GAMBLING SUSPENSION
A gaming ban applies to all casinos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein as well as online gambling games that fall under the Federal Gambling Act – including all online gaming offers from Swisslos, La Loterie Romande and all Swiss casinos.
A voluntary, self-applied gambling ban is often an effective measure for gambling problems. You can apply for it at any time in person at a Swiss casino or in writing with a copy of your ID card. Gambling bans apply to all land-based casinos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein as well as all Swiss providers of online gambling (lotteries, sports betting, online casino and poker games).
Send the completed application form together with a copy of a valid ID (ID, passport or driving license) to a Swiss casino of your choice. We recommend that you send the application to the casino where you have mainly played. The application form is only valid with your signature. You must apply separately for gaming bans for foreign casinos.
If you want to apply for a voluntary gaming ban in person at the casino, all you need to do is bring a valid ID. It is best to ask for the person in charge when you enter the casino. You will also receive information about the conditions for lifting the gaming ban and about possible advice from external addiction specialists.
Fill out the application, sign it and attach a valid ID. Then send it by post or email to your land-based or online casino.
Voluntary suspension from playing
Ordered suspension from playing
The casinos exclude from gaming operations persons of whom they know or must assume, based on their own perceptions, based on reports from third parties, a specialist agency or a social authority, that they:
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are over-indebted.
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fail to meet their financial obligations.
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Risking stakes that are disproportionate to your income and assets.
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are addicted to gambling.
In these cases, the casinos are obliged to impose a gaming ban according to Art. 80 BGS (below) – regardless of your consent.
Gesetzliche Grundlagen
Legal basis (translated)
Federal Law on Gambling of 29 September 2017 - Article 80 - Gambling suspensions
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Casinos and organisers of large-scale online games will exclude persons from gaming operations who, based on their own observations or on reports from third parties, they know or must assume are:
a. are over-indebted or do not meet their financial obligations; or
b. make gambling bets that are disproportionate to their income and assets. -
They also exclude from gaming operations persons who they know or must assume, based on a report from a specialist agency or social welfare authority, are addicted to gambling.
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The intercantonal authority can extend the ban on gambling to other major games within the framework of the gaming permits. It can ensure exclusion from these additional games by setting a threshold and blocking the payment of winnings above this threshold.
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The gaming ban extends to casino games, large-scale games played online and large-scale games to which the intercantonal authority has extended the gaming ban in accordance with paragraph 3.
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Players can apply for a gaming ban themselves from a casino or a large-scale gaming organiser who imposes gaming bans.
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The suspension must be communicated to the person concerned in writing, stating the reasons.
Lifting of a suspension
The suspension from playing is generally not limited in time.
The casino must lift a gaming ban if the reason for the gaming ban no longer exists. A voluntary gaming ban can be lifted at the earliest three months after the entry.
In order to lift a gaming ban, the banned person must submit an application. This application must be submitted to the casino that imposed the gaming ban or to the casino where the person voluntarily opted to be banned.
Legal basis
Legal basis (translated)
Federal Law on Gambling of 29 September 2017 - Article 81 - Removal of the gambling ban
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The suspension must be lifted at the request of the person concerned if the reason for it no longer exists.
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The application must be submitted to the casino or the organizer of major games that issued the ban.
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A cantonally recognized specialist or specialist agency must be involved in the cancellation procedure.