Sweden commissions study on children’s routes into gambling
Table of contents
- Sweden’s government has commissioned the National Board of Health and Welfare to investigate how minors access gambling-style products.
- The inquiry covers loot boxes, random chance mechanics, social casino games and esports betting.
- Findings are due by 31 March 2027 and will inform healthcare and social services professionals.
Sweden’s government has ordered a formal investigation into how children and young people encounter gambling mechanics, citing growing concern that digital products expose minors to betting-style features before they are legally permitted to gamble.
Scope of the investigation
The National Board of Health and Welfare has been asked to examine elements such as loot boxes, including “random chance mechanics,” social casino games and esports betting.
The findings are to be reported by no later than 31 March 2027 and will be used to inform professionals within social services and healthcare who work with children, young people and their guardians. The board must also consider groups that may be particularly vulnerable, such as young people with certain disabilities.
The investigation draws on mounting evidence from Sweden’s own regulatory data. A report published by Spelinspektionen on 29 January 2025 found that of those who purchased loot boxes before the age of 15, 87% displayed risky gambling behaviours as adults.
The same report found that the proportion of 14-year-old boys showing signs of risky gambling behaviours had nearly doubled, rising from 5% in 2021 to 9% in 2025. Online casinos were the most common form of gambling among minors, with many holding accounts on both licensed and unlicensed sites.
Government concern over digital exposure
Elisabet Lann, Sweden’s Minister for Health Care, noted that as a result of video games and other digital products, young people “may encounter gambling mechanics long before they are legally allowed to gamble.”
Niklas Wykman, Minister of Finance, said:
“We must have strong protections in the Swedish gambling market. Preventive measures that can stop young people from developing problematic gambling behaviours and falling into debt are key parts of the government’s work in this area.”
The concerns extend beyond video games. Young adults reported encountering gambling marketing on a daily basis across traditional media such as radio and television, as well as social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube.
The Spelinspektionen research also noted that gambling discussions and activities are common in schools, with students reporting placing bets during breaks, a pattern the regulator described as particularly problematic given its link to excessive gambling habits.
New Spelinspektionen leadership
The investigation comes as Spelinspektionen prepares for new leadership. Peter Knutsson, currently serving as Sweden’s Advertising Ombudsman and previously Head of Unit at the Ministry of Finance, has been appointed director general. He will assume the role on 17 August 2026 for a six-year term.
Outgoing acting director general Johan Röhr said:
“I welcome the government’s decision on a new director general for the Swedish Gambling Authority and will ensure that Peter Knutsson receives a good introduction in my handover as acting director general.”
The leadership transition coincides with a broader programme of regulatory reform. Sweden is reviewing the Gambling Act to tighten controls on unlicensed operators, and the inquiry into minors’ gambling pathways could inform further changes to product standards and advertising restrictions.
Sweden also introduced a credit gambling ban from 1 April 2026, prohibiting operators from processing payments funded through credit cards, loans or buy-now-pay-later services.
For operators and suppliers active in the Swedish market, the findings of the minors inquiry may have practical consequences, particularly for any products that incorporate loot box mechanics or social gaming features targeting younger audiences.
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