Best Monaco betting sites

Population: 38.000
Active players: 7.000
Currency: Euro
Regulated gambling products: Casino games
Operator types: Unlicensed online bookies, casinos & lotteries / licensed land-based casinos
Designated authority: Games Control Service
Status: Unregulated

Monaco is a sovereign city-state in the south of France. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, second only to the Vatican City. The world-famous Monte Carlo Casino was opened there in 1863, in an effort to revamp the country’s broken economy and it worked miracles. The only form of gambling regulation is still the 1987 Gaming Act, which only addresses land-based casinos. The online market falls under no law and no gambling licenses have been issued.

AS Monaco is the only professional football team, winning the French league eight times, lastly in 2017, and the Coupe de France five times. They were also Champions League finalists in 2004. The absence of a legal framework on betting means that there are no restrictions against players or betting sites in Monaco. Locals are placing their bets on any international bookie they prefer, such as 1xBet and Bwin.

Betting in Monaco - 5 things to know

• The legal minimum gambling age in Monaco is 18
• There are no licensed online bookmakers in Monaco
• The Monaco Grand Prix runs since 1929 and is one of the most prestigious races in the world
• The Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the oldest in the world, open since 1863
• There are no betting shops in Monaco

Best betting sites in Monaco

Among all the betting sites Monaco has to offer, we picked the ones that deliver top odds on the Ligue 1 along with multiple betting options on a wide range of events.

Online gambling in Monaco: The legal framework

The 1987 ‘Law 1103’ relating to games of chance, is the only ever piece of legislation around Monaco gambling. The act itself states that ‘‘it does not apply to lotteries, mutual bets or prediction contests’’ thus leaving sports betting unregulated. The only area that the law covers is that of land-based casinos, where ironically enough, locals cannot enter. However, 80% of the population here are foreign nationals anyway. The Games Control Service is the regulator, under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance. In 2001, a draft bill constituted the only effort so far to regulate online gambling, but it didn’t get approved.

Online betting is still under no legal framework, meaning that local punters can access any bookmaker they wish, facing no restrictions or fines. The national lottery of Monaco got banned back in 1867, except for lotteries in the field of arts sponsoring and charities. Participating in the French lottery, as well as in online lotteries (i.e. EuroMillions), is the only gambling option for locals, apart from betting on international sportsbooks. Moreover, there is no tax model in place for bookmakers, nor land-based or online, since there is no regulating body or legal framework to define it.

Essential information for bettors

Betting is only available online in Monaco. Winnings when betting on online bookmakers are not taxed. Furthermore, you will face absolutely no restrictions when you opt for international bookies. Societe des Bains de Mer is the only authorized gambling operator in Monaco and holds a license until 2027. It operates local casinos, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo, which, be reminded, you are not allowed to enter if you are a local.

Bet Monaco: How to deposit at online bookies

The use of various payment methods is widespread in Monaco since the absence of restrictions makes things simple. Locals use bank transfer, credit/debit cards and in some cases e-wallets, like Skrill and Neteller. There’s no reason to worry about how to deposit money or withdraw your winnings, as there is no need to conceal any transactions or bother keeping your anonymity from the tax services.

The future of online betting in Monaco

The online betting environment is very welcoming for local bettors, facing no restrictions on which bookmaker they can access or not. From the operators’ point of view, it is a small market, where licensing isn’t even an option yet. With no local competition in place, international bookmakers don’t have to worry about entering the market, since they’re practically already monopolizing it online. As it stands, the future looks steady and promising for both bettors and sportsbooks. The only thing that might be a game-changer, is a rumor that France might expand its gambling jurisdiction in Monaco. If that happens, be sure that we will be reviewing all possible changes.

The complete list of bookmakers in Monaco