In this guide, find out the best esports betting sites in Sweden and the betting laws and regulations. Also, check out the most popular esports that punters bet on, how to get into real money betting, and more.
Esports betting has been thriving in Sweden now that they are part and parcel of the swedish culture. In the past, bettors mainly focused on the regular sports played in real-time. These include soccer, basketball, rugby, motorsports, horse racing, and hockey, just to mention a few. Virtual sports were also popular. But the newest kid on the block is eSports betting.
Today, many sports betting operators have set up shop in the Scandinavian country. Some are to be trusted, but others shouldn't be considered. For those who are not sure which are the best eSports betting sites in Sweden, this article tells it all.
After a rigorous testing procedure, the experts have listed all the best eSports bookmakers. This is after analyzing several factors, including the licensing, available eSports betting markets, banking options, support, and bonuses and promotions.
Sweden is among the biggest consumers of eSports and related products. The country has fans of all the popular games in the eSports space.
The most popular video game genre in Sweden's eSports scene is the first-person shooter (FPS). Games in this genre are not only popular in Sweden but globally.
According to a 2016 report, FPS games accounted for more than 27% of video game sales. Interestingly, one-third of gamers worldwide are into FPS games. CS: GO is the most popular eSports game in Sweden. The country also has fans of Valorant, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, Call of Duty, and Overwatch.
Another popular genre in Sweden is the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). These are games that pit two teams in a predefined battlefield. Smite, League of Legends, and Dota 2, all shooter games, are the most popular MOBAs in Sweden.
Sweden also has fans of sports simulation games. As the name suggests, these are sports games that emulate real-life sports. So far, so good. FIFA is the most popular sports simulation game in Sweden. Players also love Konami's PES (eFootball), NBA2K, and Madden NFL.
Other worthy mentions include Hearthstone, a fast-paced strategy card game, and Fortnite, a battle royale.
Esportsbooks in Sweden offer both free money and real money esports betting. To get into real money betting, players must fund their accounts using real money.
To start, eSports betting sites allow players to use fiat money currencies or crypto betting. The Swedish krona, Sweden's official currency, is the most popular. However, several other international currencies, for example, the US dollar, euro, Canadian dollar, Norwegian krone, and British pound, are supported. When it comes to crypto, esports punters can use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether on selected esports betting sites.
Esports betting sites in Sweden partner with all the popular online payment methods in the country to facilitate seamless banking. The available deposit and withdrawal methods include credit/debit cards, eWallets, vouchers, and bank transfers.
Trustly is the most popular online payment method. This money transfer service allows users to pay directly from their bank account. Other options include MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, Zimpler, and Paysafecard.
For the record, esports betting sites have a minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal limit set by the bookmaker or capped by the payment method. The transaction turnaround time depends on the operator.
It's hard to pinpoint when eSports emerged in Sweden as many Swedes started competing in gaming, but casually, as early as the late 1980s. However, in the early 1990s, eSports began asserting itself as a genuinely competitive sport in Sweden.
In the 1990s, Quake was among the most popular games at the competitive level. Oskar "LakermaN" Ljungström was the leading man from Sweden in the Quake competitions. As years rolled by, many other Swedish players participated in eSports. Sadly, none of them was as dominant as "LakermaN' until the early 2000's when Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, now an eSports manager, became a big player but this time in Valve's Counter-Strike.
On the other hand, online esports betting can be traced back to 2013, during the inception of skin betting (skin gambling) in CS: GO. Skins are cosmetic items that enhance the aesthetic appeal of players' weapons. Skins became an underground economy in no time, with the rare skins attracting higher prices.
As skins became popular, Swedish CS: GO and Dota 2 players started gambling skins with the hopes of winning better ones.
As skin betting became popular, bookmakers seized the moment and started offering eSports betting markets.
Today, Sweden is among the biggest hubs of eSports and eSports betting. Recent data from Statista shows that in 2019, Sweden had more than 400 active competition pro players. Another 2018 report showed that there were over 4.2 million gamers in Sweden, and the gaming industry employed over 8,000 people. Interestingly, Sweden ranks fourth in the list of the highest-earning countries in the world. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, it is ranked first.
Immediately bookies started offering eSports betting markets, the vast Swedish audience shifted their focus to these betting sites. Many betting platforms added eSports to their portfolio. Besides, there was also the emergence of eSports-only betting sites.
Esports betting sites in Sweden offer betting markets cutting across popular games, including Dota 2, Hearthstone, Smite, Fortnite, FIFA, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Call of Duty, and Madden, just to mention a few.
In the early stages of eSports betting, bookies had markets for the top-tier eSports events only. But now, with hundreds of eSports matches happening daily, Swedish punters have games to bet on all year long. What's more? Swedish eSports bookmakers have wide markets and high odds that attract bettors.
Now, what's the future of eSports betting in Sweden? There are several impediments, but at the end of the day, the conclusion is that eSports is here to stay.
eSports betting will definitely flourish in Sweden because it is deeply rooted in the country's culture. Electronic sports have continued to attract the masses in the last three decades, from the young to the old. Since sports betting is legal in Sweden and has many fans, eSports betting will also follow suit.
Another reason eSports betting will grow is that there are plenty of eSports betting sites today, unlike in the past. The number of eSports betting sites in Sweden is rising by the day now that operators are keen on tapping into this betting market.
The lucrative bonuses and promotions will also spur the growth of the Swedish eSports betting industry. To remain competitive, bookmakers tailor a variety of bonuses for both new players and existing punters. There are eSports no deposit bonuses, deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, cashback, etc.
The Swedish government, since 1934, has strictly regulated the gambling industry. Even before the coming of online gambling, the authorities had stayed on top of their game when it came to regulating gambling such that only state-owned monopolies controlled the entire industry.
Interestingly, there has been a standoff between the EU vs. Sweden, with the EU arguing that the government of Sweden monopolizing gambling is a violation of international trade agreements.
Just as in every other country, Sweden has a gambling age limit. While participants in esports competitions can be below 18, anyone betting on esports must be above 18. But in a twist of the tale, the government has gone ahead to impose some restrictions on eSports betting.
In the new move, bookmakers are not supposed to offer betting markets on eSports where there are participants under the age of 18 years. According to the authorities, the new law is meant to protect young players from vices such as match-fixing, which can damage their future careers.
Already, the Swedish Gaming Authority (SGA) is imposing penalties on eSports betting sites that are not complying with this new law. As it stands, eSports fans will have to forget betting on Battle Royale titles such as Fortnite and Dota 2 tournaments which attract players under the age of 18.
Definitely, this law will impact the eSports betting industry and eSports in general. Bookmakers have been forced to do away with many betting markets to comply with the law. As a result, eSports teams are being forced to shun underage players now that the sponsorships and revenues have started dwindling. Event organizers will also follow suit and set restrictions on the minimum age that pro players must be to participate in their events.
Sweden may assert that eSports is not an actual sport, but at least, it falls under the betting category when it comes to gambling. Over the years, the Swedish online gambling scene has evolved, with several acts changing the landscape.
The most notable betting act in Sweden is the Gambling Act ('Act') 2018. This act makes all forms of gambling for money illegal if the operator doesn't have a Swedish license and the services are targeted to Swedish gamblers. In this act, there are several legislations related to betting. One of the most prominent ones is the regulation and general advice on the restrictions and bans on some forms of betting to prevent match-fixing within sports.
But at the end of the day, these rules apply to operators in Sweden. But the rest of the international eSports betting sites don't have to abide by these rules even though they accept Swedish punters.
eSports betting in Sweden is popular. But the big question is, does the government allow betting on electronic sports?
The truth of the matter is that Swedish players are free to join and bet on offshore eSports betting sites. But then, it is their responsibility to ensure that the betting site they are playing at is credible. It should be licensed and regulated by renowned betting regulatory authorities.
While Sweden is a top country in the eSports realm, it was caught in controversy just recently; a debate that raised eyebrows on whether the Swedish government is supporting eSports.
Sweden recently refused to acknowledge eSports as a real sport, and worse enough, it canceled The International, which was to be hosted in Stockholm. In this case, the Swedish Sports Confederation denied eSports a slot as a member of the federation. The implication was that international eSports pros wouldn't be granted visas to participate in the event, so Dota 2's biggest tournament had to be moved elsewhere.
All said and done, whether eSports is a sport or not, punters will still bet on their favorite teams in the different games, tournaments, and competitions.
In this section, find out some of the most common questions asked and their respective answers.
Yes. Betting on eSports games in Sweden is safe if players register and wager on licensed and regulated eSports betting sites. The license is often displayed at the bottom of the page or in the About Us section. On some betting sites, players can also check the validity of the license.
Yes. Esports betting is fair, as long as players are betting on legitimate sites. While there may be loopholes for match-fixing, the Esports Integrity Commission or ESIC works overtime to ensure that all eSports tournaments and competitions are fair.
According to statistics, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the most popular eSport by betting volume. It is followed by Dota 2, League of Legends, FIFA21, and Rainbow Six Siege.
There are many eSports teams in Sweden. The most successful team outfit is Alliance which has won $4,849,167, followed by Fnatic with $4,416,508. Other household names include Ninjas in Pyjamas, Begrip Gaming, Lemondogs and GODSENT.
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