Online Gambling Regulations in European Countries
Players must understand that regulations are an important aspect of the gambling industry in European countries. Before joining online casinos in Europe, you must make sure that they are regulated to offer a safe gambling environment.
The operators you choose in your country must abide by the relevant legislation and uphold the highest standards while taking the necessary measures to protect you. With that said, here is a list of some EU countries where casinos are bound by specific online gambling laws.
UK: The UK Gambling Commission is responsible for casino licensing and regulation. Operators in the United Kingdom are governed by the Gambling Act 2005.
Germany: The 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG) allows online casinos in Germany to obtain licences for sports betting, poker, and virtual slot machines. In a LinkedIn Live session hosted by Revpanda Group CRO Faruk Aydin, Dimitry Voelkle, Managing Director of Zelda Consulting GmbH, emphasised the role of the GGL in ensuring that only regulated companies operate in the German market. With IDnow Vice President Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk in attendance, experts emphasised that a presence in Germany is essential for operators aiming to be in the top 10 in the European iGaming sector.
Austria: Online casinos in Austria are regulated by the government through the Austrian Ministry of Finance under the Federal Gambling Act (GSpG). Only locally licensed operators are allowed to offer online gambling services.
Netherlands: Online casino activities in the Netherlands are regulated by the Remote Gambling Act. Established in 2012, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) is the Dutch regulator of gambling services within the country.
Italy: Land-based and online operators are licensed and supervised by the Autonomous Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies (AAMS). The Finance Act has been amended several times to legalise games of skill, online poker, slots, and other casino games.
France: The French Gambling Act 2010 opened doors for online gambling operators to obtain licences from the National Gaming Authority (Autorité Nationale des Jeux) to offer betting on poker, sports, and horse racing.
Malta: All legal online casinos in the country are licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority under the Gaming Act 2018.
Spain: The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego – DGOJ) regulates operators under the Spanish Gambling Act.
Ireland: In 2022, the parliament passed the Gambling Regulation Bill, which created the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to license and regulate online casino sites in Ireland, as well as in-person gaming activities.
Czechia: Online gambling in Czechia is legal and regulated by the Gambling Act of 2017 that covers sports betting, online casinos, and lotteries. The main regulatory authority is the Ministry of Finance.
Denmark: Online gambling is legal in Denmark, and it is regulated by the Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden). The Authority is responsible for issuing licences, monitoring casino operators, handling player complaints, and enforcing penalties when needed.
Finland: Online casinos in Finland are regulated by the government, and Veikkaus Oy is the only operator that can legally offer gambling services. Foreign operators are not allowed to advertise to residents, but players from Finland can access international online casinos.
Poland: The law that regulates online gambling in Poland is the Gambling Act of 2019, which was amended in 2017 to allow only state-owned companies to operate online casinos. Sports betting is more flexible, as properly licensed operators can offer these services under the Ministry of Finance.
Portugal: Portugal legalised online gambling in 2015, and designated the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) to oversee both online casinos in Portugal and land-based gaming. Land-based casino winnings are taxable, but online gambling winnings from regulated sites are handled by the operators.
Sweden: In Sweden, online gambling is regulated by a licensing system for online casinos and slot machines as well as online betting, launched in January 2019. All relevant activities are monitored by the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen).
Greece: In 2021, Greece reformed its gambling laws through new legislation that established a permanent licensing framework for online casino operators. The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) is responsible for regulating and issuing licenses to legal online casinos operating in the country, ensuring compliance with strict player protection and responsible gambling standards.