People are quickly integrating crypto casinos into their entertainment choices. The crypto gambling market underwent a massive expansion by reaching $250 million in 2024 after starting at only $50 million in 2019.
Sure, this growth is big, but there’s a growing worry about the legality of these platforms. Many countries have still not decided if they should make laws about it. This shaky situation is especially troubling for both players and casino operators.
This guide examines how different regions approach crypto casino legality, including:
- Europe
- North America
- Asia
- Africa
- South America
- Oceania
Europe stands out with clear regulatory frameworks in the UK and Malta, where gambling authorities explicitly address crypto. However, there are more restrictive conditions in Germany and France.
Depending on the country, there are diverse regulatory approaches in North America. While Canada and Mexico do not have consistent and detailed crypto gambling laws, they fall in the same place as the US, with state-particular rules forming up a fragmented landscape.
On the other hand, in Asia, strict prohibitions exist in China and Japan, and strict legality in the Philippines. Like South Africa, Africa has very few explicit regulations, other than Nigeria and a handful of other countries that do not.
In Brazil, Argentina, and all other South American countries, regulation is evolving, but there is no regulation in place. It is unclear what conditions crypto gambling takes place in Colombia. New Zealand is more flexible and Oceania has strict controls in Australia.
Therefore, it is vital for crypto casino operators as well as players to become familiar with these regional regulatory nuances to avoid legal risks throughout the world.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in Europe?
Crypto casinos are legal in many parts of Europe, but their operation is subject to country-specific gambling laws and licensing requirements. There is no unified EU regulation, so both operators and players must check the legal status and compliance requirements in each jurisdiction before engaging in crypto gambling.
| Country | Legal status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | Legal, clear licensing | Progressive, "Blockchain Island" |
| Germany | Permitted (not explicitly banned) | Crypto not restricted, must follow other rules |
| Italy | Legal gray area | No explicit crypto laws, focus on euros |
| UK, Sweden, NL | Permitted | Many licensed casinos accept crypto |
| France, Cyprus | Not permitted | General gambling bans apply to crypto casinos |
| Estonia, Gibraltar | Permitted | Favorable licensing for crypto casinos |
Explicit regulations allowing crypto gambling are in place in the UK and Malta. Crypto casinos are treated as traditional online platforms in the UK by the UKGC and need to be subjected to AML/KYC player verification.
Specifically, Malta’s Gaming Authority (MGA) provides a license that is specially designed to accommodate bitcoin casinos. The operators have to be strict about financial transparency and adhere to responsible gaming regulations.
On the flip side, despite online gambling, Germany restricts cryptocurrency transactions. Currently, France’s regulatory authority, ARJEL, restricts crypto-based casinos, making the French crypto gambling market somewhat unapproachable.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in North America?
There is a complex legal environment when it comes to regulatory approaches to crypto gambling in North American jurisdictions.
| Country/region | Legal status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Gray area; varies by state | Illegal for US-based operators; offshore sites accessible to players |
| Canada | Permitted with regulation | Crypto legal; gambling regulated provincially; AML compliance required |
| Mexico | Permitted and regulated | Crypto legal; gambling regulated; no explicit ban on crypto gambling |
North America’s approach is fragmented. Also, the US delegates casino regulation to individual states, resulting in a varied legal environment. Due to the lack of federal regulation, states like Nevada and New Jersey are more accepting of digital currencies.
In Canada, there is still a lack of definitive rules from provincial authorities to determine specific regulations around crypto gambling operations. Gambling is under provincial authorities, who have not spoken explicitly about cryptocurrency. However, crypto casinos do exist but operate on the regulatory fringes without being certain where they stand with compliance.
Due to the lack of clear regulations related to only crypto casinos in Mexico, there is a wide-open market for crypto gambling sites. Although it has the potential to operate as a crypto casino, its legality remains unclear.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in Asia?
Crypto casino legality in Asia is contingent on the regulations of its nations, which vary greatly from country to country.
| Country/region | Legal status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| China | Illegal | All forms of gambling and crypto use are banned. |
| Japan | Illegal | Crypto legal, but gambling (including crypto) is generally prohibited. |
| South Korea | Illegal | Crypto legal, but gambling (including crypto) is banned. |
| India | Grey area | Crypto legal, but no clear regulation for crypto gambling; only a few states allow gambling. |
| Singapore | Legal with strict licensing | Crypto gambling is allowed if licensed; unlicensed gambling is illegal and harshly penalized. |
| Philippines | Legal with PAGCOR license | Crypto gambling allowed if licensed by PAGCOR. |
| Malaysia | Illegal | Crypto legal, but gambling (including crypto) is banned. |
| Vietnam, Indonesia | Illegal | Crypto legal for trading, but not for gambling; gambling is banned. |
| Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong | Grey area/Unregulated | Crypto gambling not explicitly regulated; legality unclear. |
| Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Brunei, Oman, Afghanistan, Syria, North Korea | Illegal | Both gambling and crypto use are banned or highly restricted. |
Different countries have varied regulatory landscapes in Asia. However, in China, cryptocurrency gambling of all forms is strictly banned. These prohibitions are actively enforced by the government with a serious targeting of platforms.
While Japan is progressive with cryptocurrency in general, the country heavily restricts crypto gambling. All gambling is controlled by the National Police Agency and enforced by regulations.
However, the Philippines has made it clear in PAGCOR that licensing of crypto casinos is explicit and that individuals have crystal-clear procedures to follow.
Crypto gambling is tolerated in Singapore but under tight regulatory conditions, and only specific operators are licensed to operate.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in Africa?
African nations have not developed clear rules or guidelines to regulate crypto casino operations across their borders.
| Country | Legal status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Restricted | Crypto gambling not explicitly legal but restricted. |
| Nigeria | Unregulated | No clear guidelines yet established. |
| Kenya | Partial | Limited regulation, unclear crypto guidelines. |
Generally speaking, Africa’s crypto casino regulatory framework is still in its infancy. While there is no explicit ban or permission in crypto gambling, South Africa has very restrictive regulations that limit growth in this sector.
Until now, Nigeria has not yet seen crypto gambling being clearly regulated. Operating in an uncertain legal territory, without definite directives from the government, operators are allowed to dictate what technology will be implemented.
Kenya partially regulates online gambling. However, there is crypto-specific legislation that is still unclear, and this sets a grey zone for crypto casinos that operate in the country.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in South America?
Crypto gambling regulations in South America are evolving but incomplete, causing ambiguity for operators and players alike.
| Country | Legality | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Unregulated | Cryptocurrency gambling is largely unaddressed. |
| Argentina | State-specific | Varies widely by province; few explicit guidelines. |
| Colombia | Legal but limited | Limited crypto regulation with unclear specifics. |
The regulatory approach to crypto gambling in South America is underway but less than complete. With an active crypto community, Brazil suffers without specific gambling regulations for digital currencies, and its operators are in the dark.
Prohibitions vary from province to province and are therefore legal depending on where a person resides. In most regions, cryptocurrency in gambling legislation has yet to be clearly stated.
The regulatory stance of Coljuegos permits crypto casinos to operate in Colombia but with caution. Both operators and regulators remain uncertain regarding full regulatory procedures because laws currently support crypto gambling operations without clear definitions.
Are Crypto Casinos Legal in Oceania?
Regulatory approaches to crypto casinos in Oceania vary significantly, with strict controls in Australia and more flexible conditions in New Zealand.
| Country | Legality | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Restricted | Crypto gambling significantly restricted. |
| New Zealand | Legal but limited | Limited explicit regulations for crypto gambling. |
With Australia amidst strict crypto gambling, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is cracking down hard on offshore crypto casinos. Online gambling contexts have a tendency to keep tight control over cryptocurrency transactions.
The government of New Zealand adopts a flexible approach toward its policies. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) permits online gambling yet it lacks defined crypto regulations. All operators face uncertainties around compliance with a partially regulated environment to navigate.
Conclusion
Around the world, the legality of crypto gambling platforms is highly fragmented, and marked differences exist from region to region. Europe provides consistent growth or regulatory frameworks that foster growth and compliance. There are no clear national or even state-specific guidelines in North America and no explicit regulations in Africa and South America.
However, regional differences are clear as well, and most approaches fall somewhere in between a total ban in China and licensed operations in the Philippines. Understanding the jurisdictional nuances is very critical for the operators and players alike. Effective due diligence, compliance, and changing this legal landscape worldwide all come down to providing thorough due diligence, but also ongoing compliance and change.