Online gambling has become a global phenomenon in just a few decades after its emergence. But, like many other online services, it has proven to be an issue for regulators. As in, they didn’t really know what to do with it. This left the industry in a state of confusion for quite some time, allowing the emergence of some shady operators. And, of course, quite a few legitimate businesses which thrive to this day.
The age of confusion has left many wondering is online gambling legal in Australia, the US, South Africa, or any other country. To find out, we should take a look at regulators, jurisdictions, and rules concerning the industry internationally.
Rules and regulators
The vast majority of online gambling outlets today have some type of gambling license. These licenses allow gambling companies to operate. There isn’t one global authority over the industry, but rather agencies that regulate gambling in certain jurisdictions, and industry bodies that “self-regulate” the gambling outlets.
As such, the rules that apply to gambling in different areas – jurisdictions – can differ seriously. Some countries have imposed strict bans on all forms of gambling, including state-owned lotteries. Others are more permissive, allowing some or all forms of land-based and online gambling, with regulations concerning customer protection and safeguards, the fight against problem gambling, and, of course, the taxation of gambling businesses.
Regulations and regions
As we mentioned above, there are regulators that are stricter, and there are some that are more permissive. As such, some are considered “weaker” and others, “stronger” by the gaming community.
Some of the “strongest” licenses known today are those issued by the Norse gambling authorities, where only state-approved sites are allowed to function, and the ones issued by the UK Gambling Commission which strictly regulates matters like customer protection and the fight against problem gambling.
Somewhere in the middle, we find licenses like the one issued by the MGA – the Malta Gaming Authority – which is among the preferred ones by many gambling operators. A Maltese license comes with a bit of reputation, after all, we’re talking about an EU-based country. Plus, it comes with some strong customer protection regulations, which makes it popular among players.
Is online gambling legal where I live?
There are some countries where gambling regulations are pretty much nonexistent – but these are the exceptions. Nowadays, pretty much every jurisdiction has regulations regarding online gambling. There are a few countries where it is outright banned, while in others it is severely limited.
But in most cases, there are local rules that regulate online gambling, some more permissive than others. There is no general rule that applies to everyone. So, when you are in doubt, make sure to check with the local authorities whether it is legal or not for you to play your favorite casino games online.
Also read: How The Gambling Industry Has Been Evolving Throughout The Years
