Comparing Casino Rules Across States and Countries
The online casino industry’s explosion over the last couple of decades has created a constant tug-of-war between innovation and regulation. Online casinos have been drivers and early adopters of technology, leading the way in areas like online payment gateways and alternative payment methods, innovative promotions and new gambling methodologies. Regulators have often struggled to keep up with the pace. New technologies can be implemented far quicker than it takes for rules and regulations to go through complex legislative processes.
However, the biggest challenge that online gambling poses for regulators is that it erases national and state borders. Theoretically, anyone in the world can choose any online casino they like and start playing within minutes. This includes people from countries where online gambling is completely banned. There are plenty of loopholes, like circumventing local banking regulations that prevent casino deposits by using alternative payment methods or cryptocurrencies.
That alone is a challenge enough. The problem is hugely compounded by the fact that different countries have different laws for online gambling. There’s no coherent global legal framework. It’s even more complicated in the USA, as each state has its own laws. This creates a scenario wherein some states may allow online wagering, yet other states frown upon it. For example, in New Jersey and West Virginia, online gambling is allowed, and gamers can play titles like slots and roulette from the comfort of home. Other states, like Oregon and California, have not yet fully allowed online gambling, however, bettors can still access a wide range of sites that are regulated in different states or countries. For example, in California online casinos are hugely popular as they allow gamers to enjoy all of their favorite titles, large bonus offers, and flexible wagering conditions without setting foot outdoors. These sites are often licensed abroad or in other states, but locals in California and beyond can easily access them when playing online.
The fact that the rules vary from state to state complicates matters, as there are no rules that apply to the entire country. Similarly, most countries vary in how they regulate gambling, with different rules applying to different locations all around the globe.
Given the current state of play, here’s a quick overview comparing online casino regulations across various countries and US states.
The EU
There are two main regulatory frameworks covering online casino play in the EU. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires responsible, transparent handling of all player data. It’s complemented by the Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD), which mandates stringent compliance processes to counter illicit financial activities. While each European market has its own regulations, these regional legal frameworks have brought at least some coherence to the region. As a result, the EU is the world leader in online casino regulation, with a sophisticated and stable regulatory framework that combines strict compliance with innovation.
European countries also have the autonomy to set their own additional regulations, which still creates something of a patchwork. However, the EU is aiming for harmonized cross-border laws for regional consistency. Ongoing court decisions continue to refine them, to create the right balance between player satisfaction, player protection and financial oversight, and to clarify legal ambiguities.
The UK
Despite Brexit, the UK is still party to the EU gambling regulations. It has a mature online casino market, governed by stringent regulations implemented by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). These are designed to ensure financial compliance, prevent money laundering and protect players through responsible gambling measures. There are also robust KYC laws that require online casinos to verify the identities and bona fides of all players.
The USA
Things are a lot trickier in the US. It’s left to the states to set their own online casino regulations. You can happily gamble online in one state but find yourself prosecuted in another. As of 2025 online gambling is legal in only six states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan and West Virginia.
Other states are preparing to legalize it, including Indiana, North Carolina and Massachusetts. The main reason that so few states allow online gambling is to protect their land-based casinos, which are a big tax revenue source. However, the vast sums of money wagered at online casinos will only increase, tipping the balance in favor of legalization when it reaches critical mass.
Asia
The situation in Asia mirrors that of the USA – except that instead of states, each sub-region has its own online gambling regulations. And there are plenty of gray zones. The countries can be classified into three categories: fully regulated, busy reforming and outright prohibitive.
The Philippines is the best example of the first category. It already has an integrated regulatory framework, administered by the Philippine Inland Gambling Operator. In the reforming category, Sri Lanka has recently passed a bill to legalize and regulate online gambling. This still has to be codified into law. Malaysia doesn’t allow any gambling as per Muslim law, so thousands of Malaysians play at offshore casinos to skirt this. As a result, the government is reconsidering its stance, to stop illicit gambling and allow non-observant people to gamble legally.
India is an interesting case. Like the US, each state is free to create its own regulations, but so far only the state of Sikkim allows online gambling. Most other states have a total ban on it, but that only encourages players to seek loopholes and find unregulated gambling sites. The entire situation remains fragmented.
Almost all the other Asian countries fall into the third category. Online gambling is completely banned in countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Indonesia has the most prohibitive regulations in all of Asia. The government takes it very seriously. Task forces have reportedly shut down hundreds of illicit online gambling sites and frozen thousands of players’ bank accounts. This zero-tolerance approach prescribes up to 10 years in prison for anyone who plays at an online casino.
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