Erik Eldhagen has been appointed by the Swedish government to a newly created state secretary role responsible for gambling regulation, signaling a continued focus on strengthening oversight in the country’s gambling sector.
In short
- Erik Eldhagen appointed as Sweden’s new state secretary for gambling regulation, effective 1 December 2025.
- Eldhagen will report to minister Niklas Wykman and oversee financial markets, state properties, and nuclear financing.
- Johan Röhr becomes acting director general of Spelinspektionen following Camilla Rosenberg’s departure.
- Sweden introduces new rules targeting illegal gambling and bans credit-based play from 1 April 2026.
- Svenska Spel closes its final land-based casino, marking the end of Sweden’s physical casino market.
In his new position, Eldhagen will report to Niklas Wykman, Sweden’s minister for financial markets. His portfolio extends beyond gambling, encompassing the supervision of financial markets, state properties, and the financing of new nuclear power projects.
Eldhagen brings extensive experience to the role. He most recently led the international secretariat at Sveriges Riksbank and has held various management positions at the Ministry of Finance. He has also served as an advisor at the World Bank. The government confirmed that Eldhagen will assume the role effective 1 December 2025.
New Leadership at Spelinspektionen
Eldhagen’s appointment comes amid broader changes in Sweden’s gambling regulatory landscape. In September, the Swedish gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, announced a leadership change. Johan Röhr has been appointed acting director general following Camilla Rosenberg’s departure.
Röhr, who has served as chief legal officer since June 2008, took over the temporary position on 1 November. Rosenberg stepped down on 31 October after leading Spelinspektionen since 2017.
Ongoing Regulatory Reforms
The Swedish gambling market has also experienced significant legislative changes over the past year. In September, the Ministry of Finance published a report by Marcus Isgren recommending amendments aimed at closing loopholes exploited by illegal operators, including foreign sites accepting payments in euros.
Proposed changes would expand prohibitions on promoting unlicensed gambling, affecting not only advertising but also payment processors, financial services, and other entities facilitating illegal operations. The measures also include criminal provisions, making unlicensed gambling and its promotion punishable under Swedish law.
Additionally, in October, the government released legislation enforcing a blanket ban on the use of credit for gambling. This extends the existing Swedish Gambling Act, which already restricts credit-based gambling with licensed operators. The new rules are set to take effect on 1 April 2026.
End of Sweden’s Land-Based Casino Market
2025 also marked the closure of Sweden’s land-based casinos. Svenska Spel confirmed it would shutter its final casino in Stockholm, following the Swedish Parliament’s decision in April to end land-based casino operations nationwide.
These developments reflect a period of rapid transformation in Sweden’s gambling sector, emphasizing stronger regulatory oversight, tighter consumer protections, and a move toward a fully digital and licensed market.
