Where is online gambling legal in 2021?

📅 Updated 7 January, 2021 🕐 5min. 👁 68479
Table of contents

Before opening an online project, every operator primarily asks the question: what market to choose? Where can I operate freely, and where do I need to go through the licensing procedure?

Slotegrator examined this question. Our experts prepared a list of countries where online gambling operation is legal.

To make it even more convenient, we sorted them by continents. It includes not only those countries subject to certain requirements and where online gambling is regulated by law. There are also those countries where online gambling is neither regulated nor prohibited.

Where Online gambling is legal  in the world - Slotegrator

Online gambling availability in the World 2021

Depending on different approaches to gambling regulation in the world, all countries are divided into 4 groups.

Countries where foreign online casinos are not blocked:

Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania
Eritrea
Nigeria
Azerbaijan
Brunei
Hong Kong
Japan
Kyrgyz Republic
Laos
Malaysia
Qatar
Singapore
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Cyprus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Iceland
Luxembourg
Serbia
Slovakia
 
Cayman Islands
Salvador
Mexico
Brazil American Samoa
Australia
Guam
New Zealand

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 it.

However, it should be noted that gambling is not necessarily legal in these countries.
 

Learn more about the African gambling market and how to open an online casino in Africa.

For example, the Cayman Islands completely prohibit gambling, while the local residents are liable for participation in gambling. The fact that foreign online casinos are not blocked now can only be explained by the inability of regulator to do this. And if the online gambling is not legalized, blocking of foreign sites is just a matter of time.

Countries where gambling websites must be licensed by the local regulator:

Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania
Ethiopia
Mayotte
Reunion Island
Georgia
Sri Lanka
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Spain
UK
Antigua and Barbuda
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Panama
Saint-Barthélemy
Saint-Martin
Virgin Islands (USA)
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
New Caledonia
Wallis and Futuna Islands

These countries use the most competent approach to online gambling regulation. Each operator (whether it is local or foreign) must acquire a license and fulfill certain legal requirements. Conditions are equal for all. Everyone is obliged to pay taxes to the budget. Only in this case, the operator has the right to work legally. Otherwise, the online resource will be blocked.

The following countries require a license of the local regulator only for the local gaming sites. Foreign platforms can work without it:

Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania
Comoros
Gambia
Guinea
Mauritius
Rwanda
Seychelles
Armenia Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Monaco
Norway
Montenegro
Portugal
San Marino
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Aruba
Belize
Canada
Curacao
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Greenland
- Fiji
Vanuatu

As in the first group, 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 it at all. However, all local casino owners are required to undergo the licensing procedure of the local regulator and to pay taxes to the local treasury.

Slotegrator 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.

The following countries have no restrictions for the gambling sites at all:

Africa Asia Europe North America South America Oceania
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
Bangladesh
Macau
India
Mongolia
Myanmar
Tajikistan
Albania
Andorra
Belarus
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Kosovo
Liechtenstein
Malta

Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Costa Rica
Djibouti
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Nicaragua
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Turks and Caicos
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela
Cook Islands
Kiribati
Micronesia
Nauru
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
East Timor
Tonga

This is the largest group of countries. Many of them do not regulate gambling activities at all.

Online gambling laws around the world

Today almost every country has its own rules regulating the land-based gambling. However, the situation with online gambling is more ambiguous. As can be seen, the attitude towards local and foreign operators differs fundamentally from country to country.

In the European Union, for example, the operators of the foreign gambling sites are subject to the requirements of the EU law. However, not all countries agree that foreign operators don’t pay taxes to the local treasury. Contrary to the requirements of the EU, they put the foreign operators under own regulations forcing them to obtain a local gaming license and pay taxes to the local budget. Among these countries France, Germany, Italy, etc.

The second reason for the different attitudes to local and foreign operators is that many countries (especially those not technologically advanced) simply do not have the resources or tools to prevent foreign companies from operating in their territories.

Follow the Ukrainian gambling industry legalization and development. Find more about the legaization process, roles of gambling lottery commission and how to start your own casino in Ukraine.

Summing up the availability of online gambling around the world:

  • 32 countries prohibit the local operators from working without a license, but those gambling sites that operate from abroad can easily offer their services to local residents. Among them, the following countries: Seychelles, Armenia, Dominican Republic, Greece, Monaco, Norway, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, etc.
  • 32 countries allow online gambling only with the local license. For example, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, the UK, the Netherlands etc.
  • 28 countries prohibit locals from gambling and block sites of local gambling operators. However, foreign platforms can work freely, even if they have no license. These states are either unwilling or are not able to prevent them. For example, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Nigeria, etc.
  • 93 countries do not prohibit online casinos and do not license them. They include Bolivia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bahamas, Argentina, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Kosovo, Gibraltar, etc.

Slotegrator offers everything gambling operators need to launch and expand online casino and sportsbook projects. The company offers a wide range of products, including White Label online casino and sportsbook platform development, game content, betting data feeds and payment systems integration. Slotegrator also provides legal consultancy and administrative assistance for gambling license acquisition and regulatory compliance.

Сomments
  • T
    Tien
    6 December, 2022
    Could you please share a list of countries that accept Isle of Man licenses?
    • Slotegrator Team
      6 December, 2022
      Hi Tien, the license is accepted on all non-regulated markets.
  • a
    anne lerpido
    13 September, 2022
    This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
  • a
    alwin montero
    30 August, 2022
    This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
  • D
    David
    22 August, 2022
    Hey, 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
  • B
    Bardin
    1 June, 2022
    I'd like to get a license. Contact me pls
    • Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager
      1 June, 2022
      Thank you! We'll contact you through email.
  • М
    Майкл
    1 June, 2022
    Добрый день! Вы помогаете с лицензированием?
    • Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager
      1 June, 2022
      Добрый день! Да, конечно, мы свяжемся с вами по почте для уточнения информации.
  • A
    Affaan
    30 May, 2022
    I like it
  • P
    Pedro
    28 May, 2022
    Are there any updates in the industry?
    • Slotegrator Team
      28 May, 2022
      You can find all industry news here — https://slotegrator.pro/industry-news/
  • n
    nadir
    27 May, 2022
    Cool Important information
  • A
    Ashat
    26 May, 2022
    Thank you for a list of countries where online gambling operation is legal. It'll help me.
  • L
    Luis
    23 May, 2022
    That's useful for me! Thanks!
  • P
    Pepito
    20 May, 2022
    I've looked at the map and tables with information about legal regions. Do you have something special about Latin America?
    • Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager
      20 May, 2022
      Hello! 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/
  • F
    Farid
    20 May, 2022
    Could you help me with consultation about obtaining a gambling license in Belize?
    • Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager
      20 May, 2022
      Good afternoon, Farid! Thank you for your question. Yes, sure, we'll contact you soon.
  • А
    Антон
    19 May, 2022
    полезная информация
  • J
    Joel
    19 May, 2022
    Thank you for important information!
  • M
    Matias
    19 May, 2022
    What licenses are you offering?
    • Slotegrator Team
      19 May, 2022
      Slotegrator 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.
  • s
    said
    19 May, 2022
    can you consult pls?
    • Slotegrator Team
      19 May, 2022
      hi! Of course, always happy to help! Message sent!
  • T
    Tim
    17 May, 2022
    Nice map
  • P
    Paulino
    17 May, 2022
    A lot of information that can help me in near future. Thank you guys)
  • f
    fernando
    4 May, 2022
    thanks
  • P
    Prince Seth Montero
    4 May, 2022
    This article is so worth reading, it's really informative and reliable to the readers.
  • Е
    Евгений
    3 May, 2022
    Полезно.
  • A
    Adam
    1 May, 2022
    how i operate in kenya please?
    • Ayvar Gabidullin, Sales Manager
      1 May, 2022
      hello! It is an interesting market with many opportunities. Sent you a message with more details :)
  • J
    Jane
    26 April, 2022
    thanks for the info!
  • L
    LEON
    20 April, 2022
    MANY THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE
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    casino backlinks
    8 March, 2022
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    7 February, 2022
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    1 February, 2022
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  • T
    Tony
    25 January, 2022
    thanks for info guys!
  • T
    Talib
    13 January, 2021
    Thanks for sharing!
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