In which countries is betting legal? Check out the map
Written by :
Heloisa Vasconcelos
Brazil has legalized sports betting since 2018 , with the approval of Law 13,756/18. The market, however, still needs regulation, which may come out as early as 2023.
In the world, only 67 countries have sports betting regulated, with a legal license required for the operation of betting houses.
Another 45 countries have a similar situation to Brazil: without strict legislative obligations for foreign companies.
The survey is from Slotegrator , one of the main software providers for bookmakers and casinos in the world. The company surveyed which countries have legalized or regulated betting, online betting, casinos and online casinos.
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Although the research places online casinos as illegal in Brazil , they actually fall into a gray area of the law and should be included in the regulation of sports betting.
The research divides countries into four groups:
- Countries where online betting is locally regulated and bookmakers need a local license
- Countries where bookmakers need a local license but players can play with foreign companies
- Countries where foreign operators are not blocked
- Countries where there is no regulation for online betting.
Countries where all bookmakers need a license
In these countries, each operator must obtain a license and comply with requirements detailed in law.
Bookmakers, whether local or foreign, need to pay taxes to the country and follow advertising rules.
- Africa: Mayotte, Reunion Island.
- Asia: 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, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Norway (state monopoly).
- North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Panama, Virgin Islands (US), Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Latin America: French Guiana, Argentina.
- Oceania: French Polynesia, New Caledonia.
Countries where local bookmakers need a license
In these countries, there are regulations that establish rules on local companies, but there is no impediment for bettors to bet on foreign houses.
- Africa: Comoros, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles.
- Asia: Armenia.
- Europe: Greece, Hungary (state monopoly), Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
- North America: Aruba , Canada, Curacao, Dominica (licensees cannot accept local players), Dominican Republic (licensees cannot accept local players), Greenland.
- Latin America: Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Suriname.
- Oceania: Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.
Countries that do not ban foreign bookmakers
In this case, sports betting is not necessarily illegal, but there is no local regulation for companies. There is no legal impediment to foreign bookmakers exploring the market.
This is the case in the Brazilian market today.
- Africa: Eritrea, Nigeria.
- Asia: Azerbaijan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan.
- Europe: Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia, Monaco, San Marino, Belarus, Malta, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Nicaragua.
- North America: Cayman Islands, El Salvador, Mexico, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, Jamaica.
- Latin America: Brazil, Uruguay (state monopoly), Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago.
- Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Guam, New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Cook Islands.
Countries that do not have clear legislation on the subject
Here, online gambling is not illegal, but there are no clear requirements for companies to operate nor a licensing process.
- 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, Ivory Coast, 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: 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.