An interactive guide to the regulation of online gambling
Austria
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Online lotteries and casino type games are part of the federal lottery monopoly, Austrian Lotteries, and may not be undertaken by private operators. Online sports betting is however regulated at a provincial level and is subject to a local licence.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Belgium
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Online licences are only available to operators holding land-based licences. There are three types of licence: A+ (online casino games), B+ (online arcade games) and F1+ (online betting).
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Bulgaria
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | Yes* |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Bulgarian gambling legislation provides for unlicensed websites to be blocked. To date over 6,000 such websites have been blocked although no other enforcement action has been taken against unlicensed operators.
* Instant lottery games are not regulated.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Cyprus
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | In progress |
Sports | In progress |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Remote betting licences are not yet available, although the National Betting Authority has confirmed that it is in the process of preparing secondary legislation to commence the process for issuing licences. Until the new regulatory regime is in place, operators holding a licence from another EU Member State (which is compatible with Cypriot legislation) are permitted to operate in Cyprus.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Czech Republic
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | No |
Lottery | Yes |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Online gambling is permitted in the Czech Republic for six types of games of chance: (i) lotteries, (ii) odds bets, (iii) totalisator games, (iv) bingos, (v) technical games, and (vi) live games. Games of chance are considered to be operated in the Czech Republic if they are even partially targeted to persons in the Czech Republic. Online games of chance can be operated by companies with their registered seat in the Czech Republic or another EU/EEA member state, which were granted a basic licence from the Ministry of Finance.
Online games of chance can be operated only via webpages available in Czech language. Servers and devices used to operate online games of chance must be located in EU/EEA member states. Participation in online games of chance is subject to prior registration of the user, which requires verification of identity and age of the user (user cannot be younger than 18 years). Each user can have only one user account with the same gambling operator. Online payments to and from the user account are restricted to registered payment methods and transfer of funds between user accounts is prohibited. Cash deposits and withdrawals to and from a user account are restricted to CZK 5,000 (approx. EUR 196) in 24 hours.
Operation of online games of chance without a basic licence is illegal. The Ministry of Finance is entitled to provide for IP blocking of illegal online gambling websites and payment blocking to and from bank accounts used by illegal online gambling operators. The Ministry of Finance maintains Blacklist of illegal online gambling websites. Illegal operation of games of chance is considered an administrative offence punishable with a fine of up to CZK 50,000,000 (approx. EUR 1,961,000).
The Blacklist of illegal online gambling websites is available in Czech at: https://www.mfcr.cz/cs/soukromy-sektor/hazardni-hry/seznam-nepovolenych-internetovych-her”
Updated 21 May 2018
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Denmark
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes* |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | Yes** |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Remote gambling companies can offer online casino games, online poker and online betting under a licence. Online lotteries, bingo, scratch cards, keno and betting on horseracing and dog racing remain within Danske Spil’s monopoly.
* except horse and dog betting
** Poker
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Estonia
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
As online gambling is not considered to be a separate type of gambling, the categories of gambling permitted via land-based facilities can be offered online as well. Lotteries are still however only available under the state monopoly.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Finland
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Only the State owned monopolies (Oy Veikkaus Ab, RAY and Fintoto Oy) have been authorised. The provision of online services is interpreted under Finish law as another distribution channel rather than a distinct service in its own right.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
France
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes* |
Card Games | Yes* |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Three types of online gambling are licensed in France:
- Horserace betting;
- Sports betting; and
- “Club games” (defined as “pooled games based on chance and skill, in which a player, after the intervention of chance, decides, upon observing the behaviours of other players, on a strategy that is likely to modify his/her expected winnings” - to date online poker is the only game authorised (both in cash games and tournaments).
Casino games were excluded from the partial liberalisation of online gambling in France.
*Poker
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Germany
Is online gambling permitted? | It depends…4 |
Licence available for |
Betting | No1 |
Sports | Yes* |
Skill Games | No2 |
Card Games | No** |
Casino | No*** |
Lottery | Yes* |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No3 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No3 |
- except for sports and horse racing
- no license necessary, not considered as gambling
- except sports betting
- …on the type of gambling
* Lottery and online betting for sports and horse racing can be permitted if the legal conditions are fulfilled.
** It is controversial whether poker must be classified as a card game (gambling) or as a skill game. In 2014 the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG 8 C 26/12) considered poker as a form of gambling as long as participants pay the gaming amounts.
In 2015 the Administrative Court of Karlsruhe (3 K 3872/13) followed the Federal Administrative Court’s assessment and, moreover, decided that poker (Hold’em) must be classified as gambling, because of different elements of uncertainty, which aren´t predictable for the players.
Skat is mostly seen as a skill game, whereas skat tournaments with various players are considered as a subset of gambling.
*** Although some licences were already issued for a period of five years in Schleswig-Holstein under a separate Gambling Act, which is no longer in force.
Notes
The regulatory landscape for online gambling in Germany remains uncertain. Although online gambling is subject to regulation at an individual state level, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ITG) was enacted to ensure unified rules throughout the 16 German states.
The ITG in its current version, effective as of July 2012, determines a general prohibition of online gambling but with the exception that permission for lottery, horse racing and sports betting can be given. The requirements for a permission are listed in the ITG. All other forms of online gambling are still completely prohibited.
Before joining the ITG in 2013, the state of Schleswig-Holstein had its own Gambling Act allowing online lottery, sports and horse betting as well as online casino. It issued more than 50 licences under this Act, of which 23 were for online casino, seven of it also included the license for online poker, and 25 for sports betting. These licences are about to expire and are applicable only to services offered to players based in Schleswig-Holstein.
For the sector of sports betting, the ITG provides for twenty concessions (as a special form of permission) to be granted to applicants for an experimental seven-year period especially to observe positive effects on resolving black market gambling.
Due to various pending disputes and a decision of the Higher Administrative Court of Hesse of 16 October 2015, which has confirmed several defects in the sports betting licensing process as contrary to fundamental rights and EU law, no licences have been granted.
Furthermore the CJEU decided on 4 February 2016 (C-336/14- Ince) that private economic operators, who offer sports betting without the obligatory concession cannot be punished, because of the unclear legal situation.
The Federal Administrative Court in a judgement of 26 October 2017 confirmed the online casino ban and the license requirement for sports betting. It further confirmed that the law was enforceable against sports betting operators who did not apply for a licence.
A planned reform of the ITG to become effective on 1 January 2018 has failed and different regulatory concepts are discussed among the state legislators.
Schleswig-Holstein recently announced to issue interim permissions for offering sports betting services to customers in Schleswig-Holstein to EU and EEA based operators who fulfill the licensing requirements stipulated by the ITG. Earlier attempts to issue interim permissions were held to infringe EU law. Therefore it remains to be seen whether Schleswig-Holstein will enforce the law against operators not having obtained an interim permission and whether such enforcement measures will be upheld by the courts.
On 7 December 2017 the European Commission stated in a press release that it will terminate its infringement proceedings against Germany regarding the gambling sector because of a more strategic approach to enforce EU law.
Updated 21 May 2018
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Greece
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | In progress |
Sports | In progress |
Skill Games | In progress |
Card Games | In progress |
Casino | In progress |
Lottery | In progress |
Arcade | In progress |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Currently local licences for both betting and gaming are only available to the monopoly operator (OPAP) and 24 offshore companies listed on the “white list” who have been granted provisional permits on the basis of their agreement to become subject to a retrospective tax regime.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Hungary
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
The last amendment to Hungarian Gambling Act which came into force on 1 October 2015 set new regulation on online gambling. The regime provide that:
- only the state monopoly operator Szerencsejáték Zrt. has the right to offer online sports betting;
- only the state monopoly operator Nemzeti Lóversenyfogadást-szervezőKft. has the right to offer online horse race betting; and
- online casino games (including card games) may be operated only by concessionaires authorized to operate casinos in the territory of Hungary, by offering the online casino games through the same concession company established for organizing the land-based casino games.
It is to be noted that the Hungarian gambling authority has the right to order Hungarian ISPs to block access to those websites on which unlicensed online gambling is offered.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Ireland
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | Yes* |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | Yes* |
Notes
The Irish law on betting was amended in April 2015 by the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015. This introduced a new licensing system for remote bookmakers and betting intermediaries who accept, or facilitate, bets from Irish customers. Enforcement action is likely to be taken against any unlicensed operator that continues to accept bets from Irish customers after 1 August 2015.
* While remote bookmakers and intermediaries will require a valid Irish licence in order to accept or facilitate bets from Irish customers by remote means, there is currently no licensing regime in respect of the provision of online gaming services by remote operators to customers in Ireland. Until such a regime is introduced, there is no restriction on an operator from outside of Ireland continuing to offer online gaming services to customers in Ireland, even if offered from a platform offering licensed bookmaking or betting intermediary services.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Italy
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | Yes |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No1 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No2 |
Notes
- Operators licensed in other EU Member States to offer online gambling services must obtain a concession to offer such services in Italy.
- Comment under 1) above also applies to activities ancillary to gambling such as advertising.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Latvia
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
There are currently only six licensed operators in Latvia, in addition to the state-owned operator Latvijas Loto, which is the only operator allowed to offer lottery, keno and bingo games.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Lithuania
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes* |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | Yes* |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | Uncertain |
Notes
*Online lottery licences are available for locally established operators.
On 1 January 2016, new legislation will come into force which will regulate online gambling in Lithuania for the first time. Under the new regime, operators based in the EEA will be able to apply for a licence to provide online gambling services to customers in Lithuania. However, there are requirements for operators to also have land-based operations in Lithuania.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Luxembourg
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Only the local monopoly operator, the Loterie Nationale, is licensed to provide online gambling services in Luxembourg.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Malta
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | Yes |
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
The Netherlands
Is online gambling permitted? | No1 |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
- Only local monopoly operators are licensed to provide online gambling services in the Netherlands. However, there are plans to introduce a local licensing regime in due course. An updated draft of the latest draft law to regulate online gambling was notified to the European Commission on 5 March 2014. However, due to political issues, the process to begin issuing licences has been delayed and is not expected to commence before mid-2016 at the earliest.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Norway
Is online gambling permitted? | No1 |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | Yes2 |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | N/a |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | N/a |
Notes
- Only the locally licensed government entity is permitted to provide online gambling services in Norway; the Norwegian regime is a de facto state monopoly.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, private entities can obtain a local licence in respect of certain lotteries but only if they promote humanitarian or socially beneficial causes.
The Norwegian legislature and the Norwegian government agreed in Spring 2017 to maintain the state monopoly.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Poland
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Online gambling is prohibited with the exception of formally approved mutual betting, defined as betting for cash winnings that are determined by guessing (i) the results of a sports competition or (ii) the occurrence of different events.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Portugal
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes1 |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes2 |
Skill Games | Yes3 |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | No4 |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
- Only state-owned actors and locally licensed operators are permitted to provide online gambling services in Portugal.
- Fixed-odds sports betting is permitted but pari-mutuel sports betting is reserved to the state monopoly.
- Fixed-odds sports betting is permitted but pari-mutuel sports betting is reserved to the state monopoly.
- Lottery is reserved to the state monopoly.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Romania
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence1 available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | No1 |
Skill Games | No2 |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | Yes3 |
Arcade | No4 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No5 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No6 |
Notes
- Amusement or sporting games where players are required to demonstrate knowledge and skill and which are not based predominantly on chance do not constitute gambling and are not subject to licensing and authorisation. However, subject to the specifics of the game, sports games may fall under the general legal definition of “gambling”or within the category of a specific type of gambling activity regulated under the law and for which obtaining a licence and/or authorisation is required (e.g. betting).
- Games of an entertainment nature which are operated via any kind of machine and which do not involve winning based on random elements, but are intended to test the participant’s strength, intelligence or dexterity, do not constitute gambling and are not subject to licensing and authorisation. However, subject to the specifics of the game, skill games may fall under the general legal definition of “gambling”for which obtaining a licence and/or authorisation is required.
- Organising lottery games requires a specific type of licence to be obtained and is an activity subject to the monopoly of the Romanian state.
- Comments under 2) above also apply here.
- Operators licensed in other EU Member States to offer online gambling services must obtain a licence and/or authorisation to offer such services in Romania. Simplified requirements for obtaining a licence may apply to operators already licensed in other Member States.
- Comments under 5) above also apply to activities ancillary to gambling such as advertising.
- Under the regulatory regime applicable in Romania as of 2016, new licensing and authorisation requirements apply to traditional and online gambling activities, as well as to activities ancillary to gambling such as lease, distribution and maintenance activities in relation to gambling. Depending on the type of activity concerned, specific types of licences and/or authorisations need to be obtained.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Russia
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No1 |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | N/a |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | N/a |
Notes
Online gambling in Russia is restricted to ‘interactive’ online bets through the state-run payment processing provider (TsUPIS); such online betting is subject to the operator holding a valid local licence. Online casinos and online slot machines are prohibited in all cases.
- Lotteries may be organised as international lotteries (based on international treaties) or by the national state lottery.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Slovakia
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | Yes |
Notes
Only the local monopoly operator (Tipos) is licensed to provide online gambling services in Slovakia. As a result of a legal loophole, local land-based operators are allowed to offer sports-betting online services without this being considered an online gambling operation.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Slovenia
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Online gambling in Slovenia must be operated by land-based operators that already have a concession for a casino or existing classic lottery games. As a result of this requirement, the only entities eligible to apply for an online licence are Slovenia’s two lottery operators as well as the casino concessionaires. Criminal sanctions of up to three years’ imprisonment (or eight years where substantial sums are involved) apply in respect of any person who either organises, participates or assists with organising online games of chance.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Spain
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | Yes* |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
Regulated online gambling comprises:
- lotteries;
- betting (on sports, horseracing, fixed odds betting, live betting on certain events) and exchange betting;
- raffles;
- contests;
- slots; and
- other games (this category includes poker, roulette, baccarat, bingo and black jack amongst others).
Any kind of gambling not expressly regulated will remain prohibited.
Some Spanish regions have also issued their own online gambling regulations under which operators will require a specific local licence (compatible with and independent of the national licence). This is the case of Castile-Leon, Valencia, Murcia, Navarre, the Basque Country and Madrid.
* Only the local monopoly operators, SELAE and ONCE, are licensed to provide lottery gambling services in Spain.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Sweden
Is online gambling permitted? | No1 |
Licence available for |
Betting | No |
Sports | No |
Skill Games | No |
Card Games | No |
Casino | No |
Lottery | No |
Arcade | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | No |
Notes
- Only locally licensed government entities and non-profit organisations are permitted to provide online gambling services in Sweden; the Swedish regime is a de facto state monopoly.
In light of recent arguments that the Swedish regime is not compliant with EU law, the Swedish government has appointed a committee tasked with drafting a new gambling regime based on a licensing system. The committee’s proposals were published in March 2017 but will be subject to legislative scrutiny before any new regulations can be enacted in the future.
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
Switzerland
Is online gambling permitted? | No1 |
Licence available for |
Betting | No1 |
Sports | No1 |
Skill Games | It depends2 |
Card Games | No3 |
Casino | No3 |
Lottery | No1 |
Arcade | No3 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | N/a4 |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | N/a4 |
Notes
- Under the current regulatory regime, online gambling is generally not permitted but online lottery and betting is technically permitted for operators with the relevant licence. However, the lottery and betting market is dominated by two local, licensed operators. Licences for other operators are available in theory but in practice Switzerland is a de facto monopoly.
- Skill games are subject to cantonal law. In several cantons, skill games are not permitted.
- Under the current regulatory regime, online gambling is generally not permitted however draft legislation in relation to online gambling was submitted to Parliament in October 2015. One of the main expected changes will be that the new law will allow online casino games subject to licence. The new law is expected to come into force in 2019.
- Offering illegal online gambling is a criminal offence in Switzerland. Prohibited activities also include offering online gambling via foreign domains and prize pay-outs to winners in Switzerland from abroad.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.
United Kingdom
Is online gambling permitted? | Yes |
Licence available for |
Betting | Yes |
Sports | Yes |
Skill Games | Yes* |
Card Games | Yes |
Casino | Yes |
Lottery | Yes |
Arcade | Yes |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States offer their online services? | No** |
Can online operators licensed in other EU Member States advertise their online services? | Yes*** |
Notes
* if element of chance included.
** Under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, from 1 October 2014 all operators providing gambling services to customers located in Great Britain need to hold a licence obtained from the Gambling Commission.
*** Operators without licences issued by the Gambling Commission can advertise within Great Britain, provided that they have effective measures in place to prevent people accessing their facilities from within Great Britain.
Contacts
Although this resource may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified legal professional. This resource is not created nor designed to address the unique facts or circumstances that may arise in any specific instance. You should not rely on this content as a source of legal advice.