A group of American experts led by Garrett Ucocker analyzed the current state and immediate prospects of the online gambling market in all countries of the world. To complete the picture, experts studied the legislation regulating the organization and conduct of gambling, both online and offline. The market does not always function according to the rules set by legislators. Therefore, experts also paid attention to the real state of the gambling industry in each country.
A little background
The KeyToCasino team saw its task as providing the most complete picture possible of the state of gambling around the world and showing what obstacles players face in different countries.
State regulation of the gambling industry has been introduced by almost all governments of countries where gambling is allowed. This tradition dates back to the Roman and Chinese empires. Casinos, in the form in which we see them now, appeared in Western Europe in the 17th century. The first such establishment appeared in Venice. It was called Il Ridotto. This casino was opened in 1638, at first it was open only during the traditional annual carnival.
Today, there are gambling laws in almost all countries of the world, but there are still territories where gambling is not regulated at all, and in some countries, gambling is completely prohibited.
Research results
Land-based gambling establishments have been around much longer than online casinos, so the legislation governing their operation is better developed. In 74 countries, there are certain restrictions on the activities of land-based casinos.
- In 51 countries, land-based casinos are completely banned.
- In 6 countries, local citizens are prohibited from visiting casinos; they are open only to foreign tourists.
- In 17 countries, casinos can only operate in certain cities or territories – gambling zones.
There remain 151 countries (67% of those studied) that allow land-based gambling establishments. Thus, only 47% of the world’s population can freely visit casinos in their countries.
The situation with online casinos, such as Woocasino, is more confusing and complex. This is because government regulatory authorities treat national and foreign operators differently. Various forms of restrictions are imposed on online gambling in countries where about 56% of the world’s population lives.
- In 39 countries, online gambling is completely prohibited.
- In 32 countries, local operators have been banned from opening online casinos, but foreign operators continue to accept bets. There are various reasons for this situation to arise. Some governments simply do not have the resources to effectively block access to the websites of foreign operators.
- In 61 countries, to open an online casino you need to obtain a license from the local regulator. In half of these countries, the requirements for a licensee are drawn up in such a way that only a local company can obtain permission. Very often, foreign operators accept bets without even having a license. As in the previous paragraph, the authorities of such countries do not want or cannot stop illegal online gambling.
- In 93 countries, online aviator casino bonus activities are not prohibited and do not require a license from the regulator.
Comparison
Using the data presented, you can see how countries that allow land-based casinos prohibit online casinos and vice versa. There are 168 countries in the world in which residents are allowed to gamble in land-based establishments throughout the state or in certain parts of it. How do these countries treat online gambling?
- 27 countries completely prohibit the activities of online casinos, although land-based establishments operate without restrictions.
- 60 countries have introduced government regulation of online gambling.
- 81 countries do not prohibit online gambling or regulate this market.
Citizens of 57 countries that completely ban the activities of offline operators cannot go to land-based casinos. But can they place a bet online?
- In 44 countries there is a complete legal ban on gambling, both online and offline.
- In 13 countries, land-based casinos are prohibited, but online operators can operate. The activities of online casinos are either not regulated by law, or are allowed, even despite the ban on land-based gambling establishments.
Interesting facts discovered during the research
The KeyToCasino team, while processing and analyzing the data, revealed many interesting and unusual facts:
- Some countries de facto allow casinos to operate on ships but prohibit them on land. Among such states are Russia, Thailand, Israel, Japan, and the USA.
- In Israel, to be held liable for gambling, it is enough to simply be in the place where the game is being played. Law enforcement officers do not need to prove in court that a person detained in such a place is involved in gambling.
- The legislation of some Central Asian countries does not prohibit gambling. The prohibition on gambling is based on the norm contained in the Koran (verse 5:90-91)