Sports Betting Switzerland
Sports betting in Switzerland has a long history and is becoming increasingly popular with sports fans. This is not surprising at all, as the country is located in the heart of the Alps and is considered the home of many winter sports.
But since 2019, when the “Federal Law on Money Games” came into force, the situation with sports betting Switzerland does not look too encouraging. This is because the legislator has equated online sports betting Switzerland with gambling. Consequently, it also requires internationally active betting providers to have a Swiss licence. In order to obtain such a licence, the providers must be domiciled in Switzerland.
Here are some top casinos with sports betting:
The complicated legal situation around sports betting in Switzerland
Due to the new Swiss legislation, many of the world’s well-known betting sites such as Tipico, Mr Green or BetVictor have withdrawn from the Swiss market. The end result is that Swiss betting fans have only a very limited choice of sports betting Switzerland that one can use absolutely legally. It is true that there are also many international online sports betting providers that continue to present numerous betting markets to Swiss customers without a Swiss licence. However, these run the risk of ending up on the restricted lists of the Federal Gaming Commission. Although it is not a criminal offence to circumvent the blocking by using a VPN network, this means that the customer has absolutely no legal protection.
Which forms of sports betting in Switzerland are legal?
In order to limit gambling addiction and to keep revenues from sports betting Switzerland within the country, the Swiss Confederation has in fact legally confirmed a state monopoly.
Accordingly, only Swisslos, the Swiss lottery company for the cantons of German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, and Loterie Romande for the six French-speaking cantons may offer sports betting Switzerland. The corresponding sites for sports betting Switzerland are called “Sporttip” and “Jouez Sport”. All other providers of sports betting in Switzerland are therefore illegal and you play with them entirely at your own risk.
So that you do not run the risk of entrusting your money to a dubious betting provider, we have summarised the most important characteristics of a trustworthy sports betting site here.
This is what makes a good provider for sports betting Switzerland
In order to avoid any doubt about the seriousness and security of a betting provider, pay attention to the following points when choosing a sports betting provider:
Secure payment methods for sports betting Switzerland
A look at the cashier section of the sports betting provider in Switzerland is always recommended. Established payment methods with credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard should be available here. In addition, practical e-wallets and prepaid cards are equally desirable. Ideally, the sports betting Switzerland provider does not charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals.
Sports betting Switzerland customer service
Regardless of whether you are a beginner or a betting professional, questions can always arise when betting. To ensure that filling out the betting slip online does not become an insurmountable problem and to better manage one’s betting account, reliable customer service counts for a lot. The best way to reach the friendly staff is through all possible channels, including email and live chat.
Fair bonus offers
Every bettor in Switzerland is happy when they receive a bonus for their first deposit. Our experience shows that it is usually for amounts of around CHF 400. However, in order to be able to use the bonus money properly, it is essential to pay attention to the turnover conditions. We would describe the following bonus conditions as fair:
- a maximum turnover of 5x to 7x the sum of the bonus and deposit
- a period of 7 to 30 days to release the bonus
- a maximum bet amount of at least 10% of the bonus
- a minimum odds of 1.20 to 2.00 required
Surely every sports betting fan asks himself what the situation is with taxes when betting in Switzerland. The answer is coming soon.
Taxation of winnings from sports betting Switzerland
Naturally, the Swiss state wants to earn money from betting. The regulations stipulate that all winnings above CHF 1,000 must be taxed. These are local providers for sports betting Switzerland that have the corresponding Swiss licence. If you have successfully bet with international online bookmakers, your winnings are fully taxable.
Since tax fraud is not tolerated in Switzerland, we recommend that you always keep a complete betting record where every win is noted. This may seem annoying and obligatory, but the extra effort is worth it not only because you don’t lose track and forget any taxable information. With a profit-loss account, you get important insights into how successful your betting strategy is.
However, if you earn so much from sports betting in Switzerland that it can be considered a professional betting activity, it is advisable to consult a tax advisor.
The most popular sports for sports betting Switzerland
As already mentioned, due to the country’s location in the middle of Europe’s largest mountain range, winter sports are particularly popular with Swiss betting fans. As a result, Alpine skiing, ski jumping and cross-country skiing are almost always available at Swiss betting providers.
Bobsleighing, invented in 1881 in St. Moritz, is also a popular target for sports betting. Curling and ice hockey round out the winter sports on offer at typical Swiss sportsbooks.
Swiss fans, like the rest of the world, are naturally crazy about football. This is also noticeable in sports betting Switzerland, with 80% of all sports bets being placed on this very sport. The English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A are particularly eagerly bet on. Locally, the Raiffeisen Super League is also offered.
But Swiss betting fans do not have to do without bets on tennis, boxing and horse racing either. In recent years, more and more e-sports such as FIFA, CSGO and DotA2 have been offered by Swiss betting providers. However, eSports are not yet widespread and so the betting odds vary widely among the providers. That is why it is worth comparing the odds. Or you can bet on a so-called Surebet, a bet where you always win. If you are wondering how such sports betting Switzerland works, the answer is straight away. If the odds differ greatly, you place your bet on the highest odds at several betting sites. The contenders for victory are different and so one of the bets always wins.
Online sports betting Switzerland
Although Switzerland is not making it easy for betting providers to comply with the strict legal guidelines, betting fans will continue to enjoy sports betting Switzerland. The licensed providers ensure a fairly extensive selection of sports, both from Switzerland and from all over the world. The most common betting markets such as single bets, combined bets, live bets and handicap bets are also represented in the Swiss sports betting. So there’s not much standing in the way of your betting fun on popular sports online in Switzerland.