Sports betting may be a favorite pastime of millions of sports fans but the unfortunate
reality is that placing wagers 🔑 online is not legal and regulated in all countries. It
is of essential importance to check whether these activities are 🔑 regulated and
permitted in the location you live in. To spare you the efforts, we shall outline in
brief the 🔑 legal status of online sports betting in several countries.
USA Some
jurisdictions prohibit citizens from participating in such activities as was 🔑 the case
in most of the USA until recently. Only punters residing in the states of Nevada,
Oregon, Delaware, and 🔑 Montana were allowed to participate in some forms of sports
betting because of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act 🔑 (PASPA) that
passed in 1992. The enactment of this piece of legislation resulted in an almost
nationwide ban of online 🔑 sports betting but fortunately, the Act was overturned by a
decision of the Supreme Court in May 2024. This favorable 🔑 ruling of the Court paved the
way for individual states to pass their own legislation regarding the legality of
online 🔑 sports betting. Delaware has already legalized fully online sports betting. New
Jersey is also among the states that legalized online 🔑 sports betting, along with
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, New Hampshire. In 2024, Tennessee
and Colorado are also expected 🔑 to legalize virtual sports betting and join the rest of
the states which have allowed their citizens to legally place 🔑 online bets on their
favorite sporting events. More states are expected to follow suit, legalizing and
regulating this popular form 🔑 of gambling within their borders. (Visit the USA sites)
UK
The United Kingdom is one of the best-regulated online gambling markets 🔑 in the world.
Betting on sporting events’ outcomes from the convenience of your home is fully legal
in this jurisdiction 🔑 and all online sportsbooks operating in the country are licensed
and strictly regulated by the local UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) 🔑 under the provisions
of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act of 2014. After the enactment of this
favorable legislation, many 🔑 local and offshore betting operators recognized the
enormous potential of the UK market and penetrated it by applying for UKGC 🔑 licenses.
This gave local punters an incredibly broad choice of legitimate online sportsbooks.
Enforcing proper regulations certainly makes sense considering 🔑 how widespread this form
of gambling is among UK citizens. The online sports betting market in the country has
been 🔑 growing at a steady pace after the introduction of the regulations. As of 2001,
punters from the UK are no 🔑 longer expected to pay a levy when betting on their favorite
sports. Instead, a tax was imposed on the sportsbooks 🔑 operating from within the country
which caused many local betting companies to transfer their operations offshore in an
attempt to 🔑 escape taxation. Local regulatory authorities solved this issue with the
introduction of the so-called point-of-consumption tax, demanding a 15% slice 🔑 from the
profits all licensed bookmakers earned when servicing UK punters, regardless of the
physical location of the operators. Of 🔑 course, bettors are still “taxed” in a way, not
by authorities but by the bookies themselves who secure their profits 🔑 by offering
customers reduced odds and larger margins. (Visit the UK sites)
Australia The legal
situation in regard to online betting 🔑 in Australia is a bit daunting. After the
enforcement of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2024, online sports betting
🔑 remained legal but some of the amendments in the legislation outlawed specific types of
wagering. Web-based sportsbooks were in effect 🔑 prohibited from accepting bets on the
in-play markets (bets on events in progress) from Australian punters. This pertains to
both 🔑 locally licensed and offshore gambling operators. For one reason or another,
wagers made before a given sporting event have started 🔑 to not count as a form of
“interactive” gambling according to Australian authorities and therefore, are allowed.
That being said, 🔑 many foreign-based sports betting platforms fail to comply with these
restrictions and would continue to accept wagers on their in-play 🔑 markets from
Australian customers. This may be attributed to ignorance regarding the new regulations
but many offshore operators simply choose 🔑 to ignore the changes because the Australian
authorities do not prosecute them for not complying. (Visit the Australian
sites)
Canada Canadian 🔑 punters can have their peace of mind knowing that betting on
sports online is legal in their jurisdiction but there 🔑 are restrictions that need to be
complied with. The complexity here stems from the fact that each Canadian province has
🔑 its particular laws and requirements in this regard. A license by the respective
province needs to be issued in order 🔑 for a sportsbook to operate legally on its
territory. What further contributes to the confusion is the distinction between what
🔑 forms of sports betting are allowed and what is forbidden. Locally licensed sports
betting operators are permitted to offer only 🔑 parlay aka accumulator bets, where wagers
on several events are combined and the punter wins only if all selections in 🔑 the parlay
are successful. This heavily restricts the legal betting options for Canadian punters.
However, since offshore bookmakers licensed outside 🔑 the country are not blocked,
Canadian bettors looking for a greater diversity would often choose to experiment with
different wager 🔑 types by visiting foreign websites. Furthermore, players from this
jurisdiction are not harassed by local authorities for participating in offshore 🔑 sports
betting activities. (Visit the Canadian sites)
Austria Gambling, sports wagering
included, is fully legal and regulated in the Republic of 🔑 Austria. Austrians are
particularly keen on betting on the outcomes of European soccer games due to the
massive popularity this 🔑 sport enjoys in the country. Sports and horse wagering are
regulated on a state level, with each of the nine 🔑 Austrian federated provinces
(Bundesländer) having each own legislation and regulatory body. The sports wagering
laws in the Bundesländer all rest 🔑 on federal legislation that dates back to the first
half of the 20th century. However, each federated province has amended 🔑 its betting
legislation in line with Austria’s updated anti-money laundering policies. Both
landbased and remote forms of legal betting are 🔑 available to Austrian punters. The
legal definition of sports wagering, the licenses’ duration, and the allowed product
scope vary between 🔑 federated states. Some states only allow for traditional wagering on
the outcomes of sporting events. Others, like Tyrol and Vorarlberg, 🔑 also permit social
betting, i.e. on presidential elections or other cultural and political events. ESports
are not explicitly regulated on 🔑 Austrian soil but all nine states regulate pool
betting. In-play wagering is disallowed in most provinces although some permit it 🔑 with
certain restrictions. In Vienna, punters can place in-play bets only on the partial or
end outcomes of live events. 🔑 The country has an open licensing regime, with no
restrictions on the maximum permits for bookmakers. This approach helps create 🔑 an open
and well-developed market. Licensed landbased and remote betting operators have to pay
a 2% tax on the wagers 🔑 they collect. Some provinces require online licensees to have a
physical presence (servers etc.) within their territory. State authorities are 🔑 not in
the habit of blocking local punters from accessing unauthorized online sportsbooks. The
legal sports betting age in most 🔑 Austrian Bundesländer is 18 years old.(Visit the
Аustrian sites)
South Africa There is no denying South Africans are keen on sports,
🔑 even more so considering some of the world’s top-performing athletes hail from the
country. This love for sports extends to 🔑 regularly punting on local and international
competitions. South Africans can do it legally since the country regulates both
landbased and 🔑 online sports betting. The regulatory landscape changed after the
enforcement of the 1996 National Gambling Act. The legislation paved the 🔑 way for
regulated sports and horse wagering, leading to the creation of the National Gambling
Board of South Africa (NGB). 🔑 The country regulates these activities both on a federal
and provincial level. The NGB has a central role in aligning 🔑 the regulatory standards
across all nine South African provinces. A main priority of the regulator is ensuring
the protection of 🔑 local punters and preserving the sports’ integrity in South Africa.
The NGB also strives to curb the proliferation of illegal 🔑 betting activities and
prevent problem gambling by thoroughly reviewing all promotional materials for the
sports betting and racing industries. The 🔑 bookmakers looking to service local punters
must obtain licenses from the regulators in one of the nine South African provinces.
🔑 The Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board leads the race in terms of issued permits,
with over forty operating bookmaking 🔑 licensees. Sportingbet is one of the leading
licensed providers of betting services in the country, with more than 100,000 active
🔑 punters since its 2009 launch. South Africans who engage in unauthorized betting
theoretically may suffer penalties, although the local authorities 🔑 tend to prosecute
operators rather than individual bettors. Ever since the gambling industry’s
liberalization back in the mid-1990s, sports betting 🔑 in South Africa has witnessed
unprecedented growth. The industry continues to maintain this positive trend, reporting
a 20% average growth 🔑 between 2010 and 2024.(Visit the South African sites)
Norway In
Norway, the state has a monopoly over the entire gambling sector 🔑 whereby two
state-owned companies have exclusive rights over the provision of sports betting
services. Operators cannot distribute or market their 🔑 products to Norwegians without
permits from Norway’s Gaming Authority. The market is closed to foreign competition –
no commercial operators 🔑 have received licenses so far. The Norwegian regulator can only
grant permits to non-profit organizations, which leaves local punters with 🔑 limited
legal betting options. Two laws are responsible for the current monopoly on sports
betting, one of them being the 🔑 Gaming Act of 1992. It granted exclusive rights to Norsk
Tipping to provide lotteries, instant-win games, and soccer betting. The 🔑 1927 Act on
Tote Betting enabled Norsk Rikstoto (the Norwegian National Tote) to become the
exclusive pari-mutuel betting provider for 🔑 equestrian sports. These restrictions hardly
prevented local punters from taking their action to offshore sportsbooks that target
Norwegian customers. Sports 🔑 betting with unauthorized websites was so rampant that it
led to the enforcement of the 2010 Regulation on Payment Transfers. 🔑 This legislation
effectively prohibits local banks and financial institutions from processing payments
to offshore betting sites. Nonetheless, these measures have 🔑 done little to restrict
unauthorized betting activities in Norway. Many offshore sports betting operators have
managed to dodge the restrictions 🔑 by using third-party payment processors. Such
sportsbooks cater to local punters by supporting NOK and offering their services in the
🔑 Norwegian language. (Visit the Norwegian sites)
Belgium Gambling is embedded in
Belgians’ culture. The Federal Act of 7 May 1999, or 🔑 the Gaming Act, is the country’s
main piece of legislation that governs the provision of gambling services throughout
the country 🔑 except for the lotteries. This means that sports betting also falls under
it. The country’s gambling regulator, the Belgium Gaming 🔑 Commission, was established
under the Gaming Act and currently, it still performs its regulatory duties. Sports
betting is also within 🔑 its scope of powers. In 2011, lawmakers adopted some amendments
to the law to include online gambling and sports betting. 🔑 Belgium offers 10 different
licenses, depending on the products a given operator wants to offer. The relevant
license for offering 🔑 sports betting services is the so-called F-style license. F1
licenses allow the organization of up to 35 bets, while to 🔑 accept wagers, operators
should acquire an F2 license. According to the country’s legal framework, to be able to
accept online 🔑 sports bets, operators need to acquire an F1+ license. The F-style
licenses are interrelated and an operator needs all of 🔑 them to legally offer online
sports betting services to players from Belgium. Acquiring a sports betting license in
Belgium is 🔑 not an easy task as the applicants need to meet some strict requirements.
F-style licenses are valid for 9 years. 🔑 A curious fact is that the most popular sport
on which Belgians place bets is soccer. However, placing bets on 🔑 sports such as tennis,
boxing, horse racing, cycling, and others is also an option. (Visit the Belgian
sites)
Finland An undeniable 🔑 fact is that Finns are fond of all forms of gambling,
including sports betting. The provision of gambling activities throughout 🔑 the country
is subject to a state monopoly. It is held by three entities, each responsible for a
different gambling 🔑 branch. When it comes to sports betting, it is the Veikkaus Oy that
is tasked with overseeing the industry. It 🔑 is also responsible for regulating the
national lottery and instant win games. The other two entities are RAY and Fintoto 🔑 Oy.
These regulate land-based casinos and pari-mutuel horse racing, accordingly. There is
also a fourth entity called PAF and it 🔑 controls the provision of all kinds of gambling
activities in the Aland Province. As for now, PAF and RAY are 🔑 the two entities that are
allowed by the Finnish government to legally run gambling sites. Sports betting
enthusiasts can legally 🔑 place bets on their favorite sporting event only if they are 18
years old or more. As it turns out, 🔑 there is a major loophole in the Finnish regulatory
framework as the country neither blocks offshore operators nor prevents Finns 🔑 from
placing bets at offshore gambling sites. The European Union and Finland often lock
horns over the state monopoly on 🔑 gambling. In December 2024, the European Gaming and
Betting Association (EGBA) advised Finnish lawmakers to put an end to the 🔑 monopoly,
being the only European country that still maintains such a regime. Experts believe
that the country’s lawmakers will amend 🔑 their gambling laws in the near future.
Veikkaus has been recently criticized for its marketing policies. (Visit the Finnish
sites)
Germany 🔑 It is hard to say whether online gambling in Germany is legal as the
country has adopted a perplexing stance 🔑 on the matter. What adds up to the confusion is
that the industry is regulated on a national level but 🔑 the different states can
regulate gambling the way they deem it wise. Sports betting is viewed as a form of
🔑 gambling. In 2008, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG) came into effect to ban all
forms of gambling except for 🔑 sports betting and horse racing run by state-owned
companies. Initially, all states agreed to adopt this piece of legislation. This
🔑 unanimity lasted only until 2012, when Schleswig-Holstein decided to regulate the
industry and license several operators. A few years later, 🔑 the country was scrutinized
by the EU for its strict gambling regulations which gave rise to some changes.
Germany’s gambling 🔑 market has always been a rough diamond that should be polished to
deploy its full potential. Unfortunately, the authorities kept 🔑 their eyes closed for
the gambling industry’s great potential for years. In 2024, news agencies reported that
the lawmakers are 🔑 to legalize online casinos and online poker. Under new regulation
that is to come into force on 1st July 2024, 🔑 an unlimited number of sports betting
providers will be able to enter the German market. Currently, it is perfectly legal 🔑 to
place a sports bet at an offshore casino or sports book and subsequent winnings are
subject to a 5% 🔑 fee. (Visit the German sites)
Italy Italy is a beautiful country that
takes pride in its ancient history. Gambling throughout the 🔑 country can be traced back
to the Roman Empire, when people were making bets on Gladiator fights. Nowadays,
gambling is 🔑 among the Italian’s favorite leisure activities. The oldest casino across
Europe, Ridotto, opened doors in Italy in 1638. Over the 🔑 years, Italian authorities
made efforts to reduce the exposure of its residents to gambling activities. The
pivotal year for the 🔑 online gambling industry was 2007 when Italian lawmakers
introduced the so-called Decree on Liberalization. Fast-forward to today, the country
differentiates 🔑 the games based on luck from the games that require some special skills.
Sports betting is viewed as a gambling 🔑 activity based on luck. Hence, Italians can
legally bet on various sporting events. Until 2010, all foreign operators were blocked.
🔑 Only the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and the National Horse Breeders
Enhancement Society (UNIRE) were allowed to offer online 🔑 and offline sports betting
services. This means that even though sports betting was regulated, it was a state
monopoly. In 🔑 2009, the European Commission scolded Italian legislators for the strict
gambling rules. As a result, in 2010, the country’s gambling 🔑 regulator, Amministrazione
Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS), was given the green light to issue licenses to
foreign sports betting 🔑 providers as long as they meet the requirements. (Visit the
Italian sites)
New Zealand Much like its neighbors, the Australians, Kiwis 🔑 love
gambling. The main piece of legislation that currently governs the industry is the
Gambling Act 2003. Since its implementation, 🔑 the law was amended twice. Currently, it
states that only individuals above 18 years old are allowed to place sports 🔑 bets, play
lottery games, or buy scratch cards. The minimum age to gamble at a casino is 20 years.
The 🔑 main regulatory body overseeing sports betting and gambling activities is the
Gambling Commission. It, on the other hand, falls under 🔑 the authority of the Department
of Internal Affairs. The Gambling Commission does not have the power to change the laws
🔑 but rather perform its duties within the established legal framework. New Zealand’s
gambling law outlines four major classes of gambling 🔑 activities that are legal. If a
given gambling form does not belong to any of them, it is against the 🔑 law. Kiwis can
legally place bets on sporting events online as long as the operator is based outside
New Zealand. 🔑 Operators are strictly forbidden to promote their gambling services within
New Zealand. The government slaps wrongdoers with hefty fines of 🔑 up toR$10,000. Punters
should be careful when selecting a preferred online sports betting provider as their
interests are protected according 🔑 to the legal framework established by the specific
licensing country. Even though Kiwis can choose from a variety of odds, 🔑 they tend to
prefer the decimal format as determining their winning potential is a child’s play.
(Visit the New Zealand 🔑 sites)
Scotland Scotland is a constitutional part of the United
Kingdom that occupies a third of Great Britain. The regulation of 🔑 its gambling industry
is in the hands of the UK Gambling Commission that was founded in 2007. The law that
🔑 establishes the legal climate for the provision of gambling activities in Scotland is
the Gambling Act 2005. Over the years, 🔑 Scotland went through a thorny path when it
comes to gambling regulation. Nowadays, all forms of online and offline gambling
🔑 activities are regulated throughout the country. This means that punters from Scotland
are free to place the type of bet 🔑 they wish to on their favorite sports team. Under the
gambling law, sports bettors should be at least 18 years 🔑 old to legally participate in
gambling activities, including sports betting. Scottish sports betting shops tend to
present the odds either 🔑 in decimal or fractional format. The fractional odds enjoy
greater popularity among Scottish people. The legal framework throughout Scotland aims
🔑 at protecting punters’ best interests and stamp out gambling-related problems. Winnings
from sports betting activities are tax-free. Operators who would 🔑 like to legally offer
sports betting services in Scotland are required to have a license issued by the UK
Gambling 🔑 Commission. Obtaining such a license is no picnic as the gambling authority
maintains the highest standards on the market. (Visit 🔑 the Scottish sites)
Sweden For
years, Swedish authorities aimed at introducing a state monopoly on gambling activities
in a bid to 🔑 limit illegal gambling. Svenska Spel was the only state-owned entity that
was allowed to offer gambling services within Sweden without 🔑 infringing the law. The
two major laws that governed the gambling industry up until recently were the 1994
Lotteries Act 🔑 and the 1999 Casinos Act. In 2002, the Swedish government introduced
amendments to the already existing laws, allowing Svenska Spel 🔑 to offer online gambling
services. Hence, Swedish punters had a very limited choice in terms of virtual
sportsbooks and casinos. 🔑 In 2005, the popular online sportsbook Ladbrokes tried to set
its footprint on the lucrative Swedish market, but its attempts 🔑 failed. The gambling
landscape throughout the country dramatically changed in 2024, when the country
introduced amendments to the Gambling Act. 🔑 The new legislation opened the possibility
for foreign operators to enter the Swedish market. Interested operators were required
to obtain 🔑 a license from the county’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen. Under the
country’s gambling laws, licensed sports betting and casino operators should 🔑 offer no
more than one Welcome Bonus to Swedes. What is more, punters under the legal gambling
age of 18 🔑 years old are strictly prohibited from joining a sportsbook. The number of
payment solutions is also very limited. In an 🔑 attempt to minimize gambling-related
problems, all Swedish bettors are required to set limits on their daily deposits.
(Visit the Swedish 🔑 sites)
The Netherlands Sports wagering is among the most widespread
forms of gambling in the Netherlands. Until recently, the sector was 🔑 subject to a state
monopoly – the only two entities that could offer betting in landbased or online form
were 🔑 the state-owned Dutch State Lottery (Nederlandse Loterij) and Sportech Racing BV.
Unauthorized bookmakers who explicitly targeted Dutch residents suffered heavy
🔑 financial penalties. The Dutch sports betting industry finally opened to private and
foreign competition with the approval of the Remote 🔑 Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op
afstand) in 2024. The passage of this bill is a turning point in the history 🔑 of the
Dutch gambling industry. It paved the way for legal remote betting in the country and
opened the market 🔑 to foreign bookmakers. The Remote Gambling Act enters into force at
the beginning of March 2024, with the first locally 🔑 authorized betting sites commencing
operations at the beginning of September 2024. The Act sets the requirements for
advertising and problem 🔑 gambling prevention, creating a safer betting environment for
Dutch punters. Apart from traditional sports betting, prospective licensees can accept
wagers 🔑 on eSports, fantasy, and virtual sports. Authorized operators can also offer
in-play betting as well as horse and harness racing. 🔑 Kansspelautoriteit (the Dutch
Gaming Authority) issues the remote licenses and supervises approved licensees.
Applicants will not be required to partner 🔑 with local brick-and-mortar operators to
receive permits. They also have to comply with a 32-month cooling-off period before
they submit 🔑 their applications. This means an operator must not have targeted Dutch
punters without authorization within this timeframe, or else their 🔑 application will be
rejected. (Visit the Dutch sites)
Denmark Sports wagering is legal on the territory of
Denmark but only on 🔑 condition the bookmakers hold valid licenses that enable them to
service Danish punters legally. Where remote gambling is concerned, the 🔑 Danish Gambling
Authority (DGA) issues two types of permits – betting licenses (for sports wagering)
and online casino licenses (for 🔑 the provision of table games and slots). The Danish
Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) regulates the industry under the provisions of
the 🔑 Danish Gambling Act. A license issued by the DGA covers remote and brick-and-mortar
sports betting services and has a validity 🔑 of up to five years. Remote applicants also
have the option to apply for combined permits that would allow them 🔑 to offer both
wagering on sports and online casino games. A full list of all approved remote and
landbased bookmakers 🔑 is available at the DGA’s official website. Punters from Denmark
have legal access to the services of leading sportsbooks like 🔑 Betfair, 888, Unibet, and
Mr Green. All licensed sportsbooks in Denmark must pay annual license fees and duties
based on 🔑 their gross gaming revenue (GGR). Operators based outside Denmark or the
EU/EEA must appoint representatives with permanent domicile in the 🔑 country. Said
representatives must first obtain the approval of the DGA. Licensed sportsbooks can
only provide betting to punters who 🔑 are at least 18 years of age. Respectively, the
websites must be available in Danish and support the DKK as 🔑 a currency. Residents who
punt at unauthorized betting sites are not held liable under Danish law. (Visit the
Dannish sites)
Ireland 🔑 Ireland has been regulating sports wagering since the early
1930s under the provisions of the 1931 Betting Act. This outdated 🔑 piece of legislation
was amended by the Betting (Amendment) Act of 2024, which paved the way for the
licensing of 🔑 remote sportsbooks and betting intermediaries. More changes followed after
the approval of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act of 2024 🔑 that came into force
in December 2024. Pari-mutuel wagering falls under the scope of the 1929 Totalizator
Act and its 🔑 subsequent amendments. Only two tote operators have received totalizator
permits so far – Horse Racing Ireland (the permit expires in 🔑 April 2024) and the Irish
Greyhound Board. Operators looking to penetrate the Irish market legally must obtain
valid licenses from 🔑 the local regulators, the Revenue Commissioners (colloquially known
as the Revenue). There are no restrictions on the number of remote 🔑 betting licenses at
the moment. However, the Revenue may impose one such cap if it deems fit. Remote
sportsbooks can 🔑 only accept punts from Irish bettors who are of legal gambling age (18
years old in the country). In addition 🔑 to licensing fees, approved online bookmakers
are subject to a 2% wagering duty. Charges of 25% apply to the commissions 🔑 of betting
intermediaries. The validity of the permits is typically two years. With that said, it
is a common practice 🔑 for offshore-licensed sportsbooks to provide bookmaking services
to Irish residents. Such operators have usually obtained their permits in jurisdictions
with 🔑 contemporary regulatory frameworks like Malta or Gibraltar. (Visit the Irish
sites)
Portugal Portugal is a country with a long gambling history 🔑 and it is the
country with some of the oldest brick-and-mortar betting facilities in Europe.
Throughout the years, Portugal has 🔑 legalized various forms of gambling, allowing its
residents to legally place bets on casino games, sports events, lottery, and bingo.
🔑 Both online and offline betting is possible in Portugal, making it a great place to
live if you are a 🔑 fan of recreational sports betting. Gambling in Portugal is regulated
thanks to two primary pieces of legislation, i.e. Decree-Law No. 🔑 422 (The Gambling Act
1989) and Decree-Law No. 66 of 2024. Betting on horse races was legalized with the
passing 🔑 of the Decree-Law No.69 of 2024. Meanwhile, football pools aslo known as
Totogolo were decriminalized in 1998 under the Decree-Law 🔑 No. 68. The two regulatory
bodies in Portugal are the Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) and the
Lisbon Holy 🔑 House of Mercy (SCML). The SCML regulates the National Lottery, land-based
fixed-odds sports betting, and mutual horse race betting. Online 🔑 sportsbooks are
allowed to offer odds on sports events only if they have obtained licenses by the RJO
(Online Legal 🔑 Gambling and Betting Regime). Although different forms of gambling have
been decriminalized in the past, the Portugal government still takes 🔑 steps towards
improving the laws that regulate this industry. The latest amendment to the law was
introduced in 2024, eliminating 🔑 the so-called progressive tax rate. New changes to the
legal framework of Portugal are expected either in 2024 or perhaps 🔑 even sooner. (Visit
the Portuguese sites)
Spain Land-based gambling enjoys great popularity in the country
of Spain but online gambling has 🔑 also started to catch up in the last few years. It is
predicted that thanks to the growing interest in 🔑 online wagering, the overall gambling
industry in Spain is expected to continue developing in the upcoming years and reach
even 🔑 a larger scale. Spain has legalized both the online and offline form of gambling,
allowing players to legally enjoy betting 🔑 on casino games, sports events, horse races,
bingo, poker, and lottery. While the state laws regulate online gambling, the regional
🔑 authorities in Spain are responsible for the regulations of regional land-based
gambling. The Royal Decree, also known as Law 16/1977, 🔑 was the piece of legislation
that decriminalized sports betting, as well as other forms of land-based gambling. The
same law 🔑 also defined the taxation pattern for licensed gambling operators, with the
tax rates ranging between 15% and 50%. With the 🔑 rise of interactive gambling, a new law
was passed in 2011. It legalized online gambling and marked the establishment of
🔑 Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), which is the regulatory body that
oversees the activity of online gambling operators 🔑 in Spain. DGOJ is also the
jurisdiction that issues licenses to operators who wish to offer online sports betting
services 🔑 to Spanish players. Bettors are required to declare their profits from
gambling-related activities in their tax returns. Meanwhile, online sportsbook
🔑 operators are required to pay a Tax on Gambling Activities, which amounts to 20% of
their gross gaming revenue. (Visit 🔑 the Spanish sites)
Hungary It is safe to say that
Hungarians live and breathe gambling, and sports betting in particular. Playing 🔑 casino
games and betting on sports started to gain even more traction after the legislative
changes that were introduced back 🔑 in 2013. Before that time, the choice of online
platforms Hungarians had was only limited to the state-run site Szerencsejáték 🔑 Zrt,
while the government took steps to block and blacklist overseas operators that
attempted to penetrate the gambling market. Things 🔑 changed for the better in the
country, as lawmakers had no other choice but to ease the restrictions overseas
operators 🔑 faced while they are looking to accommodate Hungarians. The restrictions were
lifted as a result of the growing pressure from 🔑 the EU, and this move was much-awaited
by operators. After overseas operators were authorized to compete for the Hungarian
gambling 🔑 industry, a number of established and well-known brands eyed the untapped
market. Presently, offline betting on sports is monopolized by 🔑 the country, while
overseas operators are given leave to provide their services in Hungary. The though
rules of engagement and 🔑 steep fees are what urge them against competing on the market.
(Visit the Hungarian sites)
Czech Republic Sports betting and other 🔑 gambling activities
in the Czech Republic are completely legal. Their constitutionalizing began back in
1990 and within one year the 🔑 first two operators legally entered the Czech market –
Fortuna and Tipsport. In the next 19 years, only brick-and-mortar premises 🔑 were
allowed. In 2009 online betting became part of legitimate gambling activities and the
first online sportsbooks were created. What 🔑 is characteristic of the Czech sports
betting market is that punters can bet with locally licensed bookies as well as 🔑 with
big international brands headquartered outside the country. There are no taxes on the
bettors’ winnings but local gambling operators 🔑 must pay significant taxes to the state,
which indirectly limits the bonuses and prizes they can provide. The services offered
🔑 by major sports betting brands in the Czech Republic are in no way different from the
ones in other markets. 🔑 Local punters can enjoy all the incentives possible – generous
welcome bonuses, free bets, reload and rebate promotions, and lucrative 🔑 cash prizes. As
for the most popular sports Czech punters bet on, they are undoubtedly ice hockey and
soccer. Bettors 🔑 have at their disposal numerous betting markets covering many domestic
leagues and all major international tournaments. The local legislation puts 🔑 no
restrictions on the sports you can wager and also on the bet types, thus enabling
punters to have a 🔑 complete and flawless betting experience. (Visit the Czech
sites)
France Over the years, France’s online sports betting scene as a whole 🔑 has
undergone many notable changes. In the early two thousands, the only operators legally
allowed to offer gambling services online 🔑 were the FDJ and PMU. Thankfully, the laws
were somewhat alleviated in 2009, and one year later, ARJEL was established. 🔑 ARJEL was,
at the time, responsible for issuing licenses to foreign operators. Apart from spread
betting, nowadays, most forms of 🔑 online sports betting are perfectly legal in France.
However, the country’s current regulatory body, the ANJ, is quite strict when 🔑 it comes
to the conditions that need to be met for a bookmaker to be eligible for a license.
While 🔑 this has, so far, heavily limited the number of bookmakers that are legally
allowed to offer sports betting to French 🔑 punters, France is one of the safest
countries out there for gambling aficionados. All bookmakers who wish to operate within
🔑 France must first obtain a license by the ANJ, the country’s aforementioned regulatory
body. Furthermore, there are separate licenses for 🔑 general sports betting versus horse
racing. If an operator is looking to offer both, they will need to acquire two 🔑 separate
licenses that need to be renewed every 5 years. Fortunately, there is no imposed limit
on how many licenses 🔑 the ANJ can issue currently. As for the requirements pertaining to
the punters themselves, any French resident is legally permitted 🔑 to partake in sports
betting, provided that they are at least 18 years old, and that they are not listed 🔑 as
an individual prohibited from gambling. (Visit the French sites)
Greece Sports wagering
is fully legal in Greece in both landbased 🔑 and online form. Greek punters are now able
to enjoy a decent variety of locally licensed online sportsbooks thanks to 🔑 the recent
liberalization and re-regulation of the country’s gambling market. The industry is
governed by two primary pieces of legislation, 🔑 the first one being Law 4002/2011 which
regulates gambling in general. Law 4635/2024 amended some of its provisions,
effectively putting 🔑 an end to the monopoly of the state-owned OPAP. In turn, this
enabled private foreign companies to finally receive Greek 🔑 licenses. Greece has adopted
an open licensing process, whereby interested sports betting operators can apply for
Type A permits from 🔑 the local regulator, the Hellenic Gaming Commission. The permits
for sports wagering have a duration of seven years and cost 🔑 €3 million per operator,
with the option for renewal one year before expiration. Greece has some of the highest
gambling 🔑 taxes in Europe, with licensed operators contributing 35% of the gross
revenue. Greek punters also pay withholding taxes on their 🔑 sports betting profits and
the rates reach 20% for winnings exceeding €500. The Greek regulatory authority
maintains a whitelist of 🔑 all approved betting firms as well as a blacklist of
unauthorized operators with blocked domains. Both are regularly updated and 🔑 readily
available on the regulator’s official website. Some of the biggest brand names in the
sports betting universe have already 🔑 gained the approval of the HGC, including
prominent names like Betsson, Unibet, and bet365. (Visit the Greek sites)
Brazil Sports
betting 🔑 and gambling in Brazil have been considered illegal since the adoption of a
decree signed by President Euricio Gaspar Dutra 🔑 in 1946. The only exceptions were
related to state-governed lotteries, wagers on horse racing in authorized tracks, and a
brief 🔑 open period for slot machines. Over the years, there have been many debates in
the National Congress of Brazil regarding 🔑 the legalization of sports betting and
different opinions have been discussed, taking into consideration the religious,
ideological and economic aspects 🔑 of the topic. Eventually, Brazil has taken the
necessary steps in the legalization of fixed-odds sports betting with the adoption 🔑 of
Law No. 13,756 in December, 2024. The authority that is in charge of preparing the
legal framework for fixed-odds 🔑 sports betting is the Ministry of Economy, and more
precisely the SECAP (the Secretariat for Public Policy Evaluation, Planning, Energy,
🔑 and Lottery). It has been granted with a four year period to deliver a unified
document, containing the legal criteria 🔑 according to which licensed and regulated
sportsbooks are supposed to operate. There are many offshore sportsbooks accepting
Brazil-based punters, but 🔑 currently there are no Brazilian operators. Consequently, it
is of paramount importance for Brazilian punters to be familiar with the 🔑 specifics of
sports betting, as well as the leading global bookmakers, offering competitive odds,
lucrative bonuses, and convenient payment solutions. 🔑 (Visit the Brazilian sites)
Turkey
Turkey is easily a country in which the East meets the West, and its strictly
controlled 🔑 gambling industry goes to show this. The gambling activities residents of
the country can freely access are thin on the 🔑 ground, and only include betting on
sports, horse races, and game of chance. These activities are considered regulated
gaming and 🔑 betting, and are exempted from the description of prohibited forms of gaming
provided in the law. Offline gaming was also 🔑 formerly authorized, but a ban on such
activities was introduced back in 1996. Around two decades ago, online gambling also
🔑 started to pick up steam in Turkey, but lawmakers turned the legality of such
activities on its head and introduced 🔑 a blanket ban. Yet, gaming operators continued to
freely service gambling enthusiasts from the country until 2013, when the government
🔑 went for stricter control over the operations. Under the new set of rules, fines and
imprisonment will be imposed not 🔑 only to residents of the county who take part in
authorized gambling but to operators that offer such services as 🔑 well. In spite of the
fact that the government has taken measures to block overseas operators, there are
still betting 🔑 sites that neglect the ban and accept users from Turkey. The only forms
of gambling residents of Turkey can legally 🔑 engage in are betting on horse races, given
that it is provided by the Jockey Club of Turkey, sports betting, 🔑 which is offered by
the IDDAA, and playing the lottery. (Visit the Turkish sites)
Argentina Argentina is
among the jurisdictions whose 🔑 legislation regarding sports betting is not the same for
the whole country and therefore needs to be carefully researched so 🔑 that you do not end
up in violation of any local regulation. Until recently, only land-based gambling
activities were fully 🔑 legitimate, so the country has a large number of brick-and-mortar
casinos and betting shops.Since 2024, online sports betting is legal 🔑 in the city and
the province of Buenos Aires where operators can apply for a license issued by the
Provincial 🔑 Lottery and Casino Institute. The relevant requirements are hard to fulfill
so betting operators do not show much interest. While 🔑 the local legislation says
nothing about online sportsbooks managed by foreign brands, it does not explicitly
prohibit their activity and 🔑 logically this is the preferred choice of many Argentine
punters. This is especially favorable for the local bettors since they 🔑 can benefit from
all the features and promotions provided by bookies like bet365, 22Bet, RedBet, and
Betway. To fund your 🔑 account balance, you can use debit & credit cards, bank transfers,
Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, AstroPay, and other payment methods. Winnings 🔑 are not
taxable, but keep in mind that the Ministry of Finance imposes a gambling tax of 5% on
all 🔑 online betting transactions. (Visit the Argentinian sites)
Mexico Mexico’s gambling
history is quite rich, with games of chance dating all the 🔑 way back to the time of the
Aztecs. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw further popularization of the
🔑 practice thanks to French influence. The Gaming Law introduced in 1947 complicated
things and led to a lot of confusion 🔑 since wagering was declared illegal, but the
Ministry of the Interior was put in charge of regulating and authorizing gambling
🔑 establishments. Thankfully, Mexico’s sports betting landscape has been growing steadily
in the past couple of decades. The 2004 and 2013 🔑 amendments to the country’s Gaming Law
made the legislation restrictions and rules significantly clearer, and nowadays
gambling is regulated and 🔑 legal. Mexican online bookmakers can operate within the
country provided that they are part of a brick-and-mortar venue that has 🔑 acquired the
necessary permit from the Ministry of the Interior. Furthermore, Mexican netizens are
not prohibited from wagering at off-shore 🔑 online sportsbooks, nor are the websites
themselves discouraged from accepting punters from Mexico. This leaves Mexican bettors
with a wide 🔑 variety of online bookies to pick from. (Visit the Mexican sites)
Japan
Japan has a fascinating culture and gambling and sports 🔑 betting have always been an
integral part of it. The East-Asian country has played host to a number of prominent
🔑 sports championships over the years and its population is keenly interested in various
sports. Presently, under Chapter 23 of the 🔑 Penal Code in Japan, only certain types of
sports are legally approved for sports betting. These include horse racing, powerboat
🔑 racing, motorcycle racing, and bicycle racing. Furthermore, Japan permits only the
pari-mutuel form of betting, whereby bets of certain type 🔑 are placed in a pool and the
final payouts are determined when the pool is closed. Licenses for operation are
🔑 granted only to certain state-governed entities. Horse races are operated and managed
by the Japan Horse Racing Association. Motorcycle and 🔑 bicycle races are supervised by
the Japan Keirin Autorace Foundation, while motorboat racing is governed by the Nippon
Foundation. Among 🔑 the favorite sports disciplines of Japan-based punters are baseball,
football, tennis, horse racing, and golf. Many more sports are available 🔑 at the
Japan-friendly online sportsbooks, allowing every bettor to find their favorite market.
Foreign-based bookmakers provide Japanese bettors with a 🔑 variety of betting options,
including many of their domestic leagues, as well as other major global championships.
(Visit the Japanese 🔑 sites)
Qatar Being the country with the third-biggest GDP per
capita in the whole world, Qatar has the potential to greatly 🔑 benefit economically from
a regulated gambling scene. That said, like many other Islamic countries, Qatar has
deemed every form of 🔑 gambling to be illegal. Naturally, this makes it difficult for
people who enjoy sports to place wagers on their favorite 🔑 teams or players. The ban on
gambling applies to both the offline and online forms of the sector. If you 🔑 are
visiting the country, do not expect to see any brick-and-mortar casinos, kiosks, or any
other gambling facilities in Qatar. 🔑 That said, it is known that there are quite a few
illegal betting activities taking place in the country. However, 🔑 those who offer or
participate in such actions risk being caught and penalized in accordance with the
sanctions described in 🔑 the 2004 Penal Code of Qatar. Even though online betting is
illegal in the country, punters in Qatar take advantage 🔑 of several legal loopholes and
tend to place bets on offshore betting sites. Since the government of Qatar is not
🔑 taking serious actions against foreign sportsbooks, there are quite a few offshore
bookies that welcome bettors from Qatar. While there 🔑 is a way to make sporting wagers
online, if you reside in Qatar, you should be very careful when choosing 🔑 a sportsbook
to join. It is always important to check the reputation of the bookie, the sports it
covers and 🔑 the odds it is offering. Being able to make secure payments via e-wallets,
prepaid cards, or cryptocurrencies is also among 🔑 the advantages Qatari bettors are
advised to look for when choosing a website for their sports betting. (Visit the Qatari
🔑 sites)
Thailand Thailand is a country with long traditions in sports betting and
gambling which, however, are currently almost 100% illegal. 🔑 Like anything forbidden,
interest in these activities is constantly increasing. Local punters have found ways to
overcome legal restrictions and 🔑 enjoy their favorite pastime. The 1935 Gambling Act is
the main document that regulates all forms of sports betting in 🔑 Thailand. The only
gambling activities you can legally perform in the country are the state lottery and
betting on horses 🔑 at certain race tracks. Although not explicitly mentioned in any
legislative document, online sports betting is considered to be against 🔑 the law. This
does not prevent some local bookmakers from launching sportsbooks. It is generally not
a good idea to 🔑 place your bets through them. There is a great chance to be misled
regarding the payment of your winnings. What 🔑 is more, you run the risk of going to
jail, being deported, or paying a hefty fine.
Nothing is lost, though. 🔑 There is a
minimal chance that any of the above will happen to you if you choose a betting
operator 🔑 based outside Thailand. In the worst case, your access to the online
sportsbook may be blocked, although this does not 🔑 happen very often. Betting via a
licensed international bookie will allow you to benefit from an abundance of betting
markets, 🔑 payment methods, bonuses, and promotions. (Visit the Thai sites)
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country situated in South Asia, with a rich 🔑 history that dates all the way
back to 20,000 years ago. Naturally, wagering activities have always been quite
well-liked in 🔑 Vietnamese society and this is evident by how old certain games of chance
are in the country. Bau Cua, a 🔑 game involving dice, was part of everyday life for many
Vietnamese individuals, and wagering on fights between male betta fish 🔑 is another
ancient activity. Legally, however, things have been tough for gambling enthusiasts in
the country. For a long time, 🔑 the lottery was the only gambling activity that was
legally permitted to Vietnamese punters. We are happy to say that 🔑 things seem to be
changing, however, and the government has slowly but steadily been making progress
towards regulating the nation’s 🔑 gambling market. Although online betting has not been
legalized at the time of writing, brick-and-mortar gambling is more accessible nowadays
🔑 in terms of what is legal. Bettors are allowed to wager on international soccer, horse
racing, and greyhound racing events, 🔑 although there are many conditions that need to be
met. The laws have not stopped Vietnamese punters from wagering online 🔑 as well,
however, and nowadays the practice is widespread among those who use their smartphones
to place bets online. Sports 🔑 such as soccer, mixed martial arts, and eSports are
especially popular. (Visit the Vietnamese sites)
