Legal vs. illegal casinos – test your knowledge

Congratulations on playing at jackpots.ch, and therefore in a legal Swiss online-casino! In legal Swiss online-casinos, we take player protection very seriously and focus on healthy gambling practices. This is often not the case when it comes to illegal foreign offers.

Here, we’d like to explain the difference between legal Swiss online-casinos and illegal foreign offers, describing the key differences in detail in the text. If you're short on time, take a look at the most important casino facts at a glance below. Then you can put your new knowledge to the test in the quiz.

The main differences between legal and illegal casinos

jackpots.ch holds the FGB license #516-003-01 — what this concession means for you

Legal Swiss online-casinos are licensed by the Swiss Federal Council and have official extensions to operate games online. This means that only brick-and-mortar Swiss casinos that have undergone the licensing process, including the auditing process, may offer online-casino games. These strict rules ensure that all offers are transparent, secure and state monitored. The Swiss Federal Gaming Board (FGB) is the responsible authority; it controls and monitors all regulated online- and offline-casinos.

Safety & player protection at jackpots.ch

A license is only granted if a comprehensive plan for player protection, security and money laundering prevention is submitted, and many other processes are approved. In legal Swiss online-casinos, for example, we take signs of a gambling addiction and changes in gambling behavior very seriously, and the responsible department investigates such cases in detail with the aim of identifying gambling addiction at an early stage and supporting those affected in combating it. This can be in the form of notices, breaks, loss or deposit limits or a Switzerland-wide gambling suspension.

These rules do not apply to illegal providers. They do not have a Swiss license and are not subject to the FGB. They do not have to adhere to the Swiss standards of player protection and gaming security – in the worst case, this can lead to winnings not being paid out. Their games do not have to be safe and certified according to Swiss regulations and they do not have a blocking system like Swiss casinos. For this reason, the FGB restricts such sites via DNS blocks. Unfortunately, in practice, DNS blocks often do not work well, leading to illegal offers remaining available. This makes it all the more important to be able to recognize a legal online-casino, as this is the only way you can actually play safely.

How to recognize legal Swiss online-casinos

You can view an up-to-date list of all legal Swiss online-casinos on this FGB page.

Legal Swiss online-casinos are all licensed by the FGB and have a notice to this effect on their website. Swiss online-casinos also have a domain ending in «.ch». You can also check the imprint, which contains a Swiss address. Additionally, you will find a reference to the physical casino operated by the online-casino in question in the imprint or somewhere else on the website.

Our online-casino jackpots.ch, for example, is operated by Grand Casino Baden and operates under official license from the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (FGB), under the number 516-003-01.

Benefits offered by legal online-casinos over illegal providers

Player protection: one of the biggest benefits of legal casinos is player protection. If players suspect they may be suffering from a gambling addiction, they receive expert support from our team at an early stage. The aim is to detect problematic behavior early on so that it never becomes a gambling addiction.

Data protection: legal Swiss online-casinos must comply with strict Swiss data protection laws and high IT security standards. This protects personal information and ensures that data is not misused or passed on to third parties. Illegal providers, on the other hand, can freely use, sell or store data without securing it – and without any consequences.

Certified games: all games on offer must be certified, and these certificates must be recognized by the FGB. The games’ operation is also strictly controlled after the certification. This ensures that all games are conducted fairly and are based purely on chance.

Contribution to OASI/IV: one benefit that is often underestimated is the social benefit. Swiss casinos pay a revenue-based casino levy, which is paid in full to OASI and IV. Anyone who gambles legally therefore indirectly supports Swiss social welfare services. Illegal providers, on the other hand, do not contribute to society.

Capital reserves: additionally, Swiss casinos are legally obliged to have sufficient capital reserves. This ensures that your balances, and even large winnings, are always guaranteed. This is not necessarily guaranteed at illegal online-casinos: there is also a risk that these will be suddenly blocked and your winnings will no longer be paid out.

Legal vs. illegal casinos at a glance

Casino facts at a glance

Quiz – test your knowledge!

Conclusion: play legally and stay safe

Swiss online-casinos offer security, fairness, protection and transparency in a strictly controlled environment. Legal casinos are aware of their responsibility towards the public and are committed to a responsible approach to gambling.

Anyone who plays online should therefore deliberately opt for legal Swiss providers. In addition to providing a high-quality gaming experience, they also offer comprehensive protection for all players’ health and data. Choosing a legal online-casino is therefore a winning move, no matter how the game turns out.

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