Is It Legal And Safe To Gamble Online?

Can the online betting industry be trusted today? This is the question we will have to deal with in this review. Gambling is an industry that brings multi-million dollar revenues and turnover. For all bettors there is great news, most online bookmakers pass quality control, get a license - so their platforms are considered legal and safe for betting.

How betting companies are coming to legality?

Most online companies today are registered in jurisdictions where they are legal and can obtain the appropriate service document. For example, this could be in Costa Rica, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands such as Alderney, the Caribbean Islands or Malta. Most online casinos that have been operating since the mid-1990s and are very reputable in this field have obtained licenses and continue to offer quality services and betting at the best conditions.

Using the US as an example, the issue of the legality and safety of Internet gambling is a sensitive one. There was a ban on the transmission of gambling funds over telecommunication lines in 2002, but this did not prohibit gambling on the Internet.

But this situation has changed a lot in the following years. When the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act and the Skill Game Protection Act were passed in 2007, licenses were allowed to be issued for Internet gambling. And there have also been significant changes to categories of gambling, such as poker, chess and bridge, so that they are not subject to anti-gambling legislation. Thus, today, Internet gambling is legal in most US states.

Online gambling in Europe: an overview

Most EU countries allow at least a few types of online gambling. Some countries allow all games, while others legalize only certain types, such as betting, poker, or casino games. Also, some European jurisdictions have established monopolistic regimes offering online gambling services. These are operated by a public or private operator under an exclusive right. However, an increasing number of EU countries are establishing licensing systems that allow more than one operator to offer services in the market.

Denmark

Online gambling was legalized in Denmark in 2012. Since then, Danes can play at online casinos from the comfort of their homes without worrying about safety and legality. When looking for online casinos, you should only choose those that have been approved by the country's regulatory authorities. Thanks to a strict verification process, bettors can be sure that if the country's officials have given the web platform a license, it is reliable and safe.

United Kingdom

In 2003, it was proposed to change UK gambling laws to keep pace with technological innovations in the field. Thus, some types of gambling became legal online and betting became more acceptable. According to the Gambling Act 2005, all online gambling operators must be licensed. UK citizens now have access to the latest forms of gambling. This country has one of the most popular lottery systems in the world and is also home to some of the largest casinos.

Germany

According to the gambling treaty that came into force in 2008, all forms of online gambling and betting, with the exception of horse racing, are prohibited. Meanwhile, the European Gambling and Betting Association has petitioned the European Commission to take special measures and revise the law. Since 2012, casino operators can apply for a license there already officially. Thus, gambling enthusiasts can bet and play online entertainment from the comfort of their homes.

France

In general, gambling in France has a legal status at the moment. In 2007 the Commission demanded to amend the existing law, as a result, in 2009 the French government introduced a bill that partially opened the gambling market for operators from other EU countries. This led to players opening more than 1.2 million accounts on licensed sites and winning quite successfully already on the first bets. French law now allows 3 types of games online, these are sports betting, horse racing betting and poker.

Online gambling in India

Betting on sports in India is mostly illegal, with the exception of betting on horse racing. Local betting shops are illegal in India, but there is no specific law prohibiting an individual customer from placing online bets with a betting shop located outside of India. India has a love for cricket unparalleled in any other country. Betting on the Indian Premier League exceeds all other betting at the major sportsbooks serving India.

But unlike the United States, which has an American law banning online gambling, India does not have a specific law banning online gambling. Bookmakers are apparently exploiting this loophole to lure Indians into betting on everything.

Online gambling in Africa

In some countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt, an exception to the strict restrictions applies to tourists and foreigners. In other states, the exemption applies specifically to sports betting (for example, in Nigeria, it is defined as a game requiring skill and therefore does not fit the category of gambling).

In most countries, the online aspect of betting is not regulated at all, adding uncertainty for companies doing business in the region. Many platforms operate without any restrictions, but sometimes governments suddenly tighten measures on gambling enterprises.

Online gambling in Asia

In Macau, the most gambling territory in Asia, there are a lot of restrictions specifically related to betting activities - it is strictly regulated, and the exclusive rights to provide betting services on soccer and basketball, including online and over the phone, are given to Macau Slot.

Singapore and South Korea have a similar system - the gambling business is strictly limited, and almost without exception - state-owned. The most open and popular sports betting market in Asia is the Philippines. Only foreign online betting operators are licensed. The lack of local competition creates very favorable conditions and attracts a lot of companies to the market.

Online gambling in South America

After Colombia started regulating gambling in 2016 and the gambling market began to develop rapidly, other countries followed suit and began to remove restrictions. In Argentina, online betting is legal in several provinces, although the overall legal framework is quite fragmented.

Brazil has long been on the radar of international operators as a potential promising market, and has recently started to make steps towards legalization. The Brazilian president has signed a decree to privatize sports betting services, but it has not yet been implemented.

Regulatory authorities behind gambling

There are various watchdog organizations, such as MGA, UKGC, Curacao, eCOGRA, which filter and block bookmakers for their violations, receiving heavy fines. Among other things, popular providers and software companies (NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Betsoft, etc) cooperate only with legal betting operators, otherwise it can't be otherwise, because they can lose their status. Reliable bookmakers create and update their platforms to ensure security and conduct online transactions related to real money accounts due to special encryption protocols.

Gambling features: what it's about and how it works

It is one of the most common real-money amusements that more and more sports and online gambling enthusiasts around the world are turning to. Online casinos are currently the most visited places because they are the ones that have become practical and accessible to most players. After all, all you need now is a stable internet connection and access to a PC, tablet or mobile device. Bookmakers cannot simply start their work without security and legality checks from leading supervisory organizations that issue the appropriate document for betting services.

Preventive measures for illegal gambling

Each state has its own laws according to which it regulates the operation and provision of certain gaming areas of responsibility. These are the rules by which all residents of the country should be guided, to adhere to them is the law. If someone does not follow the law that regulates something, there is a sanction that imposes a fine and closure of any online establishment. Therefore, everyone is obliged to follow the rules set by the state authorities to maintain order inside.

Age restriction when it comes to betting and gambling

If you are under the age of 18 or are considered a minor, it will be illegal for you to enter and bet on betting sites. Most states legislate that only adults who have reached the age of 18 or usually 21 are allowed access, after which they are considered adults. If you want to play or place a profitable bet on one of the legal platforms and you are not of legal age, you will have to give it up, you should wait until you are of legal age and then come to online betting sites.

Last words about Legality of Online gambling

Today, most online casinos operate and offer legal/safe online betting. It is possible to deposit money with confidence and be sure that the online casino will fulfill its obligations to the registered player, and this also applies to winnings, bonuses and promotions. Featuring a variety of local payment methods accepted by gambling companies, bettors can be assured of safe and fast transaction processing.

We recommend researching the gambling platform before betting, and find out about the current status of the company you want to play through. As a rule, all up-to-date information is stored on the official website of the bookmaker on the main page, it will always be in open access for the potential player.