Today, the Cosmopol Casino in Stockholm has permanently closed its doors, marking the end of Sweden’s last casino. This decision comes after a ruling by the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament, on 2 April 2025, which forced Svenska Spel, the state-owned Swedish gaming giant that owns the casino, to shut it down.
Early closure
Though the company had until December 2025 to bring the casino’s doors to a close, the decision was made to end its chapter today. “From a business perspective, it is the right decision to close immediately since the business has been operating at a loss for a long time,” explained Ola Enquist, CEO of Casino Cosmopol.
The loss of profitability was cited by Parliament as the primary reason for the casino’s closure, given that the state ultimately owns the venue, which is managed by Svenska Spel—the only company authorised to operate casinos in the country.
This early closure will also allow the company to focus on how to assist the 240 employees of the casino in the coming months. “Earlier today, we gathered all employees and announced that we have closed the casino and will not reopen,” . “It has been known for some time that the owner’s manual would change, and our focus is now on our employees to help them take the next step in their professional lives. We have initiated a union dialogue about the closure so that it will be as good as possible for everyone. Just as we did during the closures in Malmö and Gothenburg, we will organise a career fair for our employees in Stockholm with several invited companies.“
The end of an era
“Although we share the Riksdag’s and the government’s assessment, it is emotionally tough because an era has come to an end now that we have closed the casino in Stockholm,” expressed Enquist, adding: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the guests and teams who have worked in Stockholm over the years.“
What does this mean for Svenska Spel?
Casino players need not be too disappointed. Going to a casino is no longer the only way to play, as these games are now easily accessible in the pockets of enthusiasts. The global trend is that online casino games are rapidly gaining market share—and Svenska Spel has embraced this shift, investing in these emerging forms of entertainment.
“For over 20 years, Casino Cosmopol has offered an international casino experience to guests from all over the world. It is sad for our employees that the last casino has now closed, but at the same time, it will give us the opportunity to focus on growth in our other businesses,” said Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel.
The closure comes just a day after the company released its Q1 2025 results, which were deemed disappointing in light of expectations. In Q1 2025, Svenska Spel reported a 4.1% decline in net gaming revenue, falling to SEK 1.876 billion, down from SEK 1.956 billion in Q1 2024.
“This is primarily due to only one casino being open during the quarter, compared to three casinos being open for parts of the quarter last year,” explained the company in its Q1 2025 Interim Report. With the closure of the country’s last casino, the company will need to redouble its efforts to improve its results.
