This guide replaces our 2021 list. Since then, several large markets have opened, a few have closed, and the rule of thumb has only grown stronger: what is legal depends on where the player is, and most regulated markets require their own local license. For licensing details, follow the links to our jurisdiction guides.
Europe
Most European countries license online gambling locally. There is no EU passport.
| Country | Online casino | Online betting | Regulator | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Licensed | Licensed | Gambling Commission | UK |
| Malta | Licensed | Licensed | MGA | Malta |
| Italy | Licensed (concessions) | Licensed | ADM | Italy |
| Spain | Licensed | Licensed | DGOJ | — |
| Germany | Licensed (virtual slots, poker) | Licensed | GGL | — |
| Netherlands | Licensed | Licensed | Ksa | Netherlands |
| Denmark | Licensed | Licensed | Spillemyndigheden | Denmark |
| Sweden | Licensed | Licensed | Spelinspektionen | Sweden |
| Romania | Licensed | Licensed | ONJN | Romania |
| Estonia | Licensed | Licensed | EMTA | Estonia |
| Belgium | Land-based licensees only | Land-based licensees only | Gaming Commission | Belgium |
| Ireland | Not yet licensed | Licensed since 2026 | GRAI | Ireland |
| Cyprus | Prohibited | Licensed | NBA | Cyprus |
| France | Not licensed | Licensed | ANJ | — |
| Poland | State monopoly | Licensed | Ministry of Finance | — |
The Isle of Man, Alderney and Gibraltar license operators that serve other markets, but players in regulated European countries still need to be served under local licenses.
North America
- Canada: provincial systems. Ontario and Alberta license private operators; other provinces run provincial monopolies.
- United States: gambling is a state matter. Online casino is legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island, and Maine legislated in January 2026 to become the eighth state. Online sports betting is legal in many more states. See our guides to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada.
Latin America
- Licensed: Peru, Colombia, Argentine provinces and Panama.
- Banned: Brazil, by provisional measure of 25 September 2026.
- No regime: Chile (bill in the Senate) and Costa Rica.
Details in our article on Latin American markets in 2026.
Asia-Pacific and Middle East
- India: online money games banned by the 2025 Online Gaming Act — see our India guide.
- Philippines: offshore gaming banned in 2025; PAGCOR licenses domestic online gaming only — see our Philippines guide.
- Australia: online casino and poker prohibited; wagering licensed by states and territories — see our Australia guide.
- China, Japan, Singapore and most of the Middle East: online gambling prohibited or restricted to state operators.
- Turkey: online gambling prohibited outside the state operators, with active enforcement.
Africa
Several African countries license online betting, often at provincial or state level, including South Africa (betting, through provincial boards), Kenya and Nigeria. Online casino is prohibited or unregulated in many of them.
What this means for operators
- Choose target markets first, then the licenses they require.
- Use a hub license such as Malta or Curaçao only for markets where it is lawful to do so.
- Geo-block every market where you are not authorized.
Compare licensing routes on our jurisdictions page.