Casino Payment Methods

Swedish Gambling Tax Rules: Tax-Free EEA vs. 30% Curacao Tax

Before we discuss casino payment methods, you must understand the cost of winning. Many Swedish players ignore this and face issues with Skatteverket (The Swedish Tax Agency) later. Your tax liability depends on the license jurisdiction of the casino. 

EEA Casinos are Tax-Free

Your winnings are tax-free if the casino has a license within the European Economic Area (EEA). The rule applies to licenses from:

• MGA (Malta Gaming Authority)
• EMTA (Estonian Tax and Customs Board)

According to EU free trade laws, if a company legally sells a gambling service in an EU country, Sweden can’t tax the winnings. That’s why most players in Sweden search for Tax-free casinos or Skattefria casinon. 

Non-EEA Casinos Have 30% Tax

You must declare your net winnings as capital income if you play at a site licensed outside the EEA. You must pay a 30% tax, which applies to:

• Curacao eGaming
• Kahnawake
• Costa Rica 
• Anjouan

Most crypto casinos have a license from Curacao eGaming. Therefore, technically, crypto winnings are subject to this 30% tax. 

Instant Banking & The Pay N Play Misconception

Players in Sweden are used to Trustly Pay N Play. You deposit, and your account is created and verified automatically via BankID. However, this works differently at offshore casinos. 

Even if you find a site offering instant banking, it usually handles only the payment. It does not perform KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. You can deposit instantly, but when you want to withdraw, you still need to upload a passport photo and a utility bill. 

Brite is Becoming Popular

Brite has emerged as the alternative because Trustly is retreating from the grey market due to pressure from Spelinspektionen. 

• Technology: Brite connects directly to your Swedish bank account using Open Banking APIs. 
• Availability: It is increasingly common at MGA and EMTA casino sites. 
• Status: It works efficiently, but like Trustly, it faces pressure to block transactions to unlicensed sites. 

Trustly and Zimpler

These are Swedish companies, but they are under strict supervision. Both are actively blocking traffic to Curacao casinos. If you see Trustly at a Curacao site, it is usually a masked connection. 

It may work today and fail tomorrow. If you find Brite or Zimpler at an MGA casino, use it because it is the cheapest method. On the other hand, if you play at a Curacao site, don’t rely on these payment methods. 

Visa and Mastercard as Payment Methods

Visa and Mastercard remain the most important payment methods for Swedish players despite the restrictions from local banks. Many international casinos have upgraded their payment gateways to ensure these transactions go through. 

The important thing for a successful card deposit is 3D Secure (Verified by Visa / Mastercard ID Check). It is a system that connects your card directly to your Swedish BankID for verification. 

When you use a Swedish bank card at an offshore casino, the process is identical to shopping online at Amazon or Zalando. It relies on 2FA, which means Two-Factor Authentication:

1. Enter Details: You type your 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVC code in the casino cashier. 
2. Authentication: The casino payment process contacts your bank, and you receive a notification on your phone to open the app. 
3. Signing: You verify the specific amount and merchant in the app using your personal code or FaceID. 
4. Completion: Once signed, the funds are transferred within 10 to 60 seconds into your casino account. 

You may ask: Why do Nordea and Swedbank approve this if they are supposed to block gambling-related transactions? The important factor is the Payment Processor. 

Offshore casinos don’t process the payment directly. It uses third-party FinTech intermediaries. When you sign the BankID request, the merchant name appears as a generic financial service rather than the casino. 

Revolut & N26 in Offshore Casinos

Both Revolut and N26 are the most reliable strategies for professional players. Actually, you need a buffer between your Swedish salary account and the casino. 

Revolut

Revolut is a digital bank licensed in Lithuania (EU). It is a foreign bank, which means Swedish banks treat transfers to it as standard international transfers, not gambling transactions. Follow these steps to use Revolut in an offshore or unlicensed casino:

1. Top-up: Send SEK from Swedbank or Nordea to your Revolut account because this is never blocked. 
2. Exchange: Covert SEK to EUR inside the Revolut app
3. Deposit: Use the Revolut Visa or Mastercard to deposit at the casino. 

The casino sees a card from Lithuania. Your Swedish bank sees a transfer to your own Revolut account. Therefore, the MCC code blocking is bypassed effectively. 

Moreover, you can withdraw winnings back to your Revolut IBAN via SEPA transfer. Remember, don’t enable the “Gambling Block” feature in the Revolut security settings. 

N26

Although N26 works identically to Revolut, it gives you a German IBAN. It is a reliable backup if you experience issues with Revolut. The app is excellent for bankroll management. For example, you can use sub-accounts to separate your gaming funds from daily spending. 

Besides, the standard plan is free and includes a virtual Mastercard and decent ATM withdrawal limits. N26 integrates Wise technology for transferring money to casinos. Thus, it makes international transfers cheaper than traditional banks. It is a reliable layer for secure SEPA payments. 

E-Wallets Maintain Privacy & Anonymity

E-wallets are digital containers for your gambling funds. These are essential if you want to keep your bank statement clean for mortgage applications or credit checks. 

MiFinity

MiFinity is specifically optimizing for the iGaming sector. You can top up the wallet using Swish, Trustly, or cards. About 90% of Curacao and MGA casinos accept this payment method. However, it charges a fee to deposit into the wallet, which is approximately 1.8%. It also charges a fee to withdraw to your bank. 

Jeton

Jeton is popular for its Jeton Cash voucher system. It provides a virtual IBAN in some jurisdictions. However, the verification process is strict. 

AstroPay

AstroPay is a hybrid between an E-wallet and a prepaid card. You buy a digital AstroPay card and use the details to deposit funds in an offshore casino. 

Astropay uses advanced encryption systems to maintain the anonymity of players. But it is a “one-way” method often, and you may need a bank transfer to withdraw, which brings us back to the banking risk. 

Apple Pay and Google Pay

Many people in Sweden search for “Apple Pay casinos without license.” You may see players depositing directly with Apple Pay or Google Pay at offshore casinos. However, Apple Pay is just a digital wallet, which charges the card you linked to it. 

For example, you have linked your Nordea or Swedbank debit card. When you pay, the casino sends a request with MCC 7995 (Gambling). Although it is via Apple Pay, your Swedish bank sees the code, and it may block the transaction. 

On the other hand, you linked a Revolut or N26 to Apple Pay. The bank, such as Revolut, allows gambling, which means the transaction goes through instantly. 

A player is likely using a foreign card with the Apple Pay wallet, not a standard Swedish bank card. That’s why it is working without issues. 

Why Does it Sometimes Work for Swedes?

Some Curacao casinos use payment processors that cheat the system. These platforms intentionally label the transaction as “Digital Goods” or “Marketing Services” instead of Gambling. 

In this specific case, Apple Pay with a Swedish card will work because the bank does not know it is for a casino. However, this is unstable as banks catch these payment gateways quickly and block them. It may work on Tuesday and fail on Friday. 

Don’t rely on direct Apple Pay deposits if your underlying card is Swedish. It is a gamble on whether the casino has rigged its merchant codes. Therefore, use Apple Pay or Google Pay only to top up a middle layer. 

For instance, use Apple Pay to deposit into Revolut or Jeton. Then, deposit from that account to the casino. Remember, this strategy guarantees a 100% success rate and keeps your main bank statement clean from suspicious random merchants. 

Cryptocurrencies at Non-Swedish Casino Sites

Crypto-based payments are the only permanent solution if you are tired of declined transactions in international casinos. The blockchain does not care about Swedish regulations. 

Tether or USDT

USDT (Tether) is superior to Bitcoin for gambling. For instance, 1 USDT is equal to 1 USD, which means the value does not fluctuate. Always use the TRC-20 (Tron) network. Transaction fees are approximately $1. If you use ERC-20 (Ethereum), fees are $10 to $20. 

Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin is accepted everywhere. However, it is highly volatile. If Bitcoin drops 5% while you are playing Roulette, you lose money even if you break even in the game. Network fees are also higher than those of Tron. 

Moreover, don’t send crypto directly from Coinbase or Binance to a casino. These exchanges have strict anti-gambling policies and may freeze your account. We suggest:

• Exchange: Buy crypto on Binance. 
• Personal Wallet: Sent it to a private wallet, such as Exodus, Metamask, or Trust Wallet. 
• Casino: Send from your private wallet to the casino. 

How to Withdraw from Casinos Without a Swedish License

Depositing is easy, but withdrawing winnings is where the problem occurs. Casinos without Swedish licenses don’t have a connection to the Swedish population registry, which means they can’t verify you automatically. You must prove your identity before your first withdrawal, as this is the standard AML procedure. 

• Passport or National ID card. 
• A utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months. 
• Screenshot of your Revolut profile or e-wallet account. 

Complete the KYC procedure immediately after registration. Verification takes 24 to 48 hours. If you wait until you win big, this delay will cause annoyance and frustration. 

When it comes to withdrawal speeds, crypto usually takes 10 minutes to 2 hours, e-wallets, like Jeton or MiFinity, are instant or 12 hours, and bank transfers take 2 to 5 business days. 

Never withdraw large amounts directly to a Swedish bank account (Swedbank, Nordea, etc.). If a large sum arrives from a foreign entity labeled as “Gaming,” the bank may freeze the funds and demand an investigation into the source of funds. 

It may even close your account for violating its terms regarding high-risk transactions. Therefore, withdraw to Revolut or N26 first. Then, transfer to your Swedish account as a standard “savings transfer.” 

Casino Payment Methods Fee Structure

Final Words About Payment Methods in Offshore Casinos

You must stop relying on your local Swedish bank to bypass the blocks effectively. Set up a Revolut account for daily play or learn to use USDT for complete privacy. Always check the license, as MGA is tax-free, while Curacao costs you 30%. Verify your ID immediately after registration to avoid delays later. Manage your bankroll wisely and follow responsible gambling rules.