46 Comments

1. Daniel Faouakhiri on 2016-08-10 at 01:51

   Hello Simon!
   First, congratulations on your Guide. Extremely helpful.
   Regarding “Offshore online gambling legal issues”, when you say “legal, requires licence: that particular online gambling activity is legal and the operator must obtain a licence, this can mean a liberalized online gambling market, where private operators can apply for a license or this can mean a monopoly with only one licenced company (details can be found on the country’s webpage, click on the name or flag)” the licence the operator must obtain is at the country where the operator is located, not the country the operator “sells its services”, right?
   That is to say if a operator is located in a country where Gambling is legal, and the operator has been licenced to operate online, it’s right to say the operator can operate online in almost every country around the globe (with a few exceptions, such as the 8 countries mencioned at your Guide + USA). Is that right?
   I really need to know about this topic.
   Appreciate your attention!
   Best regards,
   Daniel Faouakhiri

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-08-10 at 06:42

     Thanks! Let me illustrate it using the UK’s system:

     So, in order for an offshore online casino to accept players from the UK:

     1., it needs to be an online casino already, which means registered somewhere with a valid gambling license,
     2., then they have to apply for a local license at the UK Gambling Commision, so they can accept players from the UK.

     If the company fulfills the long list of criteria, and agrees to the terms and conditions (and pays the taxes afterwards! – most importantly), then they can accept players from the UK, legally.
     You might be wondering: Wait a minute! Why on earth does a legally operating foreign online casino with a valid license would need to acquire another local license?
     Well, simple, the government of the UK (and every other country) want tax money, as much as possible. Before this, offshore casinos did not pay a single £ in taxes. The UK realized that the tremendous amount of purchasing power, and their liberal gambling laws make the UK market extremely valuable to offshore casinos (probably the most desirable gambling market in the entire world), so they can dictate the conditions. That’s why.

     Online gambling websites without a license are blocked by the ISPs, the companies without a license can not advertise in the UK, and generally they try to make unlicensed operator’s life a a living hell, as much as possible. Not to mention, most offshore gambling license regulatory boards don’t let casinos accept players from the UK anymore. Hope this made it easier to understand.

     Reply
     • Daniel Faouakhiri on 2016-08-10 at 14:17

       Got it! That makes a lot of sense.
       I was using UK Gambling Commision’s fees calculator and to run the business I intend to, fees are about £4.000 per annum. Isolated, it’s not a lot of money, but if you consider you might do the same thing for more than one country… then, money will be spent.
       __________

       Simon, is there any Guide where I can find information about from where to legally (valid gambling license) operate online gambling (lottery), taking in consideration fees and taxes issued by country’s Gaming Authority?
       I’ve been looking for that, and Malta seems like a good idea.

       Thanks again!

       Reply
       • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-08-10 at 16:10

         Glad I could help. There is no such guide to the best of my knowledge. This is the closest thing to it:
         http://www.iclg.co.uk/compare?practice_area=gambling , but they only deal with a handful of countries, not all of them. And a lot of the stuff on the website is not free. I’m might do such a guide eventually, but no plans yet (it’s a lot of work).

         If you – as you mentioned earlier – want to enter the UK gambling market, then your options are pretty limited. Only gambling licenses, which were “whitelisted” by the UK Gambling Commision are eligible for a licence in the UK:
         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitelisted_gambling_jurisdictions

         I wholeheartedly recommend Alderney and Gibraltar, they are very reputable and most of the companies I partnered with are registered there. But I’m not sure if any of them issues a licence, that would cover lottery type games. Please check with them.
         I would really appreciate if you would please hit the Google +1 button in return, it helps my website a lot, and if you have a blog, please mention and link back to this guide if you can, that also helps. Thanks a lot!

         Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-08-10 at 06:55

     “Is it right to say the operator can operate online in almost every country around the globe (with a few exceptions, such as the 8 countries mencioned at your Guide + USA). Is that right?”

     It’s much more than 8 (most of the yellow ones are state controlled, not every country is on the interactive map yet, the colours only tell you whether you can play from that country online – as a player). And it depends on the gambling license of the casino. The casino software provider, or the payment processor might also restrict the casino from accepting players from certain countries. And to make an already complicated issue even more complicated, some countries might choose to block the online casino regardless, even if the gambling license would allow it to accept players from the country. This is why I created this guide, so average players don’t have to know all this, they just simply click on the name of their country or the flag and they can pick from the online gambling websites that accepts them (and if they choose to, they can learn about it, after all, the information is there, just most people don’t read it :) – which is okay )

     Reply
     • Daniel Faouakhiri on 2016-08-10 at 14:23

       Indeed, all of that is complicated… but I got it. Thanks a lot! Very precise information.

       Reply
2. Diana Dankova on 2016-08-21 at 16:41

   Hi, is this actual?

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-08-21 at 16:43

     Hi,

     Please check the bottom of every webpage, there is a section “Last updated:” , it’s alway accurate up to that date (to the best of my knowledge, please let me know in the comments section if it’s not). Thanks for dropping by.

     Reply
3. Georgios on 2016-09-07 at 10:51

   Hello Simon,

   If someone decides to run online raffles (like the Dubai Airport Duty Free), from which countries should not accept players?

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-09-07 at 10:54

     Depends on which country your company will be registered in, on the gambling license they provide.

     Reply
4. Michael on 2016-09-28 at 11:18

   Hello Simon
   first thanks for your excellent guide. most of my question a similar to the ones asked by Daniel Faouakhiri, so your answers are valid me for as well.
   However, I am also curious about the types of games one is allowed to offer. Lotto games seems to be exclusive to state-run offerings.
   Have you encountered or know of any multi-number-draws or similar lotto-style games that can be offered legally?
   thanks and all the best, Michael

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-09-28 at 11:42

     Yes, in most countries, lottery, lottery-type games, raffles (excluding non-profit raffles), other type of lottery-style number games are a state monopoly. However, in most micronations and smaller countries, where the market is too small private investors and foreign companies are often allowed in (e.g.: Danske Spiel in Greenland, private lotteries can apply for a license in US Virgin Islands) but this is mostly on an invitation only, who’s who, strict B2B kind of thing with people/companies with ties to the local government, who are usally already active in the area.

     If you are a private investor without the necessary B2B and political connections your best bet is to apply for an offshore gambling license that covers online lottery and start marketing it. In most countries, where lottery is a state monopoly accessing and playing in foreign online lotteries is not criminalized (mostly not regulated, outside of the country’s jurisdiction). So you can still start your own online lottery with an offshore company and with an offshore gambling license (it will cost a lot of money! – remember your company will always have to have enough money – from the start – to pay out the highest possible win, that’s one of the requirements of many reputable gambling license providers).

     Hope this helps.

     Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2016-09-28 at 12:07

     If you don’t have the necessary amount of money to start your own online lottery, you can become a lottery agent as well. I’m actually going to work with a few of them from 2017. They basically act as online platforms and resellers of the biggest legally operating, mostly state run lotteries (e.g.: Powerball, Euromillions) targeting players internationally. It’s a small but growing segment of the online gambling market.

     Reply
5. Denitza Dimitrova on 2016-12-26 at 13:10

   Great Blog indeed, This information will surely give an advantage for starting online gaming business.

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2017-04-06 at 17:58

     Thanks. Hope so ;) – but this is mostly for players.

     Reply
6. Keiron on 2017-02-13 at 15:12

   Hi. If a gambling company is operating in the UK and you are able to place a bet in the US (as an example) is that gambling company eligible for a fine? If so, what is it?

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2017-04-06 at 17:42

     A company can have multiple gambling licenses (an offshore online gambling license + many small local licenses they purchased for local markets), or it is done through a subsidiary. It is not that simple. Alss, it depends on what kind of payment method was used. However, what you can do is to check the website, see what kind of gambling license(s) they have, and you can message the license provider(s) about the suspicious behaviour. They will take care of it from there, that’s their job after all.

     Reply
7. Daniel Stastny on 2017-03-01 at 11:31

   Dear Mr./Mrs.

   I want to ask you about sport betting.

   In which countries betting operators don’t need to be licensed in that country ?

   For example, in Czech republic is new law since this year that obligates operators to be licensed in Czech… In earlier years they could operate “free” in Czech.

   Do you have some summary or view in which countries you DONT HAVE TO BE LICENSED ?

   Thank you very much for your time, appreciate that !

   Best regards
   Daniel Stastny

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2017-04-06 at 17:38

     No, sorry. I don’t have such a list. Also, you can find more info about gambling and online gambling in the Czech Republic here, that might help.

     Reply
8. RobiN on 2017-04-21 at 08:41

   Thanks Simon for your detaIled report,i reside in Mumbai, India. My citizenship is Indian .i wanted to run online bitcoin lottery business.. Can i run it without acquiring local lottery license for several months in beginning. Later once i get enough revenue i could buy license, but Until i dont own license.. Wil it be safe for me? if i host website on foreign server n domaiN. Will i be prosecuted? Waiting for ur reply. Thank u

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2017-04-21 at 14:00

     The information is either already here, or you should post your question in the comments section of this webpage: Gambling, online gambling in India

     Reply
9. Malik on 2017-05-31 at 16:35

   What if you have a game similar to say Slotomania? It has slot machines in this game.
   You don’t win real money just tokens inside the game, but you pay real money (in app purchases) for tokens. Do you have to have a gambling license?

   Reply
   • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-11 at 13:03

     It would be considered so called “social gambling” in about 90% of the countries, therefore no license is required. Speaking in general of course. One exemption I can remember from the top of my head is Turkey, where such websites are specifically illegal.

     Reply
10. yadavi pavakit on 2017-09-08 at 11:37

    It is really helpful for me. Got it! That makes a lot of sense about gambling and online gambling.

    Reply
11. Mike on 2017-12-07 at 08:38

    Hi Simon,
    first of all thanks for the helpful article.
    I just wonder how the Onlinecasinos in general handle such scenarios where a valid CC card but the current Country of Residence of the Player is Blacklisted.

    Currently I face the situation that I moved to an country which belongs to the red category and wonder about my withdrawal verification process.
    I am not a citizen of that country and the credit card used is as well from a country where gambling is allowed.

    Do you think the operator will decline the “proof of address” and therefore the withdrawel or even worse get me in legal trouble.

    Best regards,
    Mike

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-10 at 11:58

      Sorry for the late reply, spam filter filtered this out. Your address and ID card is what matters not your credit card. Is your ID card from a country that is banned? Then no you won’t get your winnings. Is your ID card from a country that is allowed? Then yes you will get the money.

      Reply
12. tato on 2018-01-04 at 07:27

    hello simon, first of all thank you for Detailed report, have you any information about Licence of the use of movie characters in slots or just famous heroes ?

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-10 at 11:53

      No, I don’t have anything on those (and I have no intention of researching it, very few people would be interested in it) but I did notice that they are very restricted. In the terms and conditions of the casinos they are always mentioned separately with a huge list of restricted countries.

      Reply
13. Ryan Pauley on 2018-04-16 at 01:51

    Simon,

    Very helpful and informative report. Is it illegal for online casinos to accept monthly fees from members? I have heard that their money can only be made from player deposits, but I have had a very hard time confirming this. Maybe it varies by country? Thanks for taking the time.

    Ryan

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-10 at 11:42

      Which country? But no, in general, they can charge a membership fee, land-based casinos can ask visitors to pay an entrance fee too.

      Reply
14. Jeanette Blair on 2018-04-24 at 13:45

    I am wondering if as I Canadian on holiday in the UK can I gamble online and collect winnings when I go home

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-11 at 15:28

      It might be seen as suspicious activity, I wouldn’t risk it. (I assume the casino doesn’t accept players from the UK that’s why this is a problem, if it accepts people from Canada and the UK then it’s no problem whatsoever). Use a VPN and set it to Canada while in the UK that way there will be no issues, that’s my recommendation.

      Reply
15. Talal on 2018-05-15 at 05:06

    Hi Simon,
    Thank you for this nice and very helpful website.

    I kindly need sum guidance, all help is appreciated from anyone reading as well…thanks

    I live in Jordan, I just can’t find a way to transfer (and then withdraw) funds to/from bookies sites. I have been trying for months now, I tried 3 different eWallets (Skrill, Neteller, and ecopayz), all of them have restrictions on transferring funds to gambling websites for those who reside in Jordan, (but they wont tell u before hand or on their terms and conditions section, you will only find out after you register and try transferring to a gambling site). I tried VISA debt card as well (as a last option) but still the transfers wont go thru (because of my local bank, and Central Bank, restrictions on such sites).
    ANY suggestion……anybody?!! Its like going in cilrcles…:(

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-10 at 11:35

      This belongs in the comments section the Jordan gambling page not here.

      Reply
16. Lim Fong on 2018-09-11 at 14:57

    why do i need to disclose my source of income in the UK ??

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-08-10 at 11:29

      You don’t, you are probably being scammed or are marked as a risk for money laundering, but its usually only if you are a high roller. Either way I wouldn’t trust it, just choose a different casino. Also, next time palase drop a comment at the UK gambling page instead of here…-

      Reply
17. Caliosso on 2018-12-20 at 02:34

    Hello,

    Thanks for the fulfilled tables.

    Could the empty ones be fullfilled as well ?
    Is an update planned ?
    Can we add a column for betting exchange? Because we can see country where online sport betting is legal but betting exchange (betfiar, betdaq, matchbook) illegal

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
18. Sarah Decock on 2019-02-13 at 10:47

    Simon the information is very much interesting and detailed. Only one question can anybody from abroad can run this business in Europe while living in his own country and how?

    Reply
19. alexx on 2020-06-07 at 15:18

    Tnx for the list! That’s what I was looking for

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2020-06-07 at 21:54

      Cool. I’m in the process of updating the whole thing right now. Most of the websites are 3-4 years old, but things don’t happen fast in the world of gambling laws and regulations. Aprrox. 80% of the info is still accurate. Hope you find it useful. I will fill out the rest of the map too in the coming weeks as time permits.

      Reply
20. Yossi on 2021-10-27 at 06:48

    Thanks for the helpful site. Small comment – Israel is not in Africa. It is either part of the Middle East or Europe.

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2021-11-02 at 04:16

      Yes, fixed it. You are right. Thank you. (It’s definitely not part of Europe though. Thant makes no sense.)

      Reply
21. adrian smith on 2022-01-12 at 13:45

    Hi Simon,

    Thanks so much for this great mine of information!

    QU: I want to set up a sportsbook/slots online company. I am looking at registering the company in Curacao (for speed) and in parallel applying for a UK licence so as to access the UK market. Does this sound sensible? And would the company have to pay tax twice (Curacao and UK) for any GGR generated in the UK?

    Thanks v much in advance

    Reply
    • SimonTheSorcerer on 2022-01-14 at 16:16

      If you eventually want to be active in the UK, you need a licence from:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitelisted_gambling_jurisdictions

      Otherwise you will have issues down the line, they definitely don’t like the Caribbean and Central American offshore tax havens.
      Keep in mind that setting up and operating an online casino is not cheap, so make sure to have € 1+ million, otherwise you are going to just waste your money.

      I have no idea about the taxation aspects, that’ beyond the scope of a gambling blog.

      Btw. if you are thinking about getting into the online gambling sector why not start with an affiliate blog instead? Cheaper, less risk, and you would learn a lot about the industry in the process.
      Most online casinos tend to fail, it’s a saturated sector, full of corruption, who’s who, knowing the right payment processors, spending big bucks on the right lawyers for their signature, it’ a disgusting industry that eats up newcomers, you will regret it. I warned you.

      Good luck,
      Simon

      Reply
22. Peter Andersson on 2023-01-06 at 13:50

    Hi Simon,
    Great job you done with the lists.
    In order to be a legal bookmaker you need : A jurisdiction, a License, a Company, a bank account, a payment system, a platform, a marketing company, customers and Luck.
    Of these the payment system is the most critical and difficult, all else is easy in comparison.
    Curacao and others will sell you a license that can’t be used to get a bank account anywhere I know of..
    We have licenses in Africa since 10 years and work there. We are looking for a few other places , maybe the US ? Any ideas are welcome..

    Reply
    • Simon on 2023-01-06 at 15:56

      Yeah, payment systems are extremely difficult to deal with. I don’t talk about them in the guides on this website because companies treat them as closely guarded secrets so there is absolutely no information about them online (apart from general, basic info, but that does not apply to gambling companies, which are is a special situation).
      The US is an extremely complicated and over regulated market. From what I see none of the companies who spend money on expanding into the US actually make a profit from it. They are in it for the “long-term” (operate at a loss , hoping that the regulation changes in their favour). Therefore, I certainly don’t recommend it.

      Try looking into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

      Reply