The United States
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 2018. 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 2020, 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)
The United Kingdom
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 2016, 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 2019.(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 2020, 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 2020, 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 2021, 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 to $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 2018, 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 2019. 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 2021, with the first locally authorized betting sites commencing operations at the beginning of September 2021. 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 2015, 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 2019 that came into force in December 2020. 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 2021) 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 2015. Betting on horse races was legalized with the passing of the Decree-Law No.69 of 2015. 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 2020, eliminating the so-called progressive tax rate. New changes to the legal framework of Portugal are expected either in 2022 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)