Quick answer: There is no single global law on online gambling. Each country (and in the USA, Canada and Argentina, each state or province) decides for itself. Some run open licensed markets with online casinos and sports betting (Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ontario, Alberta); some allow sports betting but ban online casinos (France, South Africa, most US states); and some ban almost everything (mainland China). Rules change quickly, so always check the current law where you live before you play. This guide was last reviewed in October 2026.
| Region | Online casino | Online sports betting | Main regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Legal in 7 states (8th, Maine, not live yet) | Online in about 30 states + DC | State regulators |
| Canada | Ontario and Alberta open markets; provincial sites elsewhere | Legal (single-event since 2021) | AGCO / iGaming Ontario, AGLC |
| Mexico | Offered under SEGOB permits (slot ban challenged in court) | Legal with a SEGOB permit | SEGOB |
| Brazil | Legal for licensed operators since 2025 | Legal for licensed operators since 2025 | SPA (Ministry of Finance) |
| Great Britain | Legal under licence | Legal under licence | UK Gambling Commission |
| Germany | Online slots and poker legal under licence | Legal under licence | GGL |
| France | Banned | Legal under licence | ANJ |
| Italy | Legal under licence | Legal under licence | ADM |
| Netherlands | Legal under licence | Legal under licence | Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) |
| Japan | Illegal | Only public sports (e.g. horse racing) and toto | Government ministries |
| New Zealand | Licensing law passed 2026, market not open yet | TAB NZ only | Department of Internal Affairs |
| South Africa | Illegal | Legal with provincial licence | Provincial gambling boards |
| Kenya | Regulated | Regulated | Gambling Regulatory Authority |
How do online gambling licences work?
An online casino needs a licence from the country it operates in, and ideally from each country it accepts players from. Countries with their own licensing system (such as Great Britain, Italy or Ontario) require operators to hold a local licence. Many international casinos instead hold an offshore licence, for example from Curaçao, Malta or Anjouan, and avoid countries that require a local licence. Whether you may legally play at an offshore site depends on your own country’s law, not on the casino’s licence.
- Curaçao: the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) took effect on 24 December 2024. The new Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) took over from the old Gaming Control Board and ended the master licence and sublicence system, so every operator now needs its own licence.
- Malta: regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) under the Gaming Act (Cap. 583). Malta’s Bill 55 shields MGA licensees from some foreign court rulings, but in April 2026 an EU Advocate General said it was manifestly incompatible with EU rules on recognising judgments. That opinion is not binding.
- Anjouan: a fast, low-cost offshore licence used by many newer crypto casinos.
For how we judge licences and safety when we rate casinos, see our online casino reviews.
How can you check a casino’s licence yourself?
A licence logo in a casino’s footer proves nothing on its own. Logos are easy to copy, so check the licence on the regulator’s own website. It takes a few minutes:
- Find the licence details in the casino’s footer or terms: the regulator, the licence number and the name of the company that runs the site.
- Go to the regulator’s website by typing its address yourself. Don’t rely on the logo link, which can point to a fake page.
- Search the register for the company name or the web address. Check that the status is active and, where the register lists domains, that the site you are using is one of them.
- Check that the licence counts where you live. A valid offshore licence does not make a site legal in your country.
| Regulator | Where to check |
|---|---|
| UK Gambling Commission (Great Britain) | Public register of gambling businesses |
| Malta Gaming Authority | Licensee register, searchable by company name or web address |
| Curaçao Gaming Authority | Licence register linked from the CGA home page |
| iGaming Ontario | Directory of sites run by registered operators |
| Kansspelautoriteit (Netherlands) | Kansspelwijzer list of licensed providers |
If you can’t find the casino, or its status is suspended or revoked, don’t deposit.
North America
United States
US law is set mainly by the states. At federal level, the Wire Act (1961) restricts interstate wagering, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, 2006) targets payments to unlawful gambling sites. In May 2018 the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting (PASPA) in Murphy v NCAA, leaving each state free to legalise it.
- Online casinos: legal and live in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine legalised online casinos in January 2026, but its market is not live yet, and reports in October 2026 pointed to early 2027 at the earliest. Other states debated bills in 2026 without passing them; in Virginia, both chambers passed bills but could not agree a final version.
- Sports betting: legal in 38 or 39 states plus Washington DC (sources count slightly differently), with online betting in about 30 states plus DC. Missouri launched online and retail betting on 1 December 2025.
Canada
Gambling is run by the provinces. Single-event sports betting has been legal nationwide since August 2021.
- Ontario: opened a competitive regulated market on 4 April 2022, with the AGCO as regulator and iGaming Ontario running the market.
- Alberta: became the second province with an open market, launching on 13 July 2026 under the iGaming Alberta Act, with the AGLC as regulator.
- Other provinces: rely on government-run sites, such as Loto-Québec’s in Quebec, PlayNow in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Lottery in the Atlantic provinces.
Mexico
Gambling permits are issued by the Interior Ministry (SEGOB) under the Federal Law of Games and Draws (1947) and its 2004 regulation. Online betting and casino games are offered by permit holders on authorised websites. A 2023 change to the regulation tried to ban slot machines, but federal judges have ruled against it in cases brought by operators. From 1 January 2026 the special tax (IEPS) on online gambling rose from 30% to 50%.
South America
Brazil
Brazil now has one of the world’s biggest regulated markets. Law 14,790/2023 created a licensing system that went live on 1 January 2025, regulated by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) at the Ministry of Finance. Licensed operators can offer sports betting and online casino games such as slots, crash games, table games and live casino (but not poker or peer-to-peer games). The tax on operators’ gross gaming revenue is rising from 12% to 13% in 2026, 14% in 2027 and 15% in 2028.
Argentina
Online gambling is regulated by each province, so the rules (and licensed sites) differ from Buenos Aires to Córdoba. A national ban on gambling advertising passed the Chamber of Deputies in November 2024 but stalled in the Senate in 2025.
Europe
Russia is a special case: online casinos are illegal there, and only licensed sports betting is allowed. Our guide to online gambling in Russia explains the rules.
There is no EU-wide gambling law. Each member state sets its own rules within the EU treaties, which is why the picture varies so much.
Great Britain
Regulated by the UK Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act 2005, and one of the strictest markets for player protection:
- Online slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over (since April 2025) and £2 for 18–24-year-olds (since May 2025).
- Remote Gaming Duty on online casino rose from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026, and a new 25% remote betting duty starts in April 2027.
- Players can self-exclude from all licensed sites through GamStop.
Germany
The 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) legalised online slots, poker and sports betting under licence, regulated by the Joint Gambling Authority (GGL). Players have a €1,000 monthly deposit limit across all licensed sites. Online slots used to be capped at €1 per spin for everyone. Since 1 July 2026, players under 21 stay at €1, players aged 21 and over can stake up to €3, and up to €5 is allowed after a 90-day period without signs of harmful play.
France
The ANJ licenses online sports betting, horse racing and poker. Online casino games remain banned; a 2024 attempt to legalise them through the budget was withdrawn.
Italy
Italy’s regulator, ADM, licenses online casinos, sports betting and poker. A new licensing regime went live in November 2025: licences now cost €7 million for nine years, and each licensee may run only one website.
Netherlands
The Remote Gambling Act opened a licensed market on 1 October 2021, supervised by the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa). Since October 2024, players must speak to their operator before setting a monthly deposit limit above €350 (€150 for under-24s), and operators must check whether players can afford net deposits above €700 a month (€300 for under-24s). The gambling tax rose to 37.8% in 2026.
Spain and Sweden
- Spain: online casinos and betting are licensed by the DGOJ under Law 13/2011, with strict advertising rules.
- Sweden: a licensed market since 2019, regulated by Spelinspektionen. The gambling tax rose to 22% in July 2024, and gambling on credit has been completely banned since 1 April 2026.
Asia
- Mainland China: all gambling except the state lotteries is illegal, and the authorities run regular crackdowns on online gambling platforms.
- Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Jockey Club is the only legal operator, offering horse racing, football and lottery betting. A law to allow basketball betting passed in September 2025, but in April 2026 the government put its launch on hold.
- Macau: famous for land casinos, but there are no online casino licences. A law in force since October 2024 makes running illegal online gambling a crime.
- Japan: online casinos are illegal, and a 2025 law also bans advertising and promoting them. Betting on public sports such as horse racing and the toto football pools is legal. Japan’s first land casino resort, in Osaka, is due around 2030.
- Philippines: offshore gaming operators (POGOs) were permanently banned by law in October 2025. Online gambling for local players is regulated by PAGCOR, though senators have proposed tighter rules and even a full ban. If you play from there, see our guide to GCash slots and minimum deposits.
New Zealand
The state-owned TAB NZ (run in partnership with Entain) is the only legal online sports and racing bookmaker, and a 2025 law bars offshore bookmakers from the market. For online casinos, the Online Casino Gambling Act passed in April 2026: up to 15 licences will be issued by the Department of Internal Affairs. The law took effect in May 2026, operators must hold or have applied for a licence by 1 December 2026, and the regulated market is widely expected to open in 2027.
Africa
- South Africa: under the National Gambling Act 2004, online sports betting is legal with a provincial bookmaker licence, but online casino (“interactive gambling”) is illegal. A private member’s Remote Gambling Bill from 2024 has not passed, and in late 2025 a parliamentary committee began work on a bill of its own.
- Kenya: the Gambling Control Act 2025 came into force in August 2025, replacing the old Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and the Betting Control and Licensing Board with a new Gambling Regulatory Authority.
- Nigeria: in November 2024 the Supreme Court ruled that gambling is regulated by the individual states, not the federal government (for example, Lagos has its own regulator). A national Central Gaming Bill was passed by parliament in December 2025, but the President said he would not sign it because gaming is a matter for the states.
How can you tell if online gambling is legal where you live?
- Look up your country’s (or state’s) gambling regulator. Most publish a list of licensed operators.
- If your country has a local licensing system, playing at licensed sites is the safest option.
- Check whether winnings are taxable where you live.
- Laws change often (several countries above changed their rules in 2025 and 2026), so check again before signing up.
- Only gamble if you are of legal age, set limits, and see our responsible gambling guide for help and support.
Once you’ve confirmed that online gambling is legal for you, our casino reviews and bonus guide can help you choose a site.
How we checked this
- Seven US states run online casinos, and Maine legalised them in January 2026 but has not launched: Covers, PlayUSA and Gambling.com. US sports betting counts and Missouri’s 1 December 2025 launch: Legal Sports Report, Wikipedia and RotoWire.
- Canada: single-event betting legal from 27 August 2021, Ontario open from 4 April 2022 and Alberta from 13 July 2026: Canada Gazette, DLA Piper, NEXT.io and Gambling Insider.
- Mexico’s SEGOB permits, the slot ban dispute and the 50% IEPS tax from 2026: Gambling Maps, Yogonet and SBC Americas. Brazil’s games rules and tax steps to 15% by 2028: Souto Correa, Yogonet and GamblingNews.
- Great Britain’s £5 and £2 slot stake limits and the 40% Remote Gaming Duty from 1 April 2026: Gambling Commission, Clifford Chance, GOV.UK and VATCalc.
- Germany’s new €3 and €5 stake tiers from 1 July 2026: NEXT.io and World Casino Directory. France’s ban on online casino games: Gambling Maps and Gambling.com.
- Netherlands deposit thresholds and the 37.8% tax: Dutch government, SBC News, Bird & Bird and Sumsub. Italy’s nine-year licences and one-website rule: DLA Piper and SBC News.
- Hong Kong’s paused basketball betting, Macau’s October 2024 law, Japan’s 2025 advertising ban and the Philippines’ October 2025 POGO ban: Asia Gaming Brief, GGRAsia, MediaNama and iGaming Expert, each matched by a second report.
- New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Act and 15 licences: Russell McVeagh and iGaming Business. Kenya’s and Nigeria’s changes: Bowmans, Kenya Law, ThisDay and World Casino Directory.
Last checked: 13 October 2026, when we checked each fact on this page against at least two independent sources.
Online gambling laws FAQ
Is online gambling legal worldwide?
No. Each country sets its own rules, and in federal countries like the USA and Canada, states or provinces decide. Some countries fully license online casinos, some allow only sports betting, and some ban online gambling altogether.
Which US states allow online casinos?
As of October 2026, online casinos are live in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine has legalised them, but its market had not launched yet.
Are online casinos legal in France?
No. France licenses online sports betting, horse racing and poker through the ANJ, but online casino games are still banned.
What is a Curaçao gaming licence?
A licence issued by Curaçao, used by many international casinos. Since December 2024, licences are issued directly to each operator by the Curaçao Gaming Authority under the new LOK law. A Curaçao licence does not make a casino legal in your country.
Do I pay tax on gambling winnings?
It depends on where you live. In the UK, gambling winnings are generally tax-free for players, while in the USA they are taxable income. Check your local tax rules, or use our gambling winnings tax calculator for an estimate.
Check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Before you sign up to any casino listed on UltraGambler, check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher) to play. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and use the deposit limits and self-exclusion tools your casino provides if gambling stops being fun.
