The interim decision applies until the regulator reaches a final ruling, and until 1 April 2027 at the latest. Spelinspektionen said in a statement that it was “probable” Charm no longer meets the requirements for holding a licence, under both the Gambling Act and other legislation covering tax, accounting and bookkeeping.

“Compliance with such laws is a fundamental prerequisite for a licence to provide gambling,” the regulator said.

The interim measure is designed to stop the activity while the case is still being assessed, rather than to conclude it. Spelinspektionen did not need to reach a final view on the underlying allegations to act; it only had to judge that a breach of the licensing conditions was likely. Under the Swedish Gambling Act, licence holders and the people who own or run them must be considered suitable, and that assessment extends to how a company handles its tax affairs and keeps its books.

Investigation opened in May

The authority opened a supervisory investigation into Charm on 27 May 2026, according to the decision as reported by iGaming Business. Its concerns centred on the company’s financial reporting, including the discovery of two different sets of annual accounts filed for 2023.

The regulator also pointed to criminal proceedings involving current and former executives connected to the company. Those individuals have been charged with serious offences, including aggravated accounting crimes, linked to Lucky 21 Casino AB, a previously licensed Swedish casino operator. The Lucky 21 case has been heard before Södertälje District Court.

Spelinspektionen noted overlaps in personnel between the two businesses and that Charm operates from locations close to those previously used by Lucky 21. The regulator said these links suggested the conduct at issue may have continued under the new licence holder.

Restaurant casino segment under scrutiny

Commercial land-based casino licences in Sweden cover the restaurant and bar casino segment, where table games such as blackjack and roulette are offered under strict stake limits. It is a small corner of the market by revenue, but one where the regulator has repeatedly flagged money laundering and financial crime risks.

Charm can appeal the interim decision to the administrative court. Under Swedish rules, an interim revocation can run for up to six months initially, with extensions possible in special circumstances while the regulator completes its final assessment.

Wider enforcement push

The action fits a pattern of tougher enforcement by Spelinspektionen, which has issued a string of sanctions and remarks against online licensees over anti-money laundering and duty of care failings in recent years. Pulling a licence outright, even on an interim basis, remains rare and signals the regulator is prepared to act quickly where it sees evidence of financial irregularity rather than wait for criminal cases to conclude.

Sweden’s licensing system, introduced in 2019, covers both online and land-based gambling outside the state-run monopoly products, and the regulator has repeatedly said that land-based licensees are held to the same standards of financial transparency as online brands. The Charm case shows those standards being applied to a business with only a modest market footprint, and suggests that links to a former licensee’s management will be weighed heavily in any future suitability review.

A final decision on Charm’s licence is expected before the April 2027 cut-off. If the regulator confirms the revocation, the company would need to reapply for a new licence to return to the market, a process that would again test the suitability of its owners and management.