Poker Legalities - Is It Legal To Play Poker Online In My Country?
The picture with regard to poker legality is constantly shifting, but here's a rundown on what the situation looks like at the time of writing (late 2009). It is important to stress that this information is provided for general guidance only, and you should seek qualified legal opinion if you are in any doubt over whether playing poker online is legal in your jurisdiction. This site was recently used as a reference source in the Irish Government's official report into online gambling, and we endeavour to provide accurate information in plain English, but we're only human and the situation changes frequently. If and when online poker players are prosecuted for playing, we'll let you know - for now most of the laws worldwide relate to the poker rooms rather than poker players, and it remains pretty much unheard of for players to end up in any kind of legal trouble.
Poker Legalities - UK
You're fine, basically. The UK Government has licensed online gambling for poker rooms based in the UK, but you don't have to limit yourself to playing at one of these - you will just receive extra protection if you pick a UK-based poker room. Whichever poker site you play at, you are not commiting an offence, as long as you are over the age of 18. Go enjoy yourself, and rest easy.
Poker Legalities - USA
The news is not so good state-side. You are not technically breaking the law by playing poker online, but the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) has made it a crime for poker rooms to take your money. There's much talk of how enforceable the UIGEA is with regards to sites based outside of the USA (which is every poker room on the planet), and some poker rooms continue to take deposits from USA based players. At the time of writing, no individual poker player has been investigated for playing poker - the law seems to be aimed at the poker rooms, not the poker players, and many players in the US therefore take the view that it is the poker rooms' problem, not theirs. The main impact reported by players is that the Act has made it a pain in the ass to deposit funds with a poker room if you are in the US.
Poker Legalities - Europe
Varies from state to state. The Dutch government recently commissioned a study into the EU states' legislation, and came up with a chart with shows the independence of regulators and their relative powers. Sitting top right of the chart (i.e. regulators with most powers, and most independence) were the UK, Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania. Bottom left (i.e. regulators with fewest powers and least independence) were Estonia, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Iceland. Where regulators are independent, there tends to be less political interference. Here's a brief guide to poker legalities in various European countries with regards to whether it is legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance". This is no definitive guide to whether it is legal to play poker online in your country, but it gives some guidance as poker is considered a game of chance in most countries, and the poker room you play at is likely to be "foreign" i.e. not physically based in the country you reside in. The law relates to the poker room you are doing business with, rather than you - again reports of any individual player being prosecuted for playing poker online are incredibly rare, the problem may be getting your money to and from the poker room.
Austria - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Belgium - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Cyprus - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Czech Republic - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Denmark - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Estonia - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Finland - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
France - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Germany - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Greece - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Hungary - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Ireland - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES. Major review of online gambling underway (this site gets a mention in the review).
Italy - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Latvia - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Lithuania - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Luxembourg - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Malta - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Netherlands - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Poland - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Portugal - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Slovakia - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Slovenia - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Spain - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? YES.
Sweden - legal to "facilitate participation in foreign games of chance"? NO.
Poker Legalities - Canada
Confused picture, as the laws are a patchwork relating to different provinces. No reported problems for players, but the laws might make life difficult for some poker rooms, so check whether your money is good, and if you are in any doubt then contact your local regulator to confirm you are okay to play. The folks you need to bother are as follows:
Alberta - Alberta Gaming
and Liquor
Commission
(AGLC)
British Columbia - British Columbia
Lottery
Corporation
(BCLC)
Manitoba - Manitoba
Lotteries
Corporation
(MLC)
Newfoundland
and Labrador -
Atlantic Lottery
Corporation (ALC)
New Brunswick -
Atlantic Lottery
Corporation (ALC)
Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia
Gaming
Corporation
(NSGC)
Ontario - First Nations
Ontario Lottery
and Gaming
Corporation
(OLGC)
Prince Edward
Island -
Atlantic Lottery
Corporation (ALC)
Québec - Société des
casinos du
Québec (SCQ;
subsidiary of
Loto-Québec)
Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan
Gaming
Corporation
(SGC)
Poker Legalities - Australia
The different territories are governed by different laws, and overseen by different departments. Australia seems to have softened its stance on online gambling in recent years, but the laws are still horribly confusing and haphazard down under - "widely tolerated but a grey area" might be the best summary. If you're an Aussie looking to play online and you want absolute confirmation that you'll be okay, here's who runs what - contact the relevant department to you :
Victoria - Victorian Casino & Gaming Authority.
New South Wales - Casino Control Authority
Queensland - Office Of Gaming Regulation
South Australia - Gaming Supervisory Authority
Western Australia - Office of Racing, Gaming & Liquor
Tasmania - Tasmanian Gaming Commission
Australian Capital Territory - Casino Surveillance Authority
Northern Territory - Department of Gaming & Racing
