What Are The Laws Of Gambling In East Europe? - Online gambling activity is currently regulated in Portugal. Until 2015, Online Gambling was under the monopoly of Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML). Although unlicensed foreign game operators are not blocked and can offer betting options to Portuguese nationals.
Because online gambling frameworks have been created. Foreign operators are now allowed to accept players from Portugal, on condition of obtaining a gambling license from the Portuguese authorities.
However, the new gaming laws generated a number of complaints from some operators who were dissatisfied with the high taxes that were required of them.
The regulatory body in Portugal that controls gambling and issues gaming licenses to interested operators is the “Serviço de Regulação e Inspéção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal” (SRIJ). Recently, the following game activities qualify. Games of chance, such as baccarat, blackjack, slots, poker, roulette, bingo and fixed odds sports betting and horse racing.
Although this law imposes higher taxes and it includes the possibility of executing ISP bans on operators who do not have the necessary gaming licenses. Portugal continues to attract gambling companies interested in running online businesses.
Gambling in Austria
Gambling of all kinds is legal at casinos in Austria. Although the government is taking steps to control all land-based and web-based gambling activities.
In Austria we have a unique set of circumstances because the gambling law defines "proper" gambling. Which involved large sums of money and "small gambling". Where the players place bets of 50 cents or less.
To simplify things. We can
Judi Online say that proper gambling is allowed in land-based casinos. Meanwhile "petty gambling" can happen anywhere.
Current gambling laws allow the state to offer licenses to companies incorporated in the country wishing to run online gambling sites. Although they can only accept Austrian citizens.
The state controls the gambling phenomenon in this way, although they do allow players in Austria free access to international gambling sites.
Among the most popular betting options we can mention local football - but also the German Bundesliga - and the game of poker. Some of the biggest gambling companies come from Austria, such as Casino Austria, which has 40 land-based casinos in 16 countries. Another example is Bwin, an Austrian company spread across the globe.
Gambling in Belgium
Gambling activities have been connected to the country's past from the Middle Ages to the present. As for online gambling, a suitable law was approved in 2002 and respects the principles of free trade and competitive markets.
However, to protect players from gambling addiction and use some sort of control. The Belgian authorities introduced a new Gambling Act in 2009. One of the most important regulations of the law requires operators wishing to provide online gaming activities in Belgium to have at the same time a license for a physical gambling location or casino.
What's more, to better control gambling in the country. Government authorities limit the number of game licenses, which makes things even more difficult for those interested in being present in the local market.
For companies trying to offer gambling services without the proper license. The Belgian Gaming Commission organized and edited the blacklist that was sent to Internet Service Providers from the country, along with heavy fines.
Although the need to have a land casino may seem difficult to avoid for online operators wishing to have a presence in Belgium. It is possible to partner with existing land-based operators.
Gambling in the Netherlands
Most gambling activities in the Netherlands are legal, even though it is under the strict control of government authorities.
Although the Dutch authorities have tried to maintain a monopoly on the local market and block foreign websites by placing them on various black lists, or by contacting banks to refuse player deposits. Residents of the Netherlands continue to have free access to international betting websites.
The Dutch gambling scene is dominated by Holland Casino, which holds a real monopoly on the internal market with 14 land-based casinos. In the online world, De Lotto and Scientific Games offer a number of sports betting and horse racing options.
Online gaming activity is overseen by the Dutch Gaming Authority and the latest developments in the field of online gambling from a legislative point of view have taken place in July 2016. When the new Gaming Remote Bill was passed.
The bill regulates online gambling activities and offers a regulatory framework that allows the government to issue gaming licenses for local and international operators.
Among the most popular betting options we have to show you the football matches of the major European championships that attract a lot of visitors.
Gambling in Switzerland
Gambling is quite popular in Switzerland with over 50% of citizens taking part in lottery games, sports betting, poker and casinos.
From 1921 to 1993, all gambling activities were banned in the country. In 1993, the "Federal Law on Games of Odds and Casinos" was changed to allow limited betting casino gambling. And then, in 2000, all restrictions were removed from land-based casino gambling.
By law, games are divided into two areas: games of skill and games of chance. Chance games can only be played in the brick and mortar casinos of this country.
As for online gambling, things don't look great. At this time, internet gambling activity is prohibited by the state and no laws have been created for this industry.
Despite this, Swiss citizens place bets on foreign gambling sites. Especially from Germany, France and Italy, which were not blocked by the authorities.
In the following years, Swiss authorities will implement proper regulations to support the online gambling market in the country.
Conclusion
The countries of western Europe may appear organized into a unified space. Especially from a historical point of view. However, each of them approached the online gambling phenomenon in a different way.
From countries that do not have transparent laws or maintain an internal monopoly to protect their gambling market. Up to countries that accept local and foreign operators. The Western European space is not a sustainable legislative space.
The countries of Western Europe have not connected with their citizens' desire to gamble and be aware of sportsbooks. And a new casino game that anyone can access online. Not to mention the fact that no country can ignore growing financial revenues. Which the Online Gambling industry can push into the economy.
Although most countries do not impose swift steps into the legislative space to create coherent gambling laws for the online space. The current trend to regulate online gambling is constant and a positive evolution will be expected in the following years.