https://sccgmanagement.com/sccg-articles/2026/09/01/spelinspektionen-ends-aml-exemption-for-swedish-land-based-commercial-gaming/

Sweden’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has repealed the prior exemption for land-based commercial casino gaming from anti-money laundering rules. Effective September 1, operators must now meet the requirements under an amendment to the regulator’s regulations and general advice (SIFS 2019:2), according to Focus Gaming News.

The change follows an updated risk assessment in which Spelinspektionen determined that the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing in these operations is no longer low. Licensees have been advised to review their operations and implement necessary procedures. After the closure of the last state-controlled Casino Cosmopol venue in April 2025, Sweden has no traditional land-based casinos, but gaming halls and restaurants with gaming machines remain in operation.

Required Controls and Customer Due Diligence

Licensees must adopt a risk-based approach to identify, analyse and assess risks. This includes a general risk assessment, customer knowledge measures, customer risk assessments, procedures and guidelines, staff training, and routines for continual monitoring. Where risks are judged higher, more comprehensive measures are required.

The rules maintain an exemption from mandatory player registration under the Gambling Act. However, sufficient customer due diligence remains mandatory. “The fact that a licensee does not need to register its customers in accordance with the provisions of the Gambling Act therefore does not exclude that the licensee may need to register its customers in another way in order to meet the customer due diligence requirements of the Money Laundering Act,” Spelinspektionen said. One risk is that operators may under-estimate the customer knowledge needed absent formal registration.

Alignment with the Upcoming EU Framework

Spelinspektionen noted ongoing development of a new EU anti-money laundering framework. This includes the AMLR, which becomes directly applicable law in all member states on July 10 2027, coordinated by the new EU authority AMLA. It will be complemented by a new directive (Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive – AMLD6).

The regulator urged licensees to monitor these changes and use its published guidance. “It is important that licensees follow the development of the new regulations and stay updated on upcoming changes, as well as take advantage of the information published on the authority’s website, among other things,” Spelinspektionen said.