Online casinos might have been around for the past two decades. But they didn’t become popular in Scandinavia until the early 2010s. Back then, there was a jackpot fever in Sweden and Norway that saw at least seven people become overnight millionaires.
The most notable casino victory happened in 2012 when a Swedish banker turned a small €1 bet into €7.6 million while playing Halls of God slot machine. Two years later, another Swede won €5.2 million playing Mega Fortunes.
Slots aside, online poker also experienced immense attention in Scandinavia. Norway’s Annette Obrestad earned his first WSOPE bracelet in 2014, Thor Hansen flourished in Europe Norway poker championships became even bigger.
So, why the sudden rise of online casinos in Norway, Sweden and Denmark?
Favourable Gaming Laws
Sweden, Norway and Denmark have a legal online gambling environment although restrictive at times. Norway, in particular, allows only one website to provide casino games. But it doesn’t prohibit its citizens from using offshore websites.
Against that backdrop, all adults in Scandinavia can play online casino games legally and safely in their respective countries. Joining gaming websites is free and takes less than five minutes: only an email address and name are required.
Better yet, you don’t pay taxes on your winnings in taxes. So, whether you win €10 or €10 million, you can spend the entire amount as you wish. This is unlike many American states where players pay up to 28% of their winnings as tax.
Another favourable law in Scandinavia regards problem gambling. Casinos in North Europe are required to protect players at all cost. That means they can give you tools to help limit your budget, suspend your account or close it entirely.
Thousands of Games to Play
When the gaming fever in Scandinavia took off, there was a limited number of games to play. Those days are gone and for the best. These days, you have 2000+ games at your disposal: slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, bingo and baccarat, to name a few.
The games come from a diverse list of companies. Sweden is home to a handful of these developers: NetEnt, Play’n GO, Quickspin and Thunderkick. Other companies include Microgaming, Playtech, Novomatic and Evolution Gaming.
The most interesting part of game diversity in Scandinavia is that it exposes players to the best casinos and games. For a list of the best gaming websites, check casinoutansvensklicens.co/. When it comes to games, use this guide:
- Choose High RTP slots.
- Select Low House edge table games
- Check a game’s variance.
- Compare themes and storylines.
- Look for in-game bonuses.
Many Trusted Payment Methods
Unlike some countries, banking providers in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark aren’t actively trying to stop casino payments. It happens in the US and Australia. But in Scandinavia, players have an extensive list of deposit and withdrawal options.
Let’s start with region companies like Trustly, Paysafe, Skrill and Neteller. Then there are international companies like PayPal, Visa, MasterCard and Qiwi. On the flip side, players can also choose Bitcoin, bank transfer and eChecks.
Notably, all these banking options have inclusive payment limits. Although the specific limits vary by casino, you can deposit as little as €1 to as much as €20,000. In many cases, deposits are free. Fees apply during withdrawals, and they range from 1% to 3%.
Endless Casino Bonuses
The growth of online casinos in Scandinavia hasn’t gone unnoticed, at least not to online casinos. These companies know there’s a growing market for their services in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
And to attract customers, they dish out bonuses to new and existing customers nearly every week. New players are showered with all sorts of promotions. You can claim ten free spins to play the most popular slot here. Or you could receive €50 to sample several card games.
On the flip side, some operators give out cashbacks or loyalty points that can be redeemed for bonuses. As always, the specifics differ from one operator to another. Some bonuses actually give you much better value than others. So, choose wisely.
As a tip, choose bonuses that let you withdraw your winnings. Additionally, ensure the terms and conditions are reasonable and doable. If you have to move mountains to withdraw bonus profits, you might as well skip the offer.
Increased Supply of Foreign Casinos
Generally speaking, folks in Sweden, Norway and Denmark can play at home-based online casinos. But in this age of an interconnected world, they could also use foreign websites and apps.
These days, it seems new online casinos targeting Scandinavian countries keep cropping up. Many of them are licensed and have proven track records in their countries of origin. As such, they are easily welcomed in Sweden and Norway.
Are offshore casinos better than Scandinavian casinos? Like most things, this is a personal preference. Some people like the personalized nature of local gaming websites. Others trust operators from Britain more.
Online Security is Assured
Online casinos have been advancing their safety measures over time. And now more than ever before, they are as secure as online security goes. From military-grade data encryption through SSL and PCI compliance to Two-Factor Authentication; online casinos in Scandinavia are safe.
It’s not just your data casinos protect. They also protect you from game rigging by welcoming independent auditors to verify their games. Additionally, they work with regulators to ensure problem players are protected too.
The Rise of Mobile Gaming
One of the most significant leaps in the gaming world is creating games for mobile devices. It has revolutionized how people play casino games everywhere. These days, you don’t need to scamper for a laptop in the middle of the night to play slots.
Your iPhone or Android device is all you need to play casino games. Mobile gaming has advanced so much that there’s no visible difference between using your smartphone and desktop computer.
Mobile games support 3D graphics and HD resolutions. They support most payment options and have responsive interfaces. In other words, mobile gaming is s seamless as PC gaming.