Sweden has opened an inquiry into gambling among children and young adults. The review may lead to tighter marketing rules, mandatory session limits and stricter affordability checks for younger players.
The government cited a sharp rise in risky behaviour among young men. Health minister Elisabet Lann said the share of problem gamblers in that group has doubled in recent years and now stands at one in five. The inquiry will be led by Zandra Milton, chief legal counsel at Karolinska Institutet, with a report due in February 2028.
The review will cover player behaviour on licensed and unlicensed sites, as well as exposure to gambling advertising. Authorities will examine marketing by both regulated and offshore operators. Possible measures include mandatory time limits on play and stricter affordability assessment for young users. The self-exclusion register Spelpaus will also be reviewed to determine whether those who block themselves receive adequate support.
Any new restrictions will need to account for Sweden's channelisation rate, which fell to 84% in 2025. The government stated explicitly that it must assess whether strict measures push players into the grey market. The precedent is the Netherlands, where consistent enforcement by regulator KSA led the unlicensed market to overtake the licensed one for the first time. Channelisation there reached just 49% in 2025.
Financial markets minister Niklas Wykman said both government and industry must take responsibility for protecting vulnerable groups. Gender equality minister Nina Larsson called the situation a serious problem, noting that boys and young men make up a disproportionate share of dependent players. The inquiry will also examine children's access to loot boxes and casino mechanics in video games.
