When it comes to good standards of living and high-income rates, Switzerland is one of the best countries in the world. Thus, you would expect nothing less than top-notch services from online casinos in Switzerland. To be honest, the country is not one of the best in virtual gambling. Nevertheless, it still offers many exciting options and amazing services for players.
On this page, we have dealt with everything you need to know about the Swiss online casino industry. You will learn how to choose a good gaming platform in Switzerland and discover the available games.
Read also about other countries:
Top 10 Brands in Switzerland
Name
Rating
Bonus
Payment
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Licenses
Review
How to Choose the Best Online Gaming Platform in Switzerland?
Ready to start playing at a Swiss casino? We have explained below the factors you need to put in mind while selecting a trusted operator to play.
License
You must find out whether the casino has a Swiss gambling license or not. Online casinos without a Swiss gambling license are not permitted to operate in the country. For safety purposes, we recommend that you choose only licensed platforms.
Games selection
The top online casinos feature a wide variety of games from different gaming providers. Check if the site offers top-quality games that suit your taste.
Payment options
Deposits and withdrawals must be easy on the site. Ensure that the casino provides convenient payment methods.
Customer support
Players should be able to get help at a casino whenever they need it. Thus, you must confirm if you can reach the team easily when you face difficulties using the platform.
Languages and currencies
Is the casino available in your language and does it accept the local currency? It’s easier when playing on sites that support your language and currency.
Bonuses and promotions
Online casino gaming would be boring without bonuses and promos. The best casinos try to offer many promos to keep the players always entertained.
Read our reviews
We know everything about online casinos Switzerland, be it a legislation issue or any question regarding local payment methods. That’s why we understand what a good gambling site for Swiss players should look like and consider it when working on our scrupulous yet fair reviews.
Mobile platform
From our research, we can see that most of our readers prefer mobile gaming on iOS and Android to desktops, so we make sure that a top casino site Switzerland from our rating is mobile-focused and convenient to navigate through on smaller screens, including smartphones and tablets.
Law in Switzerland
Traditional gambling has been legal in the country since 1993. In 2000, a new law came into effect which permits unlimited stakes. Today, there are 19 gaming houses in the country.
However, the law prohibited casinos in Switzerland from offering online gambling. Nevertheless, the Swiss could access offshore online platforms and play freely. This raised concerns because of the possibility of enhancing problem gambling and the safety of the players.
Unregulated playing continued freely until January 2019, when a new gaming act came into effect. It enabled Swiss citizens to participate in online gambling but restricted them to licensed websites. In July 2019, unlicensed brands were banned from operating in Switzerland.
To function within the country, gaming platforms must partner with licensed brick-and-mortar establishments. Each legal online casino in Switzerland is regulated by the Swiss Federal Gaming Board.
- The industry is thoroughly regulated by the Swiss Federal Gaming Board based on the Money Gaming Act (MGA) and GESPA, which makes the market transparent
- Allowed gambling entertainment includes casino online Switzerland games, sports betting, lotteries like bingo, fantasy sports, and other types
- The country is friendly to gambling when it’s regulated and fair, so the market welcomes trustworthy providers with hundreds of RNG-tested games
- The best online casino Switzerland sites with offshore licences can offer players lucrative bonuses with moderate playthrough conditions
- The focus on local operators, including land-based casinos, makes it hard for offshore online casinos to join the Swiss gambling market
- The government sets standards like ‘good reputation’ for foreign providers to check that they have not actively targeted Swiss players from abroad in the past 5 years
- When a local operator rules casino games and lotteries, no more than 1,000 players can participate at the same time, which sets certain restrictions
- The government limits the range of available licenses in the country to 21, which makes the industry quite monopolized and difficult to join
The Evolution of the Swiss Gambling Industry
While the roots of gambling in Switzerland can be traced back to Roman times, all forms of the activity were prohibited until the 1920s, with only lotteries existing in limited capacities. Nevertheless, the Casino Barriere de Montreux was established in 1881, and gambling eventually became permissible in select tourist regions and cantons designated for high-income individuals.
To address ethical concerns surrounding gambling, a portion of its profits were funnelled into social welfare initiatives. The landscape shifted notably in 1993 during a major financial crisis. A referendum was passed, allowing Switzerland online casinos to contribute to the nation’s tax revenues to help offset the escalating healthcare costs.
Swiss Regulatory
Since the Swiss government realises that the gambling industry can be beneficial when it is regulated and brings income, there is a friendly environment for online gambling. The country’s main document regulating the sector is the new Federal Act on Money Games, also known as AMG, which came into effect on 1 January 2019. It works according to the standards of SFGB (The Swiss Federal Gaming Board), which controls different services, including slots and table games.
The GESPA regulator controls certain sports betting and lotteries. Regarding the taxes, the 5% fee only occurs when the winning amount exceeds 1 million CHF. The online casino Switzerland law requires brands to hold a local license to operate in the country, which makes the industry controlled yet protected properly. In 2024, the area welcomes new solutions like live games and VR, and it’s certain to evolve in the future.
Bonuses at Swiss Gaming Sites
Promotions and various awards are some of the things that make virtual gambling better than their physical counterparts. Below, we have explained the most popular Swiss casino bonus offers.
Deposit bonus
These are the bonuses given to you for making a new deposit. You might need to input a Swiss Casino bonus code while depositing to confirm your interest in the offer.
No deposit bonus
This is a form of bonus you can get without having to deposit first. It is usually given when you sign up for the first time. You might also need to use a Swiss casino no deposit bonus code to claim it.
Welcome bonus
This form of Swiss Casino bonus is given to welcome new players. You can get it in the form of a deposit bonus, no deposit bonus, or both.
Free Spins
As the name suggests, these are free rounds given for you to use on slots. They can be given as an individual bonus or added to a cash bonus.
Cashback bonus
This is an offer designed to soften the frustration in the result of losing. One gets a refund amounting to a percentage of the money lost in gaming over a period.
High roller bonus
The high roller bonus is designed for players who wager large amounts of money on games.
Game Selection
There are several main categories of online games available for Swiss players on gambling websites. Find out more about them below.
Slots
There’s no doubt that slots are the most popular Swiss online casino games. Usually, this website section has the largest collection, including titles with different themes, mechanics, and bonus features. The most popular slots are Immortal Romance, Dracula, Mustang Gold, Safari, Valley of the Gods, and many others.
- Immortal Romance. This Microgaming release from 2011 has five reels, three rows, and 243 winning ways. The RTP is 96.86%.
- Dracula. Inspired by a famous movie, Dracula is a slot with 5 reels, 4 rows, and 40 paylines. Its RTP stands at around 96.60%.
Table Games
Another popular category you’ll find at Swiss casino sites is the table game section. It consists of a diverse range of card, wheel, and dice betting options – classic ones and with exclusive features. These are the two most widely favoured ones:
- Blackjack. Arguably the most popular gambling card game in the world, blackjack can be found in almost all Swiss casinos. Online platforms offer different versions, such as European Blackjack, American Blackjack, Pontoon, etc.
- Poker. This is another well-liked card choice. Here, unlike blackjack, the participants play against each other. The aim is to get the highest value and make other players fold.
Live Games
Swiss casino online sites also feature numerous activities with live dealers. All the popular table games, such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette, are available in live formats. Additionally, here you can find live craps, sic bo, and different TV game shows.
- Live blackjack. In the live version of this card game, you get to see the dealer shuffling the cards in real time. You can communicate with the croupier and other players using the chat feature.
- Live roulette. There are so many innovative versions of this wheel game at Swiss casinos. You’ll find variations like Lightning Roulette, Double Ball Roulette, Mini Roulette, etc.
Payment Methods
There are multiple options available for Swiss players to deposit money and withdraw winnings. Many of these methods allow you to use CHF. Depending on the online casino, there might be extra fees charged for the transactions.
All deposits are usually instant, but withdrawals might take some time to process. In the table below, we have described the payment methods and their estimated withdrawal time.
Methods | Deposit/Withdrawals | Estimated withdrawal times |
Visa | Both | 2 or more banking days |
Mastercard | Both | 2 or more banking days |
Paysafecard | Deposits only | N/A |
Skrill | Both | Instant |
Neteller | Both | Instant |
EcoPayz | Both | Instant |
Bank Transfers | Withdrawals only | 3 or more banking days |
Cryptocurrencies | Both | Instant |
Gaming Providers on Swiss Online Platforms
Generally, gambling operators do not create the games they offer. Instead, they partner with different software developers. These vendors determine the quality of games and whether or not they can be played on various devices.
However, most providers these days build their games using HTML5, making them available in each mobile casino Switzerland. Operators also ensure that their websites are mobile-friendly. Some of them offer versionы for download on smartphones and tablets.
The popular developers you can meet on Swiss online platforms include Netent, Microgaming, Play’N GO, Evolution Gaming, and iSoftBet.
Customer Support
In nearly every Swiss casino review, you’ll see details about customer service. This is because players sometimes need help with issues on these platforms. A good website should make sure gamblers can get assistance whenever they need it.
The best online platforms offer efficient support via 24/7 live chat, email, and comprehensive FAQ pages. Some also have additional channels like telephone and social media.
Why Should You Try Swiss Operators?
You might still be wondering whether you should play at Swiss online casino sites. The truth is Switzerland is one of the good places to gamble online. Here are some of the reasons you should try it today:
- Safety. Due to the strict gambling regulations in the country, gambling operators can hardly extort players. The laws ensure they provide safe and fair gaming at all times.
- Simple and convenient. You don’t have to leave your home to play. The platforms are mobile-friendly. Simply connect to the website or download Swiss casino on your device.
- A large variety of games. Swiss online platforms have an excellent reputation around the world due to their strict license. This makes it easy for many software developers to partner with them. As a result, there is a large variety of games available on gambling websites in Switzerland.
- Promotions and bonuses. Due to the availability of many Swiss casinos, the competition for players is high in the industry. Thus, the operators try to attract players with bonuses and promos. In some cases, you can bag up to €5,000 as a free bonus.
Responsible Gambling in Switzerland
The industry is controlled by the government, which makes it safe and adheres to responsible gambling terms to protect players. First, your online casino Swiss site will have a page with questions and tips showing whether you have problems with gambling addiction and need help. Besides, it should have additional tools in the account to allow gamblers to set deposit and loss limits, activate a cooling-off period, or opt for self-exclusion. When you need professional help, view the site’s footer since real money casinos in Switzerland provide links to helping organisations.
- The GESPA regulator enables the prevention levy (66 GSK), making operators use 0.5% of the total revenue for the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.
- Swiss players can opt for hotlines 0800 040 080 (in German), 0800 801 381 (in French), and 0800 000 330 (in Italian).
- Treatment websites aimed at Swiss customers: Spielsucht (in German), Sos-jeu.ch and Stop-jeu.ch (in French), or Giocoresponsabile (in Italian).