Online casinos are becoming increasingly popular in the Swedish market, with blackjack being a favorite among gaming enthusiasts. One look at the catalog of top-rated online blackjack casino sites in Sweden is enough to show just how popular the game is becoming, with many casinos tying lucrative promotions to the game.
In Sweden, blackjack is a game that new gaming enthusiasts focus on due to its easy-to-master instructions and fun gameplay. But, with the predicted rise of Sweden’s online gambling market, blackjack is likely to become an even more popular game in the coming years.
The Reason Blackjack is so Popular in Sweden
The reason blackjack is so prevalent in Sweden and globally usually comes down to the game’s relatively high probability of winning, around 42%. That is arguably the highest winning odds out of any table game.
Another reason is the relatively low house edge. With blackjack, the house edge usually sits somewhere around 1%. However, that can change based on a variety of factors:
Out of all these factors, the number of decks used and the house rules carry the most minor significance and will only increase the house edge by a small margin. The player’s skill is the determining factor of what the house’s edge will be. More knowledgeable players can usually lower it into the sub-1 % range, with less knowledgeable players raising it higher and possibly moving it into the 2% range.
There is, however, another factor that greatly determines what the final house edge will be: the payout rate. Less risky payout rates like 3:2 carry a lower house edge with them. Riskier payout rates such as 6:5, and especially even money, carry with them a higher house edge.
Yet another reason blackjack is so popular in Sweden is the game’s relative simplicity. You only have to get up to or closer to 21 than the opponent. The person or entity with the closest hand wins. This makes the game’s entry point much lower than other table games, which have quite a learning curve.
What Do The Studies Show?
In 2022, an independent research institute called Reflect Företagsutveckling AB surveyed the Swedish online casino market. Their findings gave a rare insight into the demographics and habits of Swedish players regarding online casino use.
The study’s original goal was to survey 11,093 online casino visitors in Sweden, of which 4,382 were accepted. Of those 4,382, only 1,052 were considered as they matched one of the three target groups: active online casino users, potential online casino users, and ex-online casino users. The rest were screened out.
While this isn’t a vast pool of people, it’s enough to give insight into Swedish online casino users’ habits, preferences, and demographics. A particularly interesting survey question was the game preferences of the target groups. Here is what the people answered:
| Target Group | % That Chose Blackjack as Their Favorite Game |
| Active Online Casino Users | 13% |
| Potential Online Casino Users | 48% |
| Ex-Online Casino Users | 3% |
The question about game preferences was phrased slightly differently between the three groups. The active group was directly asked which games they played the most, the potential group was asked which games they thought would be the most interesting, and the ex-player group was asked to remember which games they played the most.
Out of all these, the most notable and, arguably, interesting finding pertains to the Potential Online Casino Users group. Around 48% of all survey participants from this group selected blackjack as the most interesting game, with slots being a close second at 47%.
This is interesting because it clearly shows that non-players are primarily interested in blackjack and believe that blackjack would be the game they would most often play if they became active players. But what did the other two groups show?
The other two groups showed that blackjack takes up only a fraction of their interest, with slots being the preferred option. This study shows that blackjack is mostly a newcomer-populated game.
The Rise of Sweden’s Online Casino Market
Sweden’s online casino market has experienced a steady rise in the last few years. Statista even did a study on the Swedish online casino market, and these were their findings:
These findings primarily show that Sweden’s online gambling market is experiencing a remarkable increase and is projected to increase further in the coming years.
The Types of Blackjack Present on Swedish Online Casinos
Blackjack is an umbrella term for several game versions. What most people think of when talking about blackjack is American blackjack since it is considered to be the “traditional blackjack.”
However, the earliest recorded use of the term blackjack comes from Spain in the early 17th century. American blackjack is considered the “traditional blackjack” because of its popularity in the media, cementing it in history as the most well-known version of the game.
Here are only some of the many different blackjack versions, all with unique characteristics:
| Game Type | Unique Characteristic |
| American Blackjack | The “late surrender” option is included. |
| European Blackjack | The dealer must stand on all 17s, and there is no “late surrender” option. |
| Spanish 21 | Spanish 21 is played with a 48-card deck and has a “match play” option. |
| Pontoon (Australian Blackjack) | Players can only double down on 9s, 10s, or 11s, and no pairs can be split. |
| Super Fun 21 | Players can split any pair of cards and double down on any hand. |
| Vegas Strip | Players can double down on any initial hand and split pairs up to four times. |
| Blackjack Switch | Players are dealt two hands instead of one and can switch the top cards of each hand. |
| Perfect Pairs | Perfect Pairs has a side bet that grants bonuses for hitting a “perfect pair” – two cards of the same rank, suit, or color. |
Out of all of these, the most prevalent kind that can be found in Swedish online casinos tends to be European Blackjack. However, most Swedish online casinos offer multiple types to suit a variety of player’s needs.
How the Swedish Gambling Authority Influences the Market
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) is Sweden’s highest gambling regulation authority. Its Gambling Act, which was updated SFS 2023:309, is the act that set the cornerstones for how Sweden’s online gambling laws would develop from thereon.
Spelinspektionen’s influence can be felt all across the market, as supported by Statista’s findings. Under the SGA’s authority, high taxation, legitimacy, and transparency have become the norm. High fines are issued to anyone who doesn’t follow their regulations.
This has led to a climate where competition is low, as the standard for quality is very high. Each online casino that wants to open its doors to the Swedish public must comply with the strict regulations laid out by the SGA, and failure to do so incurs a heavy fine. Additionally, if a casino wants to make a change, it must notify and report to the SGA about every change it implements.
These regulations have made it impossible for many online casinos to enter the Swedish market, with only the most exemplary online casinos being granted access to the Swedish market. The rest are turned down until they meet the outlined standards.
Summary & Finishing Thoughts
Blackjack is one of the world’s most beloved table games, and this is also true for Sweden’s online casino scene. What’s interesting, however, is the game’s impact on the Swedish market and the average player. It shows that blackjack is mainly a newcomer-populated game, with long-time users preferring other types of games instead.
The remarkable rise of Sweden’s online gambling market is also astonishing, with blackjack-type games contributing significantly to that rise. As the market grows and new players come into it, blackjack will likely become an even more popular game than it already is.
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