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Online Casinos: What You Need to Know!

Everything you need to know about online casinos, all in one place. The rules of the classic games, the house edge for each game in numbers, a calculator that shows you what a bonus is really worth, a glossary for every term you come across, and the hard facts about security, taxes, and player protection in Switzerland.

Casino Classics: Rules, Odds, Strategy

These seven games cover just about everything you’ll find at a Swiss online casino. Each has its own rules, house edge, and unique character. Some reward good decisions, while others are purely a matter of luck. Choose the one that’s right for you; each guide explains the game from scratch.

House Edge Comparison: Where You Have the Best Odds

The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has in every game. It tells you what percentage of your bet you’ll lose on average over a very large number of rounds. With a 2.7% house edge and a total bet of 100 francs, statistically 2.70 francs remain with the casino.

This is the most important factor in all of gambling—and the only one you can actively influence. Not through strategy, but through your choice of game and bet. The difference between the best and worst bets in this table is a factor of 12.

Game / Bet house edge Luck or Skill Our Tip
Craps – Odds Bet 0% Luck The only fair bet in the casino. Can only be placed as a side bet to the Pass Line.
Blackjack (Basic Strategy) approx. 0.5% Skill Only with correct basic strategy. Without it, the value increases significantly.
Baccarat – Banco (Bank) approx. 1.06% Luck Already includes the 5% commission. The best bet in baccarat.
Baccarat – Punto (Player) approx. 1.24% Luck A solid alternative, only slightly worse than Banco.
French Roulette (Simple Bets) approx. 1.35% Luck Thanks to “La Partage,” this is the fairest version of roulette. Rarely available.
Craps – Don't Pass approx. 1.36% Luck Slightly better than Pass Line, but played against the house.
Craps – Pass Line approx. 1.41% Luck The standard bet and the best way to get started with the game.
Craps – Place 6 or 8 approx. 1.5% Luck A good addition once you understand how the game works.
Ultimate Texas Hold'em approx. 2.2% Mix Based on the ante. Poor decisions significantly increase this value.
European Roulette (single zero) 2.7% Luck The standard in Swiss casinos. Applies equally to all types of bets.
Online Slots (RTP 96%) approx. 3–6% Luck Depends directly on the RTP. A slot with an RTP of 96% or higher is considered solid.
American Roulette (Double Zero) 5.26% Luck Almost twice as expensive as European roulette. Never play it if there are alternatives.
Craps – Field approx. 5.5% Luck It looks attractive, but it costs you four times as much as the Pass Line.
Baccarat – Tie approx. 14% Luck The 8:1 withdrawal is misleading. One of the worst bets there is.
Craps – Any Seven approx. 16.7% Luck The most expensive common casino bet. Stay away from it.
Poker (against other players) No house edge Skill-based The casino makes money through the rake, not by beating you. Your opponents are the risk.

Important to understand: The house edge is a long-term figure based on tens of thousands of rounds. In a single session, you can win or lose at any given game; this number says nothing about how your evening will go. However, it does tell you very precisely which game will deplete your budget faster.

Swiss Casinos Online

Discover the legal online offering of Swiss casinos. In our online casino comparison we have listed and rated the best options.

Bonus Revenue Calculator: What Is the Bonus Really Worth?

“100% bonus up to CHF 500” sounds like free money. But it almost never is. The key factor is the wagering requirement: It determines how many times you have to wager the amount before you’re allowed to make a withdrawal. And whether only the bonus or the bonus plus your deposit can be wagered—that one difference doubles the requirement.

Enter your numbers. The calculator will show you how much you need to wager in total and what the wagering requirements will cost you statistically.

Bonus + Deposit = Bonus Only = Rounds at Mathematically in your favor. Under these terms, the bonus is worth more than what it costs you on average to meet the wagering requirements. Offers like this are rare—check the original terms and conditions carefully. On the borderline. On average, the bonus costs you more than it brings in, but within a manageable range. It’s okay if viewed as extended playtime—but not as a winning strategy. Mathematically to your disadvantage. To clear this bonus, you’ll statistically lose significantly more than it’s worth. A lower wagering multiplier or a condition that applies only to the bonus makes all the difference.

It's in the bonus terms and conditions. "Bonus + deposit" doubles your effort.

96% is a realistic average for slots.

Almost every bonus has a time limit. Determine how long you'll need.

Bonus amount you'll receive
Total Starting Balance
Revenue Basis
Required Total Revenue
Statistical Loss During Conversion
Minimum number of laps
Actual value of the bonus
Bonus amount minus statistical loss

Here’s how to interpret the result: The calculator uses the statistical expected value. It doesn’t tell you whether you’ll win tonight—it tells you whether the bonus offer is mathematically structured in your favor or not. This analysis does not take into account time limits, playthrough requirements, or win caps; in practice, these factors tend to make the situation even worse. Always check the original bonus terms and conditions.

Bonuses at Swiss Casinos

Check out our analysis of the best bonuses at licensed Swiss online casinos.

How to Spot a Reputable Online Casino: The 8-Point Checklist

In Switzerland, the situation is relatively straightforward: Online casinos may only be legally operated by casinos that hold a concession from the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK). Anything else—no matter how professional the website may look—is an offshore operator not subject to Swiss regulation.

The difference isn’t just theoretical. With a licensed operator, Swiss law applies: you have a complaints office, your deposits are protected, and gambling exclusions are enforced throughout Switzerland. With a Curaçao-based operator, you have virtually no recourse in the event of a dispute. Go through these eight points before you make a deposit anywhere.

Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) concession in the Legal Notice

The license number and the name of the Swiss casino must be included in the legal notice. If either is missing, the operator is not licensed in Switzerland.

Certified Random Number Generator

The RNG must be certified by an independent body. Reputable operators openly disclose the name of the certifying body.

SSL Encryption and 2FA

The padlock icon in the browser is required; two-factor authentication should at least be offered.

Swiss Payment Methods

TWINT, PostFinance, or Swiss credit cards are a strong indicator. If only cryptocurrency and obscure e-wallets are offered, that’s a red flag.

Limits and self-exclusion options are available

Deposit and loss limits, as well as the self-exclusion feature, must be accessible with just a few clicks—not buried in the Terms and Conditions.

Bonus Terms and Conditions Fully Readable

The wagering multiplier, turnover base, time limit, and maximum bet must be visible before registration. Anyone who hides this information has their reasons.

Support Available in German

Try out the chat before making your first deposit. How quickly do you get a response, and is it helpful?

To be honest, point 1 alone pretty much decides everything. If you don’t have a Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) concession, there’s no point in going through the other seven points at all.

Unlicensed Online Casinos: Information & Risks

Again and again we come across shady online casinos being advertised on the internet, made tempting with enormous welcome bonuses. Be careful and do not fall into the trap: unlicensed online casinos can be treacherous! English language search results are particularly full of offshore sites without a Swiss license. Learn more about the risks and how to protect yourself.

Myth Check: What's True, What's Not

There are persistent half-truths circulating about gambling—some harmless, some costly. We’ve taken the nine most common ones and ranked them honestly.

MYTH: "A slot machine that hasn't made any withdrawals in a while is due to make a withdrawal soon."

FALSE. Each spin is calculated completely independently by the random number generator (RNG). The slot machine has no memory and does not know how long it has gone without making any withdrawals. The chance of the next win is exactly the same after 500 losing spins as it is after the first one.

WRONG. This is the classic gambler’s fallacy. The ball has no memory of previous rolls. The probability of rolling black on the eleventh roll is exactly 18/37, just as it was on the first roll. Most betting systems are based precisely on this misconception.

YES AND NO. The RTP is accurate—but only over millions of spins, and it refers to the total wager, not your deposit. If you deposit 100 francs and wager it multiple times, you’ve long since wagered significantly more than 100 francs. In a single session, your results can vary wildly from the RTP—either higher or lower.

ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG. The RTP is independent of your bet amount. Whether you bet 20 rappen or 20 francs doesn’t change your hit rate—only the size of your winnings and losses. The one exception: With some progressive jackpot slots, the top prize can only be won by placing the maximum bet. This is specified in the game rules.

FOR LICENSED OPERATORS: FALSE. The RNG comes from the game provider, not the casino, and is audited by independent organizations. Any manipulation would result in the loss of the concession. However, this level of security is not guaranteed with unlicensed, unregulated offshore operators—yet another reason not to play there.

WRONG. With the Martingale system, you double your bet after every loss. Mathematically, you’d need an infinite amount of money and a casino with no table limit—neither of which exists. After eight consecutive losses (which happen more often than you’d think), you’d be betting 256 times your original stake. A single streak like that wipes out hundreds of small wins.

WRONG. The name is “Marketing.” The “Insurance” is a separate side bet on whether the dealer has blackjack—with a house edge of about 7%. For players who don’t count cards, it’s a sure loss in the long run. Always decline it.

FALSE. Doing mental math isn’t a crime. However, casinos can ask you to leave the table at any time—that’s their right as the owner of the establishment. Card counting doesn’t work online anyway, because the deck is reshuffled after every round. It would only be theoretically possible at live tables with a real shuffler.

WRONG. The bonus amount alone doesn’t mean anything. A 200% bonus with a 50x wagering requirement on the bonus plus deposit is significantly worse than a 50% bonus with a 20x wagering requirement on the bonus alone. Unusually high bonuses are also a typical sign of unlicensed operators. It’s better to run the numbers using the calculator above.

Casino Glossary A–Z: All Terms Explained

RTP, volatility, scatter, La Partage, KYC—casino jargon is full of technical terms that aren’t explained anywhere. You’ll find them all here. Type a word into the search box or click on the letters.

All of terms
Ante
The minimum bet you must place at the start of a round in order to participate at all. In Ultimate Texas Hold'em, the ante is the basis on which the house edge is calculated.
Bankroll
The money you've set aside for gambling. Good bankroll management means: You set this amount in advance, never gamble beyond it, and bet only a small fraction of it per round.
No Deposit Bonus
Balance or free spins that you receive just for signing up. These are usually small, often come with particularly high wagering requirements, and are subject to a maximum payout limit.
Cashback
A portion of your net losses that the casino refunds to you—usually weekly and as bonus funds, less often as real money. Check which of the two options applies.
Cluster Pays
A slot game with no fixed paylines. Instead of symbols in a row, you win with contiguous groups of symbols that touch each other horizontally or vertically.
Cool-off
A short, self-imposed break from gaming—typically lasting 24 hours to a few days. Unlike a self-exclusion, it expires automatically and does not need to be lifted.
Croupier
The employee who runs a table game: dealing cards, rolling the ball, performing withdrawals. In card games, this person is often called a dealer.
Demo Mode
Play with play money, without registration or real-money wagers. It's the perfect way to get to know a game, its features, and its volatility before you start betting with real money.
eCOGRA
An independent, internationally active testing agency for gambling software. It tests random number generators (RNGs) and payout rates and certifies the results.
deposit limit
A limit you set on how much you can deposit per day, week, or month. Required by law in Swiss casinos. Increases are intentionally delayed.
Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK)
The Swiss Federal Gaming Board, the regulatory authority for casinos in Switzerland. It issues the concessions without which an online casino cannot legally operate here.
Free Spins
Spins on a slot machine that don't cost you any of your own money. They can be either a bonus from the casino or triggered within the game itself by scatter symbols.
Paylines
The line across the reels where symbols must land in order to count as a winning combination. Modern slots often have hundreds of these—or replace them with cluster or Megaways systems.
House Edge
The casino's mathematical advantage, expressed as a percentage of the bet. With a 2.7% house edge, the casino retains an average of 2.70 francs for every 100 francs wagered over a very large number of rounds. The counterpart to RTP.
Hit Frequency
The percentage of all spins in which a slot machine actually pays out a win. 25% means that one out of every four spins results in a payout—though the value doesn't specify how much.
jackpot
The top prize in a game. A fixed jackpot has a set amount, while a progressive jackpot continues to grow with every bet placed by all players until someone wins it.
Commission
In baccarat, the 5% commission on winning Banco bets. This compensates for the fact that the Bank hand statistically wins slightly more often—yet Banco remains the best bet.
concession
The government license to operate a casino in Switzerland, granted by the Federal Council upon the recommendation of the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK). Only licensed casinos are permitted to operate an online casino here.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
The legally required identity verification: ID, sometimes proof of address. Annoying, but a sign of quality—a casino that skips this step probably doesn't follow the rules in other areas either.
La Partage
A roulette rule: If the ball lands on zero, you get half your bet back on even-money bets. This cuts the house edge on these bets in half, from 2.7% to about 1.35%.
Live Casino
Table games with real dealers, streamed live from a studio. You place your bets digitally, but the cards and the ball are real.
Max Win
The maximum possible payout on a slot machine, expressed as a multiple of your bet—for example, 5,000x. With a bet of 1 franc, that would be 5,000 francs. This amount is extremely rare to win.
Megaways
A licensed slot system in which the number of symbols per reel changes with every spin. This results in up to 117,649 ways to win per spin.
Multiplier
A feature that multiplies a win—by a factor of x2, x10, or x100, for example. It usually appears during bonus rounds or free spins and is often the reason for a slot game’s biggest withdrawals.
Naturelle
In baccarat, a hand totaling 8 or 9 points from the first two cards. The round then ends immediately; no third card is drawn.
Odds Bet
A side bet in craps that pays out at true mathematical odds. The only bet in the entire casino with a 0% house edge—can only be placed in combination with the Pass Line.
Paytable
The in-game overview that shows you how much each symbol pays and how the features work. The only place where a slot's RTP and volatility are reliably listed.
Provider (Game Provider)
The studio that develops a game—such as Evolution, Pragmatic Play, or Play'n GO. Not the casino itself. The provider is also responsible for the random number generator (RNG).
Push
A tie between you and the dealer, typically in blackjack. You don't win anything, but you don't lose anything either—you get your bet back.
Rake
The fees that the casino takes from each pot in poker. Because you're playing against other players and not against the house, the rake is the operator's source of revenue.
reload bonus
A bonus on a subsequent deposit, not on the first one. It’s usually smaller than the welcome bonus, but often comes with more moderate wagering requirements.
RNG (random number generator (RNG))
The software that determines every outcome in a digital game—reel position, card, number. It operates without memory: Each outcome is independent of the previous one. In licensed casinos, it is certified by an external body.
RTP (Return to Player)
The theoretical payout rate of a game. A 96% RTP means that, over a very large number of rounds, 96 out of every 100 francs wagered are returned to the players. The remaining 4% is the house edge. This figure is not very meaningful for a single session.
Sabot (card tray)
The container from which the dealer draws the cards. Depending on the game, it contains several shuffled decks so that the sequence of cards cannot be predicted.
Scatter
A slot symbol that functions independently of paylines. If it appears often enough anywhere on the reels, it usually triggers free spins or a bonus round.
Auto-lock
A permanent gambling exclusion that you request yourself. In Switzerland, it applies to all licensed casinos—both online and in-person. Lifting the exclusion is subject to a review and takes time.
Soft Hand / Hard Hand
In blackjack: A soft hand contains an ace that counts as 11 (ace + 6 = soft 17)—you can safely hit. A hard hand has no ace or an ace that counts only as 1.
Split (Divide)
In blackjack: Split two cards of the same value into two separate hands, placing a second bet. You should almost always split aces and eights, but never tens and fives.
Sticky Bonus
Bonus funds that can never be withdrawn on their own—only the winnings earned with them. Once the conditions are met, the bonus amount expires and you keep the remaining balance.
Surrender (Giving Up)
In blackjack, the option to end a hopeless hand early in exchange for half the bet. This option is not offered by any operator.
Tie
In baccarat, a bet on a tie between Punto and Banco. It pays 8:1, but has a house edge of about 14%—one of the worst bets in the casino.
Tilt
A state of frustration or euphoria in which you play on emotion rather than with a clear head—usually after a string of bad luck. The most common reason why a planned budget suddenly turns into an unplanned one. The best remedy is to take a break.
TWINT
The Swiss payment app accepted by most licensed online casinos. Deposits and withdrawals are processed in francs, with no conversion fees.
Wagering Requirements
How many times you must wager a bonus amount before you can make a withdrawal of your winnings. “30x” means a 30x wagering requirement. The key factor is what the multiplier applies to: just the bonus, or the bonus plus your deposit. The latter doubles the amount you need to wager.
Loss Limit
A self-imposed limit on net losses over a given period. Once this limit is reached, the game is locked until the end of the period. This is more effective than a deposit limit because it takes winnings into account.
Volatility (Variance)
How a slot machine's winnings are distributed. "Low " means many small, frequent wins and a more relaxed gameplay experience. "High" means long dry spells, but with rare, large withdrawals. The RTP can be the same for both.
Wild
A slot symbol that substitutes for other symbols, thereby completing winning combinations. Variations include Expanding Wilds (which fill the entire reel) and Sticky Wilds (which remain in place for several spins).
Welcome Bonus
The bonus offer for new customers, usually a percentage match on the first deposit, often combined with free spins. The amount itself doesn't mean much—it's the wagering requirements that determine the actual value.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
A second login step in addition to your password—such as a code sent via an app or text message. This protects your gaming account even if your password falls into the wrong hands.
No term found. Try a different search term.

Do I have to pay taxes on casino winnings in Switzerland?

One of the most common questions—and one where the details really do matter. Switzerland makes a distinction based on where and how you played:

Where you played

Tax Treatment

Local Swiss casino (e.g., Grand Casino Lucerne, Casino Bad Ragaz)

Completely tax-free, regardless of the amount of profit.

Online Casino with a Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) concession

Tax-free up to the exemption limit of CHF 1,071,000 (as of January 1, 2026). Any amount above that is taxable.

Gambling (Lotteries, Sports Betting in Switzerland)

Also tax-free up to the same exemption limit.

Small winnings (e.g., local lottery or raffle prizes)

Tax-free.

Operators without a Swiss license

The tax exemption does not apply here. Such winnings must generally be reported as income, in addition to all other risks associated with an unlicensed operator.

The exemption limit is adjusted annually for inflation and was therefore slightly lower in previous years. There may also be minor variations at the cantonal level.

This overview is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for tax advice. If you have significant profits, it’s worth consulting a professional or contacting your cantonal tax authority. The current regulations of the Federal Tax Administration always take precedence.

Responsible gambling

One of the most common questions—and one where the details really do matter. Switzerland makes a distinction based on where and how you played:

Set Limits Before the Game

It’s best to set your deposit and loss limits right when you register—before your first session clouds your judgment.

Enable reality check

Automatic pop-ups show you, at regular intervals, how long you’ve been playing and where you stand financially.

Take Advantage of the Cool-Off Period

A short suspension lasting from 24 hours up to a few days. Can be activated easily and without requiring a reason.

Request a Self-Exclusion

Applies throughout Switzerland to all licensed casinos—both online and in-person. The most effective measure of all.

Take the self-assessment

Anonymous, scientifically validated questionnaires help you honestly assess your own gaming behavior.

Never chase losses

Trying to get back what you’ve lost is the most common warning sign. If you catch yourself doing this: Take a break.