Europe gambling laws strive to create a prolific business environment for the operators and a safe environment for players, leading to ongoing changes. The key question— ‘Is gambling legal in Europe?’—has no single answer, as regulations vary by country. While the European Union promotes fair competition, it does not enforce a unified gambling policy. Instead, national laws determine licensing requirements, ensuring fair games, data security, and anti-money laundering compliance. The EU’s Treaty on the Functioning allows gambling businesses but permits restrictions for public interest. Legal battles, such as Germany’s 2010 case on regional monopolies, highlight the tension between national regulations and EU policies.

Gambling Laws in Different European Countries in 2025

If you are wondering: ‘Where is gambling legal in Europe?’, most countries provide at least some form of it. Although some have stringent regulations, complete bans are rare in Europe.

United Kingdom

The UK was among the first EU members to introduce a regulatory framework for online gambling. UKGC has been busy since 2005, and they have even introduced a new batch of rules that aim to bolster player safety. The new rules aim to reduce the intensity of certain games, add more financial vulnerability checks, and improve age verification. 

Legislative act: Gambling Act 2005.

Regulatory body: UK Gambling Commission regulates online wagering and issues operating licenses for land-based operators. Local authorities issue premises licences.

Hungary

In Hungary, for example, online casino gaming is still tightly controlled and monopolized by the government. There is a strong emphasis on allowing only licensed online casino sites with certified games. To find a trustworthy and licensed casino, you should browse review platforms that do unbiased roundups and evaluations of local brands. This is the best way to find sites with popular games like slots, as well as newer games like Plinko. A good example would be  KaszinoWorld that has plinko vélemények and tells you where you can play it in Hungary.   

Legislative act: Act XXXIV of 1991 on Gambling Operations (the “Gambling Act”).

Regulatory body: Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs.

Norway

The situation in Norway is somewhat similar. Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto are two organizations with exclusive rights to retail and online gambling entertainment. Also, the law doesn’t make a distinction between online and land-based gambling, so any operator without a license is illegal. They resorted to DNS blocking of unlicensed websites.

Legislative act: Totalisator Act 1927, Gaming Act 1992, and Lottery Act 1995.

Regulatory body: Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority.

Germany 

Germany started to regulate online gambling from 2021, and operators can apply for a license to host virtual slot games. However, according to the Interstate Treaty 2021, it’s up to federal states whether they will grant a license to private businesses for table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat) or if they wish to maintain a state monopoly on this front. Brands based outside of Germany can also apply for an online gambling license. 

Legislative act: State Treaty on Gambling 2021.

Regulatory body: Joint Gambling Authority regulates online activities. Ministry/Senate of the Interior of the respective state oversee brick-and-mortar casinos and betting shops.

The Netherlands

Much like in Germany, online gambling became legal in the Netherlands in 2021, and the age restriction is 21 or higher. The activity is regulated through the Betting and Gambling Act and Betting and Gambling Tax Act. According to the act, operators cannot offer casino games without a license, and it is illegal for players to play on unlicensed websites. There are also stricter advertising guidelines and affordability checks.

Legislative act: The Remote Gambling Act 2021.

Regulatory body: Netherlands Gambling Authority.

Ireland

Meanwhile, Ireland has got a new regulator. The Gambling Regulatory Authority was established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, and it will become a central regulator for the country. The GRA will license and oversee land-based and online entertainment. The new bill is still subject to amendment, and it will repeal the current Betting Acts and the Gaming and Lotteries Acts.   

Legislative act: Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (signed but did not commence).

Regulatory body: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (new regulator for in-person and Internet betting). The Irish police force or the District Court regulates in-person bingo. The Irish Revenue Commissioner regulates sports betting. Regulator of the National Lottery, the Irish police for lotteries, and the District Court for periodical lotteries.

The Rise of Responsible Gambling Measures in European Countries

While online gambling laws in Europe vary, protecting players is crucial. Below are some examples of these initiatives:

• To minimize financial losses, some governments have introduced restrictions on bet sizes, speed of slot games, and reality check tools or loss calculators. For example, the UK has imposed a £5 maximum stake limit on online slots for players aged 25+. For those aged 18-24, a £2 limit applies.
• EU even recommended in 2014 that national self-exclusion registers be established. The UK’s GamStop program covers both online and retail operators, and there are similar registers in Germany (OASIS), Italy (AAMS) and Cyprus (NSEP).

Regulators impose penalties on operators that fail to protect their customers. In the past few years, certain big brands had to pay up some hefty fines:

• Betway £11.6m – For accepting stolen funds from big spenders
• 10 brands were fined with 60 million euros and ordered to close by DGOJ in Spain for operating without a license
• William Hill fined over 19.2 million pound for failing to uphold consumer protection policies and anti-money laundering policies.

Key Takeaways for Players and Operators

Since gambling laws Europe are not uniform, operators must know the specific regulations of their country and check licensing requirements. We also encourage players to familiarise themselves with gambling laws.

However, one rule applies to everyone: gamblers should only use licensed casino platforms. This ensures their legal protection and guarantees fair play and transparency. Regarding this issue, regulators are intensifying efforts to ensure safer gaming environments. Different methods are used, from bet size restrictions to heftier fines.