EU Gambling Regulation – How Countries Allow Online Gambling

The European Union (EU) remains a big, diverse, and regulated market in all aspects and industries, including online gambling. While there are Union-wide regulations that affect some parts of the online casino operations in individual countries, there’s no unified EU online gambling license yet.

In this guide, our expert team covers the key regulations affecting online casino operators and players in the Union. We will share some general rules that impact all members and local regulations of the biggest markets.

Key Takeaways

• The EU has no single online gambling license covering all member states.
• Online gambling rules differ by country, with some markets open, others restrictive or state controlled.
• AMLD, GDPR and underage gambling rules affect all EU casino operators.
• Most EU countries allow online gambling in some form, but local licensing is usually required.
• Players should always check local rules, licensed operators and regulatory changes before playing.

Is There an EU Online Gambling License Covering All Member Countries?

No, there isn’t a single EU online gambling license that allows an online casino operator to work in all member countries. Member states have the authority to organise the land-based and online gambling sectors within their borders as they see fit. Of course, their regulations must comply with the fundamental values, freedoms, and obligations within the EU.

That’s why one member country may ban iGaming, while another one may have a booming market. Some EU countries have state-run monopolies, too. Either way, any operator active on the EU territory must respect the basic privacy, fairness, and security standards.

Before we move on to see what’s happening on a country-by-country basis, let’s first review some of the regulations affecting all iGaming across the EU.

Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD)

Despite the lack of a unified legal framework, online casino operators working within the Union must meet and work in compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Directive of the EU. ID verification, wagering requirements on bonuses, source of fund requests, and reporting suspicious activity are all the cornerstones of this aspect.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced to protect end users, how their data is collected, stored, and used, and to provide transparency. The GDPR affects not only online casinos, but also any business serving customers living within the EU. Thanks to this regulation, iGaming operators need to have Privacy Policies and Data Protection pages as well as to be GDPR-compliant.

Underage Gambling Prevention and Digital Services Act (DSA)

It’s important to note that the EU already has strict regulations about preventing underage gambling, and the union introduces new provisions when necessary. Across the EU, the general minimum gambling age is 18 or older, with countries having the right to impose an even stricter threshold. In Greece, for example, the minimum age for gambling and online gambling is 21 or older.

We have to mention the Digital Services Act (DSA) here, too, as it imposes requirements on operators to prevent platform access to minors. That’s why online casino operators impose verifications typically early in the player journey.

Online Regulation Overview by Country

We have a market where local licensing and regulations take the lead in how local or international operators may offer this attractive service to residents. Generally speaking, we can say that online gambling is legal in Europe because most countries allow it in some form. There are exceptions along with market-specific rules and limitations, all painting the colourful picture of online casino gambling in the EU.

Now, let’s move on to a more focused overview of the online gambling regulations in the EU by analysing how every country handles the iGaming market. We’ve created a table that reveals the local authority responsible for online gambling in each country. It also briefly summarises the key regulations.

Austria

Austria currently has one licensed online casino, and online gambling is legal in the country. International operators with Malta and Gibraltar licensing have also been seen targeting Austrian players. The country has announced plans to update its regulations and present a multi-license structure soon, with the single license expiring in early 2027.

Belgium

Belgium has nine legal online casinos operating on its territory, and getting a license is related to having a land-based gambling license. Gambling at illegal sites is punishable by law, so players are advised to stick to the casinos with the “Always Play Legally” logo. The regulator imposes maximum weekly deposit limits of €200.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria has a regulated online gambling market as per the country’s Gambling Act of 2012. There are about 40 legal online casino sites that local players can join and then gamble for real money at.

Croatia

Croatia is a fully regulated online casino market with ten active operators. The country has announced to introduce new and stricter regulations to push for a safer environment for players. A national self-exclusion register has also been launched recently.

Cyprus

Cyprus is among the countries where online gambling is banned, and no local operators are offering it.

Czechia

Czechia is one of the EU member countries that allows online gambling and has local licensing. Over 20 licensed casino sites are offering their services to Czech residents. The country’s regulations are all based on the Gambling Act of 2016, which imposes strict requirements on operators.

Denmark

Denmark has a growing and well-established online casino market, which requires a local licence from operators hoping to serve Danish players. There are currently over 40 licensee holders and many more sites, considering that some operators have multiple online casinos.

Estonia

Estonia follows the example of many other EU members with an active iGaming market and local licensing. The list of regulated casino sites goes over 30, so Estonians have many options to choose from. The country’s regulations come from the Gambling Act of 2009.

Finland

Finland allows and regulates online gambling, but currently in the form of a state-run monopoly. The only online casino is Veikkaus, and it will stay like that until July 1st, 2027, when the online casino market in the country will open to more operators.

France

France doesn’t allow online gambling, and it doesn’t have any locally licensed online casinos.

Germany

Germany’s online gambling rules are regulated by the State Treaty on Gambling of 2021. Ever since, the country has introduced local legislation and licensing, but also many restrictions for players and operators.

Greece

Greece allows online gambling to its residents through a legal update that happened in 2020. There are several licensed casino sites that Greeks can join, while the country imposes strict bans and maintains a blacklist for any other operators targeting Greek players.

Hungary

Hungary allows online gambling, and operators targeting Hungarian players can be from EEA member countries, but local regulations apply to any such services. The country’s Gambling Act was amended in 2023 to meet the needs of the changing iGaming scene.

Ireland

Ireland has passed the Gambling Regulation Act in 2024 to modernise its regulations and open to a multi-license iGaming model. The effect of the new regulations is taking force in stages, so international operators are still targeting Irish players, something that won’t last for long.

Italy

Online gambling is legal and fully regulated in Italy and has been for many years. The country introduced new and stricter rules that came into force in November 2025 and limited the number of online casinos per license holder to only one. The move dropped the number of active casino sites from over 400 to a bit over 50.

Latvia

Latvia has a regulated and active online gambling market, and only companies registered in the country can hold the local license. There are strict restrictions and blocks aimed at offshore and international casino sites targeting Latvian players.

Lithuania

Lithuania allows online gambling, but under strict local licensing and rules that impact gambling advertising, limits, and geo-blocks. The official permission list has 10 active remote gambling license holders with over 380 so-called gambling devices.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg doesn’t separate the games of chance in land-based or online and has generally restrictive regulations. The state lottery has a monopoly over the sector and offers some online services, but no iGaming.

Malta

Malta is among the best-known and most developed iGaming hubs in Europe, offering licensing to hundreds of operators targeting EU and international players. Any operators holding the local MGA license can offer their services to Maltese users.

Netherlands

The Netherlands passed the Remote Gambling Act in April 2021, and then it went into force in October 2021, regulating the online gambling and betting market in the country. Ever since, hundreds of operators have obtained the local license that comes with clear and strict rules.

Poland

Poland allows online gambling per the Gambling Act of 2009, but only through the state-controlled monopoly operator. Other companies can’t target Polish players, regardless of whether they hold alternative licensing in other EU countries.

Portugal

Portugal’s Legal Framework for Online Gambling and Betting sets the rules for running an online casino in the country. The activity is allowed and locally overseen, but a state-controlled monopoly exclusively runs some sectors.

Romania

The Emergency Government Ordinance number 77/2009 regulates the active multi-license online gambling market in Romania. Class I licensing applies to operators, while Class II licensing applies to service providers and suppliers.

Slovakia

Slovakia’s old gambling legal framework was replaced by a modernised Act on Gambling Games, which went into effect in 2019. The country now offers legal online gambling through licensed operators based in the EU and EEA.

Slovenia

Slovenia is among the EU countries with somewhat restrictive rules on online gambling, as it doesn’t allow foreign operators to apply for a license. The government controls who may operate on its territory, and for now, that’s a state-run online casino.

Spain

Spain’s online gambling scene is regulated by the Law 13/2011, which imposes a general license for operators hoping to serve Spanish players and then individual game type licensing for each service offered. The country has strict controls and rules affecting bonuses and advertising.

Sweden

The Gambling Act of 2018, which came into force in January 2019, provides the full legal framework for the regulated online gambling in the country. Operators must hold a local license and meet strict requirements to accept Swedish players.

EU iGaming Laws

With 27 member countries and no unified EU iGaming licensing framework, the legal situation varies by country. Some members have fully open and booming markets, while others have taken a restrictive stance towards the industry.

The best choice players can make is to get informed about what local rules and regulations affect them based on where they live. Stay informed, vigilant, and comply with the regulations to avoid fines or scam casinos.

Finally, know that regulations change both locally and EU-wide, so it’s good to keep an eye on any such changes that affect your access to safe casinos online.