Online gaming tax props up land-based in Switzerland
Last year, the Federal Gaming Commission (SFGB) in Switzerland paid CHF 358m from the gaming tax to the AHV coffers with the revenue from land-based gaming services down 7.1 per cent, supplemented by revenue from online gaming services has increased, which was up 10 per cent.
The Commission carried out 38 searches as part of the fight against illegal gambling. The Federal Council took note of the 2024 activity report of the SFGB at a meeting.
In 2023, 22 companies received a concession for the period from 2025 to 2044. In 2024, the SFGB ensured that they complied with the legal requirements and that the declarations made in the licence applications were correct by means of various checks. Twenty of them have received authorization to open their doors in 2025. The remaining two, in Prilly and Winterthur, which did not have a concession in the previous period, were unable to start their activity due to construction delays and thus be controlled by the SFGB.
The various inspections carried out in the gaming houses took place during inspections. In 2024, the SFGB recorded a total of 391 inspection days, almost triple the number of last year (2023: 140 inspection days). The security and transparency of the games as well as the protection of players from the dangers of gambling were the focus of the controls.
In 2024, CHF 358 million was paid into the AHV/IV compensation fund (2023: CHF 364 million).
The CFMJ is relentlessly fighting against illegal gambling, whether in bars, restaurants, association or cultural premises, and of course on the Internet. During the year under review, the SFGB conducted 38 searches (+46% compared to 2023) and opened 132 criminal proceedings (compared to 103 in 2023, i.e. +28%). As of December 31, 2024, the list of online gaming offers blocked by the CFMJ showed 2093 entries, 601 more than at the end of 2023 (+40%).
