It is no secret that the iGaming market has been going through a bit of a revolution. Not only are we seeing bigger, better, and more complex games, but we are also seeing a surge in their success. A lot of it has to do with the world’s embrace of online gambling as a legitimate industry. Countries are beginning to legalize and regulate internet casinos worldwide.
However, not every nation has embraced this bustling new market. There are still plenty that have not evolved with the times. So, in this article, we would like to take a look at sites like the Novibet casino, and similar gambling platforms, and explain what their legal status might be like in various regions all over the globe.
Legal Online Gambling
The United Kingdom was among the first to legalize gambling online, and to this day, the country still has one of the most successful iGaming markets around the globe. The success of online casinos in the UK does not just come down to their popularity. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) works tirelessly to ensure that local and offshore casinos are safe and reliable for their customers.
There isn’t much to say about legal online gambling otherwise. It simply means that some countries have fully legalized the use and operation of online casinos. What is interesting is that in countries like these, there has been a considerable decrease in online gambling-related fraud and scams, as the websites are completely regulated by a noteworthy authority.
Semi-Legality
In the realm of iGaming, there is such a thing as “semi-legality.” What we mean here can be interpreted in two ways. First, there are certain countries that operate on a regional basis. For example, in the United States and in Canada, online gambling is only legal in specific states/provinces. Ontario legalized online casinos only a couple of years ago, and thus far, only six states have fully embraced the market.
On the other hand, semi-legality could refer to a ban on online casinos operating within the nation. Notice, we say the laws ban online casinos from operating, not residents from using online casinos. Offshore gambling has been a successful sub-category of the iGaming industry for a while now. Some may worry about the problem, but in truth, offshore casinos have proven reliable and effective.
Illegal Online Gambling
Finally, we come to the last category of legality in online casinos, and this one is pretty straightforward. There are certain countries that have outright banned any form of gambling on the internet. To put it plainly, players are not allowed to access local or offshore casinos. Some are hoping for laws like these to change in the future, but that depends on the reason behind the bans.
Many bans on online casinos exist out of a desire to protect the residents of the country. In the 1990s, online casinos were new and misunderstood, and many governments rushed to banned them in an attempt to protect the people. However, with digital tech improving and the iGaming market getting more attention, this will change. On the other hand, some governments have banned casinos for religious or cultural reasons, which are unlikely to change any time soon.
