Erik Eldhagen appointed to oversee gambling regulation in Sweden

• Erik Eldhagen assumes the role of state secretary to oversee gambling regulation from December 1, 2025.
• Eldhagen supports Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman and manages broader financial oversight, including state properties.
• The appointment comes during reforms in Sweden’s gambling sector, including new restrictions on credit gambling and the closure of land-based casinos.

Erik Eldhagen has been officially appointed by the Swedish government as state secretary to the Ministry of Finance, tasked with overseeing gambling regulation and other key financial areas. His appointment takes effect on December 1, 2025, and he will support Niklas Wykman, the Minister for Financial Markets.

Alongside gambling regulation, Eldhagen’s portfolio includes responsibility for the financial markets and state properties, signalling a strategic integration of monetary and regulatory oversight within the ministry.

Eldhagen brings extensive experience from previous roles within the Ministry of Finance, including senior managerial posts and advisory work at the World Bank. His financial expertise is expected to contribute to tackling the regulatory challenges facing Sweden’s gambling sector.

The gambling sector has been under close government scrutiny and generated €638 million in revenue in Q2 2025, but is undergoing significant changes driven by tighter legislation.

Fighting illegal gambling

In recent months, Sweden has moved to address gaps exploited by illegal gambling operators, extending prohibitions to payment processors and financial service providers involved inadvertently with unlicensed operators.

From April 2026, gambling on credit will be banned under new laws to curb financial risks to consumers.

Additionally, state-run Svenska Spel is exiting the land-based casino market following a parliamentary decision to discontinue land-based gambling licences from January 2026.

These reforms mark a transition towards reinforced consumer protections and stricter control of the gambling market.

Spelinspektionen leadership changes

The timing of Eldhagen’s appointment coincides with key leadership changes at the Swedish Gambling Authority.

Spelinspektionen is currently led by acting director general Johan Röhr, following the departure of Camilla Rosenberg, who has headed the regulator since 2017. Rosenberg steered the authority through a complex transition to a licensed online gambling legislation, which came into effect on 1 January 2019.

Eldhagen’s multi-faceted position places him at the centre of Sweden’s efforts to effectively regulate gambling, ensuring protection for consumers while balancing the economic interests of the industry.

Eldhagen’s stewardship is likely to influence policy and enforcement going forward, with implications for operators, investors, and regulators both within Sweden and internationally.