Sweden’s parliament, the Riksdag, has approved a decision to eliminate land-based casino gaming in the country, which will result in the closure of the last remaining state-operated Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm.
The Riksdag stated that land-based casinos in Sweden no longer fulfill their intended role, citing falling visitor numbers and declining profitability at Casino Cosmopol. Svenska Spel, which holds the exclusive rights to operate land-based casinos in the country under state direction, currently runs the Casino Cosmopol venues. With the new law, no other operators will be allowed to apply for a casino licence. The proposal to shut down Casino Cosmopol was initially introduced in May last year, and the Riksdag has now confirmed the amendment will take effect on 1 January 2026, officially ending all land-based casino operations in Sweden.
In response to the announcement, Svenska Spel expressed its support for the decision to phase out land-based casinos. The operator will now start the process of winding down operations at the final Casino Cosmopol venue in preparation for permanent closure. Casino Cosmopol CEO Ola Enquist echoed the government’s concerns about the division’s declining performance in recent years, noting that the growing popularity of online gambling in Sweden has led to a steady shift away from land-based casino gaming.
Casino Cosmopol CEO Ola Enquist voiced support for the government’s concerns regarding the division’s recent performance, noting that the increasing popularity of online gambling in Sweden has led to a decline in interest in land-based casinos.
Ola Enquist, the CEO of Casino Cosmopol, mentioned:
We share the government’s assessment and have been prepared for the Riksdag’s decision. Nevertheless, it is of course emotionally tough because it means that an era will end when the casino in Stockholm eventually closes. Our focus right now is to support our employees, while at the same time staying open and continuing to take care of our guests.
Casino Cosmopol operates under a state-granted monopoly, guided by ownership instructions issued to Svenska Spel by the Swedish government. Following the Riksdag’s decision, the next step involves updating these instructions to facilitate the closure and liquidation of the Stockholm casino before the new law takes effect at the end of the year. The division has experienced a steady decline in both profitability and visitor numbers in recent years, driven largely by the growing shift toward online gambling. In order to prevent further losses, Svenska Spel closed the Sundsvall casino in 2020, followed by the Gothenburg and Malmö locations in February 2024. Of the original four casinos, only the Stockholm venue remains, employing just under 240 people.
Ola Enquist, the CEO of Casino Cosmopol, added:
The issue of ownership instructions is on the agenda for Svenska Spel’s annual general meeting on April 24. After that, we hope to be able to provide more detailed information about when we can close the casino in Stockholm.
We have initiated union negotiations and are holding a dialogue about how a closure should be carried out so that it is as good as possible. We are also keen to help our employees continue in their working lives after closure.
