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Although it appears that gambling has proliferated all over the world, it is especially popular in Europe. In fact, casino fans are flocking to both traditional brick and mortar casinos as well as online casino platforms to play their favorite casino games. As gambling regulations vary across the globe, it is worth exploring European gambling regulations in particular to see what is and isn’t allowed so that you are better informed.

 

Firstly, it is worth noting that as Europe is comprised of many different countries, the gambling laws vary from country to country and some governments profit from the industry more than others. For example, the UK heavily taxes operators so they can use their success to the advantage of the country. As the taxes are so high, some of the best new slot sites pull out all the stops to attract new players through offering bonuses and free spins in the hope that they’ll gain a loyal customer.

 

It is important to mention that there is no sector-specific EU legislation in the field of gambling services. In addition, EU countries are fully in control of their gambling services, as long as they comply with the fundamental freedoms established under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

 

Furthermore, one region where gambling is extremely popular is the UK. With millions of operators here, although the UK is technically no longer an EU member, it is vital to note that both online and land based gambling is 100% legal as long as the provider is licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission as per the provisions of the Gambling Act of 2005. The Gambling Commission is the governing body in the UK with strict rules relating to gambling that all casinos must adhere to. Casino games that need to be regulated by the Gambling Commission in the UK are poker, bingo and sports betting. Owing to the fact that all types of gambling are legal in the UK, there are a whole host of new slot providers set to enter the market to target players.

 

In addition, there are various rules when it comes to gambling regulations in Spain. In fact, in recent years they have gone through several rounds of changes. Online casinos can operate in Spain if they adhere to certain conditions according to the Spanish National Gaming Commission. This outlines that every online casino needs a specific license that can be attained only if they adhere to a range of legal, technical and economic conditions. If an online casino is licensed in the country, any casino fan in Spain can sign up and play their favorite game.

 

Of course, with many casino fans residing in France, it is interesting to note that many forms of gambling are legal in France as of 2010. Gambling is governed by various bodies such as the Pari Mutuel Urbain which overlooks horse racing activities. The Francaise des Jeux deals with betting games and lotteries, and ARJEL deals with online gambling in general. However, the rules remain unclear with regard to spread betting and exchange betting. In brick-and-mortar casinos, it is common to see those in France play poker as the justification for this is because it is based on skill rather than luck or chance.

 

 

Moreover, in a similar vein, Germany also follows several rules when it comes to gambling. The laws with regard to gambling in Germany are quite blurry as they have undergone several changes over the years. For example, the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling which came into effect in 2021 outlines a clear difference between online casino games and virtual slot games. This gives each state the choice of whether to instate a state monopoly or provide a limited number of licences to private operators. On top of this, there are no live casino games or progressive jackpot slots that are allowed. In addition, live betting is not permitted and there aren’t a large amount of sports betting opportunities available.

 

Interestingly, Italy is an example of one of those countries in the EU that has showed progression when it comes to gambling laws. This is because it has once completely prohibited all gambling activities, but now it has actually legalized some of them under specific conditions. It is equally as interesting to note that outside Europe, rules also vary when it comes to gambling. For example, in the United States, there are many states where online casino gambling is not yet legally permitted or licensed and regulated by local state authorities. However, there is nothing stopping them from signing up to offshore casino sites that are licensed outside of US jurisdiction.

 

Ultimately, there are a whole host of gambling laws enforced according to countries within the EU. If you are deciding to play a casino game and you reside in the EU, remember to check the rules and regulations including whether you are allowed to play both offline and online. In the future, as we are adopting a more relaxed attitude to gambling laws in general, we should witness even more countries in the EU ease up with their gambling laws. So, why not check out the rules for yourself?