The Swiss High Court has ruled against attempts to block overseas online gambling platforms. The court maintained the nation’s prohibition on foreign gambling websites, dismissing appeals from three unidentified gambling organizations.
The court authorized the state-level lottery and gaming commission’s domain name system (DNS) blocking strategy, which was implemented in 2019. The court dismissed claims that the ban was against the constitution. The case was brought to the highest court earlier this year after the Intercantonal Gambling Court dismissed appeals from three unnamed Maltese gambling groups whose domains have been blocked in Switzerland since 2019.
The court determined that the DNS system, introduced after the Gambling Act was passed in 2018, was appropriate in limiting access to online gambling services not permitted in Switzerland. The court found that the system had a sufficient preventative impact on Swiss citizens accessing unauthorized operators and was more effective than other options, such as a list of monitored providers.
The complainants also argued that the ban violated Swiss law by restricting economic freedom, but this argument was also rejected.
The Swiss Supreme Court has decided that the concept of economic liberty does not extend to wagering, as the legislative body has utilized its constitutional authority to limit internet money game providers and games that are authorized and controlled within Switzerland.
The court determined: “International competition is not permitted because Swiss authorities lack adequate effective regulatory choices.”
The court did not specifically name the three gambling organizations. According to Reuters, the Federal Administrative Court last year dismissed legal actions brought by Malta’s Interwetten International Ltd, Videoslots Ltd, Bet-at-home Entertainment Ltd, and Lopoca Gaming Ltd against the Swiss Federal Gambling Commission to bypass the prohibition.
Sign up for the iGaming newsletter.