Switzerland tightens controls on illegal gambling: blacklist reaches 2,597 sites
Switzerland is intensifying its fight against illegal online gambling, regularly updating its blacklist, which now includes 2,597 unauthorised sites. This figure highlights the country’s growing determination to protect consumers and safeguard the integrity of the digital gaming market.
The regulatory framework: the Money-Gaming Act and the importance of a local licence
The legal foundation of this system is the Federal Act on Money Games (AMG), which took effect on 1 January 2019. It authorises online gambling only if operated by Swiss-based providers already active offline and holding a valid licence. Only land-based casinos may request an extension to operate online, subject to approval by the Federal Council and the Federal Office for Gaming and Sport.
The competent authorities – the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) and the Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) – are tasked with monitoring, prohibiting and blocking access to illegal sites. In practice, Swiss internet service providers (ISPs) are obliged to deny DNS access to every domain added to the blacklist, a mechanism updated and published regularly in the Federal Gazette.
Constant updates and growing severity
As early as 2019, regulators published the first blocked lists, which included well-known names such as Bet365, Unibet and Pinnacle. The move followed a 2018 referendum in which 73% of voters supported stricter rules for the industry.
Since then, the number of blocked domains has steadily increased. In 2021, dozens of new operators were added, including Matchbook, Bahigo, Stake and Wild Tornado. By 2023, the blacklist had almost reached 2,000 sites, and in 2024, Swissinfo confirmed that nearly 2,000 illegal online casinos had been blocked since 2019, while warning that this was likely only the tip of the iceberg.
Technical measures and legal interpretations: the role of the Supreme Court
A debate has also emerged regarding the effectiveness of the technical measures in place. The issue was addressed by the Swiss Supreme Court, which in several rulings established that IP-based geoblocking alone is insufficient. The correct measure requires foreign operators to actively prevent the registration of Swiss-based players, rather than merely blocking access through Swiss IP addresses.
This interpretation strengthens the law’s purpose: ensuring genuine isolation of unauthorised operators and effectively preventing Swiss users from accessing unregulated offers.
A closed but controlled solution
The Swiss system stipulates that only licensed entities – such as Swisslos or Loterie Romande for lotteries and sports betting, or land-based casinos for poker and table games – may operate online. Each licence is limited and subject to strict rules on integrity, consumer protection and prevention of gambling addiction.
The content of each updated blacklist is published in the Federal Gazette, ensuring transparency. Although players face no criminal penalties for using unlicensed sites, they expose themselves to significant economic and social risks without any legal protection.
Objective: protection and consistency
Switzerland’s policy aims to strictly control gambling supply in order to protect consumers, combat fraud and money laundering, and allocate a portion of the sector’s revenues to public-interest causes. The approach remains a closed but controlled model, which some observers believe could be replicated by other countries facing the challenge of regulating iGaming.
This article was first published in Italian on 29 August 2025.
