Gambling Laws Across the Globe

The legality of gambling varies a lot around the world. In some countries, both real-world and online gambling is completely legal. In others, it’s forbidden. But, it’s not quite as black and white as that since many countries’ gambling laws are complex.

Gambling Laws in North America

In North America, for example, the laws aren’t exactly straightforward. In the US, each of the fifty states gets to decide its own laws. Some of them are more accepting of gambling than others. Different types may be allowed in one state, but not in another. Regarding real-world vs online gambling, the former is allowed in more states; the latter has only started getting legalized in the last few years.

As for Canada, gambling is permissible by law. The site has to be licensed for online casino gaming and sports betting. The exact rules vary depending on the province you’re in; if anyone’s to get penalized for breaking gambling-related laws, it’s the operator, not the player.

Gambling Laws in Europe and the UK

In the UK, it’s completely legal to gamble at brick-and-mortar casinos, sportsbooks, and online.  The UK Gambling Commission regulates the country’s gambling industry. It hands out licenses, issues fines to companies that break rules, and introduces measures to protect players. It also makes sure that operators don’t violate their online casino bonus conditions in any way so that bonuses are always fair for players.

Throughout continental Europe, gambling laws are generally quite relaxed. Lots of countries allow legal adults to practice sports betting, play casino games, and gamble for real money in other ways.

Gambling Laws in Australia

Australia has a very relaxed approach to gambling. The country’s known for its love of gambling, with many Aussies enjoying pokies (slot machines) and sports betting. Roughly 80% of the adult population frequently gambles in some way; this is the highest rate in the world. Real-world gambling is pretty much legal everywhere.

For internet-based gambling, however, a site has to be based outside the country for its operations to be legal. Most sites that accept Australian players are located elsewhere, so the average Aussie shouldn’t have any problems when gambling online.

Gambling Laws in Asia

In most of China, it’s illegal to gamble. Macau, a special administrative region of China, permits it and has the world’s biggest casino-based gambling industry. Other Asian countries have different approaches to gambling.

In Japan, for example, most forms are banned, though you can place bets on a limited number of sports. In India, each state decides its own laws, though only a minority of them have formally legalized gambling activities. The Philippines allows practically all types of gambling and the government earns several billion pounds a year from taxing it.

Gambling Laws in Africa

South Africa is where the majority of Africa’s gambling takes place. In this country, real-world gambling is legal and so is online gambling, provided the site is licensed by a regulatory authority. Sudan forbids it because of Islamic law, whereas Kenya allows it and operates over a dozen land-based casinos. Nigeria is another country that looks favorably upon gambling, permitting citizens and foreigners to gamble in specific venues and online.

Conclusion

The legality of gambling isn’t always straightforward. This article has only scratched the surface of the laws of gambling around the world and how complex they can be. Hopefully, it’s given you an idea of what the situation is like. If you’re traveling and want to gamble, make sure you check what the country or state’s laws on it are first.