The European Union can be considered one entity with respect to many financial affairs. That’s thanks to the EU passing economic legislation that applies to each of its 28 member states (that will become 27 after”Brexit”). But when it comes to sports gambling, the EU members remain independent, with each responsible for producing its own legal framework.
As a result, the legality of sports betting, such as at online sites, varies from country to country. Below are the best EU betting websites.
USA
UNITED KINGDOM
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
MEXICO
1
Betway
Betway makes it easy to begin and then keeps you there with its huge choice and numerous methods to bet.
http://www.betway.com
Overall Rating:
5 Deposit Bonus: Up to #30 Free Bet
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
2
888sport
888sport is a fun website that makes it easy for the newcomer to get started. It also offers enough extras to keep seasoned bettors interested, although some pro-bettors might be turned off.
http://www.888sport.com
Total Rating:
5 Deposit Bonus: Bet $10 for $30
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
3
bet365
Bet365 serves millions of bettors around the world – the sheer number of international leagues that they cover is unparalleled, among other perks.
http://www.bet365.com
Total Rating:
5 Deposit Bonus: Available Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
4
William Hill
A huge name that has been in business since 1934 does not need flashy promos provided that the service is dialed-in – William Hill is that title.
http://www.williamhill.com
Overall Rating:
4 Deposit Bonus: Accessible Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
5
Paddy Power
Among the most popular and prestigious gambling websites in the UK & Ireland, this household name provides some of the largest odds selections in the industry. With over 100 lines per game and a premium live-streaming service, it’s no surprise that Paddy Power dominates the UK sportsbook marketplace.
https://www.paddypower.com
Total Rating:
4 Deposit Bonus: Risk Free #20 bet Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
6
Intertops
Launched in 1983 and internet since 1996, Intertops is one of the old guard when it comes to sports gambling. Decent chances and enticing bonuses mean their solid prestige in the market is more than deserved.
https://www.intertops.eu
Total Rating:
4 Deposit Bonus: 50% up to $200
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
7
BetOnline
Their massive maximum bonus size is a true head-turner for bigger bettors but BetOnline offers something for everyone.
https://www.betonline.ag
Total Rating:
5 Deposit Bonus: 50% up to $1,000
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
8
BetVictor
BetVictor has many decades of sportsbook experience and give a strong all around merchandise whilst nevertheless offering enticing promos and value-priced chances.
http://www.betvictor.com
Overall Rating:
4 Deposit Bonus: #50 Match Bet
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
9
BetDSI
BetDSI is similar to a luxury resort you can stay at for a bargain price. Their sportsbook has offerings typically only found at the larger sites, and they offer these at a very good price compared to others.
Total Rating:
3 Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $500
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
10
SBG Global
Do not be fooled by SBG’s simple look and little stature; a readily obtainable bonus structure and a wide variety for lines, teasers, and parlays make it a solid option for casual players.
http://www.sbgglobal.eu
Total Rating:
3 Deposit Bonus: 50% up to $1,000
Terms & Conditions Apply
BET NOW
Read Review
Belowwe set out the legal status of online gambling in the four biggest European gambling regions: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
As you will see, each nation takes a legalize-and-regulate approach to internet sports betting. However, some are far more flexible and liberal with their licensing regime than others, which seriously affects the amount of legal options available to bettors.
The table below briefly summarizes the position in every country. The resultant sections provide more detailed descriptions.
COUNTRY IS ONLINE SPORTS BETTING LEGAL? ARE ONLINE BOOKMAKERS REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENSE? IS IT SMART/SAFE TO USE AN UNLICENSED SITE? DO ONLINE BETTORS HAVE TO PAY TAX ON WINNINGS?
France Yes Yes No Yes. If over $1,500
Germany Yes Sort of Maybe No
Ireland Yes Yes No No, except for”professionals”
Italy Yes Yes No No
Netherlands Yes, but hardly Yes No Yes, but it is withheld from the operator
Spain Yes Yes No Yes, if over $2,500
Sweden Yes Yes Maybe No, as long as the sportsbook is accredited in EU
France
Online sports betting is legal but heavily regulated in France. To legally offer sports wagers to French residents, a betting sitemust be licensed by the ARJEL (Autorit?? p r??gulation des jeux en ligne, which appropriately translates to”Regulatory Authority for Online Games”).
Since the French government places substantial tax burdens on operators, so several online websites register in different authorities and still attempt to supply their services to individuals in France.
Under the current legislative framework, this is deemed illegal. Even if an online sportsbook has a license in a foreign jurisdiction, say Gibraltar, it cannot legally provide sports-betting solutions to the French public without a permit in the ARJEL.
This is the case in many regions of the planet. However, the French authorities are more proactive in policing it than most, going so far as to block access to specific sites from within France.
[Though] the mere act of placing a bet for an unlicensed sportsbook may not be prohibited under French law… with an unlicensed sportsbook nevertheless comes with a number of dangers.
It should be noted that, such as in the US, the mere act of placing a wager for an unlicensed sportsbook might not be prohibited under French law. The legislation have a tendency to target online betting providers rather than the individual bettors.
But, using an unlicensed sportsbook still includes a number of dangers. You cannot be certain that unlicensed sites will stay available from inside France. The authorities may take steps to block access and efficiently shut-down their presence in the nation at any moment, since it is operating illegally.
As a result, the safest path for sports bettors in France is to use a licensed sportsbook.
Figuring out which sites are licensed and which are not is simple. The ARJEL maintains an updated list of all the licensees on its own site: http://www.arjel.fr/-Liste-des-operateurs-agrees-.html.
The ARJEL maintains an updated list of all the licensees on its own site.
The website is in French, obviously, but if you are using an internet browser like Chrome, you can easily interpret the page to English. (While the grammar will not be perfect, you will be able to decode the essential elements.)
If (when?) Your sports-betting efforts prove profitable in France, bear in mind that everything over $1,500 has to be declared as income and, as such, is taxable. In accordance with rgweek.com, online betting is taxed at around 9%.
Germany
The legal status of online sports gambling from Germany is in a state of flux and has existed for some time. The German government has sought to greatly regulate the market as well as in 2012, passed an amended Interstate Treaty on Gambling, which banned online betting (and online gaming in all its forms) except for those offered by the government or licensed by the regulatory authorities. (This law was actually a comfort of an earlier legislation, which didn’t even allow for licenses and efficiently made a state monopoly.)
The law came under siege nearly as quickly as it came into effect. Importantly, the EU’s Court of Justice has ruled that the law impermissibly limits online gaming websites based/licensed in other countries from offering their solutions to Germans.
[T]he EU’s Court of Justice has ruled that [Germany’s online gambling law] impermissibly limits online sites based/licensed from different countries from offering their solutions to Germans.
The German government responded by amending the legislation, but only slightly, and said amendment has not come in to force. The amended law could simply raise the amount of licenses that the authorities may grant; it would not give overseas sportsbooks carte blanche to operate in Germany. It remains to be seen whether such a law — if it comes into force — could be deemed an acceptable restriction by the courts.
What Germany is now left with is basically a crap heap of legislation pertaining to internet sports betting. The legislation on the books need sportsbooks to have a license to operate legally, but the laws themselves (along with the licensing procedure they produce ) are deemed impermissible by the EU courts.
In practice, a number of foreign-based sports-betting websites continue to function in Germany (meaning they continue to accept German bettors and continue to be accessible from inside Germany’s borders). Unlike in France, where the authorities have taken a hands-on approach to restricting access to unlicensed online operators, the German government doesn’t seem to be actively trying to stop these overseas sportsbooks from operating in Germany, probably because of the state of the existing legislation.
As the International Comparative Legal Guides’ 2017 paper on Germany says,”[T]he licensing process for… sports gambling licenses… continues to be held incompatible with EU law… Criminal proceedings have… seldom been pioneered. … German enforcement authorities… have been unwilling to enforce gaming law violations, one explanation for this probably being that German gaming law was characterised by legal uncertainty because of it facing severe criticism in light of EU legislation for years now.
In relation to sports gambling… any enforcement actions brought against sports betting operators in a situation where a criminal de facto monopoly persists (as held to be true in Germany) is incompatible with EU law.”
[I]n the rare cases when [German] authorities do prosecute breaches of gambling legislation, it’s the operator that is held accountable, not the bettor.
The newspaper also notes , in the rare cases once the government do violate breaches of gaming legislation, it is the operator that is held accountable, not the bettor.
The final result is that Germans can feel very safe — by the country authorities, at least — when it comes to using online gaming websites, whether those are licensed in Germany or elsewhere.
Choosing the best and most-secure sportsbook in Germany doesn’t come down to if It’s accredited, but will rather be determined by a multitude of other factors, like:
A history of timely payments
A reputation for anonymity and safety Available and easy-to-use help sections A huge variety of deposit and withdrawal procedures Strong client support representation
A broad choice of sports markets to bet on.
Regarding taxation, just winnings from the state-run websites are taxed. On account of this cluttered and muddled legal regime that currently exists, there does not appear to be any process in place for taxing winnings out of private online sportsbooks.
Ireland
Like most European countries, Ireland regulates online sports gambling through a licensing strategy. The Betting Act 2015 is the relevant law right now, and supplies that anyone seeking to give bookmaking or betting services to individuals in Ireland has to be granted a permit from the Revenue Commissioners, which double as the Irish taxation support.
As with almost any regulatory system, this has advantages and drawbacks for the general public. The simple fact that sportsbooks have to cover tax and go through the bureaucratic hoops of acquiring a permit contributes to things like greater juice on the other end.
On the other hand, the licensing system also ensures that only legitimate sportsbooks offer their solutions to Irish residents.
How?
Under the present legal framework, the officers of this corporation applying for a license must, inter alia, acquire certificates of fitness.
Furthermore, licenses are only allowed for two years at one time and, according to the ICLG, among the variables that the Revenue Commissioners believe during renewal applications is whether the sportsbook has paid its debts. That is vital, as bettors can’t sue sportsbooks for outstanding debts in Ireland, or vice versa. (Betting debts are usually unenforceable.) The licensing system provides an impetus for sportsbooks to function on the up-and-up.
As with most countries, the penalties for juvenile sports betting fall almost exclusively on the operators. But Irish punters are well-advised to abide by licensed novels, nonetheless. If an online betting site is offering its services to Irish bettors with no license, there is going to be a concerning reason for this. Either it doesn’t want to cover the $10,000 permit fee, it does not wish to pay the related tax, its application has been dropped, etc.. No matter the reason, it leads to serious questions regarding the sportsbook’s legitimacy and/or fiscal wellbeing.
When it comes to taxation on gambling winnings, the typical Irish better can rest easy. Only professional gamblers need to pay tax in their gambling profits.
Who qualifies as a “pro”? That is for the Revenue Commissioners and the courts to determine. Generally, it is dependent upon how much a person stakes, their level of expertise, and whether or not they have another occupation.
Italy
Once on a time, Italy was just like Germany, in that it prohibited all sports betting apart from state-run sites. Just like Germany, this paradigm has been deemed impermissible by the EU and Italy’s sports-betting laws have since changed (way back in 2006).
Currently, to operate legally in Italy, gambling websites must obtain a license from the AAMS, the regulatory authority in the country. Those who do not are liable to penalties.
Quite unlike Germany, the licensing and regulatory system established in Italy was deemed acceptable by the EU’s Court of Justice as it’s a lot less restrictive compared to procedure the German’s tried to implement. To get a permit, a site must simply have a specific speed of earnings ($1.5M within the past two years), have its servers situated within an EU member state, fulfill certain fee and tax duties, and be”stable” and”reliable.”
If it comes to contraventions of the legal regime, the laws often target betting sites rather than bettors, and Italians who wager at unlicensed operators shouldn’t fear prosecution by state governments.
On the other hand, the penalties and consequences which could be levied in an unlicensed sportsbook will be sensed by this sportsbook’s users, as well.
In accordance with ICLG.com,”[w]here a operator features gaming with no license, he can face criminal… and civil fees. The website will be prohibited and added to a blacklist.”
Thus, any bettors that opt to use an unlicensed sportsbook at Italy danger losing access to that sportsbook from within the nation.
[A]ny bettors that opt to use an unlicensed sportsbook in Italy danger losing access to that sportsbook from within the country. … [T]he safe play for Italian bettors is to utilize a sportsbook that’s licensed in Italy.
As a result, the safe play for Italian bettors would be to utilize a sportsbook that is licensed in Italy. Fortunately, due to the fairly liberal licensing system (which allows up to 200 permits ), there are a multitude of options which provide competitive odds on the most common Italian markets, such as football, F1, horse racing, tennis, and biking.
When Italian bettors strike it rich, they get to keep all their hard-won spoils since sports-betting winnings are not subject to taxation in the nation.
Netherlands
Counterintuitively, the typically liberal lawmakers from the Netherlands have a very conservative approach to internet sports gambling. At present, online sports gambling is illegal in the Netherlands except in the websites run by the government-controlled De Lotto business.
Regardless of the rigorous regulatory regime, many overseas sportsbooks provide their services to Dutch bettors. On the other hand, the regulatory authority from the Netherlands (the Kansspelautoriteit ) requires a hands on approach to punishing offenders and contains imposed heavy fines on a number of these websites. Because of this, several online sportsbooks have done away with their Dutch-language options (etc.) and there are comparatively few online betting sites that cater to Dutch customers.
While prosecution of people who bet at such sites is not a big concern, the potential for Dutch bettors to lose easy access for their bankroll is a huge concern in regards to utilizing unlicensed offshore sportsbooks. You definitely do not wish to signup with a site and have it block Dutch IP addresses the next week.
The new legal regime [set to come into effect in January 2019] will allow foreign-based sportsbooks to get licenses and, in turn, offer their solutions to Dutch bettors.
The great news is that the problem in the Netherlands is scheduled to change quite shortly. A new online gaming bill (the Online Gambling Bill) is scheduled to come into force on Jan. 1, 2019. The new legal regime enables foreign-based sportsbooks to obtain licenses and, in turn, offer their services to Dutch bettors.
This will undoubtedly improve the gambling market in the Netherlands by increasing competition for clients. Up to this point, the government-run entities were unchallenged and had little reason to improve their product or their odds.
In terms of taxation, Dutch players have to pay tax at a rate or 29% of their winnings (over and over $449). But based on Alan Littler of Kalff Katz & Franssen Attorneys at Law,”While participants are accountable for the tax due on a decoration, providers are required to withhold the relevant amount when paying out the prize.”
Spain
Since 2011 when the Spanish Gambling Act was passed, Spain has obtained a nationally legalize-and-regulate approach to online betting, akin to the major European allies covered over. To lawfully offer online gaming solutions to Spanish citizens, gambling websites must acquire a permit from the applicable regulatory body (the Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego, or even”DGOJ”).
This was bad news for internet operators since Spain was previously similar to the Wild West. Despite regulation at the provincial level, it was effectively a lawless land where anything went and online sportsbooks operated with impunity, irrespective of place, stability, etc..
While the imposition of a licensing regime has decreased the amount of (legal) options available to Spanish bettors, that is not necessarily a terrible thing. The program requires sites to meet specific standards and pay certain prices, which can help make sure that only legitimate sports-betting websites are allowed to function.
As in Italy and France, it’s wise for Spanish bettors to utilize a licensed site, even though the mere act of placing a bet at an unlicensed site does not seem to be illegal.
Why?
Think about the following from the ICLG:
[I]llegal offline gambling has ever been duly prosecuted in Spain. But [until 2011] Spanish authorities were quite permissive with respect to illegal online gambling operations” Now, however, those who breach applicable gambling laws risk”large fines [and] the possibility of qualified authorities suspending or revoking licenses in case[s] of significant or sustained lack of compliance.
That means online gaming websites operating without a permit are liable to get their Spanish operations shutdown at any point, which could, in turn, impact users’ ability to get their funds.
Considering that the diligence with which the government have attacked prohibited offline gambling, that is not a risk smart bettors would operate.
How do you tell if you are using an illegal site? One requirement of obtaining a permit is acquiring a”.es” domain , for example”Bet365.es” or”WilliamHill.es.” If the URL of the site you’re using doesn’t end in”. Es” it is probably operating illegally.
On the other hand, the converse isn’t necessarily true: using a”. Es” domain does not necessarily mean that a website is licensed in Spain. So Spanish bettors must take steps to confirm that their website of selection has the essential license from the DGOJ to operate in Spain. (To translate that page to English using Google Chrome, follow these directions.)
Lastly, note that, when bettors in Spain acquire anything over $2,500, it must be declared as income and is taxed accordingly.
Sweden
The Swedish government exercises strict control over the online sports-betting industry. In theory, any company can receive a permit to provide online betting products to people in Sweden. However, in practice, just one thing was granted a permit, and that is the government-run Svenska Spel.
As in many jurisdictions with thick bureaucratic barriers-to-entry, many offshore sportsbooks offer their services to people in Sweden without a license. Unlike in areas like Ireland (where permits are easily accessible ), the fact that a website is accessible to Swedes with no Swedish license doesn’t indicate anything nefarious (beyond the fact that it’s prepared to function in a legal gray area). Operating without a permit is the only option they have.
That does not mean Swedish bettors must signup with the first site they locate. There are both superior sportsbooks and extremely dishonest ones accessible to Swedes, and doing background research is vital to picking a safe, secure, reliable site that caters to your specific preferences.
In certain ways, the problem in Sweden is comparable to that in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch regulatory body requires a more hands-on strategy to punishing unlicensed sportsbooks. According to a paper by Erik Ullberg et al. at The Law Reviews, Swedish governments are more inclined to go after the Swedish-based Businesses that assist juvenile sportsbooks compared to sportsbooks themselves:
As the government do not have jurisdiction over the offshore gambling operators, they have rather focused on people in Sweden who carry advertisements for these companies.
The result is that Swedish bettors who sign up at unlicensed offshore sportsbooks aren’t putting their bankroll at any risk, unlike their counterparts in the Netherlands, {as long as|pro
Read more: manchesterinnews.com
