Online Casino vs Sports Betting: How Rules Differ Across the EU

The Fundamental Divide: Why Products Are Regulated Differently

One of the most striking features of European gambling regulation is the dramatic difference in how member states treat online casino games compared to sports betting. While some countries like Spain and Germany license both product categories, others like France explicitly prohibit online casino games while maintaining a thriving licensed sports betting market.

This divergence is not arbitrary. It reflects fundamentally different assessments of risk, cultural attitudes toward different gambling forms, and varying policy priorities among EU member states. Understanding these differences is essential for operators seeking to enter European markets, compliance professionals navigating multi-jurisdictional requirements, and researchers studying gambling regulation.

According to the European Gaming and Betting Association's market data, online casino games account for approximately 45% of European online gambling revenue, while sports betting contributes about 29%. Despite casino games generating higher revenues, they face significantly stricter regulation in many jurisdictions.

Core Differences Between Product Categories

Before examining country-specific regulations, it helps to understand why regulators often distinguish between these product types. The European Commission's gambling sector overview notes that member states justify different regulatory approaches based on several factors:

Speed of Play and Loss Potential

Online casino games, particularly slots and live dealer games, operate on rapid cycles. A player can complete dozens of spins per minute, potentially experiencing significant losses in short periods. Sports betting, by contrast, typically involves longer intervals between bet placement and outcome determination. Regulators concerned about problem gambling often view this speed differential as justifying stricter controls on casino products.

Perceived Skill vs. Chance

Sports betting is often perceived as involving an element of skill or knowledge, even though outcomes ultimately depend on uncertain sporting events. Casino games are pure games of chance with mathematically determined house edges. This perception influences regulatory attitudes in some jurisdictions, where betting is seen as more akin to financial speculation than gambling.

Social and Cultural Factors

Sports betting has deep cultural roots in many European countries, associated with football pools, horse racing traditions, and social viewing of sporting events. Casino gambling, historically confined to physical establishments with age and dress codes, carries different cultural connotations. These factors influence political acceptability of different regulatory approaches.

Country-by-Country Comparison

The following analysis examines how major EU gambling markets regulate online casino versus sports betting, highlighting the practical implications for operators and players. For comprehensive country-specific details, visit our Country Index.

France: Sports Betting Yes, Online Casino No

France exemplifies the split regulatory approach. The Autorite nationale des jeux (ANJ) licenses online sports betting, horse race betting, and poker, but online casino games remain explicitly prohibited under French law. This prohibition has persisted despite multiple proposals for liberalization.

French regulators justify this distinction based on concerns about rapid-loss gambling products and the historical state monopoly over casino operations. The ANJ (French National Gaming Authority) actively enforces against unlicensed operators offering casino games to French residents, including payment blocking and website filtering measures.

Germany: Both Licensed, But Heavily Restricted Casino

Germany licenses both online casino and sports betting under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlustV), but applies significantly stricter rules to casino products. The Gemeinsame Glucksspielbehorde der Lander (GGL) oversees both categories with differential treatment:

• Online slots: Maximum stake of 1 euro per spin, mandatory 5-second pause between spins, no autoplay features, no jackpots
• Sports betting: Maximum deposit limits apply (1,000 euros/month without enhanced verification), but no stake limits per bet
• Live casino: Permitted only in certain German states, with Baden-Wurttemberg expanding state monopoly offerings in 2026

Germany's approach reflects a compromise between liberalization pressure and harm reduction concerns. The GGL (German gambling authority) maintains a public whitelist of licensed operators for both product categories.

Spain: Unified Licensing with Product-Specific Rules

Spain operates one of Europe's more permissive regulated markets, licensing both online casino and sports betting through the Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego (DGOJ). However, product-specific advertising restrictions apply:

• Sports betting advertising permitted during live sporting events (with restrictions)
• Casino product advertising faces stricter timing and content requirements
• Both categories subject to responsible gambling messaging requirements

Spain's 2020 Royal Decree on Commercial Communications significantly tightened advertising for all gambling products but maintains category-specific provisions. The DGOJ (Spanish gambling regulator) publishes detailed guidance on product-specific compliance requirements.

Italy: High-Barrier Market for Both Categories

Italy licenses both online casino and sports betting but imposes Europe's highest licensing fees: 7 million euros per online gambling license under the 2026 regime, plus 3% annual tax on net revenue. This creates effective barriers to entry for smaller operators in both categories.

Italy's Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) regulates gambling products with strict technical standards and reporting requirements. The country maintains comprehensive advertising prohibitions (the "Dignity Decree") affecting all gambling products equally.

Netherlands: Both Licensed with Strict Advertising Rules

The Netherlands opened its online gambling market in 2021, licensing both casino and betting products. The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) applies strict advertising controls to both categories, including:

• Prohibition on untargeted advertising (must demonstrate 95% of audience is 24+)
• Ban on celebrity, athlete, and influencer endorsements
• Default advertising ban with exceptions for compliant operators

The KSA has intensified enforcement in 2026, with enhanced payment blocking for unlicensed operators offering either product category to Dutch residents.

Cyprus: Sports Betting Licensed, Casino Prohibited

Cyprus follows the French model: online sports betting is licensed through the National Betting Authority, while online casino games remain prohibited. The distinction reflects concerns about rapid-loss products and alignment with land-based casino monopoly structures.

Cyprus launched its National Self-Exclusion Platform in 2026, covering licensed betting operators. The platform does not address offshore casino access, creating enforcement gaps similar to those in France.

Taxation Differences by Product Category

Many EU countries apply different tax rates to online casino versus sports betting, reflecting policy objectives beyond pure revenue collection. According to research published by Statista on European gambling markets, tax structures significantly influence operator economics and market structure:

Germany's stakes-based taxation is particularly notable, as it creates different effective rates depending on payout percentages. For high-RTP casino games, the effective burden can exceed 100% of operator margins on certain products. Our Gambling Tax Calculator allows you to model these tax obligations across multiple EU jurisdictions.

Responsible Gambling Measures: Product-Specific Requirements

EU countries increasingly apply product-specific responsible gambling measures, recognizing that casino and betting products present different risk profiles. Our comprehensive guide to self-exclusion systems across EU countries details how national registers cover different product categories.

Casino-Specific Measures

• Stake limits: Germany's 1 euro maximum on online slots; similar limits proposed in other jurisdictions
• Spin speed controls: Mandatory pauses between slot spins in Germany, Ireland, and others
• Session time limits: Reality checks and mandatory breaks after extended play
• Loss limits: Cumulative loss caps per day, week, or month

Betting-Specific Measures

• In-play betting restrictions: Some countries limit live betting to specific markets
• Cash-out limitations: Rules on early settlement offers during events
• Event integrity: Requirements to monitor and report suspicious betting patterns
• Sports sponsorship: Restrictions on betting company visibility in sports

The UK Gambling Commission's technical standards, while not directly applicable in EU countries, have influenced European regulatory approaches to product-specific controls.

The Grey Market Problem

Product-specific prohibitions create significant grey market challenges. When countries prohibit online casino while permitting sports betting, players seeking casino games often turn to unlicensed offshore operators. This undermines consumer protection objectives and diverts tax revenue.

France provides a clear example: despite prohibition, French residents access numerous offshore casino sites licensed in Malta, Curacao, or other jurisdictions. These operators lack French authorization and do not participate in French responsible gambling frameworks, leaving players without regulatory protection.

This dynamic has influenced policy debates, with some jurisdictions considering casino liberalization specifically to capture grey market activity within regulated frameworks. Finland's 2026 proposal to transition from state monopoly to licensing reflects similar reasoning.

Licensing Process Differences

In countries that license both product categories, the application process often differs:

Separate License Categories

Many jurisdictions issue distinct licenses for casino and betting operations:

• Malta: B2C licenses distinguish between Type 1 (casino), Type 2 (betting), and other categories
• Sweden: Separate license conditions for different product types
• Portugal: Distinct licensing procedures for casino versus betting

Unified Licensing with Product Permissions

Other jurisdictions issue unified licenses with product-specific permissions:

• Denmark: Single license with product scope defined in authorization
• Czech Republic: Online gambling license covers multiple product types
• Romania: License categories based on operational scope

Advertising and Marketing Distinctions

Advertising regulations often differ by product category, reflecting perceptions of relative harm:

Stricter Casino Advertising

Several countries impose stricter advertising controls on casino products:

• Spain: Product-specific advertising windows and content rules
• Italy: Broad advertising ban affects all products, but casino enforcement emphasized
• Belgium: Comprehensive advertising ban since 2023 covers all gambling products

Sports Betting During Events

Sports betting advertising during live sporting events receives special treatment in some jurisdictions, with permissive carve-outs that do not apply to casino products. The rationale is contextual relevance: betting advertising during football matches reaches an audience already engaged with the relevant events.

Future Regulatory Trends

Several developments may reshape the casino-betting regulatory divide:

Convergence Pressure

The growth of integrated gambling platforms offering both casino and betting products creates pressure for regulatory convergence. Operators seeking to serve multiple EU markets face complex product-specific compliance requirements that may drive advocacy for harmonization.

Harm Reduction Focus

Increasing emphasis on evidence-based harm reduction may lead to more product-specific controls based on research into gambling harm profiles. The BeGambleAware research program and similar initiatives are generating data that may inform future regulatory approaches.

Technology and Product Innovation

New product categories blur traditional distinctions. Virtual sports, crash games, and hybrid products challenge regulatory classifications designed for traditional casino games and sports betting. Regulators must decide how to categorize emerging formats.

Implications for Different Stakeholders

For Operators

Product-specific regulation requires:

• Country-by-country assessment of which products can be offered
• Separate compliance programs for casino and betting in many jurisdictions
• Product-specific technical implementations (stake limits, spin speeds, etc.)
• Distinct marketing strategies respecting advertising distinctions

For Players

Understanding product-specific regulation helps players:

• Identify which products are legally available in their country
• Recognize when operators lack proper authorization for specific products
• Understand which self-exclusion systems cover which products
• Make informed choices about regulatory protection when gambling online

For Researchers and Policymakers

The European regulatory landscape provides natural experiments for studying the effects of different approaches. Countries that prohibit casino while permitting betting offer data on grey market dynamics, while unified markets permit comparison of harm profiles across product categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

For more information on specific aspects of EU gambling regulation covered in this comparison:

• EU Gambling Laws Explained - Why there is no single EU license and how national regulation works
• EU Country Index - Detailed regulations for all 27 member states
• Self-Exclusion Systems Across EU Countries - How responsible gambling frameworks differ
• Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin Gambling - How crypto intersects with product regulation
• CS2 Skin Gambling & Esports Betting - Regulatory treatment of esports and virtual items
• Odds Converter Tool - Convert between decimal, fractional, and American odds formats used across EU markets

Last Updated: December 2025