Planning a new project requires deep, thorough research, where the first question (and we insist on it) should be “where will we operate?”
What market to choose depends on many factors, among which is the level of experience of the operator, the size of the market and potential revenue growth, the language and preferences of players, but the most important factor is regulation, the legal status of the gambling industry, and the licensing process in the jurisdiction.
Even though gambling regulations across the globe change every year, Slotegrator constantly studies the topic and updates its audience about everything it might need to know.
Our experts prepared a list of countries where online gambling is legal today. To make it even more convenient, we sorted them by categories and continents. We’ve sorted them into four groups:
- Countries where any online gambling operation is regulated locally and requires the local license
- Countries where only local operators have to get licensed locally, and foreign companies can accept local players
- Countries where foreign operators are not blocked
- And those countries where online gambling is not regulated
If you’re looking for a country and you don’t find it here, that means it’s in the fifth category — online gambling is illegal.
1: All gambling businesses must be licensed by the local regulator
These countries use the most comprehensive approach to online gambling regulation. Each operator (whether it is local or foreign) must acquire a license and fulfill certain legal requirements to offer its services in the country. These include providing player security, paying local taxes, and complying with advertisement regulations and other rules.
Africa: Mayotte, Reunion Island.
Asia: The Philippines (licensees may not accept locals), India, Georgia (land-based casino license required).
Europe: Austria (state monopoly), Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia (land-based casino license required), Denmark, Estonia, Finland (state monopoly), France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland (state monopoly), Romania, Spain, the UK, Gibraltar, Norway (state monopoly).
North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Panama, Virgin Islands (USA), Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Latin America: French Guiana, Argentina.
Oceania: French Polynesia, New Caledonia.
To simplify your research and planning, Slotegrator created an interactive world map with regulations across the world that shows whether or not online and land-based gambling and betting are legal. You can find the map here, and if you have any questions or inquiries, please contact our sales department for a free consultation.
2: Local gambling businesses must be licensed by the local regulator, foreign gambling businesses can accept players
Africa: Comoros, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles.
Asia: Armenia.
Europe: Greece, Hungary (state monopoly), Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland.
North America: Aruba, Canada, Curacao, Dominica (licensees may not accept local players), Dominican Republic (licensees may not accept local players), Greenland.
Latin America: Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Suriname.
Oceania: Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
These countries do not apply any legal requirements to foreign sites. A foreign operator may be licensed in any jurisdiction and, in some countries, operate without one at all. However, all local casino owners are required to undergo the local regulator’s licensing procedure and pay taxes to the local government.
3: Foreign gambling businesses are not blocked
The local regulators do not apply any legislative requirements in these countries. Foreign gambling sites can be licensed in any jurisdiction or generally operate without one.
However, it should be noted that gambling is not necessarily legal in these countries.
Africa: Eritrea, Nigeria.
Asia: Azerbaijan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan.
Europe: Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia, Monaco, San Marino, Belarus, Malta, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Nicaragua.
North America: Cayman Islands, Salvador, Mexico, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Jamaica.
Latin America: Brazil, Uruguay (state monopoly), Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago.
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Guam, New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Cook Islands.
Slotegrator academy has an Industry news section— a monthly column providing useful and relevant information about changes in the gambling industry. For more information about regulations in jurisdictions across the globe, please visit our interactive gambling regulations map.
4: Gambling industry is not clearly regulated
This is a group of countries where online gambling, and often other verticals, is not regulated — it is not illegal in these countries, but there is no licensing process and no clear requirements. Regulations either don’t exist or don’t specify rules for the iGaming industry.
Africa: Ethiopia, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central, African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Asia: Bangladesh, Mongolia, Myanmar.
Europe: Albania, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Kosovo.
North America: The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, Saint-Martin.
Latin America: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Falkland Islands.
Oceania: Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Samoa, East Timor, Tonga.
How can Slotegrator help?
Every country has its own attitude towards gambling and online casinos depending on cultural and religious background, economy, tourism, and many other factors. Some jurisdictions find it beneficial for the state economy and players’ safety to regulate the iGaming industry and define rules and conditions for this business. Others don’t have the capacity to organize the sector.
It is always good to carry out detailed research before planning your operation. We suggest several informative sources from Slotegrator’s website to start with: Analytical articles and Video Academy to get market overviews, Industry news to follow up the latest changes in different regions of the world, and our Gambling regulations map.
The goal of this interactive map is to give basic understanding of the regulatory background of each country — click on the map and see if land-based and online gambling and betting are allowed there. In addition, it will link you to relevant articles, where the regulation and market are described in more detail.
Slotegrator is not only a developer of gambling platform and a gaming content aggregator, it also provides consulting services and helps to acquire gambling licenses. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you grow.
-
TTien6 December, 2022Could you please share a list of countries that accept Isle of Man licenses?
-
Slotegrator Team6 December, 2022Hi Tien, the license is accepted on all non-regulated markets.
-
-
aanne lerpido13 September, 2022This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
-
aalwin montero30 August, 2022This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
-
DDavid22 August, 2022Hey, amazing article! Do you know if you can do Facebook & Instagram advertising in the 93 countries where there are no rules at all, or in the 32 countries where locals are prohibited but not foreigners. Ps. I have MGA licens tho
-
BBardin1 June, 2022I'd like to get a license. Contact me pls
-
Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager1 June, 2022Thank you! We'll contact you through email.
-
-
ММайкл1 June, 2022Добрый день! Вы помогаете с лицензированием?
-
Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager1 June, 2022Добрый день! Да, конечно, мы свяжемся с вами по почте для уточнения информации.
-
-
AAffaan30 May, 2022I like it
-
PPedro28 May, 2022Are there any updates in the industry?
-
Slotegrator Team28 May, 2022You can find all industry news here — https://slotegrator.pro/industry-news/
-
-
nnadir27 May, 2022Cool Important information
-
AAshat26 May, 2022Thank you for a list of countries where online gambling operation is legal. It'll help me.
-
LLuis23 May, 2022That's useful for me! Thanks!
-
PPepito20 May, 2022I've looked at the map and tables with information about legal regions. Do you have something special about Latin America?
-
Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager20 May, 2022Hello! Sure, you can download our free ebook about gambling rules in Latin American market. Here it is — https://slotegrator.pro/ebook/your-guide-to-the-latin-american-igaming-market/
-
-
FFarid20 May, 2022Could you help me with consultation about obtaining a gambling license in Belize?
-
Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager20 May, 2022Good afternoon, Farid! Thank you for your question. Yes, sure, we'll contact you soon.
-
-
ААнтон19 May, 2022полезная информация
-
JJoel19 May, 2022Thank you for important information!
-
MMatias19 May, 2022What licenses are you offering?
-
Slotegrator Team19 May, 2022Slotegrator offers licenses for legal operation in different markets. We help to obtain gambling licenses from Curacao, Malta, Isle of Man, Kahnawake, Belize, Gibraltar, and Alderney.
-
-
ssaid19 May, 2022can you consult pls?
-
Slotegrator Team19 May, 2022hi! Of course, always happy to help! Message sent!
-
-
TTim17 May, 2022Nice map
-
PPaulino17 May, 2022A lot of information that can help me in near future. Thank you guys)
-
ffernando4 May, 2022thanks
-
PPrince Seth Montero4 May, 2022This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
-
ЕЕвгений3 May, 2022Полезно.
-
AAdam1 May, 2022how i operate in kenya please?
-
Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager1 May, 2022hello! It is an interesting market with many opportunities. Sent you a message with more details :)
-
-
JJane26 April, 2022thanks for the info!
-
LLEON20 April, 2022MANY THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE
-
ccasino backlinks8 March, 2022decent information and posts
-
SSBOBET Sportsbook7 February, 2022Thank you for having the time on sharing this informative article with us.
-
BBetfair Sportsbook1 February, 2022Thank you for this amazing blog! Keep on posting
-
TTony25 January, 2022thanks for info guys!
-
TTalib13 January, 2021Thanks for sharing!
-
Thailand: light at the end of the tunnel?Debates about gambling regulation in Thailand have continued for ages. The country has yet...Learn more
-
This month in iGaming: October 2023Peru is no longer a gray market, Romania reshapes its gambling laws, and Colombia’s ...Learn more
-
November in Malta: Meet Slotegrator at SiGMA Europe 2023!Slotegrator is gearing up for SiGMA Europe 2023. The renowned iGaming summit, scheduled fr...Learn more