The political landscape largely dictates the possibilities regarding online casinos in a given nation. Regulations run the gamut from bans and severe disapproval in states such as Utah and nations such as China to widespread approval and ease of access in countries like the United Kingdom. However, political sentiment is still being determined, and major countries, including Canada, the USA, and the UK, have recently changed their rules around online casinos. From advertising and sponsorship to the casinos’ availability, politicians are quick to react to the electorate’s economic and political pressures.
Increasing Accessibility in North America
North America has traditionally been much more lukewarm toward betting in general and online casinos in particular than Europe. This meant a weird grey area in Canada, with almost no domestic online casinos, but access to international sites was fine. The USA also has few online casinos domestically and a tougher anti-gambling stance. However, this all changed a decade ago.
In 2013, New Jersey became the first state in the USA to allow online casinos. Other states were quick to follow in New Jersey’s footsteps, and while not all have done so, today, most states in the US have either legalized online casinos or are in the process of doing so. With this, the USA turned the tables on Canada and became, unusually, the more progressive of the two nations regarding online casino access. It seems that the USA has decided online casinos are simply another form of entertainment that can sit comfortably alongside streamed programming, eSports, and TV award shows.
Canada needed to catch up to follow the USA’s lead, with Ontario becoming the first province within the country to open up its domestic casino marketplace in April 2022. This was largely a response to its southern neighbor and was prompted by a desire to keep betting revenues within Canada. In this way, these major North American nations have dramatically altered their stances towards top online casino sites in the last decade.
Positive General Trend towards Online Casinos
While both historical and contemporary political approaches to online casinos have varied wildly from one country to another, the overall pattern in recent years has been towards a more accepting nature. In addition to flourishing domestic markets, players from almost any country can enjoy themselves at the top casinos from around the world where they can access a wide range of slots and table games, bingo, FanDuel’s Michigan casino games, and even virtual sports. The international nature of the best online casinos means they accept various payment systems and support wagers in assorted currencies. By making the most of generous welcome bonuses, players worldwide can enjoy the leading international casinos, and many offer a selection of supported language options too.
Some Firm Opposition Persists
Even in countries moving in a mostly positive direction as far as online casinos go, there are still some less welcoming areas. Canada and the USA regulate online casinos on a provincial or state basis. This has enabled Utah and Hawaii to remain steadfastly opposed to the legislative endorsement of online casinos in the USA.
Online gambling is illegal throughout China, which is far from the only online restriction in the country. But because the ruling Chinese Communist Party does not want its nation to become involved in online gambling, it is strictly forbidden even in Hong Kong and Macau, which are more pro-gambling than most of China. Likewise, online casinos are forbidden in Singapore. Whether these nations change in the future remains to be seen.
Backlash Against Sponsorship/Advertisement
However, while Northern American countries are heading in a more liberal and permissive direction regarding the politics around online casinos, there is a movement in the opposite direction in Europe. Traditionally much more accepting of online casino betting than countries like the USA, European nations have generally made accessing them easy and welcomed the jobs and revenues generated this way.
This backlash against online casinos has often come in the form of a push to reduce or even ban advertising or sports sponsorship outright. In Spain, for example, there’s a general prohibition on gambling firms’ advertising and sponsorship activities. The United Kingdom has historically been one of the most welcoming environments for online casinos (and other varieties of betting). Still, there’s also been a push to ban online casinos as shirt sponsors of the English Premier League. Following discussions between the Premier League, its clubs, and politicians, the decision has been taken to ban online casinos as shirt sponsors after the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
This echoes a similar move made a couple of years ago by La Liga, Spain’s leading league, while Italy’s top-flight football (Serie A) has not had gambling firms as shirt sponsors since 2019. In terms of public access to online casinos, this shirt sponsor ban does not alter anything in the UK as yet, though it remains to be seen whether further restrictions will come in, and the pressure certainly seems to be one way.
Online casinos are becoming more politically accepted worldwide, although the pushback against advertisement/sponsorship indicates this could change.
