🇨🇭Switzerland gambling regulation

Legal framework at a glance

Switzerland’s Federal Act on Gambling (Bundesgesetz über Geldspiele, often called the Money Gaming Act) was approved by voters in a June 2018 referendum and came into force on 1 January 2019. It merged the old casino and lottery laws and, for the first time, allowed online casino games, but only for Swiss land-based casinos. Lotteries and sports betting remain reserved to two intercantonal operators. The model is therefore a hybrid of tightly restricted licensing and regional monopolies.

Product	Online status	Who may offer it
Casino games	Licensed (restricted)	Swiss land-based casinos with an online extension
Poker	Licensed (restricted)	Same casinos
Sports betting	Monopoly	Swisslos and Loterie Romande
Lottery	Monopoly	Swisslos and Loterie Romande

The regulators

Switzerland has two supervisory bodies:

• Federal Gaming Board (ESBK/CFMJ): an independent federal authority attached to the Federal Department of Justice and Police. It supervises land-based and online casinos, assesses the casino levy and pursues illegal casino gambling, including through DNS blocking.
• Gespa: the intercantonal authority for large-scale games (lotteries, sports betting and large skill games), formerly called Comlot. It keeps its own block list.

Licensing

Online casino licences are not open to foreign or new entrants. A Swiss casino with a federal concession must apply to the Federal Council for an extension allowing online play. Ten online casinos were licensed by August 2026. The current concession period for land-based casinos runs from 2025 to 2044, and 21 land-based casinos were operating in October 2026. Authorities have signalled no plans to open online licensing to other operators. See gambling licensing models.

Online products — what is and isn’t legal

Online slots, table games and poker are legal only on Swiss casino platforms; sports betting and lotteries online only via Swisslos and Loterie Romande. Using a foreign site is not a criminal offence for players, but the authorities warn that they do so at their own risk and without Swiss protections.

Taxation

Casinos pay the casino levy (Spielbankenabgabe), which funds the federal old-age and disability insurance. For online casinos it is progressive, between 20% and 80% of gross gaming revenue. Net profits of lottery and betting operators go to cantonal funds for public-interest causes such as culture, sport and social projects. Casino winnings are generally tax-free for players, and lottery and betting winnings are tax-free up to CHF 1 million. See gambling taxation compared.

Advertising and marketing rules

Authorised operators may advertise, but not in an excessive or misleading way, and not in a manner aimed at minors or people who are banned or at risk. Advertising for unauthorised gambling is prohibited. See gambling advertising rules.

Player-protection requirements

Operators must have a social-protection programme approved by the regulator. This includes identity and age verification, early detection of problem gambling, limits, information on risks and support, staff training, and cooperation with addiction services. The cantons must fund prevention and treatment.

Self-exclusion

The Spielsperre is shared across all casinos and online large-scale games. See our Switzerland self-exclusion manual for the full process.

Enforcement against unlicensed operators

Since 2019 internet providers must block access to unauthorised gambling sites listed by the ESBK and Gespa. In August 2026 the ESBK’s list reached 3,567 domains, with more than 1,000 added during 2026. The ESBK also works with cantonal police against illegal land-based games; in April 2026 it raided an illegal poker tournament near Zurich. See payment blocking and ISP blocking.

What this means for players

In Switzerland, the easiest way to tell a legal online casino from an illegal one is that every legal platform belongs to a Swiss land-based casino. If you try to open a blocked foreign site, Swiss providers redirect you to a warning page. Using a foreign site is not a criminal offence for players, but you lose Swiss protections: no shared Spielsperre, no Swiss complaint route and no social-protection officer watching for signs of harm.

Some practical points:

• One ban covers a lot: a Spielsperre requested at one casino applies to every Swiss casino, land-based and online, and to online lottery and betting products.
• Lifting is deliberate: bans do not simply expire, and lifting an addiction-related ban involves a specialist. That friction is intentional and protective.
• Family concerns: relatives can report a vulnerable person to a casino, which must then assess whether a ban is needed. See how to talk to someone about their gambling.
• Winnings: casino winnings are generally tax-free, and lottery and betting winnings are tax-free up to CHF 1 million.
• Languages: support services are organised by canton; in French- and Italian-speaking areas, ask your cantonal addiction service for local options.

Blocking software remains useful because determined users can bypass DNS blocking. Our guide to gambling blocking software explains the options.

Recent developments and what to watch

• Concession period 2025–2044 and the changing land-based casino map.
• Block list growth and cooperation with neighbouring regulators through the DACHL group, which met in Bern in September 2026.
• No liberalisation of online licensing is planned.

For free help, see our Switzerland help directory. This page is general information, not legal advice.