Gambling in different countries: can I, or can’t I?
Guest post
What makes the world so great is surely the variety. Each culture has a different way of doing things, a different moral code. One such area of difference is in terms of the legality of gaming. To some in the Western world it may seem foolish that gambling could be made illegal anywhere. It’s important to point out, however, that some cultures and religions see this as a highly sinful activity that is not just frowned upon but highly illegal.
It’s important to know which countries have such laws and which ones are more relaxed when it comes to gaming. Another significant point to make is that gambling laws are very vague in some countries so this article will offer some basic tips on where (and where not) to gamble.
A good example of strange gambling laws is in The US. They allow casino gambling in some states but online gambling is prohibited. However, if you go to a site that is made in a country that does allow online gambling, it is deemed legal. So if you fancy playing bingo online in America, you can simply go and play bingo with Ladbrokes in England for example.
As a rule, most Asian and European countries have quite relaxed gaming laws when it comes to online participation. However in some destinations, gambling is banned; China, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Greece, The Netherlands and Portugal being a few examples. As laws are subject to change it’s always worth checking before you depart.
In countries such as; Australia, The UK, Costa Rica, Russia, Singapore, Italy and a host of others online gaming is legal and considered to be a legitimate pass-time.
Online gambling was probably conceived in the early 1990s and the first proper sites were rolled out from Antigua in the Caribbean in the mid-1990s. To start with there were no real laws attached to gambling because it hadn’t been formalised as an industry. Today the story couldn’t be more different. It’s a multi-million dollar industry and because of its success, the law-makers have had to go through the practice with a fine tooth comb to work out how much of it is legal in each territory.
Some countries will always outlaw gambling activity because it clashes with their religious belief system but it seems that, in general, the law-makers were just caught unaware in many countries. As the understanding has grown there has been a general loosening of the laws surrounding gaming, and this trend looks set to continue – in most countries anyway.
In the next few years the grey areas will surely get ironed out and gamers will be much more aware of the rules. For now, however, just be really careful when you are abroad; make absolutely certain that you are in a country where you can play bingo online, for example. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
