In its 2025 evaluation, the Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) has found that while online player-protection measures implemented by Switzerland’s two lottery operators are largely effective, there are significant ongoing risks in sports betting and major weaknesses in age verification at retail outlets.
The gambling regulator noted that online platforms enable operators to enforce protections with greater precision compared to their physical counterparts.
According to Article 84 of the Federal Act on Money Gaming (BGS), gambling operators must submit an annual report detailing their player protection measures and how effectively they are implemented. The two operators involved in this assessment are Swisslos — the approved lottery for German-speaking Switzerland — and Loterie Romande, which serves the Francophone regions. Gespa’s evaluation acts as an independent review of the operators' reports and is published with their consent, though it's not mandatory.
The report revealed startling findings from mystery shopping efforts commissioned by Gespa. Out of 200 underage test customers, nearly half were able to place sports bets at retail outlets, with self-service terminals proving less strict than transactions aided by clerks.
This mystery shopping uncovered a significant gap in youth protection at physical betting locations. As a response, Gespa and the operators are currently discussing possible technical improvements, such as installing identity scanners for self-service machines. They are also enhancing staff training and developing additional tools to improve age verification protocols.
Among the products offered, sports betting generated the highest losses. Online gambling contributed 24% of the two operators' gross gaming income in 2025, with the remaining 76% coming from traditional retail sales. The average monthly net losses for active online players remained relatively stable compared to the previous year.
Swisslos reported average monthly losses between CHF47 ($581) and CHF83, excluding data from a significant jackpot, while Loterie Romande indicated averages ranging from CHF56 to CHF75. Sports betting, marketed by Swisslos under the brand Sporttip, recorded the highest average losses and a considerable number of players experiencing monthly losses exceeding CHF2,000. Notably, sports bettors tend to be younger and predominantly male, demographics identified as more susceptible to gambling-related issues, according to Gespa.
Gespa emphasized the need for ongoing scrutiny of the risks associated with sports betting, especially with features such as cash-out, which may promote impulsive gambling behavior and distort player's perception of control.
To mitigate risks, both operators implemented mandatory monthly loss limits for certain products — CHF2,000 and CHF900 for specific games, and a universal deposit cap of CHF10,000 across all products. Despite these limits, only a small fraction of users was significantly affected. Swisslos found that only 82 players, approximately 0.23% of those subject to the CHF2,000 cap, reached the limit at least once, while Loterie Romande recorded 160 players, or 1%.
In 2025, temporary self-exclusion was utilized by 0.57% of active players on Swisslos and 0.6% on Loterie Romande. Automated systems flagged a total of 3,048 players from Swisslos, approximately 0.47% of active users, and 220 from Loterie Romande, representing 0.12%.
Swisslos issued 76 gambling bans under Article 80 of the Federal Act on Gambling in 2025, a rise from 39 in 2024, while Loterie Romande enforced 65 bans, compared to 56 the previously year. Many bans were prompted by the players’ own requests.
Among recent changes, Loterie Romande has replaced its previous Playscan tool with a new monitoring system from Sustainable Interaction. This updated tool uses up-to-date gameplay data and self-assessment results to provide players with a seven-level risk score. Swisslos has also added deposit-flow alerts for customers trying to make a fifth deposit within a week and enhanced their information and blocking solutions, recommending tools like Gamban and Net Nanny.
Additionally, a new measure was introduced that lowers the maximum monthly loss limit to CHF1,000 for Sporttip customers aged between 18 and 21, effective March 2026.
In terms of profitability, Swisslos and Loterie Romande reported a combined net profit of CHF814 million for 2025, constituting a 4.7% decline from CHF854 million in 2024. Specifically, Swisslos’ profit decreased by 5.7% to CHF562 million, whereas Loterie Romande’s profit dropped by 2.3% to CHF252 million. Under Swiss federal regulations, these profits are allocated by cantons for public benefit areas such as culture, social services, and sports.
Looking ahead, Swisslos plans to collaborate on a research initiative with cantonal and industry partners in 2026-27 to study the behaviors of banned players and assess the effectiveness of gambling exclusions. Concurrently, the Federal Office of Statistics is set to conduct a nationwide survey on gambling behavior in 2026, with results expected in 2027.
