Starting January 7, 2025, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have enforced an agreement aimed at bolstering protections against gambling addiction. Under the agreement, individuals banned from terrestrial or online casinos in one country will also be barred from gambling in the other.
This measure will extend Switzerland’s approximately 100,000 existing gambling bans to include Liechtenstein’s casinos, while Liechtenstein’s bans will apply reciprocally in Switzerland.
Swiss casinos are required by law to exclude players who exhibit signs of gambling addiction, gamble beyond their financial means, or refuse to disclose their financial status. The same protocols apply to individuals who voluntarily ban themselves or are reported by concerned family members.
Affordability checks, which involve providing proof of financial stability, are a key part of this process. Players who fail to comply with these checks or whose financial information indicates instability are automatically excluded.
The Swiss Casino Association has welcomed the agreement as a significant step toward comprehensive player protection. A spokesperson noted that, in the past, individuals banned in Switzerland often crossed the border to gamble in Liechtenstein.
The collaboration between the two nations aims to address longstanding challenges in regulating gambling. Casinos in both countries will now share exclusion lists, enabling them to enforce bans more effectively. Officials view this cross-border approach as a potential model for broader European adoption, with aspirations of extending similar agreements to other neighboring countries.
While the agreement marks progress in tackling gambling addiction, it does not address the growing issue of illegal online gambling. In Switzerland, unlicensed foreign operators currently account for an estimated 40% of the online gambling market.
These platforms circumvent local gambling bans, allowing individuals on exclusion lists to continue gambling without restrictions. Additionally, these operators avoid paying taxes in Switzerland, compounding regulatory challenges.
The Swiss Casino Association has called for stricter measures against these black-market platforms, urging authorities to intensify efforts to combat illegal operations. The association has also advocated for the creation of a legal framework to extend gambling bans to other European countries.
The rise of illegal gambling is not unique to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Other European countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Belgium, have reported similar issues, with unlicensed platforms capturing significant portions of the market.
Despite local regulators downplaying the severity of the problem, industry experts warn that the prevalence of these operations undermines player protection and legal gambling revenues.
Over two decades, Swiss casinos have implemented 100,000 gambling bans to curb excessive gambling and protect vulnerable individuals. By expanding these bans to include Liechtenstein, the new agreement enhances the scope of player protection while emphasizing affordability checks as a cornerstone of responsible gambling.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/01/08/91159-switzerland-and-liechtenstein-partner-to-strengthen-crossborder-gambling-protections
