In 2019, the Swedish Gambling Authority introduced the groundbreaking Spelpuas program. The self-exclusion program prompted several online gamblers to take a break from casino gaming. However, there has been a rise in players at casinos without a Swedish game break in recent years. Foreign casino sites are attracting players from Sweden with appealing bonuses, games, and more.
Let’s take a closer look.
The introduction of Spelpaus in Sweden
The gambling authorities of Sweden have always placed strict restrictions on online casino gaming activities in the country. They have introduced several schemes and bills to regulate the activities in the past few years. One such program is Spelpaus, which encourages residents to exclude themselves from online gambling voluntarily. As such a situation persists, only foreign casinos can be considered as casino utan Spelpaus, since they are outside the legal boundaries of the Swedish Gambling Authority.
The program has attracted over 80,000 Swedish residents to participate. All the casinos with a Swedish license were required to submit their payer databases to the authorities. It helped them keep a check on those who signed up for the program. Moreover, it ensured that they were blocked from online gambling and were not coerced by promotional offers afterward.
The aim of the Spelpaus scheme is to protect Swedes from gambling addiction issues. Though many have chosen to sign up for the program, it has also paved the way for foreign casino sites to flourish.
The advent of foreign businesses into the Swedish online casino space
Legally, casinos without a Swedish license cannot promote themselves to people in the country. Access to many of these platforms has been blocked. Yet, players from Sweden are using VPN services to sign up and play games on foreign casino sites. Despite the heavy regulations, it has contributed to the rise of foreign casino businesses in the country.
Safety measures taken by foreign casinos
The main reason why the Swedish Gambling Authority has banned foreign casinos is to curb gambling addiction issues and protect players’ health. However, foreign casinos are doing the same in their own way, mainly by promoting responsible gambling. The following are some of the notable actions taken by top unlicensed casinos to protect player safety.
- Self-exclusion is promoted on foreign signs similar to Spelpaus. Players are advised to keep struct budgets, time limits and more to ensure their own safety.
- There is 24/7 customer support available on top platforms. Players can contact the team in case they are concerned about their gambling activities. The team will suspend the player’s account if necessary.
- It is strictly not allowed for minors to participate in online gambling. An ID proof might be requested to verify the player’s age.
- Casino operators strongly advise against using winnings from online gaming as a substitute for a stable salary or income. It is not meant to be a full-time occupation.
Key advantages of choosing a casino without a game break in Sweden
While the growth of foreign casinos in Sweden continues to be illegal, players still choose them for their gambling needs. It might seem strange why people are ready to take extra effort to access foreign sites despite the legal issues. There are several reasons why such a trend is happening; it is mainly because of the following benefits that foreign online casinos offer.
- Secure and reliable
- Fast and easy payments
- Attractive promotions
- Premium game collections
- No heavy restrictions
Secure and reliable
As ironic as it might sound, reputed foreign casinos prioritize player safety and fair play. It is guaranteed since various EU licensing authorities closely regulate their activities. It includes well-established authorities like Malta e-Gaming, Curacao gambling license, United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Estonian gaming license, and more. They prevent fraudulent activities and foul play and protect players from gambling addiction issues.
Fast and easy payments
A downside of Swedish licensed casino sites is that the deposits and withdrawals usually take a lot of time to process. The country’s gambling authorities are adamant about strictly preventing scams and regulating casino payments.
Such issues are rectified on foreign casino sites. Several safe payment options are available, including the Sweden-born Trustly and Zimpler options. Plus, players can choose to pay through cryptocurrency. These are quick and convenient options, and players can focus on winning games instead of worrying about payouts.
Attractive promotions
The most appealing aspect of foreign casinos is their wide availability of promotional offers. It is something that Swedish casino sites lack due to severe restrictions. Players love claiming new offers which improve their winning odds. Some foreign sites even offer over a dozen offers at the same time. The following are some of the best bonus types that players like to use.
- Welcome bonus- It is given out along with the first few deposits on a casino site, and is a fixed percentage of the total deposit amount.
- Cashback- Losses are part of online gambling, and some casinos help players deal with them through daily or weekly cashback.
- Free spins- They enable players to try their luck on various slot games without placing real money bets.
- Free bets- These are given out to sports bettors who want to place bets without risking their money.
Premium game collections
Top foreign online casinos provide games from top software developers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt and Evolution. The games are, therefore, of high quality and a lot of fun to play. Plus, unlike Swedish casino sites, these platforms offer thousands of game options to try out.
No heavy restrictions
There are no severe restrictions placed on deposits or withdrawals by foreign casinos. It enables players to play with big stakes as per their preferences. While the restrictions are low, no compromises are made on player safety. The customer support team is available around the clock in case of any issues.
In conclusion, foreign casino businesses are expanding in Sweden, especially thanks to their lack of game break requirements. The space is evolving, and the Swedish Gambling Authority is expected to make reforms to the Spelpaus program soon
Interesting Related Article: “What is Responsible Gambling?“