Switzerland Betting Sites and Bookmakers
Betting in Switzerland was banned in 1921 and remained illegal until the government overturned the ban in 1993.
The Casino Act was enacted in 2000 and it addressed casinos gaming, lotteries, and betting.
This legislation also made Swiss online betting illegal but authorities have not used these laws to prosecute those who place online bets at bookmakers by country that appeal to Swiss players.
This lack of punishment comes in very handy for players eager to try their hand at a bit of online betting in Switzerland.
There are several brick and mortar casinos, horse racing tracks, and lottery outlets that offer limited sports wagering.
In other words, sports betting in Switzerland is legal, but only at physical booths. Placing a Switzerland bet using an online website, however, is considered illegal, similar to the situation of Brazil bookmakers where it’s also illegal online betting.
The casinos have the usual selection of table games, slots, and VLTs as well as poker rooms and bingo facilities.
Swiss sports betting fans do not have the same legal options as other gamers, which makes the industry around Switzerland’s betting sites a potential mine field to navigate.
For example, the answer to is bet365 legal in Switzerland question is no – according to local laws, online betting in Switzerland is illegal, bet365 included.
However, you can still join bet365 from Switzerland and place bets without a problem. The legality problem is for the operators, not for the players.
Swisslos is a virtual monopoly that is the sole provider of sports betting in Switzerland. They offer Sporttip and Totogoal, which have recently become available online.
As could be expected, these lottery-style options fall well short of what international betting sites such as the UK bookmakers deliver.
Luckily for Swiss sports bettors, they are more or less free to seek out foreign Swiss betting sites without any fear of prosecution.
There are plenty of those online betting sites available in Switzerland for you. Is Bet365 legal in Switzerland, though? Unfortunately, no.
Similarly, some other big domains have opted not to cater to this market. Nonetheless, a few of the more globally recognizable and best betting sites are open to players in Switzerland.
But again, this does not concern you as a player. Sports betting in Switzerland is still possible, but only at foreign websites such as Curacao bookmakers or other similar option. Due to local laws, all of the best betting sites Switzerland are located abroad.
Same can be said for the betting bonuses on the websites. Local operators do not offer any kind of useful promotions. For the best match betting Switzerland offers, you need to pick an operator abroad.
Authorities have not implemented any barriers, such as blocking websites or financial transactions.
This is good news for punters that prefer the online wagering platforms and it’s good news for the biggest betting companies that are able to tap into this lucrative market.
There appears to be a plan in the works that would result in the legalization of internet betting. It is rumored that Swiss online betting licenses will be issued to gambling sites by country that have brick and mortar operations based here.
Once this happens, we will see a lot of matched betting Switzerland offers (where you can also place unmatched bets and partially matched bets). But until that day comes, Swiss players must use international betting sites offers.
In effect, a host of Swiss betting sites could gain an edge on offshore domains. Until this happens, punters will continue to freely place bets with the foreign sites and read our updated guide about the top 5 offshore sportsbooks.
Top 10 Betting Sites for Switzerland in 21 November 2024 – Updated List
What are the Best Sports Betting Sites and Bookmakers for Switzerland?
With the exception of the inferior lottery-style product that is offered by Swisslos, there are no legal online bookmakers operating in Switzerland. In a sense, then, there is no such thing as national betting sites in Switzerland. Instead, we consider any internet gambling domain offering Swiss betting, mobile betting sites from other countries included, to be just that.
As mentioned, Swiss sports bettors are not penalized for placing bets with foreign operators and they have a large number of top-rated internet bookies to choose from.
Industry titans like William Hill, Bwin and Novibet are very popular with both Swiss high rollers and the ones that prefer no minimum deposit betting. Punters around the world love the latest features like live betting which is one of the reasons why online bookies like Unibet has so many Swiss customers.
1xBet and 18Bet have built their excellent reputations through providing hassle-free payouts and top-notch customer service. Seasoned punters know that they can also trust 22Bet to provide fair play and a secure environment and also have attractive welcome packages. Any of the above domains are among the best high stakes betting sites for Swiss players.
These internet bookies might not be licensed and regulated in Switzerland but Swiss sports bettors can rely on them to operate to the highest industry standards. Punters are urged to take a look at the in-depth bookmaker reviews at Gamblingjudge.com which are designed to help you pick the best internet bookies, as well as sports betting exchanges in the world.
As the same time, it may be worth considering the latest trend in online betting in Switzerland. Players betting in Switzerland are starting to try crypto betting and flock to cryptocurrency casinos. Top sites such as 1xBit and CloudBet are dishing out some of the best betting bonus offers of any sites.
Moreover, they offer a degree of anonymity when it comes to your location and identity, which even the more recognizable betting sites in Switzerland can’t match. These domains can also offer players in Switzerland football odds and the best bets on other sports, as well as casino gambling games.
What are the Most Popular Sports in Switzerland?
Not everyone in Switzerland plays at betting sites. Instead of having a bet, Swiss nationals may just decide to watch sports or play them. Switzerland sees a very high rate of participation in sports activities. It is estimated that about 25% of the population is actively involved in sports.
Many of those people are involved in soccer, (just as the players at Germany bookmakers) which is one of the most popular sports in Switzerland. Basketball and rugby draw large crowds as do tennis, motorsports, and golf. The Swiss National League is the most attended hockey league in Europe.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Switzerland?
Online sports betting in Switzerland is a gray area. The only licensed wagering is provided by Swisslos, which has recently started to offer online lottery-style betting. Internet betting is illegal but the authorities do not prosecute players that place bets with internet bookies. It is widely believed that internet gambling will be legalized within the next few years.
Until then, if you fancy a bet in Switzerland, you’ll need to visit offshore sportsbooks like Malta bookmakers and casinos. Fortunately, there are ample betting websites with bonuses for you to choose from.
Are there any Sports Betting Bonuses and Free Bets for Swiss Players?
Swiss sports betting aficionados can rejoice in the fact that there are loads of valuable sports betting bonuses available to them. Some of the best bonus deals found at betting sites are mentioned on our page.
It’s easy to get your hands on some fresh free bets when you sign up with William Hill or Bwin. The generous folks at William Hill are giving away €100 in bonus bets when you deposit, courtesy of a 100% match. Punters who love big welcome bonuses may appreciate 1xBet’s potential €130 welcome bonus deal.
There are also plenty of cash bonuses waiting for Swiss players. Punters are taking advantage of the €120 welcome bonus at 22Bet, as well as Novibet’s 150% match bonus, which is worth up to €100.
Cryptocurrency bookies such as CloudBet are offering a 100% match up to 5BTC, too. Swiss players have a lot of trust from the online bookmakers (Gibraltar betting sites being one of them), so the wagering requirements of these offers are quite reasonable. Try all of them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Betting and gambling in switzerland is legal as long as the casinos and lotteries pay tax and take measures to protect people from addiction.
Unfortunately, Switzerland's law permits only the nation's brick-and-mortar casinos to provide online gambling services in the country
Regular betting is not allowed in Switzerland. However lottery companies control sports betting in Switzerland
Offshore betting and poker sites are totally accessible for players. Land-based casinos are legal, since 2000.
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