The European Union (EU) has 27 member nations and providing details of online gambling laws in all these countries is quite a task. While the EU does not interfere with the policies of its member states, it does not permit them to prevent the free flow of products and services through the union. Each state is free to have its own approach to online gambling, but the EU does not tolerate monopolies and ring fencing.
Time and again, the EU has issued notices to member nations that have failed to comply with its trade policies. The European Commission has forced member states to revise their online gambling laws, end existing monopolies, and throw open their markets to foreign operators. But the EU hasn’t created a set of common gambling laws, online or otherwise, for its member countries to follow.
Each EU nation has its own set of online gambling laws, but none of them really care about what the individual player does. So far, no EU country has prosecuted any of its residents for playing at an offshore online casino that has not been licensed by its government. Most online gambling laws target operators, forcing them to apply for gambling licenses and pay taxes.
Let us now examine online gambling in various EU nations.
Online Gambling in the UK
The most important gambling law in the UK is the Gambling Act of 2005, on the basis of which the UK Gambling Commission was established. The commission licenses not only online casinos, but also national lottery games. Online casinos can operate and advertise in the UK only after getting hold of a license from the UK Gambling Commission.
The UK Gambling Commission is an independent organization funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS). The following are its duties:
- Keeping UK’s regulated online gambling industry free of fraud and crime
- Ensuring fairness and transparency in online gambling businesses
- Protecting vulnerable groups such as minors from the harmful effects of gambling
The UK Gambling Commission licenses individuals and operators that provide gambling machines, lottery games, betting, arcades, online and telephonic gambling services, gambling software, casinos, and other gambling related products and services.
Online Gambling in Italy
The Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stado (AAMS) is the government agency that oversees all gambling activities in Italy. It not only grants licenses, but also enforces gambling-related administrative procedures.
Gambling was a monopoly in Italy, and it was held by the National Horse Breeders Enhancement Society (UNIRE) and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). But the EU filed a case against Italy in 2006, forcing the country to alter its gambling policies.
In 2006, Italy legalized online bingo, online lottery games, and online betting. Later, it legalized card games and online games of skill. By 2009, the country had legalized online poker, online casinos, betting exchanges, video lottery terminals, and virtual betting. In Dec 2012, Italy threw open its online gambling market for online slots operators. All these regulations enable Italy to license operators not only from the European Union, but also from foreign countries.
In 2014, a bill to modify existing advertising and marketing laws was passed in Italy. Instead of banning radio and TV advertisement campaigns outright, this law seeks to impose certain limitations.
Online Gambling in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, it is the duty of the Netherlands Gambling Authority to grant gambling licenses, keep the gambling industry free of crime, and to protect consumers from the harmful effects of online gambling.
Although Netherlands is home to a well-regulated land-based gambling market, which comprises monopolies on a variety of gambling activities, it still does not permit online gambling. However, a draft online gambling bill was approved on Feb 19, 2019, and it may soon become possible for operators to apply for an online gambling license in Netherlands.
Denmark Online Gambling
Denmark is a well-regulated gambling market that offers consumers full protection against illegal activities, crimes related to online gambling, and unfair business practices. The Danish Gambling Authority oversees all activities related to sports betting, online casinos without NemID, lotteries, public poker tournaments, land-based casinos, and gaming machines.
The authority has an effective way of protecting vulnerable groups and problem gamblers. It offers a feature called ROFUS, which is a register of all individuals who have self-excluded from online gambling sites licensed in Denmark. This feature ensures that players registered under ROFUS cannot sign up at any Denmark-licensed online gambling site till the end of their self-exclusion period.
Problem gamblers can also use a feature called StopSpillet to get counselling about responsible gambling, problem gambling, and treatment of gambling addiction. If you are Danish gambler in need to support, you can call StopSpillet on the number +45-70-22-28-25.
Online Gambling Sweden
In Sweden, the Swedish Gambling Authority, Spelinspektionen, ensures the reliability, legality, and security of the country’s regulated gambling market. In addition to providing consumers with all the tools required to enjoy fair and safe gambling services, the authority also implements the required measures to minimize and prevent the harmful effects of gambling.
The authority grants licenses for gambling machines, hotel casinos, national lottery games, and bingo games, supervises gambling activities, provides information on gambling laws, and keeps the Swedish government updated on the latest developments in foreign as well as domestic gambling markets.
Online Gambling in France
In 2005, France took the first steps towards online gambling legalization. The country decided to change its gambling policies following a case filed against it by the European Commission. In 2009, a bill that would open the French gambling market partially was introduced. The government also created its gambling regulator, ARJEL.
French gambling laws permit three types of online gambling—online sports betting, which includes fixed odds betting, live betting, and pool betting; online horse betting; and online poker. The French government has refused to legalize spread betting, betting exchanges, and casino games on grounds that they lead to problem gambling.
Online Gambling Germany
Germany does not permit online casinos, but has no problems with its residents playing at online casinos licensed in Curacao or other offshore jurisdictions. The country passed its Interstate Gambling Treaty in 2008, but had to modify it because of objections from the European Commission.
The treaty was revised in 2011 and passed again in 2012, legalizing interstate lottery jackpots, casino advertising, and online lottery games. It also permitted 20 sportsbooks to operating outside of the existing state monopoly.
Things may soon change for the better in Germany. According to an announcement made in Jan 2020, the country’s 16 federal states have agreed to the creation of a new regulatory body that will grant online casino and poker licenses.