Spelinspektionen, the Gambling Inspectorate of Sweden, has entered a new era of governance as Madelaine Tunudd is appointed Chair of the Board.
The Vice Chair of the Inspectorate since 2019, Tunudd succeeds Claes Norgren, who retired from the role on 16 March. Tunudd became Chair effective 17 March.
A former judge of the Administrative Court of Uppsala, Tunudd has also served as a legal advisor to the authority since its establishment in 2018 under the Swedish Gambling Act.
Spelinspektionen emphasised a need for continuity in oversight of Swedish gambling at a critical juncture for the sector, which is preparing for a series of seismic regulatory changes set to take effect from April 2026.
From 1 April, Sweden will enforce a blanket ban on credit-funded gambling, prohibiting operators from accepting payments via credit cards, loans or deferred financing tools.
The measure marks a decisive intervention in player protection policy, targeting the link between gambling and consumer debt, and will require operators to implement stricter payment controls across all licensed verticals.
Alongside financial safeguards, Sweden will significantly expand the jurisdictional remit of its gambling laws.
The removal of the “direction criterion” will allow authorities to act against any offshore operator accessible to Swedish consumers, rather than having to prove explicit targeting of the domestic market — closing a long-standing loophole exploited by unlicensed platforms.
2026… all change for Inspectorate
This year marks a step-change in the regulatory conditions governing Spelinspektionen’s enforcement powers. The Inspectorate is expected to exercise broader sanctioning authority, including tougher financial penalties, licence interventions and enhanced capabilities to restrict or block illegal operators.
The reforms signal a shift towards a more assertive, enforcement-led model, placing greater responsibility on the regulator to actively police market boundaries.
The governance reshuffle coincides with an ongoing leadership transition within the authority’s executive ranks.
Johan Röhr continues to serve as Acting Director General following the departure of Camilla Rosenberg in late 2025, leaving the Inspectorate as the government appointed her to lead the overhaul of Swedish housing.
Meanwhile, the Riksdag has yet to finalise its review of regulatory amendments proposed in 2025 by Financial Markets Secretary, Niklas Wykman, and senior adviser Marcus Isgren.
The proposals include strengthened enforcement over land-based venues, enhanced protections for higher-risk products such as slot games, and more centralised controls for self-exclusion and operator duty-of-care obligation.