Europe is the biggest market for online gambling globally. It is estimated that around 47.6% of their total revenue is generated from online gambling alone.
However, there is no specific law that standardizes online betting and gaming in Europe. As such, each member state is responsible for creating laws that suit them. Many online casinos operate in Europe, but what’s legal and what’s not can vary significantly from state to another.
Even though the gambling laws may differ, one thing is common among them all ? strict Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. This article provides all the relevant information you need to know in several European states. We have also included the European Gaming and Betting Association and how it is applied in specific countries.
Legal Gambling Countries
As aforementioned, gambling is legal in several countries in Europe. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is a body created in 2007 to ensure a fair, competitive, and regulated market. So far, the EGBA prides itself on having achieved several milestones. Here, we take a look at the famous countries in Europe where gambling is legal:
Italy
Italy has more liberal gambling laws compared to other European states. Back in 2006, Italian regulator ADM passed a bill to allow operators to offer sports betting services in retail shops and online. Since then, there are lots of licensed and unlicensed projects, like NonAAMS, that show Italians EU online casinos.
France
Gambling enthusiasts in France can access a wide range of real money online casino games, sports betting and horse racing sites on the go or from the comfort of their homes. All gambling licenses are issued by ARJEL.
Germany
Germany has somewhat complex laws when it comes to gambling. The Interstate Treat on Gambling (ISTG) was introduced in 2012 to allow private companies to offer different forms of gambling.
Spain
The latest changes in Spain’s gambling laws were introduced back in 2012. The new laws allowed operators to apply for licenses to run their businesses but on certain conditions. The Spanish National Gaming Commission has awarded many licenses since then, and many are still joining the market.
Extension of Gambling in Europe
There are many renowned online gambling jurisdictions in Europe. They include both members of the European Union (EU) as well as independent members. The jurisdictions have an authority that is in charge of issuing licenses, launching self-exclusion schemes and regulating operators. Some of the most popular gambling jurisdiction in Europe includes:
Alderney
Alderney is the third largest self-governed British Channel Islands, which is recognized as the leading offshore financial centre worldwide. The jurisdiction’s popularity in the recent past has been from its participation in the online gambling market. The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) is the authority commissioned with licensing and regulating online casinos and bookmakers.
Gibraltar
Licensing in Gibraltar started back in 1998 ?making one of the first states to legalize. This territory is a British Crown Dependency that is self-governed. It is home to many gambling operators, especially those from the UK. All forms of gambling are licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), which operates under Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Isle of Man
Although the Isle of Man is considered part of the UK, it is not actually under that jurisdiction because it is independent and self- governing. The government is responsible for all forms of gambling and provides a safe environment to ensure that it flourishes. Legal gamble in the jurisdiction started in 2001 ? with the Online Gambling Regulation Act (OGRA), since then, the Isle of Man has become a trusted region in the gambling world.
Malta
Malta is an independent member of the British Commonwealth as well as the European Union (EU). It is not only the most extensive online gambling jurisdictions in the world but also the first to introduce the regulation of online gambling. The fact that it is on the ‘White-list” issued by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission gives it an added advantage over other markets.
