The Legality of Online Gambling in Different Countries
Online gambling is legal in several countries around the world, such as the US and Canada; however, certain locales do not permit this form of entertainment.
Eritrea follows Islamic law and prohibits all forms of gambling; while other countries, such as Chile, have strict regulations around iGaming.
North America
Online gambling laws vary according to region, but in North America federal and state laws govern this activity, while some countries also impose additional regulations, for instance Canada only allows sites which receive a license from their provincial government to operate and require their players to provide KYC (Know Your Customer) information before opening real money accounts.
Every year, Americans spend $35 billion on casino gaming. Despite laws prohibiting them from gambling offshore sites are used by many residents for ease of enjoying casino gaming without worry of prosecution – the same can be said of other countries in the region.
Philippines operators-friendly regulations promote an established legal environment. Some nations in Asia-Pacific prohibit online gambling altogether while other may impose various forms of restrictions or prohibition. Due to variations between nations’ laws on this topic, it’s imperative that investors familiarise themselves with each country’s specific regulatory landscape prior to investing.
Central America
Costa Rica does not prohibit online gambling provided by providers who operate outside the country, although there are strict anti-money laundering rules, so players should exercise extreme caution when depositing and withdrawing funds.
Chile provides similar conditions; operatorss can offer online gambling services; however, their regulator has made clear they will be subject to taxes and fees as per usual. Furthermore, the country is considering new gambling legislation which requires operators to register with and secure a license from local authorities prior to operating online gambling services there.
However, many players in Latin America still use VPNs to gamble at foreign casinos and sportsbooks online. Every company in this region is looking at this market with interest, while many countries are taking steps towards regulating it as quickly as possible; this bodes well as Latin American gambling industry has considerable room to grow.
South America
South America boasts a young, tech-savvy population which makes the region highly suitable for online gambling, but legality varies across countries in this region; some have outlawed online gambling altogether while others are taking steps towards modernising their iGaming regulations.
Colombia stands as the sole Latin American country to feature a fully regulated online casino and sports betting industry, administered by its Gaming Authority Coljuegos since June 2017 when operators began receiving licenses.
Most other countries in the region operate grey markets for online gambling, leaving players exposed to risks associated with fraud and money laundering while operators face reputational and regulatory risks as well as limited promotion and payment processing opportunities. Therefore, it’s vital that regulations across the region strike an equitable balance to maximise growth while unlocking this lucrative market’s full potential.
Africa
Online gambling in Africa is experiencing rapid expansion due to rapidly-increasing mobile broadband and smartphone penetration rates. Although gambling may technically be legal in all African nations, many governments have banned gambling due to social and religious considerations.
South Africa is one of the premier African gambling online destinations, boasting legal casinos offering an assortment of table and slot games from top providers that pay out winnings quickly. Players can also find poker tournaments to compete against others online.
Regulators in Malawi have attempted to adapt to modern gambling trends, but its outdated legislation is long overdue for a full reform. Democratic Alliance proposed in 2022 a bill which would create a national regulatory framework with provincial authorities issuing licenses within its guidelines; additionally this bill includes provisions to control gambling ads and protect player interests – an excellent move that may inspire other African nations to follow suit.
