Sports betting is a popular type of gambling that involves placing a wager on the outcome of a match or specific events in a game. It is believed sportsbook have been around since the time of ancient Greece, and now it has become easier than ever as most bookmakers have gone online.
However, sports betting is poorly regulated and outlawed in most countries. Sports betting is generally licensed by gaming and gambling bodies authorities or special acts and commissions. The issue is that very few countries have legalized sports betting, and those who have provided a limited scope. Most betting operators have offshore businesses with permission to operate in a specific region.
Private, non-registered and illegal betting enterprises are rampant across the world and often associated with other criminal activities. There have been several scandals in the past of match-fixing and spot-fixing. Here we list some of the risks that you can face when looking to place a wager.
Most online betting websites are linked to a physical betting network, which can either be legal or criminal. You have to be extremely careful with where you put your money. Check the licenses of the betting site and see if they are legal to operate in your region. Here we list some countries that have legal sports betting to some extent.
Argentina | Australia |
Brazil | Canada |
China | Colombia |
Costa Rica | Ghana |
India | Kenya |
Mexico | New Zealand |
Nigeria | Peru |
Philippines | Russia |
South Africa | United Kingdom |
United States (not in some states) |
Most countries listed above do not give a free hand to betting companies and have only allowed betting in specific sports and events. For example, betting on college football is illegal in some US states.
Additionally, you can also take the following measure to save your self from being duped.
In general, we recommend you not to use sport betting sites if they are not allowed in your country. Even if the website is certified by a foreign country (such as the UK or Malta) it may be very hard to get your money back if you feel cheated. Please check the list of government authorities regulating gambling and betting services in your country.
There are a few countries that have regulated sports betting; however, services are offered in several parts of the world. Here we list some reliable sports betting sites and the country they are licensed in.
Sportsbook | Country |
Betway |
UK Gambling Commission Malta Gaming Authority |
888Sport |
Gibraltar Gambling Commission UK Gambling Commission Malta Gaming Authority |
William Hill |
UK Gambling Commission Gibraltar Gambling Commission |
BetVictor |
UK Gambling Commission Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner |
Spin Sports | Malta Gaming Authority |
10Cric | Curacao Gaming Authority |
22Bet | Curacao Gaming Authority |
Intertops | Kahnawake Gaming Commission |
Bet365 | Malta Gaming Authority |
Sportingbet | Gibraltar Gaming Commission |
Betsafe |
UK Gambling Commission Malta Gaming Authority |
ComeOn | Malta Gaming Authority |