Betting Licenses and Regulation by Country

A country-by-country reference on how betting and gambling licensing and regulation work across Europe.

Licensing and regulation of betting/gambling business

In many countries the regulation of betting companies is carried out by special government bodies responsible for controlling gambling activities. Here are some examples of such bodies:

 

United Kingdom

UK Gambling Commission

– The main regulator of gambling activities, including online bookmakers. It issues licenses and monitors compliance with betting and gambling legislation.

 

Germany

GGL (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder)

– The joint federal regulator, operating since 2021 and holding full powers since 2023. It issues sports betting licenses across Germany. Schleswig-Holstein, which used to license operators on its own, no longer does so.

 

France

ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux)

– The body regulating gambling in France. It replaced ARJEL in 2020 and issues licenses to betting operators.

 

Italy

ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli)

– The agency that regulates the betting market in Italy, including online betting, and issues licenses. It was known as AAMS before the 2012 merger.

 

Spain

DGOJ (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego)

– The general directorate for organizing gambling activities. This body is responsible for licensing and regulating all types of gambling, including sports betting.

 

Sweden

Spelinspektionen

– The Swedish gambling inspector, which began operating after a reform of the country's gaming market in 2019. The body issues licenses and ensures rules are followed.

 

Denmark

Spillemyndigheden

– The state body responsible for licensing and supervising the activities of bookmakers and other gaming operators.

 

Malta

Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

– The Maltese gambling regulator. Malta is known for its liberal conditions for obtaining licenses, so many international operators choose this jurisdiction to operate in Europe.

 

Netherlands

Kansspelautoriteit (Netherlands Gaming Authority)

– The Dutch gambling regulator. Licenses and controls operators working within the Netherlands.

 

Poland

Ministerstwo Finansów (Ministry of Finance of Poland)

– Responsible for regulating gambling activities, including issuing licenses for sports betting.

 

Belgium

Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)

– The Belgian gaming committee responsible for licensing and regulating gambling operators, including sports betting.

 

Czech Republic

Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic

– The ministry is responsible for regulating and licensing all forms of gambling, including bookmakers.

 

Finland

Veikkaus Oy

– A state-owned company that holds a monopoly in the Finnish gambling market. It manages all types of gambling activities, including sports betting.

 

Norway

Norwegian Gaming Authority (Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet)

– The Norwegian regulator for gambling, which licenses and oversees betting and lottery operators.

 

Portugal

Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ)

– The Portuguese body regulating gambling, including online bookmakers. SRIJ issues licenses and ensures compliance with legislation.

 

Romania

Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN)

– The Romanian national office for gambling, which licenses and controls the activity of betting and casino operators.

 

Greece

Hellenic Gaming Commission (Επιτροπή Εποπτείας και Ελέγχου Παιγνίων, ΕΕΕΠ)

– The Greek regulator, which licenses and supervises betting operators.

 

Hungary

National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA)

– The Hungarian tax and customs authority also regulates gambling and issues licenses for its operation.

 

Bulgaria

State Commission on Gambling

– The Bulgarian regulator for gambling, which licenses and controls the activity of betting companies.

 

Croatia

Ministarstvo financija Republike Hrvatske

– The Croatian Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for licensing and regulating gambling, including sports betting.

 

Slovakia

Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic

– The department that regulates and licenses gambling, including bookmaking activities.

 

Lithuania

Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (Lietuvos lošimų priežiūros tarnyba)

– The Lithuanian regulator for gambling, which licenses and controls betting and casino operators.

 

Latvia

Latvijas Spēļu inspekcija

– The Latvian regulator for gambling, which licenses and controls the activity of betting companies.

Estonia

Estonian Tax and Customs Board (Eesti Maksu- ja Tolliamet)

– The Estonian tax and customs department, which also regulates gambling and issues licenses for its conduct.

 

Iceland

Icelandic Lottery and Gaming Authority (Íslensk getspáun)

– The Icelandic regulator for gambling, which licenses and controls the activity of bookmakers and casinos.

 

Luxembourg

Service Public de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Permanente et des Sports (SPJEPS)

– The Luxembourgish public service responsible for regulating gambling, including sports betting.

 

Cyprus

Cyprus National Betting Authority (Κυπριακή Εθνική Αρχή Στοιχημάτων)

– The Cypriot regulator for gambling, which licenses and controls betting companies.

 

These regulators control the activities of betting companies, monitor compliance with gambling laws, and protect players' interests.

See also: bookmaker safety rating and the list of closed sportsbooks.