Online gambling and betting have spread across the globe and, as such, it is important to know what the laws and regulations are for this global entertainment phenomenon. Before you simply sign up to play at a foreign online casino site or play when you’re travelling abroad, make sure that you’re playing in a legal establishment and that you will have no issues should you win.
The most important aspect of these global online casino laws and legislation is the fact that there are several different layers of legislation that cover different areas and, as such, it can become quite confusing. The following is an attempt to provide clarity and give you a blueprint as to where you are safe to play at online casinos and what to look for in the way of certifications.
Different Levels of Regulation
- Countries that do not prohibit and do not license online casinos are the biggest grouping, including Bolivia, Egypt, and Venezuela. There are approximately 90 countries in total wherein online players will, therefore, have access to a range of internet-based casinos,some of which will not be registered or even certified. This also includes most of Africa.
- Countries that ban local online casinos, yet foreign casinos can operate in the online space.There are 28 of these countries, including Nigeria, Japan, and Mexico. There will be no local online casinos, but a host of foreign offerings will be found online, as the countries don’t have a means of blocking them.
- Places where a local operator license is required. Regardless of whether it is a foreign or local platform, it will need to have a local license to operate that is provided by a local gambling body. These places include most of Europe and North America and the antipodeans, where you will be able to find online blackjack, slots, and casino table games that are well regulated and all based on proven random number generators to make gaming as fair as possible. Top sites, like Jackpotcitycasino.com, also clearly state where they have been registered and which gambling board they have affiliations with. There are a few differences between sports betting and online gambling, but as long as both are licensed locally, then you are playing in a legally recognised environment. This provides great peace of mind.
Certain sites require you to be in the geographical area of operation, and where they are certified. Look for the site certification, which is generally at the bottom of the landing page, and will state where the casino has been certified as genuine and which gambling board it has been registered with if any. Then, look for the SSL notification, shown by the HTTPS prefix on the site address. These are generally the best ways to find a safe and secure site to play at.
The laws governing online gambling vary across the world. However, there has been a process of unification, whereby these laws are becoming more similar across borders and in all territories.
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