Swedish payment giant Trustly has intensified its withdrawal from unlicensed gambling operators, a move that signals a tightening regulatory environment across the Nordics. As payment blocking becomes the primary enforcement tool, the landscape for offshore casinos in 2026 will be defined by stricter compliance, cross-border coordination, and new European payment rules.
Trustly’s Retreat – A Turning Point for Payment Blocking in Sweden
In early 2025, Trustly announced it would terminate its payment services for a growing number of gambling operators that lack a Swedish license. The decision follows repeated warnings from the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen), which has identified payment intermediation as the single most effective choke point against offshore gambling. Trustly, a Swedish fintech that processes bank-to-bank transfers, had been widely used by unlicensed sites to circumvent Sweden’s deposit restrictions.
Spelinspektionen’s payment blocking list, updated monthly, currently includes over 200 payment accounts and service providers tied to unlicensed operators. The regulator has the power to order payment intermediaries to stop processing transactions for these entities under the Swedish Gambling Act (2018:1138). Trustly’s proactive withdrawal—rather than waiting for a formal order—signals that even major fintechs now see compliance as a business necessity. In its statement, Trustly cited “regulatory alignment” and “customer protection” as reasons, but industry analysts note that the cost of non‑compliance (fines of up to SEK 10 million) is a stronger motive.
A 2023 ruling from the Swedish Administrative Court in Linköping upheld Spelinspektionen’s power to block payments, rejecting an appeal by a payment provider. This precedent has emboldened the regulator to pursue even more aggressive enforcement. The result is a shrinking payment corridor for offshore casinos, which now rely on less regulated methods such as cryptocurrencies or prepaid cards – each carrying their own risks and higher transaction costs.
How Sweden’s Payment Blocking Framework Works
Sweden’s model centers on a dynamic blocklist maintained by Spelinspektionen. Under the Gambling Act, the regulator can order any payment service provider (PSP) to stop facilitating deposits or withdrawals to or from unlicensed gambling sites. The list is updated fortnightly and is binding on all PSPs operating in Sweden, including international banks with Swedish operations. Non‑compliance can lead to fines or, in extreme cases, revocation of the PSP’s license to provide payment services.
Key elements of the framework include:
- Legal basis: Chapter 14, Section 5 of the Swedish Gambling Act (2018:1138).
- Enforcement: Administrative fines up to SEK 10 million per violation.
- Blocked accounts: Over 200 as of Q1 2025 (source: Spelinspektionen monthly reports).
- Compliance rate: Estimated at 95 % among major PSPs, though smaller players sometimes resist.
The success of this approach has attracted attention from other Nordic countries. Denmark, which operates a similar licensing system, has recently strengthened its own payment blocking powers under the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden). Norway, which maintains a state monopoly, uses a mixture of payment blocking and DNS blocking to target offshore sites. However, since Norway is not in the EU, its enforcement relies on cooperation with domestic banks rather than European payment directives.
Nordic Comparison: Divergent Approaches, Common Goals
While Sweden and Denmark share a licensing model, Finland and Norway remain outliers. Finland is in the process of transitioning from a monopoly system to a licensing model, with a new gambling act expected to enter into force in 2026. The Finnish government’s proposal explicitly includes payment blocking powers, learning from Sweden’s experience. Norway, by contrast, maintains its monopoly under Norsk Tipping and Rikstoto, but has been aggressive in ordering banks to block transactions to unlicensed sites. A 2024 ruling by the Norwegian Lottery Authority (Lotteritilsynet) fined two major banks for failing to block payments to offshore casinos, setting a precedent for liability.
Despite these differences, a common trend is emerging: payment blocking is the primary enforcement mechanism across the Nordics. The following table summarises the current stance in each country:
| Country | System | Payment blocking powers | Expected changes by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Licensing (since 2019) | Yes (strong enforcement) | Expanded blocklist, more PSP compliance |
| Denmark | Licensing (since 2012) | Yes (augmented in 2024) | Real-time payment monitoring |
| Finland | Monopoly → Licensing | Proposed (2026 law) | Full payment blocking from 2026 |
| Norway | Monopoly (non‑EU) | Yes (through bank orders) | Stricter liability for banks |
The Nordic Council has also begun informal discussions on harmonising payment blocking measures, though no formal proposal has been tabled. A unified approach would make it harder for offshore operators to exploit jurisdictional loopholes. översikten över betalningsmetoder from utländskacasino.se adds references to regulators and court rulings.
What the Payment Landscape Means for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, several factors will shape how offshore casinos can still access Nordic players. First, the European Union’s revised Payment Services Directive (PSD3), due for implementation in 2026, introduces stronger authentication requirements and mandates that payment service providers share data on high‑risk transactions. This will give national regulators even more tools to identify and block gambling‑related payments, especially cross‑border ones. The European Banking Authority (EBA) has already flagged unlicensed gambling as a priority area for anti‑money laundering (AML) supervision.
Second, the likely licensing of Finland in 2026 means that a major previously grey market will become regulated. Offshore operators that target Finnish players without a license will face payment blocking, just as in Sweden. The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has published a draft law (HE 200/2024) that explicitly references Sweden’s model. For offshore casinos, this narrows the remaining unregulated Nordic market to essentially just Norway, where enforcement, while strong, is hampered by Norway’s non‑EU status and reliance on domestic banking cooperation.
Third, payment providers themselves are under growing pressure from regulators and from their own compliance departments. Trustly’s withdrawal is not an isolated event; other major PSPs such as Skrill, Neteller, and various e‑wallet providers have also tightened their policies. The trend is toward a complete ban on processing any gambling‑related payments unless the recipient holds a valid license in the player’s country of residence. By 2026, the payment landscape for offshore casinos will likely be reduced to high‑friction methods (cryptocurrency, voucher systems, or manual bank transfers), which significantly reduce player conversion and retention.
Conclusion: The End of the Offshore Payment Pipeline?
Sweden’s payment blocking strategy, now emulated across the Nordics, is proving effective. Trustly’s retreat is a bellwether for the entire payment industry. As 2026 approaches, enforcement will only intensify, especially with the upcoming Finnish licensing and EU‑wide PSD3 rules. Offshore casinos that once relied on seamless Trustly payments will face a fragmented, expensive, and legally risky payment landscape. For Nordic regulators, the message is clear: closing the payment gate remains the most powerful tool to reduce unlicensed gambling – and they are prepared to use it to the fullest extent allowed by law.
The coming year will likely see further PSP withdrawals, possibly including global giants like PayPal or Visa, as they weigh legal risks against market access. The Nordic example is already being studied by other European regulators, from the UK Gambling Commission to the German Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder. If the region’s approach proves sustainable, payment blocking could become the global standard for gambling enforcement by the end of the decade.
Sources and Further Reading
Samuel Hartley is Managing Editor at CivicInsight.uk, responsible for daily editorial planning, news prioritisation, article production and the publishing schedule. He coordinates writers, editors and the research team to keep coverage consistent and timely.