Betting and the law
Is betting legal in my country?
There's rarely a simple yes or no. It depends on what you play, who offers it and where they're licensed. Here's how it works, with a short summary for 17 countries.
The basics
It's really four questions
Gambling laws usually deal with each of these separately, which is why the answer can be yes for one and no for another.
Is the game allowed?
Many countries allow sports betting but restrict online casino games, or only allow them through a state-run operator.
Who can offer it?
Most countries only let locally licensed operators, or a state operator, take bets from residents. A licence from another country doesn't usually count.
Can you pay and get paid?
Some countries tell banks to block payments to unlicensed sites, block the sites themselves, or ban credit cards for gambling.
Can it be advertised?
Advertising rules are often the strictest part. Many countries only let licensed operators advertise, and limit even them.
What about players?
In most countries the law is aimed at operators, not at the people who play. A few countries can penalise players, and some tax winnings from overseas operators. Even where it isn't an offence, playing on a site that isn't licensed where you live means your local regulator can't help if something goes wrong.
Country by country
Quick answers
A simplified summary, last checked October 2026. Laws change, so check your regulator for the latest position. Select a country for more detail.
| Country | Online sports betting | Online casino | Players can be penalised? |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia | Licensed | Not allowed | No |
 Austria | Licensed | State operator only | Not known |
 Belgium | Licensed | Licensed | Yes |
 Canada | By province | By province | Not known |
 Denmark | Licensed | Licensed | No |
 Finland | State operator, opening 2027 | State operator, opening 2027 | No |
 France | Licensed | Not allowed | No |
 Germany | Licensed | Partly licensed | Rarely |
 Ireland | Licensed | Not yet licensed | Not known |
 Malaysia | Not allowed | Not allowed | Yes |
 Netherlands | Licensed | Licensed | No |
 New Zealand | TAB NZ only | Licensing from late 2026 | No |
 Norway | State operators only | State operator only | No |
 Singapore | Singapore Pools only | Not allowed | Yes |
 Sweden | Licensed | Licensed | No |
 Switzerland | State operators only | Swiss casinos only | No |
 United Kingdom | Licensed | Licensed | No |
"Licensed" means locally licensed operators may offer it. "Players can be penalised" covers fines or other penalties for playing on illegal sites; "Not known" means we found no clear rule either way.
In more detail
The rules where you live
Europe
United Kingdom
- Sports betting
- Legal with operators licensed by the Gambling Commission.
- Online casino
- Legal with licensed operators. Online slots have stake limits.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal to offer to people in Great Britain. The regulator has illegal sites removed from search results and works with card schemes to disrupt their payments.
- Players
- The law is aimed at operators rather than players, but you have none of the UK's protections on an unlicensed site.
- Northern Ireland
- Has its own, older gambling law. Operators licensed in Great Britain also serve Northern Ireland.
- Regulator
- Gambling Commission
- Get help
- GamCare · GAMSTOP self-exclusion
Ireland
- Sports betting
- Legal with licensed bookmakers. A new regulator took over licensing in 2026.
- Online casino
- Licences for online casino games haven't opened yet and are expected later.
- Unlicensed sites
- Offering gambling without a licence is an offence under the new law, and the regulator can seek court orders to block sites and payments.
- Players
- The new law is aimed at operators. We found no penalty for players.
- Regulator
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
- Get help
- GamblingCare
France
- Sports betting
- Legal with licensed operators. Horse-racing betting and online poker are licensed too.
- Online casino
- Not allowed. Slots and table games can't be offered online.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. The regulator orders sites to be blocked and publishes a blacklist.
- Players
- No penalty for players, but the regulator warns there's no protection, no guarantee of being paid and no help with disputes on illegal sites.
- Regulator
- ANJ
- Get help
- Joueurs Info Service
Germany
- Sports betting
- Legal with operators on the regulator's official whitelist.
- Online casino
- Online slots and poker can be licensed, with strict limits. Table games are left to each state.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. The regulator orders payment providers to stop serving unlicensed operators.
- Players
- Taking part in unlawful gambling is technically an offence, although players are rarely prosecuted. Contracts with unlicensed operators are treated as void.
- Regulator
- GGL
- Get help
- Check dein Spiel
Austria
- Sports betting
- Legal and licensed by the individual states.
- Online casino
- Currently only through the state lottery operator. A reform to open up online licensing is planned but isn't law yet.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal without an Austrian licence. The planned reform would add site and payment blocking.
- Players
- We found no penalty for players. Courts have treated contracts with unlicensed operators as void.
- Regulator
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Get help
- Support services by region
Switzerland
- Sports betting
- Only the two state lottery operators may offer it.
- Online casino
- Only Swiss land-based casinos with an online licence.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. Swiss internet providers must block sites on the official blocklists.
- Players
- Not an offence for players, but stakes and winnings can be confiscated, payment isn't guaranteed, and winnings from unlicensed sites may be taxable.
- Regulator
- Federal Gaming Board (ESBK)
- Get help
- SOS Spielsucht
Netherlands
- Sports betting
- Legal with operators licensed by the Kansspelautoriteit.
- Online casino
- Legal with licensed operators.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. The regulator fines unlicensed operators that target Dutch players.
- Players
- Not an offence for players, but winnings from operators without a Dutch licence may have to be declared for gambling tax.
- Regulator
- Kansspelautoriteit
- Get help
- OpenOverGokken · Cruks self-exclusion
Belgium
- Sports betting
- Legal with licensed operators. Online licences are only granted to operators that also hold a Belgian land-based licence.
- Online casino
- Legal on the same basis.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. The regulator publishes a list of illegal sites, which internet providers block.
- Players
- Knowingly playing on an illegal site can lead to a fine.
- Age
- 21 for gambling, with some exceptions such as the National Lottery.
- Regulator
- Gaming Commission
- Get help
- Gokhulp · Aide aux joueurs
Denmark
- Sports betting
- Legal with operators licensed by the Danish Gambling Authority.
- Online casino
- Legal with licensed operators.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. Courts order internet providers to block them.
- Players
- We found no penalty for players, but winnings from operators outside the EU/EEA are taxable.
- Regulator
- Spillemyndigheden
- Get help
- StopSpillet · ROFUS self-exclusion
Sweden
- Sports betting
- Legal with operators licensed by Spelinspektionen.
- Online casino
- Legal with licensed operators.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal to offer to the Swedish market. The regulator can act against operators and the companies that supply them.
- Players
- Not an offence for players, but winnings from operators without a Swedish or EEA licence can be taxable.
- Regulator
- Spelinspektionen
- Get help
- Stödlinjen · Spelpaus self-exclusion
Norway
- Sports betting
- Only the state operators may offer it.
- Online casino
- Only the state operator.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. Unlicensed sites are blocked, and banks can stop payments to and from them.
- Players
- Not illegal for players, but payouts may be a problem, and winnings from foreign operators are generally taxable.
- Regulator
- Lotteritilsynet
- Get help
- Hjelpelinjen
Finland
- Sports betting
- Currently only through the state operator. Online betting opens to licensed operators from 1 July 2027.
- Online casino
- The same: state operator only for now, with licences from 1 July 2027.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. Banks must block payments to operators on the official list.
- Players
- Not an offence for players, but winnings from operators outside the EEA are taxable.
- Regulator
- National Police Board
- Get help
- Peluuri
Asia-Pacific
Australia
- Sports betting
- Legal with bookmakers licensed in Australia. Online in-play betting isn't allowed.
- Online casino and pokies
- Not allowed. No provider, in Australia or overseas, may offer online casino games or pokies to people in Australia.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal to offer to people in Australia. The regulator has blocked thousands of sites.
- Players
- The law is aimed at operators rather than players, but you have no Australian protection on an illegal site.
- Payments
- Credit cards can't be used for online betting.
- Regulator
- ACMA
- Get help
- Gambling Help Online · BetStop self-exclusion
New Zealand
- Sports betting
- Only TAB NZ may offer sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand.
- Online casino
- A new licensing system is being introduced, with the first licences due from late 2026. Unlicensed operators must then stop offering their games.
- Unlicensed sites
- Offering sports betting without being TAB NZ is illegal. The same will apply to unlicensed online casinos once the new rules take effect.
- Players
- Players don't commit an offence. The rules are aimed at operators.
- Regulator
- Department of Internal Affairs
- Get help
- Gambling Helpline
Singapore
- Sports betting
- Only Singapore Pools may offer remote betting.
- Online casino
- Not allowed.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. Sites, adverts and payments to unlawful operators are blocked.
- Players
- It is an offence for players to gamble with an unlawful remote gambling service. Fines or imprisonment are possible.
- Regulator
- Gambling Regulatory Authority
- Get help
- National Council on Problem Gambling
Malaysia
- Sports betting
- There is no licensed online betting. Only licensed land-based gambling is legal.
- Online casino
- Not allowed. The courts have confirmed online gambling is an offence under existing law.
- Unlicensed sites
- Illegal. The communications regulator blocks gambling sites and has gambling content removed.
- Players
- Players can be penalised. Fines or imprisonment are possible.
- Regulator
- MCMC
- Get help
- Gambling Therapy
Americas
Canada
- Sports betting
- Legal, but run or licensed by each province. Ontario and Alberta license private operators. Most other provinces offer betting only through a government site.
- Online casino
- The same: available where your province runs or licenses it.
- Unlicensed sites
- Sites not authorised by your province aren't operating legally there.
- Players
- Players aren't known to be prosecuted, but unlicensed sites aren't regulated by your province, so you have no local protection.
- Age
- 18 or 19, depending on the province.
- Regulator
- Your provincial regulator, such as iGaming Ontario
- Get help
- ConnexOntario (Ontario)
Know the risks
If a site isn't licensed where you live
No local protection
Your national regulator can't help with complaints, unpaid winnings or account closures. Any dispute goes to the operator's own regulator, if it has one.
Payments can be blocked
Banks in some countries must block payments to unlicensed sites, which can affect deposits and withdrawals.
Self-exclusion may not apply
National self-exclusion schemes only cover locally licensed operators. An unlicensed site won't know you've signed up.
Winnings may be taxed
Some countries tax winnings from overseas operators even when local winnings are tax-free.
Sites can disappear
Blocked sites often move to new addresses. Make sure you're on the operator's real site before you log in or deposit.
Penalties in a few places
In some countries, playing on an illegal site is an offence in its own right. Check the summary above.
Good to know
Betting and the law FAQ
Is it illegal to bet on an offshore site?
It depends on the country. In most places the law is aimed at operators that take bets without a local licence, not at players. A few countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Belgium, can penalise players. Even where it isn't an offence, you lose the protection of your local regulator.
Does an overseas licence make a site legal where I live?
Not usually. A licence from another country lets an operator work under that regulator's rules, but most countries require their own licence to offer gambling to their residents. Check your national regulator's list of licensed operators.
Why was my deposit blocked?
Some countries require banks and payment providers to block payments to unlicensed gambling sites, and some ban credit cards for gambling altogether. Your bank or card provider may also have its own gambling block.
Do I pay tax on gambling winnings?
Often not on winnings from locally licensed operators. Several countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands, can tax winnings from operators licensed elsewhere. Check with your national tax authority.
How do I check the rules where I live?
Your national gambling regulator is the best source. Most publish a list of licensed operators, and some publish a blacklist of illegal sites. We link to the regulator for each country on this page.
General information, not legal advice. This page is a simplified summary of public sources, last checked October 2026. Gambling laws change often and can differ within a country. For the position where you live, check your national regulator. 18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, see our responsible gambling page.