There are many countries where online gambling is legal and fully regulated, and many others in which gambling is allowed however is regulated offshore. In countries such as the US, Canada and France, online gaming is a mixed bag, however in none of those countries is it illegal for residents to gamble online, it’s simply a case that legislation at the top level has yet to be implemented. Almost all online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks are licensed, and territories such as Gibraltar, the United Kingdom Isle of Man, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Dutch Antilles and Antigua and Barbuda all provide a licensing and regulatory body. Laws are being changed and looked at in many places around the world, however in very few countries is it illegal to gamble online in one form or another.
Online Gambling in the US
Online gambling in the US has been debated for many years now, however it has never been addressed at a Federal level. Over the last few years this has led to individual states taking matters into their own hands and now there are 3 states in the US in which online gambling is fully regulated. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware all allow regulated online gambling, in various forms and there are many states that are following their lead, with California, Pennsylvania and New York all having expressed some interest. Players in other states are free to play and enjoy the offering in the many online casinos that accept them and these casinos all operate and are regulated offshore.
Online Gambling in Canada
In many ways Canada is similar to the US and the nowhere in the Canadian criminal code does it prohibit online gambling. This again means that many residents of Canada play at offshore gaming sites, and there are indeed many tailored to the Canadian player. Online gaming in British Columbia is in fact fully regulated with the first site.launching in 2004. Canadian Casinos
Online Gambling in the UK
Gambling online in the UK is fully regulated and licensed, in fact the UK was one of the very first countries to embrace the activity. Many famous high street bookmakers were fast off the mark to launch their online offerings and it’s now a burgeoning industry that provides many jobs and of course much welcomed tax revenue. There are numerous UK gaming sites, in fact the UK is arguably the most competitive market in the world of online gaming.
Online Gambling in the EU
There are no EU laws regarding online gambling and each country is left to their own devices, and this has of course led to a multitude of laws across different countries. In Germany for example, the activity was outlawed and then challenged in the European Commission and now the state of Schleswig-Holstein allows online gaming, and in 2010 the European Court of Justice stated that the online gaming market ‘had to be liberalized in Germany’. Online gaming is fully licensed and regulated in both Spain and Italy with Portugal following suit and in France while laws have been proposed it remains a grey area. Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Sweden regulate online gaming and many Eastern European countries are open to the idea of it. Online casinos in Europe
