Charm Entertainment AB Temporarily Loses Swedish Casino Licence Pending Investigation.
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has temporarily withdrawn Charm Entertainment AB’s licence to run commercial land-based casino games. The company must stop all licensed operations immediately.
The order, issued on 1 October 2026, will remain in force until a final decision is made, or no later than 1 April 2027.
Investigation raises compliance concerns
Spelinspektionen opened a supervisory investigation into Charm on 27 May 2026. It examined whether the company had complied with the Swedish Gambling Act and relevant tax, accounting and bookkeeping laws.
As part of its review, the regulator assessed Charm’s annual reports for 2023–2025 and documents linked to an ongoing criminal preliminary investigation heard at Södertälje District Court.
Reasons for the suspension
The authority said there are “probable reasons” to believe Charm no longer meets the legal requirements for a gambling licence.
Current and former Charm executives have been charged with serious offences, including aggravated accounting crimes, in connection with Lucky 21 Casino AB, a former licensed casino operator. The two companies operated at nearby locations and shared many staff members. According to the regulator, this raises concerns that improper practices identified at Lucky 21 may also have continued at Charm.
The investigation also found irregularities in Charm’s annual accounts. In particular, two separate filings were submitted for the 2023 financial year, prompting concerns about the company’s bookkeeping.
Regulator cites risk of further misconduct
Spelinspektionen pointed to the seriousness of the alleged offences and the overlap in personnel between the two companies. It concluded that an immediate suspension was necessary to reduce the risk that gambling operations could facilitate criminal activity or continue without adequate accounting controls.
The decision may be appealed. The suspension can initially last up to six months, with a further six-month extension possible in special circumstances.
Read Also: New Phase of Gambling Credit Ban in Sweden Begins May 2026
Separate ruling involving LeoVegas
In another recent case, a fine imposed on Malta-based online operator LeoVegas was overturned. The penalty had been issued over alleged breaches of Sweden’s Gambling Act duty-of-care requirements.
The court ruled that the evidence against LeoVegas was unambiguous. In a decision dated 12 June, it fully reversed the regulator’s sanction after reviewing the evidence and legal arguments presented by the operator.
