Sweden’s government has launched a formal investigation into gambling among children and young adults that could result in sweeping new regulations and enforcement measures.
The review was triggered by what officials describe as a sharp and alarming increase in risky gambling behaviour among young men across the country.
Minister for Health Elisabet Lann has been outspoken about the scale of the problem, warning that risky gambling rates among young men have doubled in recent years.
According to Lann, the issue now affects one in five young men, a figure she described as deeply concerning for Swedish society.
“Gambling problems are a serious and rapidly growing social problem, especially among young men, who are at risk of being very badly harmed,” Lann stated, adding that one in five are now affected.
To lead the investigation, General Counsel Zandra Milton has been appointed as special investigator, tasked with compiling knowledge and proposing protective measures.
Milton’s work will cover gambling behaviour across both licensed and unlicensed operators, while also examining young people’s exposure to gambling advertising from all sources.
The inquiry will explore whether mandatory time limits should be introduced and whether greater scrutiny of the financial health of younger consumers is warranted.
Sweden’s Spelpaus self-exclusion register will also come under review, with the government keen to assess what support is available to those who choose to exclude themselves from gambling.
Gender Equality Minister Nina Larsson has added her voice to the growing concern, focusing specifically on the pattern emerging among boys in Sweden.
“I am also concerned that the proportion of boys with risky gambling has doubled in recent years,” Larsson stated, calling it an important gender equality issue that must be reversed.
Larsson emphasised that preventing young boys from falling into problematic gambling habits represents a priority for the government’s broader equality agenda.
The inquiry has also been instructed to weigh any proposed restrictions against the risk of pushing consumers toward unlicensed offshore operators, where player protections are far weaker.
This concern is backed by recent data from Spelinspektionen, which recorded that the share of gambling within Sweden’s licensed system fell to 84% in 2025, down from 85% the prior year.
Policymakers are conscious that overly aggressive regulation could further erode channelisation rates, making it harder to keep players within the safer, regulated environment.
The investigation will also study gambling regulations in comparable countries to ensure that any new protections adopted in Sweden are both effective and proportionate.
