Countries that Prohibit Online Gambling

Playing the lottery and other gambling forms is a popular activity in the UK, especially at certain times of the year such as Christmas Eve. However, in other countries, there are very strict laws that limit or even prohibit lotteries, bets on sports, and playing games of chance. We are going to take a little trip around the world to find out where tempt luck is more complicated.

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Some Countries Prohibit Gambling

The lottery and games of chance come from ancient times. Already before the birth of Christ, there is evidence of the oldest lotteries in the world. Keno in Han Dynasty China, or the raffles that were held in ancient Rome on the occasion of the Saturnalia festivity. However, it was not until the 13th century AD that the first draws called “lotus” appeared in Europe, which apparently were an invention of the monk Celestino Galiano.

Since then, lottery, betting, and casino non gamstop games have spread across the planet and today they are present in almost all countries, although with different regulations. In fact, there are states that even ban this type of entertainment, with some pretty amazing laws.

Which Countries Prohibit Lotteries, Bets and Games of Chance?

In China, the lottery is almost a religion!

If there is one country in the world that has a love-hate relationship with gambling, it is undoubtedly China. Traditionally, the Chinese people have a great attraction to the game, which led the communist regime to ban it for several decades. It wasn't until the 1980s that these types of games were licensed again in China, where they soon regained their popularity.

In recent years, casinos not on gamstop have also proliferated in this country, especially in the special administrative zones of Hong Kong and Macao, where their strong growth even threatens to dethrone the dominance of Las Vegas.

United States, neither lottery nor bets

Surprisingly, while the United States has popularized many of the modern games of chance. It has also been one of the most restrictive countries in the online gambling industry. In fact, lottery games were completely banned until 1964, when New Hampshire became the first state to allow sweepstakes. The rest followed in the following years. And currently playing the lottery in the United States is a very popular practice.

However, for now seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada, precisely where Las Vegas is located). Have not yet legalized raffles. For its part, sports betting was prohibited throughout the country except in Nevada. Nothing more and nothing less than until 2018, when a Supreme Court ruling opened the ban.

Brazil, the country that does not have casinos

Games of chance have been prohibited in Brazil since 1941, with the sole exception of state-operated lotteries and horse betting. That is why it is one of the few countries in the world where there are no proper casinos. Although curiously enough you can play poker because it is considered a sport or stake on forex. In 2015, the regulation began to be modified with the creation of a lottery operated by a consortium of companies, in 2018 sports betting was legalized. And authorization to open the first casinos is currently being studied.

Mexico Turns a Blind Eye to the Laws

Another country with restrictive regulations is Mexico. There exists a long tradition related to the game that goes back to the time of the Aztecs. Casinos were especially popular in the 1920s, when Prohibition drove many Americans across the border to have fun. However, in 1947 a federal law was passed prohibiting all gambling and gambling. Despite successive attempts, the necessary consensus to be able to revoke it has not yet been achieved. Although some casinos are allowed in tourist areas, as well as the National Lottery and other games that are operated by the government.

Argentina Situation Has Not Been Determined Yet!

Argentina is one of the Latin American countries where the game took root before, as the first casinos in the country opened at the end of the 19th century. In 1957, a federal law was enacted that temporarily prohibited gambling. Little by little they were authorized again by successive governments. Contrary to what happens in most countries, in Argentina the regulation of gambling does not depend on the state, but on the different provinces. This caused regulations and restrictions to vary greatly from one region of the country to another and even led to the disappearance of the historic National Lottery, founded in 1893.

Russia Situation Is Fluctuating!

For most of the Soviet era, lotteries and gambling were banned in the USSR as too capitalist. However, in 1979 SportLoto was created, a popular lottery that served to finance the 1980 Olympic Games.

In the following decade, some slot machines began to be seen in hotels for foreigners. But it was not until the fall of the communist regime that gambling returned to Russia. They were so successful that in 2009 all gambling houses were banned to curb gambling. Casinos, lotteries, and sports betting are allowed in some areas of the country.