In 2022, the global online gambling market grew from USD 73.42 billion in 2021 to USD 81.08 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4%. The online gambling market is expected to grow to USD 115.13 billion in 2026 at an average CAGR of 9.2%.
Widespread smartphone adoption along with improved internet accessibility is driving the online gambling market. Globally, in most countries, mobile users account for approximately 80% of all users in the online gambling industry.
According to the study published in 2022 by the Gambling Commission, the most common method of accessing online gambling remained mobile phones, especially among young people. According to Cisco’s annual report, globally, the total number of Internet users is expected to grow to 5.3 billion by 2023 at a CAGR of 6%, and smartphones will grow at a CAGR of 7%.
New technologies like Blockchain, IoT and VR are changing everything in every field, including online gambling. Virtual reality and VR headsets have become increasingly popular in recent years and represent the new revolution for the world of online gambling. By using VR technology, you can enter a virtual casino and play all the games without having to travel.
The first question that every operator must ask himself, before starting an online gambling project, is which markets to choose, in which countries he can operate freely and where should he go through the licensing procedure?
To select your most effective markets, our experts have prepared a list of countries where online gambling operations are legal.
As they approach the regulation of gambling, the countries are divided into 4 groups.
1. Countries where offshore online casinos are not blocked:
| Continent | Countries |
| Africa | Eritrea, Nigeria |
| Asia | Azerbaijan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Yemen |
| Europe | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia |
| North America | Cayman Islands, Salvador, Mexico |
| South America | Brazil |
| Oceania | American Samoa, Australia, Guam, New Zeeland |
Local authorities that regulate the gambling market do not apply legislative requirements in these countries. Offshore gambling sites can be licensed in any jurisdiction or generally operate without a license.
We must mention, however, that gambling is not necessarily legal in these countries.
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2. Countries where gambling companies must obtain a license from the local regulator:
| Continent | Countries |
| Africa | Ethiopia, Mayotte, Reunion Island |
| Asia | Georgia, Sri Lanka |
| Europe | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, UK |
| North America | Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Panama, Saint-Barthelemy, Saint-Martin, Virgin Islands (USA) |
| South America | Falkland Islands, French Guiana |
| Oceania | French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna Islands |
These countries have regulated online gambling using the most competent approach. Regardless of the location of the operators, in order to operate games of chance legally, they must obtain a license and meet certain requirements. The conditions are equal for everyone, and everyone is obliged to pay taxes to the budget in order to have the right to work legally. Otherwise, his activity will be blocked.
3. Countries where just the local gambling operators require a license from the local regulator. Offshore platforms can work without licensing:
| Continent | Countries |
| Africa | Comoros, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles |
| Asia | Armenia |
| Europe | Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, Montenegro, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland |
| North America | Aruba, Belize, Canada, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Greenland |
| South America | – |
| Oceania | Fiji, Vanuatu |
These countries have no legal requirements from offshore sites. Thus, an offshore operator can be licensed in any jurisdiction and, in some countries, can operate without a license. However, all local casino owners are required to follow the local regulatory licensing procedure and pay taxes to the local treasury.
Szilaghi Consulting offers licenses for legal operation in various markets and assists clients in obtaining gambling licenses from Curacao, Malta, the Isle of Man, Kahnawake, Gibraltar, and Estonia.
4. Countries with no restrictions for the gambling sites at all:
| Continent | Countries |
| Africa | Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Asia | Bangladesh, Macau, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan |
| Europe | Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Malta |
| North America | Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos |
| South America | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| Oceania | Cook Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Tonga |
This is the largest group of countries and many of them do not regulate gambling activities at all.
Conclusion:
To summarize the country classification:
- there are 32 countries that prohibit local operators from operating without a license, but those offshore gambling companies can easily offer their services to local residents. For example, Armenia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Greece, Monaco, Norway, Sweden, Seychelles, Switzerland, etc.
- there are 32 countries that allow online gambling only with a local license. Thus, any company that wants to offer gambling services in these countries must obtain a local gambling license. For example, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Romania, etc.
- there are 28 countries that prohibit local people from gambling and block the websites of local gambling operators. However, offshore companies can operate freely even if they are not licensed. These states are either unwilling or unable to prevent them. For example, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, etc.
- there are 93 countries that do not ban or license online casinos. For example, Argentina, Bolivia, Bahamas, Egypt, Gibraltar, Kenya, Kosovo, Tunisia, Venezuela, Uruguay, etc.
How can Szilaghi Consulting help you start your online gambling business?
Choosing a gambling licensing jurisdiction is quite difficult, to begin with. Given the sheer number of factors that need to be considered by gambling operators, the choice can be overwhelming.
Szilaghi Consulting has been providing services to the online and offline gambling industry for over 18 years. We have helped our clients to make the right choices, to realize their visions, to overcome obstacles, and, above all, to succeed. We offer transparency and efficiency and we are committed to always acting only in your interest.
Our experience in obtaining online and offline gambling licenses differentiates us from the competition. We cover all your needs, from the incorporation of the gambling company, the creation of fiscal and compliance structures, to obtaining the gambling license.
We invite you to schedule a consultation with us. We like to communicate with our customers, troubleshoot their problems, and offer solutions. We invite you to contact us today to discuss this with one of our agents. Let us help you take your business to the next level.
