The 2019 referendum legalized online casinos in Switzerland. What are the conditions for awarding the concession?

The new gambling law in Switzerland
The people have decided, and since 2019 Switzerland has had a new Gambling Act, which met with broad support of 73% in the referendum. The new Gambling Act (BGS) is an extension of the provisions of 1993, in which – also in a referendum – gambling was legalized in Switzerland for the first time in decades. In contrast to the 1993 regulations, online casinos are covered by the law for the first time. The era of the legal gray area for online casinos in Switzerland is now over. What else will change for the broad range of federal gamblers?

National basis
De facto, the BGS means the legalization of online casinos in Switzerland, so that players now have legal certainty. The online casino sector was placed on a national footing after the BGS, as online casinos with a Swiss license are only licensed for Swiss citizens. The other online casinos have been IP-blocked and are no longer accessible to Swiss Internet users unless they are circumvented. Applications for online licenses can be submitted to the Swiss Federal Gaming Board(SFGB).

Who is allowed to operate online casinos?
Only providers that operate casinos in Switzerland are authorized to sell online casinos. For these reasons, Swiss Casino is the measure of all things when it comes to online casinos in Switzerland. Swiss Casino Holding GmbH is the most renowned provider of games of chance in Switzerland and operates four casinos in Zurich, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen and Pfäffikon. In addition to Swiss Casino, other providers are taking advantage of the opportunity to acquire the license. In addition to the Swiss Casino, legal online casinos in Switzerland now include the Grand Casino Baden “Jackpots”, the Grand Casino Lucerne “Mycasino” and the Casino Neuchâtel “Hurrahcasino”.

The range of games on offer at the new online casinos

Licenses for online casinos in Switzerland have been divided into two types since 2019. Type A online casinos are intended for larger online casinos that are operated by casinos located in a catchment area of at least 1,000,000 inhabitants. There are no limits to these online casinos as far as the range of games and jackpots are concerned. Type B online casinos, on the other hand, are limited to 250 online slots and the three table games poker, roulette and blackjack.

Does it make sense to bypass the IP block?
If you have certain technical skills, you can certainly circumvent the IP block that has been in place in Switzerland since the new Gambling Act against non-legal online casinos that do not have a Swiss license. Legally speaking, he probably has nothing to fear, as the measures taken by the authorities in the gambling sector are generally directed exclusively against the providers.

Nevertheless, caution is advised in this game of vabanque, as official measures can lead to all stakes being lost in one fell swoop. It should also be borne in mind that the new Gambling Act has the advantage that Swiss citizens can take legal action through Swiss courts in the event of a dispute. If, on the other hand, a dispute arises with an illegal foreign online casino, it is much more difficult for the player to enforce his rights.

Conclusion: The new gambling law is a success
Overall, the new gambling law in Switzerland can be considered a success. Above all, it has succeeded in creating a high level of legal certainty and regulation without compromising the attractiveness of online gaming temples. A look at Germany, which has also implemented a new gambling law, shows that this is not a matter of course. In contrast to the Swiss model, gambling addiction in Germany is to be curbed by making providers of online casinos with a German license less attractive. This was achieved by banning all table games except poker, games with progressive jackpots and live casino games.