The European Union (EU) has massive influence over the rules and regulations of the online gambling industry, including online poker across the continent. One might assume that with such an organisation, the laws regarding online poker in the 28 (soon to be 27) countries would be uniform. It isn’t, though.

In fact, each country has its own laws and interpretations regarding online poker and other gambling games, and this can make things rather more complex than they ought to be.

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The Big Question: Can I Play Online Poker in Europe?

Contents

EU Poker Laws, Rules and Regulations

Most European countries see the benefit in online gambling. This is a massive source of taxable revenue, and one which sees many European countries regulate and license their own poker sites. There are, of course, a handful of the 58 countries which make up Europe (including some of the 28 in the European Union) which do not play ball, though.

In theory, the European Union should regulate all aspects of the poker and gambling industry for its member states. Several leading EU countries, such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain don’t see eye to eye with those EU regulations, though, and have chosen to implement their own gambling laws, much to the fury of the EU. Britain on the other hand will soon be leaving the EU, and as one of the bloc’s most liberal and gambling loving countries leaves, that presents a whole new set of complications for the gambling sector in Europe.

At present, the EU has been trying in vain to get a strict set of regulations implemented across the entire bloc, but that has proven more difficult than they expect. Again, in theory, an online poker room which is licensed out of one of the 28-member states should be entitled to offer their services to players in all member states. That sounds lovely, but some countries (such as Belgium) will only permit their nationals to play in state-licensed poker rooms – the headache is endless.

With most European countries wanting to maintain their own tight grip on gambling laws, many of these issues are going to have to be settled in the European Courts. This is a nightmare scenario for many, but despite this, most players in European countries are free to gamble at online poker sites all the same.

EU Poker Laws, Rules and Regulations

If the EU regulations on poker sites are not being implemented, then we need to look at each European state’s gambling laws individually to get a clearer picture of the scenario, or at least, most of the major countries’ laws.

The UK: There’s no issue here at present. Provided a poker site is licensed by the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission), players can play there. However, the UK does not prohibit its players from playing at other EU-licensed poker rooms, either.
Austria: Austrian’s are free to play at state-owned poker rooms and casinos, and although they aren’t supposed to, this free access to other EU poker rooms for any player who wishes to play elsewhere.
Belgium: Belgium is one of the tougher countries when it comes to online poker laws. Only Belgian Gambling Commission licensed poker rooms can offer their services to players, and a tough blacklist demands that ISPs block access to all gambling sites which aren’t in possession of one.
France: Players in France are permitted to bet on poker games online, but only at poker rooms which have attained a 5-year ARJEL license (from France).
Germany: Germany prohibits online poker rooms unless you happen to be residing in Schleswig-Holstein. The licenses issued by Schleswig-Holstein permit gambling at poker rooms until the licenses expire in 2018. Later this year, it is likely that all forms of gambling (including poker) are likely to be made illegal under a federal law in Germany. This puts the country at great odds with the European Union.
Ireland: Irish players are, in theory, supposed to visit Irish licensed poker rooms, although there are no laws to prohibit players trying their hand at other EU-licensed poker rooms.
Italy: Any poker room which holds a license issued by the AAMS (Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies) is authorised to offer poker games to players in Italy.
Netherlands: Gambling at poker rooms in The Netherlands is legal. A monopoly is in place on Dutch poker rooms, and despite some blacklisted of foreign poker rooms, by and large, Dutch players are free to play abroad.
Portugal: Portuguese players can play at any poker room which holds a license from the SCML (Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa). Initially, any poker room could apply for such a license, but lately, the commission has been ensuring that only Portuguese poker rooms obtain a license, in a bid to drive Portuguese players to national poker rooms.
Russia: You can forget about online poker gaming in Russia. The country blacklists most gambling sites, and very few Russian land-based casinos exist at all. VPNs will get you around most of the blockade, though. Russian is not a member of the EU.
Spain: The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities authorises Spanish poker rooms the right to offer their services to Spanish players. However, Spain discourages Spanish players from playing at non-Spanish poker rooms.
Sweden: Gambling is legal in Sweden, and although the Swedes would like their players to play at state-licensed poker rooms, they make no attempt to dissuade players from playing at other EU poker sites. In fact, if the poker room is licensed (with any kind of license) Sweden doesn’t seem to mind, making it one of the most liberal poker playing countries.
Switzerland: Not an EU member, but Switzerland games of chance can be played in brick-and-mortar casinos. Switzerland doesn’t offer licenses, and doesn’t block access to offshore poker rooms, but they don’t like it. There are promising signs that Switzerland will regulate and therefore make online gaming legal in the next few years.

As for the