--- title: "Switzerland — Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence? | advennt.io" canonical: https://advennt.io/jurisdictions/switzerland/licensing/ source_html: /jurisdictions/ch/licensing/index.html description: "Switzerland — Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?" generated_at: 2026-11-07T14:55:18Z content_sha256: baba94593acddd01f7a9384c216fb8b2729e81ca8198434eaf10f2f134b3d584 generator: "fe-fleet/md-twin@1.0" --- # Switzerland — Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence? | advennt.io [Jurisdictions](/jurisdictions/) › [Switzerland](/jurisdictions/switzerland/) › Licensing and regulation # Switzerland Gambling — Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence? Key section parameters Jurisdiction Switzerland (CH) Regulator Recorded in register Favourability Mixed Confidence Confirmed Review status Expert approved · 1 post-review update · Not reviewed · In expert review scope Last collected 2 Nov 2026 Summary answer ## Regulated The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (“SFGB”), based on the Money Gaming Act (“MGA”), and the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (“Gespa”) regulate, advise, and provide guidance to individuals and business that offer gambling in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2019, casino games, lotteries, … 2 Sep 2026 Read update Switzerland's licensing framework for online casino gaming operates as an extension mechanism rather than a standalone licence category: online casino games are permitted only as an add-on to an existing land-based casino concession administered by the ESBK, a rule that has applied since 1 January 2019 under the Gambling Act and carries the durability of primary legislation. This structural fact, Confirmed at primary-source level, is unchanged this cycle. Within that framework, the licensed online segment continues its slow expansion: Casino Locarno became the tenth ESBK-licensed online casino, operating under the CasiNeo.ch brand, reported with probable confidence from trade-press coverage rather than a fresh primary ESBK statement this cycle. No new licence category, suspension, or revocation was identified this cycle, and the framework's structural conditions for entry remain exactly as they were under the prior baseline. ## Full section analysis ## Regulated The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (“SFGB”), based on the Money Gaming Act (“MGA”), and the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (“Gespa”) regulate, advise, and provide guidance to individuals and business that offer gambling in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2019, casino games, lotteries, sports betting and skill games have been regulated by the MGA and the Ordinance on Money Games (“MGO”). These laws generally regulate money games in which there is the chance to win a prize or other monetary advantage in return for a stake/monetary transaction to enter the game. The MGA distinguishes between casino games, lotteries, sports betting and skill games. Lotteries, sports betting and skill games can be categorised into large-scale (executed automatically, intercantonal or online) and small-scale games (neither automated, intercantonal nor online) (Art. 2 MGA). Casino gaming and Poker are namely regulated by the SFGB, whereas Bingo, Betting, Lotteries and Social/Skill arrangements are regulated by the Gespa. ## Licence Triggers Under the MGA, any gambling activity in Switzerland is the trigger for licensing. ## Type of licence needed Swiss law distinguishes between terrestrial casino licences and the extension of the terrestrial licences for online gaming, lottery and betting licences and licences for small games (not executed automatically, online or intercantonal). Casino licence A-type casino: no limits in stakes and the number of offered games and slot machines, connected jackpots and maximum winnings possible. Only casinos with a licence “A” qualify as Grand Casino (Art. 6 MGA). B-type casino: usually for spa or resort casinos, with a limited number of table games (three) and slot machines, limited stakes and no connected jackpots. The limit per stake for automated games in B-type casinos is CHF 25/game. The number of licences is determined by the SFC, whereby the locations are distributed evenly among interested regions (Art. 7 MGA). A licence is usually granted for a period of 20 years and can be renewed (Art. 12 MGA). The licence can be extended for the offering of online games (Art. 9 MGA). The concession is not transferable (Art. 14 MGA). Large-scale games (lotteries, sports betting and skill games that are executed automatically, intercantonal or online) In order to be able to offer large-scale matches, an organiser’s licence and a gaming licence are required. These are issued by the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (“Gespa”), with the cantons deciding on the maximum number of lottery and sports betting operators (Art. 23 MGA). Only Swisslos and Loterie Romande receive licences for lotteries and sports betting. The licence is not transferable to third parties (Art. 30 MGA). Small game licence (lotteries, sports betting and skill games that are executed neither automatically, online nor intercantonally) Small-scale games operators can apply for a cantonal licence with the competent cantonal authority. There are separate regulations concerning small lotteries and sports betting in the cantons. Period of licence & renewal process A casino licence is usually granted for a period of 20 years (Art. 12 MGA). After the 20-year period has elapsed, the licence can be extended or renewed. In certain circumstances, the licence may be revoked, restricted or suspended. A revocation of the licence is possible if any of the following apply (Art. 15 MGA): - The requirements for issuing the licence are no longer fulfilled. - The licensee has obtained the licence based on incomplete or false information. - The licensee has not started operations within the set time limit by SFGB. - The licensee leaves the business inoperative. - The licence is used for any unlawful or improper purposes. The licence for large-scale or small games is not subject to a fixed term but can be limited in time and be renewed. In addition, the licences can be subject to conditions and obligations (Art. 29 MGA). If the legal requirements for the licence are no longer given, Gespa (or in cases of small games, the cantonal authority) can withdraw the licence. The licence may also be suspended, restricted or subject to additional conditions and obligations (Art. 31 MGA). Application process The SFC decides on the maximum number of the terrestrial casino licences that may be granted, and also defines the geographical locations of such casinos. The written application for the casino licence must be submitted to the SFGB. SFGB reviews the application and submits a proposal to the SFC. The SFC decides whether or not to grant a licence. Casinos holding a Swiss casino licence can apply for an extension of their licence to offer online games. The process of the application is the same as for a terrestrial casino licence. Applicants of large-scale games must submit their application to Gespa and operators of small games must submit theirs to the cantonal authority. ## Limits Casino games: the limits on the types of games, stakes and the maximum number of slot machines depend on the type of the licence (A licence or B licence, see above). Large-scale lotteries and sports betting: may only be offered by Swisslos or Loterie Romande. Small lotteries (cantonal licence): the maximum stake for a single bet is CHF 10, with a maximum of CHF 100’000 for total stakes (Art. 37 MGO, total stakes of CHF 500’000 if the goal of the lottery is to finance an event of supra-regional importance). The value of the prizes must be at least 50% of the maximum total stakes. Small local sports bets (cantonal licence): maximum stake of CHF 200 per bet, with a maximum of CHF 200’000 for total stakes on one competition day (Art. 38 MGO). Small poker tournament (cantonal licence): maximum entry fee of CHF 200 and CHF 20’000 total entry fees. There are additional restrictions regarding the number of tournaments, number of participants, duration of tournaments, etc. (Art. 39 MGO). Tombola: maximum total stake of CHF 50’000 (Art. 40 MGO). Geographical cover The licence allows for the operation of online gambling worldwide where it is legal to do so. Mechanics of the licence process. Licensed land-based casinos can apply for an extension of their licence to offer online gaming. Licences for (online) betting and lotteries are only granted to Swisslos and Loterie Romande (two state-related companies). Foreign providers cannot apply for a licence and their websites are blocked (DNS-blocking) by the Swiss authorities if the provider does not block the access to the games from Switzerland itself. There is no legal limit on number and timeframes for licence applications. Bad Actor / Cooling off periods Applicants will need to have a good reputation. This requirement is not fulfilled, if: - The applicant organises or operates unlicensed money games or has done so in the past. This is particularly the case if the applicant has actively targeted the Swiss market from abroad in the past five years prior to the application and during the application process. - The applicant appears on one of the blacklists kept by SFGB and Gespa or have been on these lists for several months. Applicant considerations The applicant must be a legal entity under Swiss law. Furthermore, the applicant has to take security measures (namely control that players are not minors or banned; measures against money laundering etc.) and social measures (measures against excessive gambling and gambling addiction etc.). The applicant must ensure independent business activities, i.e. behave in a legally compliant manner, comply with the principles of good corporate governance and be in good financial condition. Licensees may only provide casino games and large-scale/small games services within the scope of (i) the licence obtained, and (ii) the applicable regulations. Licences contain a wide range of restrictions with regard to the games that may be offered, how these games must be organised, what form and in which amounts payments may be accepted and how the marketing, social concept and security as well as AML procedures are organised. If the licensee fails to comply with the regulations, SFGB, Gespa or the cantonal authority may cancel or impose restrictions on the licensee. ## Localisation No requirement for specific language or use of local web domains. [BETTING, LOTTERY & BINGO] The provision of (online) sports betting generally requires a licence of Gespa according to art. 21 MGA. The cantons define what organisations can apply for a licence and in particular, the maximum number of organisers of sports betting (art. 23 MGA). Only the two lottery operators, Swisslos and Loterie Romande, obtained a licence under the new regime in a way of a duopoly. Therefore, it is de facto not possible for a foreign online gambling operator to obtain a licence in Switzerland. Thus, the operation of (online) sports betting, Lottery & Bingo by foreign gambling operators is not possible. [CASINO & POKER] The MGA replaced the previous ban for online gambling with a system that allows online gambling based on a licence. However, only a holder of licence for land-based casinos may apply for an extension of the licence for online gambling (art. 5 and 9 MGA). Foreign gambling operators cannot apply for a licence. [SKILLED / SOCIAL GAMES] The organisation of games of skill is possible for a foreign gambling operator, whereby two licences are required: an operator license and a license for the game itself. The organisation of “social” gaming is possible without any licence. Thus, in case the social game has no entry fee and/or no winnings, the definition of a money game is not given (the Swiss gambling regulations are not applicable). [B2B] B2B providers do not need a licence to be able to supply gaming operators with technical means or games (“b2b provider”). However, a b2b provider can qualify as “most important business partner” to a gaming operator, if, through his support, he has the possibility to influence the operation of the gaming business (art. 6 MGO). Business partners who have this possibility (technically or through other means) must fulfil certain conditions in order to be accepted as business partner (art. 8 para. 1 lit. b MGA): having a “good reputation”; ensuring proper and independent business activities.