Where is Sports Betting Legal?
Analysts estimate that about 26 percent of the world’s population gamble. This is over 1.6 billion active gamblers. Despite the numbers, sports betting is not legal everywhere. Many jurisdictions have legalized traditional and online sports gambling in recent years, but there is yet to be blanket legalization. Understanding where sports betting is legal is crucial to both bettors and operators who wish to maintain compliance. In this post, we review the countries where it is legal to bet on sports in 2024.
The US
The US Supreme Court made a ruling in 2018 allowing individual states to regulate sports betting within their jurisdictions. Since then, 31 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the activity. It is also legal to complete and place online wagers in Massachusetts, Ohio, Maine, Nebraska, and Florida. However, the legal frameworks in these jurisdictions are not yet operational.
Africa
Sports betting is widely popular in Africa, yet the industry remains unregulated in almost half of the continent. In African countries that offer sports betting options, such as the betway app download, there are regulatory frameworks in place:
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- South Africa
- Tanzania
Latin America
Latin America is currently one of the most promising sports betting markets. Betting legislation on the continent is fragmented, with each country having its laws. As of June 2023, Gambling Insider reports sports betting is legal in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica (land-based sports betting illegal, online betting legal)
- Guyana
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Puerto Rico (subject to US federal law)
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Argentina has the most favorable gambling laws in South America, with over half of its 24 provinces allowing online sports betting.
Canada
Sports betting has been legal in Canada since 1985. However, the laws at the time only allowed parlay bets provided by provincial lotteries. This changed in 2021, and bettors can now bet on single games.
The UK
The UK, most popularly associated with horse races, has a long history with sports betting. The activity has been legal in the country for many years, which is why the UK has the world's most robust sports betting regulatory framework.
Europe
Like South America, sports betting regulatory frameworks across Europe vary by country. A 2022 report by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) shows that sports betting is legal in 21 European countries, including:
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- Spain
- Iceland
Russia has complicated sports betting laws. Previously, Russian bettors could only place bets with casinos and bookmakers in Primorsky Krai, Altai Krai, Krasnodar Krai, and Kaliningrad Oblast. This regulation changed in 2020 to allow international online sportsbooks to offer services in the country under certain circumstances.
The Asia-Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing gambling market in the world. Countries in this region that allow sports betting include India, the Philippines, Korea, Australia, China, and New Zealand. In India, bettors can only bet on horse races. Australia’s 2001 Interactive Gambling Act forbids live in-play betting. In New Zealand, bettors can only bet on foreign online sites. Domestic online sports gambling is illegal. China’s laws vary from the Mainland to Macau and Hong Kong.
The Middle East
Sports betting remains illegal in most Middle Eastern countries due to factors like religious beliefs and gambling addiction concerns. While bettors can access services in Lebanon and Morocco, the activity is illegal in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Wrapping up: Growing regulations
Over the years, different jurisdictions have had varying relationships with legalized gambling. Online sports betting remains a relatively new regulatory landscape where laws and provisions are always changing. These laws dictate where and how bettors access betting services and how operators like Betway provide these services. If you love to wager on sports, stay updated on the regulatory changes in your country to avoid penalties.