How is the Swiss money-gaming market divided, and who supervises each part?
Casino games are supervised by the federal Gaming Board (ESBK); large games (lotteries, sports betting, large skill games) by the intercantonal authority Gespa; small games (small lotteries and tombolas, local sports bets, small poker tournaments) mainly by each canton. Small skill games, private games and promotional games need no licence.
* Federal, intercantonal and cantonal supervision, plus a licence-free zone *
| Category | Examples | Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Casino games (Spielbankenspiele) | roulette, slot machines, online casino | ESBK (Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission, Federal Gaming Board) |
| Large games (Grossspiele) | lotteries, sports betting, large skill games | cantons, through the intercantonal authority Gespa |
| Small games (Kleinspiele) | small lotteries, tombolas, local sports bets, small poker tournaments | mainly the canton itself |
| Free (no licence) | small skill games, games in a private circle, promotional lotteries | none |
All categories except the last need a licence (bewilligungspflichtig). Lotteries and sports betting are run by two regional monopolies: Swisslos (German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino) and the Loterie Romande. Their profits go to good causes such as sport and culture, which gives the state a financial interest in the very games whose risks it regulates.
Go deeper:
ESBK — Federal Gaming Board — supervisor of casino and online casino games (German).- Gespa — intercantonal gambling supervisor — supervisor of lotteries, sports betting and large skill games (German).