Sweden’s Gambling Self Exclusion System

March 19, 2025 Tony Christopher

Spelpaus self-exclusion is a free system in Sweden that takes an innovative approach to responsible gambling. If you are conscious of the risks associated with gambling, then continue reading this article. Here, you will learn more about the Swedish self-exclusion system and how to protect yourself from bad gambling habits.

Casino roulette wheel, slot machine and a hand holding poker cards.

How Spelpaus Works

Cyber security illustration with tablet and padlock

As we have mentioned earlier, Spelpaus is mandatory for all licensed gambling operators in Sweden. You won’t be able to exclude yourself from just one type of gambling or company. Instead, this system keeps track of all forms of gambling and brands that you partake in.

Spelpaus self-exclusion coverage:

While Spelpaus is mandatory for companies to participate in it, players are not obligated to use it. It is a Voluntary Self Exclusion (VSE) system. On the other hand, once you enroll in it, you cannot cancel it until the period you set up is over.

Spelpaus was launched back in 2019 by the Swedish Gambling Authority, and since then, it has successfully enrolled over 100,000 people in its gambling self-exclusion program. The system’s integration with all online gambling sites that are licensed in the country helps prevent players from developing unhealthy habits.

The program covers a wide range of gambling methods, such as sports betting, online casinos, bingo, lotteries and more. While many players may have noticed different self-exclusion methods at casino sites, even online sportsbooks can offer them. You can even exclude yourself from betting with Spelpaus.

In order for the system to be effective, you will need to first log out from all online gambling websites and apps. Clearing the cookies from your browsers is highly recommended as well. After that, when you log in to play at online casinos with Spelpaus, they will have to cross-check the system. If you have self-excluded yourself, you will not be granted access.

How to Enroll in Spelpaus

Registering with the Swedish gambling self-exclusion system is simple. You go to the official Spelpaus website and register there. After that, on the main page select your preferred details to set up your self-exclusion program.

Continue by selecting the period of your self-exclusion and then read the full details of what it will cover and how it will work. In order to do the final confirmation and for the system to start to work, you will need to submit your ID to the Swedish Gambling Authority with Mobit BankID, BankID, Freja eID+, or Foreign eID. You can also use the Spelpaus contacts on their webpage to contact the team for any assistance.

Available Exclusion Periods

When it’s time to select the period of your self-exclusion, you have a few options: 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. Bear in mind that once set up, you cannot cancel your self-exclusion before the duration ends.

You can also select an undefined time period known as “until I decide” for your Spelpaus self-exclusion system. It is worth noting that this is the most extreme iteration of the program, and the minimum elapsed time period before you can cancel it is 12 months. This is a great method for those who want to let go of their gambling habits completely.

Voluntary Self-Exclusion Systems and Responsible Gambling

Other countries have also adopted a similar type of system for voluntary self-exclusion (VSE). The ultimate goal is to provide a safer gambling environment for everyone and to help players with a gambling addiction. Bear in mind that all of these systems are voluntary, and you will have to enroll yourself.

Different VSE around the world:

Of course, there are many more methods other than VSE that you can use to assist yourself and prevent an addiction. Many online casino operators offer deposit limits that you can set up to prevent going over your budget.

On some platforms, you can even put a daily limit on how much time you can play. Another great example is reality checks, where, at certain time intervals, it will remind you of what you have done up to that point. This way, you can make an active decision on whether you would like to continue or not.

Responsible Gambling Tips

After we have mentioned responsible gambling at online casinos with Spelpaus, we feel that we must elaborate more on the topic as it is serious. Gambling can lead to an addiction, and it is crucial to do all you can to prevent that. Below, you can find our top tips on adopting a better and safer approach to wagering:

  1. Never wager what you can’t afford to lose—This is a simple yet crucial tip. We advise that you gamble with a sum of money you can afford to lose, which will not damage the household budget.
  2. Start small—This tip goes together with the first one. We recommend that you play with smaller sums in the beginning to get the hang of things, even if you can afford more.
  3. Don’t chase the win – Sometimes, you will be on a losing streak. Many players chase the win to win back what they have lost, and in most cases, that leads to even more significant losses. If you feel like you are on a losing streak, you should just step away for the day.
  4. Pick a strategy and stick with it – This is especially applicable to table games. Once you pick a strategy that you like or works for you, stick with it. Frequent changes in strategy can lead to further losses and frustration.
  5. Use responsible gambling systems to your advantage – Both the government and operators will offer various systems for safer gambling that you can use. Some examples are voluntary self-exclusion (VSE), deposit limits, and bet limits.

There are more ways that you can help yourself prevent gambling addiction and its habits, which you can learn about in our responsible gambling guide. Of course, great alternatives are social casinos, which do not work with real money or give out cash prizes.

Conclusion

The Spelpaus is a very effective Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) system that helps Swedish players avoid developing compulsive gambling habits. Over 100,000 players have enrolled in it since its launch in 2019. Due to the risk of gambling addiction increasing with online platforms, many countries around the world have adopted this type of system to help improve player safety.

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Last Updated on 19 Mar 2025 by Tony Christopher