Many people love online gambling, but not everyone loves the same things about it. Some people love the thrill of betting on horses or football games, while others just like the chance to practice their counting skills. Weird laws about online gambling are prevalent in many jurisdictions around the world.
Some governments have outright banned virtual betting in order to protect their citizens from unscrupulous operators, while others have imposed certain restrictions on the kinds of games that can be played and where they can be played. If you like to gamble online from USA, check out US casino sites that don’t request verification upon withdrawal. If you’re tired of lengthy KYC processes and weird documents request these casinos will suit you the best.
Others still have taken a laissez-faire attitude towards virtual betting, leaving operators free to set up servers wherever they see fit. In this article, we’ll explore some of the weirdest laws about online gambling that we could find in various jurisdictions around the world.
Qatar – no games that don’t involve actual footing
Qatar is a peninsula in the Middle East known for its natural gas reserves, as well as for being a cultural hub for Islamic civilization. In addition, it is also known for having some of the most bizarre Internet gambling laws around.
Because Qatar has a predominantly Islamic population, the government has imposed laws governing gambling that don’t allow virtual games that don’t involve “footing” one way or another. What this means is that none of the most popular types of gambling are allowed such as online casinos, online poker, sports betting, and more.
Finland – no online gambling for foreigners
If you live in Finland and you want to play online games, you can do so without any problem whatsoever. But if you are just visiting Finland for an extended period of time, you might want to think twice about logging in to play. The government has passed laws that prohibit all online gaming for visitors.
When you are a tourist or on business and have Internet access, you can’t play any games of chance on the Internet. You risk a fine or even imprisonment. Finnish citizens caught allowing foreign visitors to play online games, can also be penalized.
Macau – a casino is not a casino without live entertainment
The Chinese special administrative region of Macau is known as one of the world’s premier gaming destinations. It has dozens of beautiful casinos that feature games of chance, as well as serious, large-scale live entertainment like concerts and magic shows.
And it has been a hugely popular tourist destination for decades. But Macau has some weird laws surrounding Internet gambling that have kept it from becoming a “true” casino jurisdiction. One of these laws is that all casinos must feature live entertainment, either on stage or on large screens throughout the building.
Online casinos can’t exist in Macau because there is no way to incorporate this rule. While online casinos can certainly have music playing, it would be nearly impossible for them to show large-scale live entertainment.
Costa Rica – only citizens can play virtual games
If you like to go on vacation and play virtual games like poker or slots while you are on the beach or the ski slopes, think twice about going to Costa Rica. This Central American country has strict laws prohibiting all types of online gaming. But the laws are focused on residency status, not citizenship.
The government has made it clear that they want people to enjoy the benefits of tourism without any distractions, including online gambling. But Costa Rica has also been an attractive destination for online casinos because of its warm climate, which doesn’t require any special facilities for storing servers.
Germany – the tax man is coming!
Germany has a long history of gambling, including everything from card games to horse racing at the highest levels of society. The country is also known for having a pretty lenient approach to online gambling laws. But it does have one weird rule that is worth mentioning – online gambling providers have to pay taxes.
If you are a gambling operator and you want to do business in Germany, you have to pay taxes on the gross amount of money that you earn. There is no net profit that you can walk away with, just the gross amount of the action. Not only that, but the German government requires you to pay your taxes in advance.
