More online gambling sites added to Switzerland’s blacklist
Switzerland’s igaming blacklist has grown steadily since it was created in 2019.
Switzerland.- Swiss regulators have identified more unlicensed betting platforms, adding 271 new domains to the national blacklist. The Swiss Federal Gaming Board has announced that the register now contains 2,944 blocked sites, part of ongoing measures under the Federal Act on Money Games (AMG), which governs the country’s gambling sector.
The AMG makes online gambling in Switzerland the preserve of the country’s land-based casinos, which may apply for digital licences to run online slot and table games. Foreign companies are barred from taking bets from Swiss residents. The country’s Supreme Court upheld Switzerland’s ban on offshore gaming sites back in 2022.
Lotteries and sports wagering remain state monopolies: Swisslos oversees German- and Italian-speaking regions, while Loterie Romande manages French-speaking cantons. Both organisations channel revenues into public-interest projects and operate under strict consumer protection and anti-money laundering rules.
Two regulators share responsibility for policing the market. The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) supervises casinos, while Gespa monitors lotteries and sports betting. Together, they identify and blacklist unauthorised domains, including affiliate sites that guide Swiss users towards offshore operators.
Access restrictions are enforced through mandatory DNS blocking by internet service providers. When a Swiss user attempts to visit a blacklisted site, the ISP redirects them to an official government notice explaining that the platform is not authorised. Although some users try to bypass restrictions with VPNs, regulators continue to rely on DNS blocking, a method upheld by Switzerland’s highest court.
Officials emphasise that regular blacklist updates and ISP enforcement demonstrate active monitoring of offshore platforms.
