Crash Gambling Legality Worldwide
Crash gambling is all the rage right now, with “Aviator”, by far the most popular crash game, boasting a fan base of over 10 million active players monthly as of February 2024.
However, when it comes to legality, crash games are stuck between a rock and a hard place in some respects. The issue that legislators an regulators have is that they cannot classify the game as either a slot nor a table game.
The experts at Crash Gambler have prepared a thorough guide to the legality of crash gambling worldwide.
In this short introduction to this complex topic, we’ll cover all the essential information and the vocabulary you’ll need to understand the big picture:
Offshore Casinos and Legal Grey Areas
The unbreakable bond between crash games and offshore casinos lies in cryptocurrency. Namely, most crash games belong to the group of provably fair games. These games are based on blockchain technology, allowing users to verify each round’s outcome and ensure it is completely random.
Therefore, cryptocurrencies power crash games and cryptos are not legally accepted in all regulated jurisdictions. This is where offshore casinos come into play. These platforms are regulated in offshore jurisdictions such as Curacao, hence the name.
Offshore casinos can not only accept cryptocurrencies but also have no legal obstacles to hosting crash games in US since all types of casino games are allowed in jurisdictions where they are licensed.
Moreover, players across the globe can access offshore casinos without any fears of legal repercussions since by playing there, they’d be technically playing in another jurisdiction, given how their servers are hosted on a territory where the local authorities hold no sway.
Furthermore, even if the state laws bar people from these sites, there haven’t been any instances recorded where people playing on offshore casinos were persecuted for it. Local regulators usually resort to a ploy involving geo-blocking, that is, having Internet Service Providers block access to casinos with servers outside the designated territory.
Crash Gambling Legality Around the World
It’s vital to note that crash gambling is not legal in all countries and territories. Even in countries like the USA or areas like the European Union, where a level of federal or interstate legislature exists, we have states and countries with entirely different views of gambling.
Let’s see how that works through some exciting examples:
United States
The legality of crash gambling in the US is arranged at a local level. Each state is well within its purview to authorize online casino gambling, and so far among those countries are: New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
The seventh state is expected to be Rhode Island, which passed the bill legalizing online casinos in June 2023. The first platforms are scheduled to launch on March 1st, 2024.
If you want to access crash games legally in the USA, make sure you do so in states that allow you to do so. Many gamblers from the USA still find refuge in offshore casinos where crash games are available in abundance.
Canada
The situation in Canada is similar to the one in the US. First of all, Canadian provinces can decide whether they want to legalize online gambling or not, and Ontario is a shining example of legalization done right.
Namely, as of April 4, 2022, all online casinos that have completed the AGCO’s registration process and have signed an agreement with iGaming Ontario can offer all types of casino games, including crash games, which are completely in accordance with the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
Canada’s goal is to minimize the participation of players in offshore casinos by offering them secure and regulated domestic platforms.
Europe
In Europe, the United Kingdom has one of the most advanced gambling legislatures that, among other things, allows legal online casinos to offer crash gambling. For example, games such as Maverick X from 1×2 Network are UKGC-certified, and the full list of regulated software can be found here. Conversely, countries like France and Cyprus prohibit slot-like casinos and crash games. The regulation landscape in Europe is best described as highly diverse.
Australia
In Australia, it’s illegal to provide online casino gambling to anyone in the country, as per the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and the ban takes into account crash gambling as well.
Australia is constantly fighting a battle with offshore casino operators that target their residents and entice them with both bonuses and a rich crash game selection.
As we’ve navigated through the murky waters of crash gambling’s legality, it’s clear that legislation is an ever-evolving field that varies widely from one jurisdiction to another.
The relationship between crash games, offshore casinos, and cryptocurrency creates a complex legal landscape.
For enthusiasts and players keen on understanding the full scope of crash gambling’s legality beyond the countries discussed, diving into the complete guide on Crash Gambler is useful reading, offering insights, ensuring players make informed decisions in this rapidly changing arena.
GamblingIndustryNews.com - iGaming News, Data, Features & Events