Stockholm police have performed a dramatic armed raid on the long-running Krukan Poker Membership with virtually 100 officers current on the membership.
What started as an everyday quiet Friday night time on the membership quickly become a scene worthy of a Hollywood script because the heavy-handed tactical unit swooped into place accompanied by a helicopter, drones, and the Swedish Playing Authority.
The authorities claimed that the favored poker membership was not more than an underground hub working with out the required licensing.
Officers rushed into the room with weapons pointing on the nervous gamers who had been in the midst of a €100 buy-in match.
The authorities gave a public assertion which stated that three males, a 30-year-old and two of their 40s, had been arrested at their properties.
Searches had been carried out and police stated they seized “important property” from the people who’re suspected of unlawful playing and different “financial crimes.”
SWAT group with #weapons drawn, #Europol on web site, and drones over Stockholm #sweden🇸🇪.. all for a €100 match filled with pastime poker gamers.
That is #livepoker.#svepol #poker #pokerunderattack #sga #spelinspektionen #krukan #svepof pic.twitter.com/4PRrclvTi2
— Pokerwired.com (@pokerwired) November 29, 2025
Statements from the police point out that the raid was performed in an expert method whereas witness statements from gamers and membership workers declare that the angle of regulation enforcement was removed from the anticipated normal.
The Swedish Poker Affiliation (SvePof) reported a number of complaints in regards to the over-the-top entry, detailing how aged gamers had been shoved to the bottom while having computerized weapons pointed at them.
Gamers additionally reported that they had been compelled to take a seat in silence for hours with their palms on their heads, including to the depth of what was already a hectic scenario.
What Is the Legality of Poker in Sweden?
It’s authorized to play poker in Sweden most often. On-line poker is extensively obtainable within the nation, offered that the platform holds a license issued by the Swedish Playing Authority.
Reside video games are additionally authorized if the related license is held by the host. However sadly for the Kruken Poker Membership, the entity has lengthy operated with out one.
So how has Kruken managed to fly beneath the radar for therefore lengthy in a Western European nation with a reliable police drive? The solutions to that query are many and we don’t have any official reply from the membership house owners.
The membership is members solely with some suggesting that the authorities probably assumed it was a not-for-profit membership.
There was additionally speak of Swedish courts beforehand ruling related set-ups as non-“harmful” playing, leaving the already stretched police drive selecting to make use of assets elsewhere.
What subsequent? No matter comes subsequent isn’t more likely to be an enchancment as earlier this 12 months because the Swedish Parliament voted to finish all brick-and-mortar playing within the nation.
The 4 government-owned properties that operated beforehand have now shut down with no extra licenses being authorized beneath the present regime.
Fortuitously, Swedish gamers can nonetheless get their poker repair with varied on-line poker platforms.
