Sweden has taken a decisive step in strengthening its gambling regulatory framework with the appointment of Erik Eldhagen as state secretary responsible for gambling oversight. The government confirmed that Eldhagen will support the minister for financial markets, Niklas Wykman, and will oversee financial markets, state properties, and nuclear financing. Eldhagen will officially assume the role on 1 December 2025.
Eldhagen brings extensive experience from both national and international financial institutions. Most recently, he served as head of the international secretariat at Sveriges Riksbank. His career also includes senior positions at Sweden’s Ministry of Finance and advisory work with the World Bank, equipping him with a diverse skill set for this high-profile regulatory role.
The appointment comes amid ongoing leadership changes at Sweden’s gambling authority, Spelinspektionen. Johan Röhr is now the acting director general, succeeding Camilla Rosenberg, who led the regulator since 2017. These shifts follow significant reforms aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance, targeting unlicensed gambling, and enhancing player protections.
This year, Sweden introduced a ban on gambling via credit, closed its final land-based casino in Stockholm, and proposed amendments to broaden prohibitions on illegal gambling promotions, including targeting payment processors and other service providers.
Eldhagen’s appointment signals a clear intent by the Swedish government to enhance oversight, ensure compliance, and maintain a secure, transparent gambling market. With his broad experience in finance and international policy, he is expected to play a central role in implementing these reforms and guiding the country’s gambling sector through this period of significant change.
The move reinforces Sweden’s commitment to responsible gambling, regulatory integrity, and robust market governance, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of the nation’s iGaming landscape.
