New Swiss regulations to start in 2019

On January 1, the Swiss Gaming Act will come into force and regulate licenced online gambling while banning foreign operators.

Switzerland.- The Swiss Legislature recently passed the new domestic Gaming Act and, as 2018 comes to an end, its enforcement on January 1 gets closer. The new regulation sets a strict prohibition for foreign online gambling operators but legalises licenced iGaming companies.

The gaming act’s enforcement was confirmed by Switzerland’s Federal Council, which confirmed its implementation starting next January. It also explained it will consider licence applications during the first six months of 2019, in compliance with the new legislation, and the first ones are set to be issued before July 1, when the foreigner’s ban comes into effect as well.

Licenced operators will be allowed to offer poker and roulette games but not before adhering to strict measures that will limit poker tournaments’ maximum sums, in addition to small lotteries and raffles.

According to the Federal Council, the “concrete measures” taken under the new Gaming Act were approved in order to protect problem gamblers. Furthermore, it will ban foreign operators, in which the Swiss spend around €220 million, according to the government.