Online gambling has become more and more popular around the world. The European market is one of the world’s leaders in the online gambling industry. However, different European nations have different laws and regulations over online gambling. While some countries allow limited games for betting and gambling, some countries allow all forms of gambling within their territories.
As per EU law, individual European countries are free to have their own gambling regulations. There are a few areas where the European Commission has formulated some strict laws such as anti-money laundering and know your customer (KYC).
Every player from the European nations must get identified and verified before playing. The online casino and betting platforms are required to monitor the money laundering and criminal activities on their site.
For players, the EU has not set any strict and harsh regulations, while for operators, the individual gambling laws might be strict in a few countries. For example, the gambling market can be open to private operators in some countries and can be under the state-monopoly, which prohibits private operators.
Generally, three types of regulations are well-known in Europe, which is – restricted licensing (Greece), state monopoly (Sweden), and open licensing (Malta).
Gambling Laws in Sweden
Earlier Sweden’s gambling market was under state monopoly. Now the country has brought some new regulations to allow private casino businesses to operate in the country. The Swedish government had set up a licensing authority and also launched some regulations to promote responsible gambling in the country.
Currently, only those offshore online casinos and gambling sites can operate in a country that is licensed under the Swedish Gambling Authority. The online casinos licensed under the Swedish Gambling Authority are required to follow the strict regulations and guidelines set by the authority.
For example, the casinos can not allow customers to deposit more than SEK 5,000 in a week. Also, the online casinos can not offer a bonus of more than SEK 100 to players. While these laws affect the gambling market, players also prefer to play on unlicensed online casinos.
Gambling Laws in the UK
Even though the UK is no longer a member state of the European Union, it was a potential gambling market in Europe. Online gambling and related activities are monitored by the UK Gambling Commission in the country. Online gambling is completely legal for residents above the age criteria.
The UK Gambling Commission is the main regulatory body that oversees all forms of gambling in the country. Any casino or betting business that wants to operate in the country is required to get licensed and registered under the UK Gambling Commission.
The United Kingdom has done a great job in creating and maintaining a safer gambling environment for the players. The country offers a fair gambling opportunity to all players, along with protecting them from any fraudulent activities.
The UK Gambling Commission is one of the strict and most reputed gambling authorities out there. The Gambling Act of 2005 in the UK had emphasized three main objectives, which are:
- To protect children and vulnerable individuals from getting exploited by gambling.
- To ensure fair conduct of gambling in the country.
- To prevent gambling from becoming a source of crime and any disorder.
Gambling Laws in Germany
Germany is a country with some complex gambling regulations. Many forms of gambling are not allowed in the country. Even in Germany, different states have their own laws for gambling. In 2008, Germany prohibited all forms of online gambling except horse race betting.
However, the new regulations will allow the licensing of online casino sites in 2021. This upcoming regulation will bring massive growth opportunities to the German gambling market. As per the new laws, Germany will allow licensing of poker, online slots, and other casino games businesses in the country.
Due to the lack of any legit casinos in Germany, players were attracted to the offshore gambling sites. Now that the government has allowed online casinos to operate in the country, the number of illegal gambling sites will decrease in the country. However, if the government introduces some restrictions as safety measures, some players may face difficulties in gambling and will start playing on unlicensed gambling sites.
Gambling Laws in Spain
Although gambling is legal in Spain, the gambling laws are a little strict for many. Currently, the online gambling industry is flourishing in Spain. The most popular form of gambling in Spain is the state national lottery. There are many strict regulations over gambling in the country, such as age restrictions.
As per the Spanish gambling laws, anyone below 18 years can not enter gambling venues and is also prohibited from gambling online. Spanish players mostly indulge in the lottery and bingo games. Aside from these, horse racing, bullfighting, and poker games are also popular in the country.
If we compare the gambling regulations in Spain to those in other countries, Spain has a more relaxed gambling environment for the players. There are many online casinos and gambling sites in Spain where gambling enthusiasts can play their favorite casino games.
Conclusion
You may find a partial ban on online gambling in some European countries, while in some places, there is no such regulation over online gambling. The gambling market in the European Union is showing extensive growth every year. Casino operators who want to offer their products to European players can get licensed under any individual member state and enter one of the vast gambling markets in the industry.
However, as the gambling laws are quite uneven in Europe, consulting an experienced lawyer or iGaming expert can help avoid any possible issues. Casino operators have to dig deeper and analyze the laws of the specific country they want to enter. On the other hand, European players can play on any online casino site as long as they are playing legally.
