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Where Is Betting Legal? A 2026 Guide by Country
Betting laws changed in more than 15 countries in 2025–26. Check the current status and regulator for any country before you bet.
See the Country List
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Betting is legal in most of Europe and the Americas, under national or state licences. It is banned or tightly limited across most of Asia and the Gulf. Several big markets changed their rules in 2025 and 2026. This guide lists the status in each country as of October 2026.
How to Read This Guide
“Legal” means a betting site or casino can operate with a local licence. It does not mean every betting site is allowed. Offshore betting sites without a local licence are illegal in most countries below.
Europe
| Country | Sports betting | Online casino | Regulator | 2025–26 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Legal | Legal | Gambling Commission | Online slot stake cap £5 (£2 for ages 18–24); Remote Gaming Duty up to 40% from April 2026 |
| Ireland | Legal | Licensing begins | Gambling Regulatory Authority | Remote licences from 1 July 2026 |
| Malta | Legal | Legal | Malta Gaming Authority | New gaming tax from October 2026 |
| Germany | Legal | Virtual slots legal; table games by state | GGL | — |
| France | Legal | Not legal | ANJ | Online casino unlikely before 2028 |
| Italy | Legal | Legal | ADM | 52 new 9-year licences, live from about March 2026 |
| Spain | Legal | Legal | DGOJ | Reform draft on ads and deposit limits, 2026 |
| Netherlands | Legal | Legal | Kansspelautoriteit | Gambling tax 37.8% from January 2026 |
| Sweden | Legal | Legal | Spelinspektionen | Gambling on credit banned from April 2026 |
| Denmark | Legal | Legal | Spillemyndigheden | Stricter advertising rules proposed for 2027 |
North and South America
| Country | Sports betting | Online casino | Regulator | 2025–26 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Legal in 39 states + DC | Live in 7 states | State regulators | Missouri launched December 2025 |
| Canada | Legal | Ontario open market; other provinces state-run | AGCO, iGaming Ontario, AGLC | Alberta open market from 13 July 2026 |
| Brazil | Legal | — | Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) | Regulated market since 1 January 2025 |
| Mexico | Legal, by permit | Legal, by permit | SEGOB | Gambling tax rose to 50% in January 2026 |
| Colombia | Legal | Legal | Coljuegos | 19% VAT moved to gross revenue in 2026 |
| Argentina | By province | By province | Provincial lotteries | — |
Asia and Oceania
| Country | Sports betting | Online casino | Regulator | 2025–26 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Licensed sportsbooks; no online in-play | Banned | ACMA | Ongoing blocking of illegal sites |
| New Zealand | TAB NZ | 15 licences being issued | Department of Internal Affairs | Unlicensed sites banned from 1 December 2026 |
| Japan | Public sports only | Banned | — | Osaka resort due around 2030 |
| South Korea | Sports Toto only | Banned | Gambling Control Commission | — |
| Singapore | Singapore Pools only | Banned | Gambling Regulatory Authority | — |
| Philippines | Licensed locally | Licensed locally | PAGCOR | Offshore operators (POGOs) banned permanently |
| Macau | — | — | DICJ | 11 satellite casinos closed by end of 2025 |
| China | State Sports Lottery only | Banned | State lotteries | — |
| India | Banned online | Banned online | Online Gaming Authority | Online real-money gaming banned from 1 May 2026 |
| Sri Lanka | Regulated | — | Gambling Regulatory Authority | New authority from 1 December 2025 |
| Nepal | Banned | Banned | — | All betting sites blocked from March 2026 |
| Bangladesh | Banned | Banned | — | Up to 2 years in prison for online gambling (2025) |
| Pakistan | Banned | Banned | — | Court petition for a full app ban (2025) |
Middle East and Africa
| Country | Sports betting | Online casino | Regulator | 2025–26 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Licensed, 21+ | Licensed | GCGRA | First licensed online sportsbook, Play971, June 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia | Banned | Banned | — | Fines raised in 2024 |
| Qatar | Banned | Banned | — | — |
| Kenya | Legal | Legal | Gambling Regulatory Authority | Gambling Control Act 2025 in force |
| Nigeria | Legal, by state | — | State boards, e.g. Lagos | States took over regulation after a 2024 court ruling |
| South Africa | Legal | Not licensed | National and provincial boards | Remote Gambling Bill still pending |
A dash means we could not confirm the status from an official or reliable source.
Trends in Betting Law
Three trends stand out in 2025–26. Several countries opened regulated markets: Brazil, Alberta, Ireland and New Zealand. Others raised taxes, including the UK, the Netherlands and Mexico. South Asia moved the other way: India, Nepal and Bangladesh banned online betting outright.
Why a Licence Matters
A local licence gives players a regulator to complain to. Licensed betting sites must verify age, protect deposits and offer limits. An offshore betting site without a local licence offers none of that protection. If a payout is refused, you have no local authority to turn to — which is exactly the position Nepali players are in with the sites in our betting sites in Nepal review.
Betting Laws Worldwide — Final Thoughts
Betting is legal in most of Europe and the Americas, with local licences. Most of Asia and the Gulf ban it, and India joined them in May 2026. Rules change every year. Check the national regulator before you use any betting site. If you are working or travelling outside Nepal, see our guide on gambling abroad as a Nepali.
FAQ
Is betting legal in the UK?
Yes, through Gambling Commission-licensed betting sites and casinos.
How many US states allow sports betting?
39 states plus Washington DC, as of October 2026.
Is online betting legal in India?
No. Online real-money gaming has been banned since 1 May 2026.
Is betting legal in Nepal?
No. All betting sites have been blocked since March 2026.
Is betting legal in Dubai?
Only through operators licensed by the UAE's GCGRA, from age 21.
Which countries legalised betting recently?
Brazil in 2025; Alberta, Ireland and New Zealand opened markets in 2026.
Is a Curacao licence valid everywhere?
No. Most countries require their own local licence.