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Switzerland is a small European country known for its neutrality and is divided into 26 cantons, each operating independently. However, unlike most other countries comprising independent sectors, Switzerland had no issues setting a solid legislative foundation to make online betting in Switzerland legal and available.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at Switzerland's online betting industry and touch on three important topics, including:
- Where to find the best bookmakers in Switzerland?
- Where can you find the best betting promotions on Swiss sportsbooks?
- What's the legal situation of sports betting in the country?
Full List of Switzerland Betting Sites
Switzerland has done a fine job setting up its gambling industry. While the laws are very strict and allow only licensed sportsbooks to operate in the country, the government doesn't prosecute anyone who uses foreign bookmakers.
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Great marketsMobile appLive streamingIt gives locals access to nearly any bookmaker, and most prefer using foreign sportsbooks since they're regarded as the best betting sites in Switzerland. Still, there is no shortage of excellent bookmakers with a local gambling license, ensuring punters have plenty of options when deciding which bookmaker to use.
MyBookie
MyBookie is one of the most recognizable names in the betting industry and one of the biggest sportsbooks and online casinos. It is known for its generous offer of betting markets and many online casino games; however, it doesn't fall under the category of licensed bookmakers in Switzerland.
Licensed by the Government & Laws of Curacao, MyBookie is a legal sportsbook; however, best bet sites that work in Switzerland must have a local license to operate legally. MyBookie doesn't.
MyBookie is still accessible to Swiss punters through a VPN service, and as there are no reports of bettors being prosecuted for using unlicensed bookies, MyBookie remains an option.
Xbet
Xbet is a MyBookie clone, so it comes with the same pros and cons. That includes solid odds, great market coverage, and a generous selection of online casino games. Moreover, Xbet offers live wagering and generous betting promotions, including sign-up offers and other bonuses.
However, like MyBokie, Xbet is only accessible through a VPN as it doesn't own a local gambling license in Switzerland.
Everygame
Everygame is an online casino and bookie that made a name for itself by offering generous betting odds, excellent market coverage, and a great mobile app. It can rival any of the best sports betting sites of Switzerland.
Besides its solid wagering odds offer, Everygame also comes with some of the best betting bonuses and promotions, which include deposit bonuses, enhanced odds, and more. And to top it all off, Everygame has one of the best mobile apps available.
BetUS
BetUS is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the United States and one of the biggest betting brands in the industry. It's especially popular among punters who bet on American sports and leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB due to BetUS' excellent promotions and bonuses for the most popular markets.
While BetUS, like other sportsbooks, also offers online casinos, it's overshadowed by the sports betting markets, which cover a plethora of sports with competitive odds and an excellent selection of Swiss bet options.
Swiss punters can access this sports gambling website; however, a VPN is necessary.
BetOnline
BetOnline falls in the same category as BetUS, as it is one of the world's biggest and most recognizable names in the betting industry. It offers highly competitive wagering odds, excellent market coverage, and some of the best betting promotions, including a welcome bonus, free bets, reload bonuses, and special promotions during big sports competitions.
Despite rivaling any of the top sports betting sites in Switzerland, BetOnline doesn't have a Swiss gambling license; hence, it is only accessible through a VPN for Swiss bettors.
How We Test & Review Swiss Betting Sites
We must follow specific criteria to recognize the best sportsbooks when ranking bookmakers. And while many factors go into determining which bookies are a solid choice, it's often enough to look over some of the most important factors.
| Criteria | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ❕ Security | It is the most important factor that goes into determining which sportsbooks are worth our attention. While there are way more legal bookmakers than illegal sportsbooks, we must determine whether a sportsbook has a valid gambling license, ensuring that punters' money and personal information are safe |
| ❕ Reputation | In Switzerland, betting sites with licenses are all reputable due to the strict licensing laws. However, it is possible to come across a legal and licensed bookmaker with a bad reputation, whether it's a shady past, slow payout, or other reasons. |
| ❕ Betting odds | Good betting odds are among the most important factors determining a good bookmaker, as they dictate how much money a punter can make long-term. |
| ❕ Market coverage | Just as important as competitive betting odds is solid market coverage, which includes more than just major sports. |
| ❕ Mobile app | As of 2024, most bookmakers offer an optimized mobile website; however, having an app is far more convenient. It isn't as important for those who bet from their computers; however, a mobile app can be very convenient. |
Popular Bonuses & Promotions for Swiss Bettors
It's nearly impossible to find a betting platform that doesn't have any bonuses and promotions available. At the very least, sportsbooks will have a welcome bonus to attract new users, yet most also have other promotions. And betting sites in Switzerland are no exception to that rule.
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Every licensed bookmaker in Switzerland will have a welcome bonus, typically a matched deposit offer, after you log in for the first time. With it, the bookmaker matches the punter's first deposit to a certain amount, awarding free wagering cash.
Besides the welcome deposit offer, sports betting sites offer free bets, reload bonuses, enhanced odds, and other special promotions – usually during important sporting events. The actual number of bonuses and their quality will vary from one bookmaker to another, so it's smart to have more than one betting account to take advantage of all promotions.
The Most Popular Sports Markets in Switzerland
Sports betting in Switzerland is very popular mainly because there's a huge interest in sports, particularly football, tennis, basketball, and ice hockey, 4 of the country's most popular sports.
It explains why all Swiss betting sites offer betting markets on football, ice hockey, tennis, and basketball, but the selection doesn't stop there. Swiss punters are also very active in betting on other winter sports, especially alpine skiing and ski jumping, as well as some niche sports such as darts. UFC betting in Switzerland is also very popular.
So, while there's a clear preference in some sports, Swiss punters bet on a wide selection of sports and don't struggle to find sportsbooks that offer markets for them.
How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Switzerland
Due to the strict laws Switzerland has regarding its betting industry, the country has issued licenses only to the best and most reputable bookmakers. So, while punters can feel safe picking any licensed bookmaker, there are still a few things to consider when trying to find the best one.
- Good odds – Bettors must use bookmakers with the best odds; however, there is no betting site with the best offer. Often, one bookmaker will have better odds on specific markets, so, for example, those who want to start football betting in Switzerland should consider betting sites with the best offers.
- Market coverage – Good market coverage is just as important as quality odds. Even those who bet only on major league should consider signing up with sportsbooks with good market coverage to have more options when placing bets.
- Functional website – All good betting sites will have a functional website that works without issues or delays, ensuring an enjoyable betting experience.
- Mobile app – Mobile bettors should consider registering exclusively with bookmakers that have a mobile app. While a mobile website can offer a solid betting experience, it can't compare to a well-made mobile app.
While there are many things to consider when deciding which bookmaker to use, most top betting brands check those marks.
Popular Payment Methods
Despite having very strict betting laws, Switzerland has no specific limitation on which payment methods punters can use to deposit money into their betting accounts. Even Swiss banks don't block any money transfers to gambling sites, so those who use top sports betting sites in Switzerland and deposit using credit and debit cards are an option.
However, it's important to note that there is a 1-2% fee on all deposits with credit and debit cards. That's one of the main reasons Swiss punters prefer E-wallets for their deposits, and recently, people have started using crypto deposits as a safer and faster alternative.
Unfortunately, most bookmakers don't accept crypto deposits yet, making this method far less popular than E-wallets.
Mobile Betting Sites & Betting Apps in Switzerland
Mobile betting has become the main way to bet on sports, mainly among younger punters. Betting sites have recognized that and put in the resources to provide an enjoyable betting experience through an optimized mobile website or a dedicated app.
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Most bookmakers swear by mobile websites, which do the job fine, but mobile bettors should consider using a mobile app, which is far more convenient. Thankfully, most top bookmakers have a mobile app, such as bet365, William Hill, and other prominent brands, ensuring that even mobile bettors have plenty of options.
Legality of Sports Betting in Switzerland
The Swiss betting market opened in 1998 when the country introduced the first gambling legislation, allowing locals to access numerous sportsbooks. However, this was only the first step towards legalizing sports betting in the country.
Twenty years later, in 2018, the government overhauled the online sector by implementing the Money Gaming Act, which is still in force. It introduced many changes, the most notable being a higher cap on taxable winnings, with all allocations from net winnings needing to be directed to charitable purposes.
From a punter's perspective, the most significant change was the government clamping down on unlicensed bookies with ISP blocks and banning foreign betting sites without a local gambling license. With that, in Switzerland, bookmakers have to own a valid gambling license to operate.
Switzerland has a very strict law regarding online sports betting, and even though the country is divided into 26 cantons, it has managed to form a unified law, which makes sports betting not only accessible but also helps create a safe betting environment.
Betting Tax in Switzerland
Betting is very popular in Switzerland, with locals using online sportsbooks and betting shops. However, while in Switzerland, betting apps and bookmakers are easily accessible, locals are taxed on gambling winnings.
As per Swiss law, all earnings above CHF 1.000.000 are taxable, with the sum automatically deducted from the total payout. This law, however, doesn't apply to online betting with unlicensed operators – which, while not legal to use, can still be used without the fear of prosecution.
History & Future Trends of Online Gambling in Switzerland
Switzerland took its first step towards legalizing sports betting in 1998 and improved it further with the Money Gaming Act in 2018. Since then, the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) has helped create a firm legislative environment.
Switzerland has done a fine job developing its online betting industry, especially with the introduction of the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority, which acts as the main regulatory body. Since then, not much has changed, and it's unlikely that we will see any major shifts anytime soon.
Even though the operators have to battle the strict rules, for bettors, this isn't as big of an issue as anyone can bet in Switzerland how they like. However, under the current rules, it seems like Switzerland isn't too keen on accepting international sportsbooks, which is one area that could change in the coming years.
Switzerland Overview
Switzerland is an interesting country from a betting perspective, having managed to create a stable betting industry despite being divided into over two dozen parts.
We have shared BetZillion's views on all important factors of the Swiss betting market, but there are a few more interesting details about Switzerland and betting there we have to touch on.
- Bern is the capital of Switzerland but only the fourth most populated city, behind Basel, Geneva, and Zurich, the largest cities in the country.
- Switzerland is one of the few countries with multiple national languages, including Romanish, German, French, and Italian.
- Most Swiss bettors deposit money into sportsbooks in Swiss Francs; however, using the Euro or various cryptocurrencies to fund betting accounts is also possible.
- Some of the most popular payment methods among Swiss punters are credit cards, debit cards, E-wallets, and crypto deposits.
- Switzerland's most popular and legal online bookmakers are Bet365, William Hill, Bwin, and Betway.
- The most popular sports in Switzerland are football, basketball, ice hockey, winter sports, and tennis.
- Switzerland has many major sporting leagues and competitions, including the Swiss Super League, the Swiss Basketball League, and the National League.
- Some of Switzerland's most successful and recognizable sports teams include HC Davos, Fribourg Olympic, and Grasshopper.
- Switzerland has produced many highly successful athletes, such as Roger Federer, Fabian Cancellara, Granit Xhaka, and Vreni Schneider.
- Despite not being popular among bettors, Switzerland is home to Schwingen, a Swiss wrestling, which comes from an old tradition from the rural central cantons.
- Switzerland has won 116 gold medals at the Olympics, including one from the 1896 Olympics in Athens.
- Of the 116 Olympic gold medals, Switzerland has won 27 from alpine skiing, 16 from gymnastics, and ten from bobsleigh, as three of the country’s most successful disciplines.
Bottom Line
That concludes our article, teaching you everything there is to know about betting in Switzerland and how to approach it correctly. Equipped with all that knowledge, it's time to sign up with the best Swiss betting sites, find the best bonuses, and start wagering, but remember to gamble responsibly and never wager with more than you can afford to lose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Is sports betting legal in Switzerland?Yes, sports betting in Switzerland is legal and has been since 1998. Twenty years later, in 2018, Switzerland further strengthened its betting industry with the Money Gaming Act 2018 and the introduction of the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa), introducing a fully regulated market.
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Which is the most common odds format in Switzerland?As a European country, Swiss bettors prefer to use the decimal odds format, which is common across most of Europe. However, all bookmakers allow punters to switch between formats, making using fractional or American odds formats possible.
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Is online betting popular in Switzerland?Yes, online betting is very popular in Switzerland. While locals also have access to numerous brick-and-mortar shops, most sports betting in Switzerland is online.
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Which betting sites accept Swiss players?The number of bookmakers that accept Swiss players continues to grow as more and more operators start applying for local gambling licenses. Some of the most notable names that accept Swiss bettors include Bet365, FEZBet, 20bet, and William Hill.
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How can I deposit on Swiss betting sites?The Swiss government has not restricted which payment methods punters can use to deposit money in their betting accounts. Even banks don’t prohibit deposits on gambling sites, making bank transfers or credit/debit cards a viable option.
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What is the age limit to place a sports bet in Switzerland?In Switzerland, you must be at least 18 years old to register and bet on online betting sites legally. The same age limit applies to betting at brick-and-mortar shops or visiting casinos.
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What is the most popular sport on Switzerland bet sites?The most popular sports on Swiss betting sites are football, ice hockey, athletics, tennis, and winter sports such as alpine skiing and ski jumping. Swiss betting sites offer more markets than that, including more niche sports such as darts, bowling, or water polo.
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How to get the most out of Swiss betting sites?To get the most out of Swiss betting sites, taking advantage of any bonuses and promotions is important. That mainly includes welcome bonuses, often a matched deposit bonus.
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What are the risks of betting on Swiss sites?Those using local bookmakers or sportsbooks with a local gambling license don’t risk anything, as the license protects them. Swiss bettors can also access unlicensed bookmakers without being prosecuted; however, they forfeit the protection ensured by the gambling license.
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Is bet365 legal in Switzerland?bet365 is one of the most popular international bookmakers in Switzerland. Even though it is delisted, Swiss bettors can still access it through mirror sites and open an account without issues.
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