In this digital age, more and more people are signing up to iGaming sites to enjoy their entertainment online. This influx of customers means local regulators must stay on their toes, enforce businesses to follow the rules, and protect players. This is excellent news and makes the industry safer, but some organizations can take it too far and risk killing the fun for customers. We look to see if different gambling regulations are good for the future of the iGaming industry.
What are Casino Regulations?
To keep local players safe, countries create laws and regulations for gambling within their region. Each area is different, and the way the rules they enforce vary. Because gambling involves people playing games for real money, casino regulations help protect players and prevent fraud. They hold websites accountable, ensuring that the businesses running the platform are legitimate operators.
Playing at a licensed casino site is always recommended, as these providers must follow the laws where they are licensed. Customers on these sites can enjoy fair games, secure payments, and an overall safe experience. Sometimes the regulators can take things a step too far and introduce rules, which can often dampen the fun for players. Today, we look at some gaming regulations being enforced around the world in 2022.
Popular Regulated Casino Markets
USA
The United States of America has gambling laws that can be hard to understand, with each state varying in what’s allowed and how they regulate it. Since 2018, sports betting has gradually been regulated in more states. However, online casino gaming is currently only permitted in five US states. Players in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia can enjoy online casino games from the comfort of their own homes. Regulations in these regions are more relaxed. However, players can still find reviews of the Best USA no deposit casinos that accept players from around the country. These are sites that offer free bonus codes to claim free spins or real money chips after registering.
The process of legalizing online casinos in the USA has been a slow one. However, the way organizations like the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulate the sector proves that restrictions can be enforced, without removing the fun for players. Local US gamers can claim bonuses, including free spins and no deposit offers. These promotions are a great way to play the best casino games, like Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, and Online Slots. All while being protected under local gaming laws.
United Kingdom
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, the rules relating to iGaming businesses and bonuses are much stricter. Companies that provide gaming services are regulated by the U.K.G.C. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission ensures operators are registered on the GamCare help registry, and requires operators to make players set deposit limits. The organization is notorious for having a heavy hand and imposing tight restrictions on operators. This is done in the spirit of player protection, but many local gamers now miss fun bonuses like free spins, no deposits, and other gaming features.
Recently in 2021, the gambling commission changed rules allowing what operators can offer UK players. This included banning games with auto-play, slot spins faster than 2.5 seconds, and features that speed up the gameplay. During these changes, they also introduced a unique feature that not many regulators have implemented. Now operators are legally required to display the amount of money lost or won, and the length of the gaming session for each player.
These controls are designed to help players realize how much money and time they spend on the website. It’s a great idea that could help reduce the harm of problem gambling. However, if the UKGC continues to take away game features and bonus deals that players like, it may limit the growth of the industry. Local UK players could feel obliged to play at sites in different regions to avoid tightening restrictions.
Europe
Europe is made up of many small nations, each with different laws and regulatory bodies for gambling. There are some regions in the EU with excellent regulations that are perfect for casino players. On the other hand, some places are becoming tighter and enforcing harsher rules, limiting the fun for gamers.
Denmark is one nation with a growing online gambling sector. The nation allows most forms of gambling, but certain online casino bonuses are restricted. The Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden) only permits sites to offer bonus deals with a maximum wagering requirement of 10x, and maximum value of 1,000 Kroner. This reduced the number of no deposit and free spins bonuses available in Denmark, and means locals must visit casinos licensed offshore for these fun promotions.
Germany is a newly regulated market that’s making strides to do the right thing. German players may point out that there are several new restrictions in place. The State Treaty on Gambling came into place in July 2021, opening the gambling market to locals. Two areas of the new regulations that people aren’t happy about are the reduction of slot game speed so they’re not overly repetitive, and a monthly deposit limit of €1,000. As time progresses, we will see if these types of rules help or slow the growth of iGaming in Germany.
Poland is a prime example of a regulated market where growth of the industry is restricted. A large company called Totalizator Sportowy has a monopoly on the industry, and is the only locally licensed casino option for Polish players. The government takes a strong stance against offshore operators and regularly requests Internet Service Providers to block popular casino gaming websites. Financial institutions are also asked to block payments to known gambling companies. These harsh restrictions slow down the industry, and are unfair for locals who just want to play fun games online.
Summary
The gambling industry is constantly evolving, and regulators must keep up to ensure companies run legitimate sites and players remain protected. In some regions, the laws are much tighter than others, and while the intention of these regulations is good, many players feel they unfairly limit their freedom of choice when it comes to gaming. Hopefully regulatory bodies keep this in mind when creating future rules, so the iGaming industry can continue to grow.
