Online gambling regulation in Switzerland

Prohibited. Advertising for games not licensed in Switzerland, including indirect advertising, is prohibited under Article 74 and sanctionable under Article 131 Money Gaming Act.

Advertising unlicensed online gambling is explicitly prohibited; fines up to CHF 500,000 can be imposed for intentional breaches and child‑targeted licensed ads.

Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK/FGB) for casinos; Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) for lotteries, betting and large-scale games — www.gespa.ch

Money Gaming Act (Bundesgesetz über Geldspiele, BGS/MGA) and Federal Gaming Ordinance (Spielverordnung)

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. ESBK publishes the official list of licensed online casinos on esbk.admin.ch; Gespa lists licensed lottery and betting operators on gespa.ch.

https://www.esbk.admin.ch

• Blocking unauthorised.ch domains and IPs via ESBK blacklists
• Payment and marketing fines up to CHF 500,000 for illegal advertising
• Coordinated enforcement with cantonal authority Gespa against unlicensed lotteries/betting
• Public warnings and listings of unauthorised online games on ESBK site

• No advertising for money games not licensed in Switzerland; indirect ads (free games) also banned
• Advertising must not target minors or self-excluded / barred persons
• Advertising must not be obtrusive or misleading under the Money Gaming Act
• Free-play or demo games used for promotion require prior approval under the Gaming Ordinance

• 2025–2026 guidance emphasising stricter enforcement of advertising bans for unlicensed online operators, including high administrative fines
• Ongoing updates to ESBK public lists of authorised online casino extensions and unauthorised sites
• Gespa and ESBK cooperation framework refined to supervise cross‑border online betting and lotteries more effectively

• Exact section numbers for ISP/domain blocking measures under the Money Gaming Act and Ordinance are not confirmed from primary legal texts.
• Details of any criminal (not administrative) offences for consumers using unlicensed sites are not clearly evidenced in the available summaries.
• Full scope of Federal Department of Justice and Police (EJPD) coordination powers in gambling enforcement is described only in secondary commentary, not primary law texts.
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are treated as gambling, consumer promotions, or are specifically addressed by Swiss law.
• Whether prediction markets are regulated as gambling or financial derivatives in Switzerland.
• Whether paid mystery boxes/loot boxes are specifically covered by Swiss gambling, consumer-protection, or gaming laws.

1. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/comparison/953/17731/27682-27683-27684-27685-27686-27687-27688-27689-27690-27691-27692-27693
2. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-online-gambling-regulation-in-europe/switzerland
3. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2025/switzerland/trends-and-developments
4. chambers.com/downloads/gpg/714/030_switzerland.pdf
5. gespa.ch/en
6. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/switzerland
7. igaming-atlas.com/insights/switzerland-licensed-gambling-sites-esbk-gespa-guide
8. onlinecasinobern.com/en/
9. riverodds.app/poker-in-switzerland/
10. pokerrankings.eu/go/switzerland-en/article/legal-info/
11. pokerprodeals.com/online-poker-guide/online-poker-switzerland/
12. eupoker.com/switzerland-poker-regulations/
13. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/europe/switzerland
14. gamingzion.com/switzerland/poker/poker-reviews/
15. beaumont-capitalmarkets.co.uk/featured_item/switzerland-gambling-laws-online-gaming/
16. gespa.ch/download/pictures/33/vqqy606j9ss18bv1iw621p37i8ept9/26-06-17_medienmitteilung_prognosemaerkte_en.pdf
17. cryptopolitan.com/prediction-markets-esma-insider-trading/
18. tradetheoutcome.com/is-polymarket-legal-in-switzerland/
19. dlapiper.com/en-gb/insights/publications/2026/09/betting-on-the-future-the-risks-of-prediction-market-platforms
20. eupersonalfinance.eu/articles/prediction-markets-europe
21. casinorankr.com/reviews/casesgg
22. betterchecked.com/review/earnlab-test-review
23. track360.io/blog/mystery-box-gambling-or-shopping-operator-compliance-guide
24. thegamehaus.com/igaming/mystery-boxes/
25. casinorankr.com/mystery-boxes/reviews/casesgg

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.