Jurisdictions

This section provides an overview of those countries that offer betting licenses or permits to operate to online bookmakers. Although the internet has been at the forefront of the "globalization" process and online gambling exists in one form or another in over 90 sovereign nations worldwide, a common regulatory framework or uniform regulation in international betting laws does not seem like a realistic prospect at present time.

Please note that although all the following countries provide some form of license or authorization to operate, effective regulation of internet gambling sites represents a completely separate issue and only few jurisdictions protect players' interests in a meaningful way.

Bookmakers Review tried in the recent past to classify each gambling jurisdiction taking in consideration many different criteria ranging from the country's political stability to the licensing requirements, but following the Playbanks fiasco in Malta, it has become clear to us that it is quite difficult even for the better-regulated jurisdictions to stay totally free of no-pay sportsbooks. Thus we have decided to concentrate our resources in the rating process of single betting operators.

Countries hosting online gambling sites catering to sports bettors include:

Aland Islands (Finland), Alderney (British Channel Islands), Anjouan (Comoros), Antigua & Barbuda, two provinces within Argentina, six Australian States and Territories, Austria, Belize, Cagayan Special Economic Zone (Philippines), Costa Rica, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Gibraltar, Ireland, Isle of Man, Malta, Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake (Canada), Panama, Seychelles, United Kingdom, Vanuatu. 

Online gambling sites are known to be operating, or have operated in the recent past, from Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis. Since little or no information is available, we invite players to stay away from any gambling site claiming to be licensed in any such jurisdiction.

Analysis of other countries' approach to internet gambling coming soon.