Sweden’s parliament has backed the move to terminate land-based casino gaming in the country.
The majority in the Riksdag carried the vote through, which means the days of Sweden’s last state-owned casino in Stockholm are numbered. The parliament vote confirmed the law will take effect from January 1, 2026.
The Riksdag stated retail casinos in Sweden “no longer serve their purpose,” citing profitability issues and dwindling visitors to Casino Cosmopol.
State-owned Svenska Spel Sport & Casino holds the monopoly for Sweden’s retail casinos and operates Casino Cosmopol under state mandate.
emotionally tough because it means that an era will end”
Svenska Spel Casino Cosmopol CEO Ola Enquist said the state’s retail arm agreed with the government’s reasons for the directive, but stated: “….it is of course emotionally tough because it means that an era will end when the casino in Stockholm eventually closes.”
“Our focus right now is to support our employees and at the same time stay open and continue to take care of our guests.”
Opposition to the shuttering of the vertical came from market regulator Spelinspektionen, which has claimed before that the move could prompt a rise in illegal gambling.
While Spelinspektionen has yet to respond to the Riksdag’s announcement, it added it would need additional funding to brace for the expected rise in unregulated brick-and-mortar gambling.
