Is Online Gambling Legal in Switzerland?
Online gambling in Switzerland was formally regulated in 2019 under the Federal Act on Money Games. The law introduced a licensing system for online casinos and restricted access to sites that don’t hold a local license. Only operators partnered with land-based casinos in Switzerland are eligible for approval, which means the domestic market is limited to a small number of platforms.
Offshore casinos remain accessible through technical workarounds, though they operate outside Swiss law. Many players still use these sites due to the broader selection and fewer restrictions, but withdrawals through them aren’t protected by Swiss regulations.
Gambling Regulators and Licensing in Switzerland
The gambling market is overseen by two regulatory bodies: the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) and Gespa. ESBK supervises land-based casinos and their online partners, while Gespa monitors lotteries, betting, and skill-based games. Together, they enforce the Federal Act on Money Games and require operators to comply with licensing conditions.
Licensing Conditions for Online Casinos
To qualify for an online license in Switzerland, operators must meet strict regulatory requirements. These cover financial practices, player protection, and technical oversight:
- Financial compliance: Anti-money laundering checks and secure payment processing.
- Data protection: Handling of player information under Swiss privacy law.
- Responsible gambling measures: Tools for deposit limits, self-exclusion, and addiction prevention.
- Technical integrity: Independent testing of software and random number generators.
These conditions keep the local market small, but it means licensed casinos must maintain transparency and reliability across all operations.
Offshore Gambling and Licensing
As covered earlier, only casinos partnered with land-based operators are licensed to operate legally in Switzerland. Offshore platforms don’t meet this requirement and are not allowed under local law, though some remain accessible if their domains have not yet been blocked.
Swiss authorities maintain a public blacklist of unauthorized sites and regularly add new entries. Once a platform is listed, access is cut off through local internet service providers. In addition, banks and card processors are likely to block transactions linked to these platforms.
This combination makes offshore gambling complicated for Swiss players. There are no legal penalties for using these platforms, but you do face the risk of losing access to your account or funds.
Best Payment Methods for Fast Withdrawals in Switzerland
Players in Switzerland have several payment methods available when cashing out winnings, but each comes with different speeds and levels of convenience. Local banking rules, international networks, and the licensing framework all shape which options are supported on online casino sites.
E-Wallets
Services like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are among the fastest withdrawal methods. Once the casino approves a request, funds usually arrive within the same day, sometimes in just a few hours. E-wallets also provide an added layer of privacy, since players do not need to share full banking details with the casino. Most Swiss platforms support at least one major e-wallet, making them a popular choice.
Bank Cards
Visa and Mastercard remain widely used. Withdrawals to credit or debit cards generally take longer than e-wallets, often ranging from 2 to 5 business days, depending on the bank. The advantage here is accessibility, since nearly all players already have a bank card, but the longer waiting times make them less attractive for withdrawals.
Cryptocurrencies
On offshore platforms, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are among the most popular options for fast withdrawals. Transactions are often processed within an hour after approval, and they allow players to bypass some of the delays linked to banking systems.
However, crypto withdrawals aren’t available on Swiss-licensed platforms, since these methods fall outside the legal framework.
Withdrawal Times at Swiss Casinos
When you request a withdrawal from an online casino, it first goes through internal processing. This involves routine checks, such as reviewing the request and confirming payment details, which usually take a few hours to a few business days. Delays are possible outside office hours or if the request is flagged.
Verification has the biggest impact on first-time withdrawals or when switching to a new payment method. Approving ID and proof of payment typically takes a few business days, but it may take over a week on offshore platforms or if extra checks are required. Once verified, future withdrawals usually move faster.
After internal processing and verification approval, the payout time depends on the method used:
Method | Average Withdrawal Time | Availability |
E-Wallets | Same day, often within hours | Swiss-licensed and offshore casinos |
Bank Cards | 2 to 5 business days | Swiss-licensed and offshore casinos |
Bank Transfers | 3 to 5 business days | Swiss-licensed and offshore casinos |
Cryptocurrencies | Under 1 hour | Offshore casinos only |
It’s worth noting that even when an offshore casino offers cards or bank withdrawals as options, banks and processors might still block or reverse them if the transaction is flagged.