There is enough value in the sector of online gambling that most of the world’s jurisdictions have taken note of it. From states that have had it under control for as long as it has been on the market to those that are having hotly contested discussions about what to do about a rising tide, there is always a percolating movement regarding the state of online gambling.
However, what is it that goes on in many parts of the world where online gambling has proven to be a source of revenue, a societal concern, and, ultimately, an undeniable source of entertainment that millions upon millions are delving into.
This situation requires a dive into the state of gambling legislation across the globe. From continents where legislation is already in place to others where it’s in a nascent state, there are quite a few cases that are worth presenting in the interest of understanding how various cases can inspire others.
Why are gambling regulations indispensable?
The primary conundrum that has garnered the attention of legislative bodies around the world is whether online gambling, just as gambling in general, has any seat at the table of legal entertainment.
This is the face-value question. The real question is whether there is a positive ratio in the calculation that pits risk versus reward. Is there enough of a taxable upside for something that society is obviously delving into? Or is it too much of a danger to the civil society and the health of the citizens?
Legislative bodies from many jurisdictions have already understood that the tide of choosing to gamble online has reached a point of no return. Per the global market growth estimations for the 2020s, there is an immense sum of money that is already flowing into regulated markets.
Then, the issue lies with the issue of illicit online gambling. If there is no protection system in place, there will be no protection for players whatsoever. Digital gambling operations that do business in certain jurisdictions without oversight are those that go unpunished for any one their transgressions.
Finally, the answer to the question in the title of this section is that gambling regulations are indispensable because they set the rules of the game.
The state can collect taxation revenue and have control over those who operate in its jurisdiction. Online gambling operators can operate legally and leverage their models without having to worry about stepping on the wrong foot, all while leveraging their state-mandated trustworthiness. The player, as a consumer, can rely on the fact that there is enough stringency that guarantee a level of safety that protects fairness.
The UKGC and Its Stringency Are the Gold Standard
Online gambling in the U.K. operates on what has proven to be one of the truly landmark pieces of legislation in this field: the Gambling Act of 2005.
As a result, the digitalization of its gambling market has already proven a success in terms of its figures, but also its perception. Per SlotsCalendar’s transparent review methodology, devised as a rating system that understands operational quality, UKGC-licensed casinos operate at the highest standards of security and fairness.
They also have what is, perhaps, the biggest set of pro-responsible-gambling regulations. Every brand that belongs to a UKGC-approved operator has to refer the player to what is a series of government-supported organizations put in place to provide relief.
Moreover, the matter of KYC operates quite closely with country-wide self-exclusion opportunities. Players who, thanks to the obligatory identity confirmation requirements of its gambling legislation (as it is in most of the world), can join self-exclusion programs that keep them away from all existing gambling platforms.
Overall, the U.K. has understood that having a strong foundation, which the Commission adds to whenever there are new (and inevitable) developments on the market, provides the best way to balance the levy generated by the market with player protection measures.
North American Models
The situation in North America, especially in the U.S. and Canada, is a bit more under development, with legality and clear-cut regulatory situations are a bit newer when compared to other jurisdictions.
Starting with Canada, the country has been, for the longest time, open to offshore operations, leaving the responsibility of regulating online gambling to provincial entities. Ontario, the most populous of these provinces and home to its biggest metropolitan area, was the first one to set up a tight regulatory landscape, and the results have spoken for themselves.
In iGaming Ontario’s most recent financial report (as of this article’s redaction), it indicates that the situation is looking encouraging to a degree that one could expect in the context of this type of legalization. Further developments from other provinces will likely follow.
In the U.S., things moved once the floodgates of Murphy v. NCAA resulted in the legalization of sports betting in New Jersey. Once there was no federal control over the matter of state lawmaking, NJ, along with the other states that have legalized online gambling (most of them did with sports betting, rather than allowing casino games as well), opened the doors for decision-making resting with the state legislature.
The ultimate result turned into states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, and others maintaining their own regulatory authority that oversees online gambling, regardless of the product that it can market. Gambling advertisement regulations, along with geolocation tools that guarantee that players are within the confines of the state, are some of the most important regulatory pieces in this context.
Naturally, given that regulations are on a state-by-state basis, there isn’t that much unity in their approach, which makes it harder to look at them as a cohesive set of legislative measures.
Malta’s Haven-Like Approach
Malta’s model, spearheaded by the MGA’s presence on the global arena of online gambling, is one of the most important names globally. The status of the Mediterranean island country as a financial haven has done wonders for its status as an attractive market for companies that want to have their headquarters in a fiscally attractive place.
The MGA’s status is one of the most interesting among all the regulators that have a global footprint. While there is a level of incessant openness about it, it is a serious and quite respected authority that, unlike other havens of its kind, is serious about its status being upheld.
The main trait that is definitive of the Maltese legislation model is that it allows its licensees to operate offshore operations. That means that online gambling brands can have their headquarters in Malta and operate with an MGA license, but their markets can be across the world, according to the set of jurisdictions that legally allow casinos registered in Malta and with that specific certification.
Naturally, there are also cases when the operation only has its corporate HQ in Malta, but the operator has licenses across various jurisdictions. In Europe, we can look at the Romanian case, in which brands have their HQ in Malta, but operate on the Romanian market with a license from the very exigent ONJN.
Overall, Malta is one of the top providers of offshore gaming certifications, without compromising on the standards that casinos must adhere to.
Latin American Movements
Latin America, known as the Hispanic cultural space in South and Central America (except Brazil, whose Portuguese-language market stands out, but is still part of LatAm), is a very serious opportunity that, in many cases, is still in a nascent state. It’s the personification of the premise that state authorities simply cannot ignore online gambling anymore.
In some markets, there has already been a rise. Mexico, one of the most voracious spaces for sports betting, has already shown an inclination toward this model, with various brands operating very profitable models that have attracted the attention of many other operators in the field, and that includes affiliate marketing companies.
Such is the case in Brazil, as well. The country, which finally opened the door for legal sports betting in a digital format starting in 2025, has already shown a very significant penchant for this field, with casino gaming being the subject of discussion that, as of writing this article, is still a tabled matter. Nevertheless, things are moving toward integration and legalization.
Australia and New Zealand’s Approaches
In what most of the world calls the Antipode space, gambling is within the cultural fabric, but the online side of the industry is a bit in limbo. Both New Zealand and Australia have an interesting system that still feels a bit rudimentary as of the start of 2026, despite gambling being a hugely popular activity.
Theoretically, the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 prohibits such usage by Australian companies to Australian citizens. However, iGaming companies based in Australia can offer such services to players located outside Australia.
As for the highly enthusiastic players in the market, they can access the services of online casinos located outside the country. Per the ACIP verification procedure, implemented at the end of September 2024, gambling companies must institute identity verification for Aussies, and they also need to provide access to the national self-exclusion registry.
Things are moving in New Zealand. While, for the longest time, legislation felt quite the same as with the Australian case, there has been constant movement that started with an online gambling bill that has gained traction both in the Kiwi legislature and its executive branch.
This would constitute a clear licensing system and a 4% levy on its licensed operators’ GGR, which would come into effect starting January 2027, while other factors would come into effect in the middle of 2026. This situation needs monitoring since the legislative process seems a bit incomplete, but the truth is that New Zealand is moving toward a fully regulated model.
Conclusion
As we can see, there are quite a few markets that exhibit interesting levels of compromise in how they construct their gambling legislation. However, all of them showcase that the constant movement is in the direction of responsible gambling, which is the main protection methodology for their citizens.
