As you know, gambling laws are different in each country. Curiously enough, however, each and every country in the world can fall in one of three categories – countries where all forms of gambling are legal and regulated, countries in which online casinos are illegal, and countries where gambling is illegal. Of course, variations could be possible.

Having said that, let us examine the gambling laws in some countries across the globe.

Gaming Laws in Canada
In general, gambling is legal in Canada. Interestingly, it is provinces which regulate gambling, rather than federal laws. In Canada, commercial casinos, racetracks, as well as bingo halls, video lottery terminals, and slot machines are considered legal.

Canada has over 100 casinos which operate across the country, with the exception of the provinces Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as New Brunswick.

The age requirements for Canadian casinos are in concord with the drinking age; in different provinces, age requirements for casinos may vary. Generally, in Canada gambling is legal for people aged 19 and older. However, casinos in provinces Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba admit people aged 18 and older.

Super Casino Sites mentioned that in 2012, British Columbia was the first province to launch a legal online casino. Canada’s first online casino offered various casino games to British Columbia citizens.

Gaming Laws in the USA
To some extent, the USA has liberal gambling laws. First of all, state-run lotteries are legalised and operate in almost every state. Secondly, more than half of all USA states house at least one tribal casino. On the other hand, several laws put severe restrictions on gambling.

To begin with, wagering via a “wire communication facility” is proclaimed illegal under the Interstate Wire Act. For many years, this law was seen as a ban on online gambling. In 2011, the Act was re-examined and allowed some forms of virtual betting. However, online sports betting is still considered illegal in the USA.

Until recently, the Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), passed in 1992, banned states from regulating and imposing taxes on sports betting. In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favour of New Jersey, eliminating PASPA. Consequently, nowadays it is up to states to decide whether they will allow sports betting.

Gaming Laws in the UK
Gambling was never illegal in the UK. Nevertheless, the past 50 years saw a substantial liberalisation of the UK gambling market. Gambling laws in the UK are set out in the GA. Moreover, the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 deals with National Lottery in the country. However, the GA has established a single regulator for all types of betting, including the National Lottery.

In the UK, remote gambling is differentiated from land-based gambling by the GA. In the UK, size of casinos is determined by the number of table games available and the total floor area of an establishment. Another type of land-based gambling establishments in the UK are licensed bookmaking offices, more commonly known as betting shops, which deal with pool wagering and fixes-odds betting. Additionally, bingo halls can also be found in the UK. Generally, those offer bingo games and some gaming machines.

Gaming Laws in Australia
In Australia, betting money or valuable objects on the outcome of an event, which relies completely or partially on chance is considered gambling. In general, promotion of gambling in Australia is prohibited. However, licensed gambling activities are permitted. Such activities include: lotteries, betting and sports wagering, land-based casino games, as well as slot machines in land-based establishments.

The IGA is superior to state and area legislation and deals with online gambling regulation. Land-based gambling activities inside and outside casinos fall under the jurisdiction of state and area legislation. Incidentally, state and area legislation is responsible for the variation in regulatory frameworks in different forms of gambling, such as sports betting, lotteries, casino gambling, etc.

Gaming Laws in China
Gambling in mainland China is strictly prohibited. Both online and offline betting is illegal and punishable under the Article 303 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Nevertheless, China has so-called special administrative regions, which can create their own gambling legislation. Hong Kong is one of China’s special administrative regions. Gambling activities in Hong Kong are legal as long as they are controlled by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), a government-sponsored organisation.

Even though Macau is quite liberal in terms of gambling, the region neither addresses nor acknowledges online wagering. Nevertheless, China’s most liberal administrative region has the world’s biggest gambling market. Incidentally, Macau’s gambling market has underwent a remarkably quick expansion. Opened in 2002, the gambling market in the region generated $28 billion in revenues just 15 years later. That is three times the amount generated by Vegas.

Additionally, gambling in Macau is regulated by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).