Spelinspektionen temporarily suspends Charm Entertainment AB's land-based licence

Spelinspektionen has temporarily revoked Charm Entertainment AB’s land-based gambling licence and ordered the immediate cessation of all its licensed activities in Sweden. The decision was issued on 1 October 2026 and will remain in force until a final resolution or, at the latest, until 1 April 2027.

Primary reason for the suspension of the Charm Entertainment licence

The Swedish regulator, Spelinspektionen, based the measure on an investigation opened on 27 May 2026 to assess Charm Entertainment AB’s compliance with the Swedish Gambling Act and with tax, accounting and bookkeeping obligations. During the review the regulator examined Charm’s annual accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025, as well as material linked to an ongoing criminal investigation before the Södertälje District Court (Södertälje District Court).

Spelinspektionen stated there are “probable reasons” to believe Charm no longer meets the legal conditions required to hold a gambling licence. The regulator pointed to criminal charges against current and former persons connected to Charm, including offences of aggravated accounting in the context of Lucky 21 Casino AB, a former licence-holder in the Swedish casino sector.

Links to Lucky 21 Casino AB and staff overlap

The investigation identified that Lucky 21 Casino AB and Charm Entertainment AB operated from proximate premises and shared a significant number of employees. Spelinspektionen considers that practices uncovered in the inquiry into Lucky 21 may also have affected Charm’s operations.

The regulator emphasised the seriousness of the charges against executives linked to Lucky 21, and that the staff overlap was a determinative factor for imposing the immediate suspension. The authority reasoned the measure reduces the risk that gambling activity could be used to facilitate criminal conduct or operate under inadequate financial controls.

Irregularities in accounting and the annual accounts

Spelinspektionen investigators noted discrepancies in Charm’s financial information. Among the findings was the submission of two different versions of the annual accounts for the 2023 financial year, a fact which, according to the regulator, raises serious doubts about the reliability of the company’s accounting and bookkeeping processes.

The existence of contradictory accounting documents was cited explicitly as grounds to question Charm’s financial transparency and integrity, and is one of the pieces of evidence underpinning the decision to suspend the licence.

Temporal scope and appeals options

The temporary revocation took effect immediately on 1 October 2026. The measure may remain in place until a final resolution is adopted or, automatically, until 1 April 2027. Under Swedish rules, such suspensions may initially last up to six months and, in exceptional circumstances, be extended for a further six months.

The decision is appealable to the courts; however, Spelinspektionen emphasised that the suspension aims to mitigate risk immediately — particularly given the combination of the seriousness of the charges and the staff overlap between the companies involved.

Practical implications and regulatory questions

For venue operators and suppliers, the measure sends a clear signal about the regulator’s focus on accounting robustness and operational separation between entities. Spelinspektionen has prioritised the need for consistent accounting records and clear identification of employment and management links between companies participating in the provision of gambling services.

The regulator reviewed material connected to the criminal investigation before the Södertälje District Court and noted that charges against related persons could affect Charm’s ability to meet licence conditions.

"There are probable reasons to consider that the company no longer satisfies the legal conditions for holding a gambling licence," Spelinspektionen said in its ruling of 1 October 2026.

What happens next for Charm and the Swedish market

Charm Entertainment AB must immediately cease all activities covered by the land-based gambling licence in Sweden. The company may file an administrative appeal, but while the suspension is in force it may not resume licenced operations under that licence.

The investigation remains ongoing and the authority will verify, among other matters, the authenticity and consistency of Charm’s accounting documentation and the operational and personnel relationship with Lucky 21 Casino AB. Any extensions of the suspension will depend on the development of the criminal proceedings and the administrative checks carried out by Spelinspektionen.

As a regulatory correspondent, I will report on appeals, court rulings and any accounting corrections the parties submit to the authority.

Miguel Sandoval, Regulatory Affairs Correspondent.