Gespa finds age-check failures at retail betting outlets despite strong online safeguards

Gespa concluded that player-protection measures applied by Swisslos and Loterie Romande work better in online channels, but found significant failures in age verification at physical points of sale during 2025. The intercantonal authority published a review that includes a mystery-shopping exercise in which almost half of 200 underage test customers managed to place bets at retail outlets.

Key findings of the 2025 review

The Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) evaluated the annual reports submitted by Swisslos and Loterie Romande under article 84 of the Federal Act on Money Gaming (BGS) and published its findings with the consent of both operators. Gespa noted that online channels allow responsible safeguards to be implemented and assessed more effectively than land-based sales networks.

A mystery-shopping exercise commissioned by Gespa showed that almost half of 200 underage test customers managed to place sports bets at points of sale. Self-service betting terminals proved less restrictive than staff-assisted transactions, which the regulator says reveals “significant weaknesses” at physical outlets.

Gespa and the operators are analysing technical solutions, including identity-scanning technology for self-service terminals. The operators have also introduced additional staff training, new mystery-shopping exercises and improved age-verification tools.

Product risk: sports betting

The review indicates that sports betting remains the highest-risk product. Under the Sporttip brand, operated by Swisslos, sports bets showed the highest average losses per player and the largest proportion of customers with losses above CHF2.000 monthly (approx. €2,170). Gespa adds that sports bettors tend to be younger and predominantly male, a profile associated in gambling-harm studies with greater vulnerability to harm.

The regulator highlights that added product features, such as cash-out options, can encourage impulsive behaviour or a player’s exaggerated perception of control.

Limits, exclusions and monitoring

Both operators maintain mandatory monthly loss limits and a deposit ceiling: there are caps of CHF2.000 and CHF900 for certain games, and a monthly deposit limit of CHF10.000 applicable to all product categories. Only a small proportion of players reached these limits in 2025.

Swisslos reported that 82 customers, equivalent to 0,23% of those subject to the CHF2.000 cap, hit that threshold at least once during 2025. Loterie Romande recorded 160 cases, 1% of affected players.

Temporary self-exclusion was used by 0,57% of Swisslos’s active online customers and by 0,6% of Loterie Romande’s active users. Automated monitoring systems flagged 3.048 Swisslos players (representing 0,47% of active users) and 220 Loterie Romande customers (representing 0,12% of its active base).

Swisslos imposed 76 gaming prohibitions under article 80 of the Federal Act on Money Gaming during 2025, up from 39 in 2024. Loterie Romande applied 65 prohibitions, compared with 56 the previous year. Gespa noted that a significant number of exclusions followed voluntary requests by players themselves.

Operational changes and detection tools

During 2025 Loterie Romande replaced its Playscan tool with a monitoring solution supplied by Sustainable Interaction. The system combines recent activity with self-assessment results to generate a seven-level risk rating that is shown to the customer.

Swisslos introduced new warnings for customers attempting a fifth deposit within a week and expanded information and blocking tools, including recommendations of software such as Gamban and Net Nanny. Gespa positively noted a Swisslos initiative introduced in March 2026 that reduced the maximum monthly loss limit for Sporttip customers aged 18 to 21 to CHF1.000.

Financial results and next research steps

Swisslos and Loterie Romande reported a combined net profit of CHF814m in 2025, a decrease of 4,7% versus CHF854m in 2024. Swisslos recorded a decline of 5,7% to CHF562m, and Loterie Romande a fall of 2,3% to CHF252m. Under federal rules, the operators’ profits are distributed by cantonal authorities for public-interest purposes such as sport, culture and social services.

Swisslos plans to participate in a 2026–2027 research project with cantonal and industry partners to study excluded players’ behaviour and evaluate the effectiveness of prohibitions. The Federal Office of Statistics will conduct a national study on gambling behaviour in 2026, with results expected in 2027.

Gespa set out its observations under article 84 of the Federal Act on Money Gaming; the assessment text was published with the consent of Swisslos and Loterie Romande. For more details on regulatory obligations consult the section of [regulation](/regulation).