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Is Gambling Legal in Vatican City?

Prohibited
All forms of gambling are completely banned in Vatican City, reflecting Catholic Church doctrine; no licensed gambling activities or regulatory authority exist.
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    Key Information Highlights Legislation Timeline Requirements Sources

    Key Information

    Last Update 2025
    Regulatory Authority None
    License Cost Varies

    Regulation by Activity Type

    Casinos Prohibited
    Online Casinos Prohibited
    Betting Prohibited
    Online Betting Prohibited
    Lotteries Prohibited
    Poker Prohibited

    Highlights

    • Gambling is completely prohibited in Vatican City, with no legal forms of gambling permitted within its territory
    • The ban aligns with Catholic Church teachings that warn against gambling's potential for addiction and financial harm
    • Vatican City has no licensing system for gambling as all forms are forbidden, including casinos, lotteries, and sports betting
    • The status of online gambling remains ambiguous, neither explicitly legal nor illegal, and has not been formally addressed
    • Vatican City's Gendarmerie Corps enforces gambling prohibitions, though enforcement is simplified by the small territory
    • The Vatican has officially banned investments in gambling businesses as part of its ethical investment guidelines
    • The Catholic Church considers generating tax revenue from gambling to be unethical according to Vatican statements
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      Legislation

      Primary Legislation

      Vatican City maintains a comprehensive prohibition on all forms of gambling within its territory. This approach is not codified in a single, specific gambling law but is rooted in the broader legal and moral framework derived from the principles of the Roman Catholic Church and canon law. The legal system of Vatican City is heavily influenced by Catholic doctrine, which regards gambling as potentially harmful due to risks of addiction, financial distress, and moral degradation. As a result, all gambling activities—including casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling—are strictly forbidden. This prohibition is reinforced by Vatican City’s adoption of Church teachings, which, while not condemning all gambling in principle, consider it immoral when it leads to harm or exploitation. The Vatican’s legal code and administrative regulations reflect this stance, ensuring a complete ban on gambling activities within the city-state.

      Regulatory Authority

      Oversight and enforcement of the gambling prohibition in Vatican City are managed by the state’s own law enforcement and administrative bodies. There is no dedicated gambling regulatory agency, as all forms of gambling are banned. The primary authority responsible for upholding the law and ensuring compliance is the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City, which serves as the city-state’s police force. Additionally, the legislative and administrative functions are exercised by the Governorate of Vatican City State, which oversees the implementation of all legal and regulatory matters, including those related to the prohibition of gambling.
      • Enforcement of the total ban on gambling activities
      • Oversight of compliance with the legal and moral framework established by Vatican law and Catholic doctrine
      • Prevention of the establishment or operation of gambling enterprises within Vatican territory

      License Types

      Gambling Licensing System in Vatican City

      Vatican City does not have a gambling licensing system. All forms of gambling, including casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling, are strictly prohibited within the territory. This prohibition is rooted in the city-state’s adherence to the moral and ethical teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, which views gambling as potentially harmful to individuals and society.

      Types of Licenses Available

      • No gambling licenses are available for any type of gambling activity in Vatican City.
      • There are no distinctions between different forms of gambling (e.g., land-based casinos, online gambling, sports betting) as all are banned.

      Application Process

      • There is no application process for gambling licenses, as the operation of any gambling activity is not permitted.
      • No regulatory authority exists to oversee or issue gambling licenses.

      Duration, Renewal, and Eligibility

      • As no licenses are issued, there are no provisions for license duration, renewal, or eligibility criteria.

      Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements

      • There are no licensing costs, fees, or financial requirements related to gambling operations, as such activities are not allowed.

      Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses

      • There are no requirements for obtaining or maintaining gambling licenses, since the Vatican City does not permit or regulate any form of gambling.
      In summary, Vatican City maintains a complete ban on all gambling activities and does not have any licensing system or procedures for gambling operators.

      Gambling Tax

      Gambling Operator Taxation in Vatican City

      Vatican City does not have a taxation system for gambling operators. The state maintains a complete ban on all forms of gambling, including land-based casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling. As a result, there are no legal gambling operators within Vatican City, and consequently, no tax rates, payment procedures, or tax-related requirements exist for gambling activities.

      Tax Rates for Gambling Operators

      • No tax rates are established for gambling operators, as all forms of gambling are strictly prohibited.

      Basis for Taxation

      • There is no tax base (such as Gross Gaming Revenue, turnover, or other metrics) defined for gambling, since gambling operations are not permitted.

      Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements

      • No reporting or payment obligations exist for gambling-related taxes, due to the absence of any legal gambling activity or operators.

      Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions

      • There are no tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions for gambling operators, as gambling is entirely outlawed.
      In summary, Vatican City does not regulate or tax gambling operators in any form, reflecting its religious and ethical stance against gambling. No tax framework for gambling exists in the jurisdiction.

      Prohibited Individuals

      Age Restrictions and Identification Requirements

      Vatican City maintains a complete ban on gambling activities, making age restrictions and identification requirements for gambling essentially moot. Since no form of gambling is permitted within Vatican City's territory, there are no specific age verification processes or identification requirements established for gambling purposes.

      Prohibited Gambling Activities

      • All forms of casino gambling are prohibited
      • Sports betting is completely banned
      • Lotteries are not permitted
      • Online gambling is not explicitly addressed in legislation but is effectively prohibited
      • Poker and other card games when played for money are not allowed
      • Bingo and similar games of chance for monetary prizes are forbidden

      Advertising and Marketing Limitations

      Given the complete prohibition of gambling in Vatican City, all advertising and marketing of gambling services is inherently prohibited. The Vatican's stance against gambling extends to a prohibition on promoting gambling activities of any kind within its territory. This aligns with the Vatican's ethical position that generating revenue from gambling is considered unethical, as it potentially fuels addiction and creates compulsive gamblers.

      Responsible Gambling Requirements

      The Vatican's approach to responsible gambling is straightforward - a complete prohibition of all gambling activities. Rather than implementing responsible gambling measures, Vatican City has chosen to eliminate gambling entirely, reflecting the Catholic Church's moral teachings that emphasize the potential dangers of gambling addiction, financial ruin, and exploitation.

      Geographic and Location Restrictions

      The prohibition of gambling applies to the entirety of Vatican City's territory. There are no designated zones or areas where gambling is permitted as an exception to the general ban. All visitors and residents must comply with these restrictions while within Vatican City's borders. The Vatican's small size (44 hectares) and unique population composition of clergy, religious officials, and lay employees contributes to the effective enforcement of these restrictions.

      Ethical Position on Gambling

      While not a legal restriction per se, it's worth noting that the Vatican has taken a clear ethical stance against gambling. The Catholic Church does not condemn all gambling in principle but emphasizes its potential dangers. In 2022, Pope Francis issued a mandate preventing the Catholic Church from investing in gambling and other controversial industries, reinforcing the Vatican's position that gambling can lead to social harm and is not aligned with the Church's values.

      Enforcement Mechanisms

      Law enforcement regarding gambling prohibitions in Vatican City is handled by the Gendarmerie Corps. However, due to the small size of the state and its unique religious population, enforcement is relatively straightforward as there is minimal demand for gambling activities within the territory. Tourists and visitors are expected to comply with all laws, including the gambling prohibition, when within Vatican City.
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        Timeline

        Year/Date Event
        306 The Council of Elvira, an early Church council, issues Canon 79, reflecting a general prohibition on gambling within Church law. This moral stance becomes foundational for later Vatican policy.
        1929 Vatican City is established as an independent sovereign state by the Lateran Treaty. The new state adopts legal and ethical norms closely aligned with Roman Catholic doctrine, including a strict stance against gambling.
        20th Century (Throughout) Vatican City maintains a full ban on all forms of gambling—casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling—reflecting its religious and ethical principles. No legal changes or exceptions are introduced.
        2018 Vatican officials publicly reaffirm that generating tax revenue from gambling is considered unethical, emphasizing the Church’s opposition to legalizing or profiting from gambling activities.
        2022 Pope Francis issues a new mandate prohibiting all Vatican entities from investing in gambling-related businesses as part of updated ethical investment guidelines for the Holy See and its institutions.

        Requirements

        Technical and Operational Requirements for Gambling Operators in Vatican City

        Vatican City does not permit any form of gambling, including online gambling, land-based casinos, lotteries, or sports betting. As a result, there are no technical or operational requirements established for gambling operators within Vatican City. The following points summarize the regulatory landscape as it pertains to technical standards and operational compliance for gambling businesses:
        • Software Certification and Technical Standards:
          • No certification or technical standards for gambling software are defined, as all gambling activities are strictly prohibited.
        • Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location Requirements:
          • There are no specific data protection or privacy requirements for gambling operators, as such operations are not permitted or recognized within the jurisdiction.
        • Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and KYC Procedures:
          • No AML or Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures are mandated for gambling operators, due to the absence of legal gambling activities or licensed operators.
        • Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping Requirements:
          • No financial reporting, auditing, or record-keeping standards exist for gambling operators, as gambling is fully banned.
        • Technical Implementation Requirements for Responsible Gambling Tools:
          • No responsible gambling tools or technical implementation requirements are established, since all forms of gambling are outlawed.
        In summary, Vatican City maintains a complete prohibition on gambling, and therefore does not have any technical, operational, or compliance requirements for gambling operators.

        Sources

        Primary Regulatory Authorities

        Legislation Resources

        Contact Information

        • Secretariat of State: Email: segreteria@oss-rom.va Phone: +39 06 6988 3434
        • Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State: Phone: +39 06 6989 4456
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          Important Information Notice

          Gambling regulations are subject to change. The information provided on this page was accurate at the time of publication, but may not reflect the current regulatory landscape. Always consult official sources for the most up-to-date information before making any gambling-related decisions.

          Last updated: 22 April 2025