The Swedish government has appointed Erik Eldhagen as a State Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. He will work under Niklas Wykman, the Minister for Financial Markets, and oversee the regulation of the gambling industry. Eldhagen has held several key managerial positions at the Ministry of Finance, including Head of International Secretariat at the Riksbank. He will assume his new responsibilities on December 1, 2025.
Sweden Appoints New State Secretary at the Finance Ministry to Lead Gambling Regulations: Quick Overview
- The Swedish government has confirmed appointing Erik Eldhagen as a new State Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. Eldhagen will work under Niklas Wykman, the Minister of Financial Markets.
- Eldhagen has immense experience in managerial positions at the Ministry of Finance and has also worked as an advisor to the World Bank. He will assume his new responsibilities on December 1, 2025.
- Eldhagen’s appointment comes at a time when the Swedish gambling market is undergoing reforms. Lawmakers have confirmed that starting January 1, 2026, no new land-based gambling licences will be issued.
Eldhagen to Work Under the Minister of Financial Markets and Oversee the Regulation of Gambling
The Swedish government, in a press release issued on Thursday, November 27, announced the appointment of Erik Eldhagen as a State Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. He will work closely with the Minister for Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman, overseeing matters related to the financial market, including gambling regulations, state properties, and the financing of new nuclear power.
Eldhagen has extensive experience working in several managerial roles at the Finance Ministry, including Head of International Secretariat at the Riksbank, Deputy Director General at the Finance Department, and Senior Economic and Commercial Advisor to the Embassy of Sweden in Cairo. Between 2006 and 2009, Eldhagen served as an advisor to the World Bank. He will assume his new responsibilities on December 1, 2025.
The appointment comes at a time when online gambling is gradually being regulated in the Nordic countries. The remote gaming market in neighbouring Finland is inching closer toward adopting a competitive licensing regime. This marks a significant step in the way online gambling is regulated in the region and ushers in a new era for licensed online casinos in Finland.
Sweden is no stranger to regulated online gambling. The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) oversees all activities in accordance with the Gambling Act (2018:1138). The sector generated €638 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2025, in stark contrast to the land-based gaming industry, which has traditionally been more popular with players, until recently.
A New Era for Regulated Online Gambling in Sweden
Eldhagen’s appointment comes on the heels of Johan Röhr stepping in as the acting director general of the Spelinspektionen. Rohr replaced Camilla Rosenberg, who had been in office since 2017. Rohr assumed his new responsibilities on November 1, 2025 and will lead the gambling watchdog until further notice.
Apart from new appointments to key positions, the Swedish gambling market has also witnessed several regulatory changes. In September, the government published the Scope of the Gambling Act, a memorandum proposing fundamental reforms to the current legislation to accommodate online gambling.
The proposal addresses loopholes used by illegal remote gambling operators to promote their services in English and accept payment in Euros. In recent months, lawmakers have also stepped up efforts to rein in rogue operators. In May, the Swedish Gambling Authority banned three unlicensed operators targeting locals. Thereafter, the Spelinspektionen penalised charities over marketing violations.
In June, the authorities introduced new legislation prohibiting gambling on credit. The new law not only penalises operators for accepting wagers on credit but also dictates that they proactively discourage players from gambling with borrowed funds. Combined with the Gambling Act, which already bans operators from facilitating gambling on credit, this law will revolutionise Sweden’s gambling environment. The rule will take effect from April 1, 2026.
In a historic move, state-run Svenska Spel exited the land-based casino market, winding down operations at its last remaining casino in Stockholm, following a decision by the Swedish Parliament to end land-based gambling. The law will take effect from January 1, 2026. Lawmakers are hopeful that this will enable them to identify illegal casino operators quickly and prevent crimes related to money laundering.