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While online casinos and sportsbooks can be accessed from almost anywhere, the gambling laws governing betting online do vary quite a bit. Here are some of the most important from countries around the world.
Future Restrictions in the United Kingdom?
Easily one of the most permissive of the Western nations when it comes to both sports betting and online casinos, the United Kingdom is possibly heading in the other direction in the near future. The English Premier League, the biggest football league in the world, is heading for a change that will ban betting firms from being shirt sponsors (effective in a couple of years). This is a major change as online casinos and sportsbooks sponsor pretty much every team in the league, as well as the Championship (the division below it). But this could also be the tip of the iceberg.
From a player perspective, the far more important legal moves will follow the review of The Gambling Act 2005. This wide-ranging look at gambling laws in the country has yet to be published but saw 16,000 responses submitted from those affected in various ways by the industry. Calls from campaigners opposed to gambling have included a desire to end certain bonuses, such as free bets.
At the moment, the UK is perhaps the most open major Anglophone nation to betting, but the shirt sponsor ban and the slashing of the stakes permitted at FOBTs (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) shows politicians are willing to move in the other direction. For now, it’s game on but the near term future could see some significant changes in the country.
Finding the Best International Online Casinos
The widespread and increasing popularity of betting over the internet can make it tricky to find the top online casinos. A quick and easy way to do so is to check out list of the top sites that are popular and accessible globally for players from countries all over the world. Whichever continent you’re from, these leading international online casinos come with excellent bonuses for players old and new, and a great set of the latest slots alongside traditional classics such as blackjack, poker, and roulette.
The Opening Up of the USA – and Canada
The United States of America has, for a long time, been very wary of betting online, both for sports and casinos. However, this has changed dramatically in recent years and online casino betting and online sports wagering have become much easier for most (but not all) Americans. Because this is governed on a state-by-state basis there are some anti-gambling holdouts, notably Utah and Hawaii, but the overwhelming majority of states have either taken legal steps to permit online casinos and sportsbooks or are in the process of doing so. In addition, the age-old sports betting restriction which formerly meant these had to come in parlay form (entailing several contingencies, these are also known as multiple or accumulator bets) has been axed, so Americans can now take advantage of single event sports betting.
Canada has, for most of its history, been more liberal than the USA when it comes to gambling laws, but this changed when the US stole a march on its northern neighbor by opening up to casino and sports betting online. However, keen not to lose custom to the US (as well as the black market) Canada has started doing likewise, with Ontario leading the way in opening up to online betting.
Brazil and Argentina
Sticking with the Americas but heading south, the various nations of South America take a range of positions on the regulation of online gambling. Brazil is the continental powerhouse, boasting both the biggest economy and largest population. However, for decades there was an absolute gambling ban, though now legislative steps have been taken to start the long process of opening up to betting. Currently, horse and sports betting are permitted, and there’s a state-owned lottery.
Another of the leading nations on the continent is Argentina, in which gambling is regulated by each of the 23 provinces. Of these, 16 have legalized all forms of online gambling, although players are only meant to wager at online casinos that have been licensed by the province.
South Africa
South Africa is famous for being excellent at sports such as rugby and cricket, and its people also have a love of betting. However, there are some substantial restrictions when it comes to betting online, although not a total ban. Players here can bet online with operators who are regulated and taxed by the NGB and local provinces.
That concludes our look at some of the most important online gambling laws today, and how things might change in major nations in the near future.
