Swedish gambling regulator temporarily revokes Charm Entertainment licence
The regulator cited concerns linking the operator to Lucky 21 Casino AB.
Key takeaways:
- Spelinspektionen has temporarily revoked the land-based gambling licence of Charm Entertainment AB, requiring the company to immediately stop all licensed gambling activities.
- The suspension follows an investigation into Charm’s compliance with gambling, tax, accounting, and bookkeeping rules. Regulators cited alleged links between Charm executives and criminal charges involving former casino operator Lucky 21 Casino AB, including allegations of aggravated accounting offences.
- Spelinspektionen also raised concerns about Charm’s financial reporting, including the discovery of two different annual filings for 2023.
Sweden.- The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has temporarily revoked the land-based gaming licence of Charm Entertainment AB, ordering the company to immediately halt all licensed gambling operations. The decision, issued on October 1 2026, will remain in force until a final determination is made or until April 1 2027 at the latest.
The regulator launched an investigation into Charm Entertainment AB on May 27 to assess the company’s compliance with Sweden’s Gambling Act as well as tax, accounting, and bookkeeping requirements. As part of the review, Spelinspektionen examined the operator’s annual reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025, alongside material connected to an ongoing criminal preliminary investigation being considered by Södertälje District Court.
According to the regulator, there are “probable reasons” to believe that Charm no longer satisfies the legal conditions required to hold a gambling licence. It said current and former executives linked to Charm have been charged with serious offences, including aggravated accounting crimes, in connection with Lucky 21 Casino AB, a former licence holder in the Swedish casino sector.
The regulator said the two businesses operate from nearby locations and share a significant number of personnel. As a result, it believes that practices identified during the investigation into Lucky 21 may also have affected operations at Charm.
Further concerns were raised over Charm’s financial reporting. Investigators identified alleged discrepancies in the company’s annual accounts, including the submission of two different filings for the 2023 financial year. Spelinspektionen said this created serious doubts regarding the reliability of the company’s bookkeeping and accounting processes.
In explaining the suspension, the regulator pointed to both the seriousness of the alleged offences and the overlap between individuals involved in Lucky 21 and Charm. It concluded that immediate action was necessary to reduce the risk of gambling activities being used to facilitate criminal conduct or operated under inadequate financial controls.
Although the decision can be appealed, the suspension may remain in place for up to six months initially, with a possible extension of a further six months in exceptional circumstances.
FAQs
Why has Charm Entertainment AB’s licence been suspended?
Spelinspektionen said there are probable grounds to believe the company no longer meets the legal requirements for holding a Swedish gambling licence, citing concerns over criminal proceedings involving associated individuals and alleged accounting irregularities.
What role did Lucky 21 Casino AB play in the regulator’s decision?
The regulator found significant overlap in personnel between Lucky 21 Casino AB and Charm Entertainment AB. Because executives connected to Lucky 21 face serious accounting crime charges, Spelinspektionen believes similar compliance risks may exist at Charm.
How long could the suspension remain in place?
The temporary revocation can remain in force until a final ruling is made or until April 1 2027 at the latest. Under Swedish law, such suspensions can initially last up to six months, with a possible further six-month extension in exceptional cases.
