The Swiss people have a long history with casinos and gambling, in general. Since Reformation times, more conservative citizens believed that gambling was sinful and should be removed from society. Nowadays, there are almost 20 land-based casinos in the country, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere.
The first land-based casino came still in the 19th century, but laws on the issue have changed a lot over time. Switzerland has tricky and rather tight legislation on gambling. So, this article aims to assist you in your search for the best CH casinos for your favourite pastimes.
Gambling Regulator in Switzerland
Gambling winnings aren’t taxable in Switzerland, apart from some cases. Games that aren’t executed automatically, known as “small games”, are tax-free. However, such exemption is only applicable if the winning occurred on a registered cantonal venue.
The first land-based casino built in the country was the Casino Barriere de Montreux, by the banks of Lake Geneva, back in 1881. However, much older references can be found in Calvin’s preachings during the Reformation in the 16th century.
Over 70,000 players were banned from Swiss casinos until the end of last year. In 2020, 10,870 gamblers were banned, in comparison with 4,836, in 2019. The high numbers include land-based and online casinos and represent a symptom of problematic gambling.
