Cultural Crossroads: Online Gaming Experiences in Different Nations
A huge number of countries have legalised online gaming over the years. Although many places were very hesitant about it in the beginning, we have seen that a huge number of countries have tackled it in the last few decades. Where in some places it has been legal to engage in online gaming for ages, countries like the Netherlands and Germany were relatively late in legislating in this area. This finally happened for both countries only in 2021. On this page, you will read, among other things, the following about what the online gaming experience is like in different countries:
- What the most notable differences are
- Why the rules are different everywhere
- A detailed explanation
- Information about why the rules differ
Table of Contents
Different rules everywhere
Between the information and tips in this blogpost, you will read all about how online gambling works in various countries in Europe. For many countries, its legalisation has been a hot topic. After this often eventually did happen, the rules were subsequently changed in many laws. This then has to do with advertising statements, awarding bonuses to players and the minimum age. So anything can change later, as many countries are taking a dynamic approach when it comes to gambling on the internet.
What are the most notable differences?
When you want to play your favourite Aristocrat slots on SlotsUp, you have to be lucky enough to be from a country where this is actually possible. Between the European countries where internet gambling has now been legalised, there is a lot of difference in the approach they took. In some countries, advertisements are everywhere, in other places they are banned altogether. The same actually applies to bonuses, as they are seen as an extra incentive in some places. In Belgium, for instance, they are completely banned. In the Netherlands, there is a higher minimum age (24) for players who want to claim a bonus, than the minimum age (18) to play.
Overview of distinctions in several countries
To give you a bit of an idea about what the main differences are, you will see a table below. This will show you what the minimum age is per country, if it is possible to claim bonuses and whether online gambling is legalised. In this case, we have chosen the Netherlands itself and the countries closest to it, as this is most relevant.
| Country | Legislation | Bonuses | Minimum Age |
| The Netherlands | Yes | Yes | 18 years |
| Belgium | Yes | No | 21 years |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | 18 years |
| France | Yes | Yes | 18 years |
Explanation of rules for online gaming
If you really want to understand the differences about legislation in gaming by country, it is good to know where the biggest differences are. Therefore, we look at various topics and how they are handled differently in certain countries. Take a close look at these sections to understand exactly how legislation regarding gambling on the internet works and what the most important subjects are within these gambling laws.
Bonuses
Interestingly enough, we see that when it comes to bonuses, the rules can vary quite a bit. We already mentioned that in the Netherlands, for example, the minimum age to claim a bonus is higher than that to play. This is the case in more countries. However, in other places such as Belgium, bonuses are completely excluded. The conditions associated with a promotion may also be regulated. This is because it has to be realistic for players to be able to unlock the bonus. Therefore, in areas where online gambling is not regulated, you often see sky-high bonuses being offered, but at very unrealistic wagering requirements.
Payment methods
There are plenty of payment methods to choose from as a player at most online casinos. However, not everything is accepted. For Dutch players, it is possible to pay via their bank account, with credit cards and e-wallets. However, crypto payments are not yet accepted. It could be that this will change in the future, as we see rapid developments in this area as well. For now, however, new payment options are looked at quite strictly, as in most other countries.
Responsible gaming
The fact that online gambling is legalised in a certain country does not mean that responsible gaming no longer needs to be encouraged. Many countries therefore try to find a middle ground in this. In the Netherlands, players can bet online, but must first set limits at licensed casinos. This allows them to directly indicate the maximum amount they want to be able to deposit, how much time they want to spend on a gambling site per day and the amount they want to be able to withdraw. By encouraging and proactively addressing this, players are protected from themselves in advance.
Advertising
In the beginning, when online gambling had just been legalised in the Netherlands, there was a huge amount of advertising. Whether you looked on radio, television or online, everywhere you could not really avoid it. As this was taking unusual forms and the government felt that people should not be encouraged too much, it was chosen to ban advertisements from July 1st, 2023. After this moment, it will therefore no longer be possible for gambling companies to advertise directly on the Dutch market.
Minimum age
The differences in minimum age are not very big in most places. In the vast majority of countries within the European Union (EU) that have legalised gambling online, it is 18. However, there are exceptions where it is a bit higher. There may also be a different minimum age for certain other parts of an online casino, such as for claiming bonuses and promotions in certain countries. Therefore, as a player, you need to pay close attention to the exact rules in the country where you want to bet.
Customer service
As part of a gambling law in many countries, it specifies how an online casino or bookmaker must be reachable for customers and anyone who has a question or problem to be solved. Looking at the Netherlands, for example, casino sites are required to be available to their customers 24/7. This is done through various channels such as telephone, live chat and email. You can also find an extensive frequently asked questions section on online casinos’ websites, where many answers can be found to help players get started right away. If this fails, live chat is often the quickest way to solve a problem. This way you never have to wait long to get in touch with support.
