Svenska Spel Achieves Best-Ever Q2 as World Cup Drives Sports Betting Surge

Svenska Spel, Sweden’s state-owned gambling operator, recorded its strongest ever second-quarter net gaming revenue for the period ending June 30, 2026. The company reported NGR of SEK1.96bn (€177.8m), representing a 7% year-on-year increase and a 4% sequential improvement compared to Q1. Operating profit rose 13% to SEK617m, while the operating margin edged up from 30% to 31%.

Lottery and sports betting performance

The operator’s Luck brand, encompassing lottery products such as Eurojackpot and Lotto, generated NGR of SEK1.34bn, up 7% year-on-year. A particularly high Eurojackpot prize in May helped set a new monthly revenue record for that vertical. Meanwhile, sports and casino NGR climbed 11% to SEK552m, with June alone seeing a 24% annual increase. Sports betting revenue surged 135% during that month, fueled by wagers on the FIFA World Cup. Active customer numbers rose 36%, and new registrations jumped more than 340% compared to June 2025. Svenska Spel attributed this engagement partly to its long-standing partnership with the Swedish Football Association; Sweden reached the round of 32 before losing to France.

Online revenue grew 14% in Q2 and now accounts for 67% of total NGR, up from 62% a year earlier. Mobile gaming represented 58% of all revenue. However, not all divisions prospered: the Vegas gaming hall business saw NGR decline 16% to SEK69m, reflecting the ongoing shift to digital channels. As part of efficiency measures, the company reduced its headcount from 861 to 841.

CEO on sustainable growth

President and CEO Anna Johnson stated: “We have a clear focus on getting more customers choosing Svenska Spel, and the development during the quarter shows that our priorities are having an effect.” She also noted the company’s efforts to improve customer experience and expand functionality, particularly in casino, adding: “We continue to create sustainable growth by improving the customer offering, developing the gaming experience and strengthening our brands.” Johnson acknowledged that the quarter benefited from favourable external factors such as the World Cup, and that maintaining sustainable growth will require continued focus and execution. She reiterated the company’s commitment to responsible gaming as an integral part of product development.

First-half results

For the first six months of 2026, group NGR rose 4% to SEK3.84bn, while operating profit increased 8% to SEK1.28bn, excluding the impact of the closure of the last Casino Cosmopol land-based casino in April 2025.