Swiss Regulator Includes More iGaming Websites to its Blacklists in Switzerland

Published: 24/08/2020 | Last Updated: 23/10/2020

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The two renowned gambling regulators of Switzerland, Inter-Cantonal Lotteries and Betting Commission (Comlot) and Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission (ESBK) have extended their iGaming blacklist.

Both the regulators have recently added more iGaming operators in their list. These are the operators, who are operating without a licence in the country.

Domains Operating Illegally in Switzerland

Both the regulators have published their first blacklist in September 2019. This igaming blacklist has been modified on a regular basis. It showcases domains, which are illegal or unlicensed according to the regulators in Switzerland. The Comlot has now added 12 sites while ESBK included more 33 domains to its updated blacklist.

The latest unlicensed websites featured in the blacklist of ESBK includes Bitcoincasino.io, Amunra.com, and two sites each from Cadolla, Boaboa and Casinia. The other sites added into its list are Casinomia.com, Crazyfox.com, Greenspin.bet, Casoo.com, Gratowin.com, Cookiecasino.com, Kingbillycasino.com, Casinobuck.com and Duxcasino.com.

ESBK further added from Masonslots.com, Machine, Megapari.com, Slotwolf.com Stakes.com, Vegasplus.com, Oshi.io, Wildtornado.casino, Paradisecasino.com, Syndicated.casino and Redping.win. These websites are operating illegally in Switzerland. On the other hand, Comlot includes Bahigo35.com, Interwetten8.com, 22bet8.co, Meridianbet.com.cy, Forzza45.com and Meridianbet.com as an illegal domain.

There are some websites, which were blacklisted by Comlot and appears on the list of ESBK. These websites include Shangrilalive.com, Mybet.de, solobet14.com, Wirwetten247.com, Svenbet.com, Webbyslot.com and Avalon78.com. Now the Internet Service Providers will be requested by both the Swiss regulators to block access on these sites.

Other Blacklisted Websites in 2020

This year in May, the regulators had blacklisted an overall 61 websites that were operating illegally in the country. On the list of ESBK, the blacklisted operators include bet365’s 365sb.com website, which is the fourth site to be blocked after bet365.it, bet365.com, and bet365.dk.

The other websites include Avalon78.com, 5Dimes.mobi, 1betasia.com, playamo31.com, Bet-at-home789.com, Avalon78.com, Kingbilly.com, richcasino.com, Spinsamba.com, n1casino5.com, Joocasino11.com, Spinia6.com, Casinoestrella2020.com, Wazamba777.com.

In addition, two sites each from Lucky31, Diamond Club VIP Casino and MrXBet along with six suites from 22Bet were added to the blacklist by ESBK.

The other websites listed by Comlot include exbeteu.com, alpenwetten.com, fortunejack.com, bahigo28.com and wettpionier.com. Interwetten7.com is another popular site which appears on the blacklist of both the regulators.

In January 2020, the ESBK blacklisted over 35 gaming websites. ESBK updates and maintains a blacklist following Article 86 of the Geldspielgesetz. According to the Article, it enables the regulator to request ISP to block access to access to the service or platforms that are operating in the country without a license.

In January the new websites that were blocked are Unibet, bet365, and videoslots.com. The other popular and well-known websites blacklisted by the Swiss regulator include expekt.com, 24bettle.com, betclic.com, igame.com, tipbet.com, bet-at-home.com and interwetten.com.

Concerns Over Gambling Addictions

As per the current study revealed by Swiss Lottery and Betting Board along with the Federal Gaming Commission, around 3% of the population in the country are highly addicted to gambling. Also, the study unleashes that these 3% include people, who stand a chance of becoming addicted towards gambling.

The most common forms of gambling in Switzerland are lotteries with 48.2% of gamblers. They are followed by private games and raffles at 15%. Moreover, casino tables are followed by 7% of gaming participation while casino slot machines are followed by 7.2%.

The study also included foreign lotteries and gaming rooms which covered about 6.1% of the total Swiss population. There were 4.5% of people involved in sports betting while 3.4% were involved in gambling with foreign online operators.

As per this research, it represents that the online gambling sector in Switzerland comprises a large number of gambling addicts.

Later, the gaming authority used the report to agree on the government’s decision to limit the people from gambling at both unauthorized international as well as local gambling sites.