Gambling advertising & affiliate rules by country
Reference · Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Compiled by the Gamblerfy compliance team
Gambling advertising and affiliate-marketing rules vary enormously between countries, and they've been tightening fast. This is a plain-English summary of the markets we've researched, based on each country's regulator and dated to when we checked. It is information, not legal advice — laws change; always confirm with the official regulator before acting.
| Country | Gambling advertising | Affiliate marketing | Key rule (as of Jul 2026) | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Heavily restricted | Restricted | RD 958/2020 tightly restricts gambling advertising — limited broadcast hours, curbs on welcome bonuses and sponsorship, and restrictions on affiliate marketing. Gamblerfy does not target Spain; we cover it as a verification-only reference on the DGOJ register, with no bonus or operator promotion. | DGOJ (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego) |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Permitted, regulated | Allowed | Regulated market (Law 14.790/2023). Since 17 Jul 2026, a responsible-gambling warning must occupy ≥10% of promotional content; no "investment / easy money" framing. Operators are jointly liable for affiliate content. Watch: Bill 1172/2026 would ban gambling ads. | SPA / Ministério da Fazenda |
| 🇨🇦 Ontario (Canada) | Permitted, restricted | Allowed, restricted | Regulated via iGaming Ontario. Since Feb 2024, public ads may not feature bonuses/inducements (Standard 2.05); no athletes/celebrities except responsible-gambling messages. Other Canadian provinces differ. | AGCO / iGaming Ontario |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Permitted (state-level) | Allowed, with rules | After a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, gambling is regulated at state level; 20+ states share a single multi-state licence (FSGRN/URC). Ads must align with ARCON; no targeting minors or "easy money" claims. | State regulators / FSGRN |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Permitted, heavily restricted | Allowed, strong rules | GRA 2026 Advertising Regulations: prior GRA approval (≥7 days) + KFCB classification; no celebrities/testimonials; TV/radio restricted 06:00–22:00; 20% of any ad must carry a responsible-gambling message. | GRA (ex-BCLB) / KFCB |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Sports betting only | Sportsbook only | Online casino is illegal nationally, except in Western Cape and Mpumalanga. Only licensed online sports betting is legal countrywide. Responsible-gambling messaging required in all ads. | National Gambling Board |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | New regime (from 2026) | Banned by law | Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 explicitly prohibits affiliate marketing arrangements. The law is extraterritorial; licensed-operator advertising doesn't begin until mid-2027, heavily restricted. | Dept. of Internal Affairs |
How we compiled this
Each row was checked against the country's own regulator or official legal sources at the date shown, as part of our ongoing compliance research — the same process behind our rating methodology. We only publish rules we've verified, and we re-check when a regulator changes them. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Why it matters for you
These rules shape what any honest gambling site can and can't say in each market — for example, why a site can't legally push "bonus" headlines at Ontario players, or why New Zealand is off-limits to affiliates entirely. It's also a big part of why responsible-gambling messaging is everywhere: in most regulated markets, it's the law. New to the terminology? See our betting & bonus glossary.