit a physical location is now just a click away for most people.

Instead of going to the cinema and buying tickets, we can stream a film directly to the TV and pay online. Feel like shopping? Well, just go to Google, search for what you want and order a package. Digitalisation has made it convenient for us - which brings both advantages and disadvantages.

Upwards for video calls and online casino

The disadvantages of digitalisation are the isolation of people who do not have access to technology or the internet. Another question many people ask is whether connecting with others online, for example through a chat, can replace face-to-face meetings. As with other aspects of life, the balance is important.

Used in the right way, the internet becomes a source of both social activity and entertainment. Video calls with friends and family over Facebook or Skype are increasingly widespread, as are games at Swedish online casinos and casinos outside Sweden.

Internet more rule than exception

Already 10 years ago, 42 per cent of Swedes stated that they would not be able to live a normal life. without internet. This figure is likely to be much higher today, as digitalisation has progressed even further.

Many people can't imagine life without their mobile phone or laptop close at hand. Mobile phone subscriptions with unlimited surfing are often standard nowadays. It also goes without saying that Wi-Fi should be available both at home and in the workplace. Many restaurant chains, cafés and other venues now offer free Wi-Fi to their guests.

How Swedish casinos work

Gambling operators registered in Sweden must hold a Swedish gambling licence. They need to comply with the laws that exist in Sweden regarding gambling. For example, in terms of being able to withdraw from gambling, a maximum deposit limit, limited bonuses and payment of 18 per cent tax on winnings. These restrictions from the Swedish Gambling Authority aim to counteract gambling addiction and abuse among the population. Some examples of rules that are unique to Sweden are:

You cannot deposit more than €5,000 per week into your account.
The bonus is limited to only one time per player. Right now, the bonus is a maximum of 100 SEK, which is low compared to what several foreign casinos offer.
Another security aspect that falls under Swedish gambling law is the "spelpaus" service. Casinos in Sweden must have it on their site. It allows players to block themselves from all gambling sites for a certain period of time if they feel they are engaging in unhealthy gambling behaviour.

Casinos outside Sweden

A casino without a Swedish licence may still accept Swedish players. However, it is forbidden for these casinos to target Swedes directly - there may not be SEK as a currency and Swedish as a language choice may not be available. Despite this, Swedes are allowed to play at casinos that do not have a licence here.

The reason why many people choose to play on casinos outside Sweden is mainly to get around the restrictions that exist in the country, which are relatively harsh compared to other countries. Casinos outside Sweden do not have to follow Swedish gambling laws. This usually means that users can take advantage of more and bigger bonuses and deposit more money.

The person who switched off via game break and regret can play on foreign sites as these are not part of the gambling suspension system. These freedoms bring not only benefits to players, but also greater risks.

What are the risks?

There are plenty of legitimate operators with licences abroad, but there are also some rogue gambling sites. Security can be very different depending on the site. The risk of getting into trouble is low as long as you choose a well-established casino with many users and secure payment methods.

For those who have had problems with gambling abuse and addiction, or suspect that they are at risk, unlicensed casinos can pose a greater risk to health and finances than their Swedish counterparts. There are two reasons for this: the game pause service where the player can switch off, and the deposit limit of SEK 5,000 per week. These two concepts are not a legal requirement for sites abroad.

Different yet similar

To summarise, casinos in Sweden and reputable casinos abroad have a lot in common in terms of the range of games they offer, the way they play, security and payment methods. However, the main differences in terms of bonuses, maximum deposits and game breaks, as well as language and currency, mean that they are also different in several ways.