Gambling and its legalization vary across the European Union countries. The EU does influence regulation and legislation, but leaves it up to the individual member states to decide how they regulate gambling and the domestic market. Different gambling, like at doctor spins casino, laws therefore apply in the UK’s neighboring countries and the various EU countries.
For British players and consumers, the question of the legality of online and stationary gambling in Europe is particularly interesting when it comes to planning their vacation: “Where can I gamble legally on vacation in Europe?” We provide an overview of the regulation of gambling in European countries and popular vacation destinations and give tips and advice on what British consumers should pay attention to when gambling abroad.
Gambling Europe Online: Where Can You gamble While on Holiday in Europe?
Gambling on holiday has a long tradition; after all, British casinos in particular have historically emerged from spa operations and during the season, international spa guests met at the gaming tables in the spa houses.
Even today, stationary gambling in historical and modern gaming venues is part of adventure tourism and holidaymakers are generally welcome as gaming guests in foreign gaming halls and non GamStop casinos.
Whether players will find legal gaming venues at their holiday destination depends, of course, on the gambling laws of the respective country. Our summary below provides an overview. For many players, however, visiting non GamStop casinos abroad is also interesting, as is the question of whether they can use the familiar British non GamStop casino while on holiday.
We have summarized the top 10 casinos in Europe for those who love to travel. If you want to travel further afield, explore the USA as a destination for your gambling holiday. The most beautiful Instagram casinos give influencers and friends of photographers the opportunity to take snapshots.
Belgium
In Belgium, there is a state monopoly on lottery operations, while gambling laws regulate casinos, bingo, poker and betting on sports and horse racing. Stationary providers such as traditional casinos can apply for an online license, which is also available to private providers. There are currently 34 licenses regulating the gambling market.
Denmark
Denmark regulates casino games, sports and horse betting, poker, bingo and lottery offers. The Danish Gambling Authority is responsible for both stationary and online offers. The country revised the gambling laws in 2012 and 2018 and partially maintains the state monopoly. However, the market for private providers is open in the areas of casino, sports betting and poker. The gambling authority takes action by blocking providers from abroad who target the domestic population without a license.
Estonia
In Estonia, the minimum age for a visit is 21, but lottery games are available from the age of 16. Providers require a license issued by the customs and tax authorities. The regulation distinguishes between stationary gaming and online gambling, but only those offers in which the game result is produced electronically count as online offers. The live broadcast of casino tables, for example, is therefore not an online game.
Finland
Finland maintains a state monopoly and regulates casinos, sports and horse betting, poker, bingo and lotteries. The gambling laws see online offers as a distribution channel, but not as an independent form of gambling.
The state excludes foreign providers from the market and is in dispute with the European Commission. However, players in Finland can visit sites abroad without having to fear prosecution.
France
French regulation is restrictive: the legislation regulates casinos, sports and horse betting, poker, bingo and lotteries. Aside from the state monopoly on gambling, private providers can obtain a license for betting or poker, and liberalization of the market is in the works. Online offers in particular are to be taken into account. However, online casinos are currently completely banned and blocked by network blocks.
Greece
Greece regulates the gambling segments of sports and horse betting as well as lotteries with a quasi-monopoly. Currently, licenses for private providers are still in force, which are also allowed to target the local population with online content. A change to the gambling laws is in the works and is intended to introduce an open system for gambling licenses.
Ireland
Ireland regulates gambling, lotteries and betting by law and prohibits casino games. The state lottery has a monopoly and there are licenses for stationary gambling machines and slot machines. There are also licenses for online betting.
Italy
The Italian gambling authority allows online casinos, sports betting and poker with a license. Foreign providers also need a license for the Italian market.
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein has liberalized the domestic market since 2010 and has enabled commercial gambling with concessions. The licensing process pays attention to the quality of the operators, but is generally considered generous, which has led to a boom in gambling. Together with its neighboring country Switzerland, Liechtenstein is therefore working on restricting casino tourism in order to prevent banned players from traveling back and forth between the two nations.
Croatia
The country of Croatia regulates casinos, sports and horse betting, poker, bingo and lotteries and also allows private providers with the exception of lottery operations. However, online offers must be linked to terrestrial offers.
Malta
Malta is best known for the online casino licenses issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). However, the licenses differ when it comes to issuing them to operators with corporate customers and end customers.
Netherlands
The Netherlands legalized online gambling in 2021 in order to be able to take action against illegal offers.
The gambling authority allows applications for licenses from domestic and foreign providers, but the operators must meet high requirements.
Norway
The Norwegian model is largely similar to Finland’s, with a state monopoly and only two licensed lottery operators. Gambling laws make no distinction between land-based and online gambling.
Spain
The gambling authority in Spain issues licenses and there is online gambling in the form of casino and slots, betting and poker. There are also two state lottery providers.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic prohibits online casino games, but issues licenses for lotteries, betting, bingo and live games on the Internet. The market is also open to foreign providers under certain conditions, while illegal offers are blocked.
Cyprus
Cyprus blocks unlicensed gambling sites and regulates sports and horse betting as well as lotteries, which are subject to a state monopoly. Sports betting can also be organized by private providers with a license.
