Arbusers

In the past, we discussed extensively the player’s risk score, something similar to the credit score that banks give to their clients, whenever you register an account with a bookmaker.

Now I would like to discuss some more about the Geographical risk of betting. Ever wonder why a bookmaker treats someone from Bulgaria or Croatia like a shit, while at the same time someone from France is called a ''Sir''? Now you will know why this happens.

The geographical risk is the risk posed to the operators (bookmakers or casinos) by the geographical location of the player. The nationality, residence and place of birth of the player have to be taken into consideration as these might be indicative of increased geographical risk. Countries that have a weak AML/CFT system, countries known to suffer from a significant level of corruption, countries subject to international sanctions in connection with terrorism or known to have terrorist and/or criminal organizations operating are to be considered as high risk.

So an operator will take advise from a number of lists before profiling geographically a bettor. Let’s have a look at the most important lists:

1. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist:

- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Iran
- Myanmar

The usual suspects.

2. The FATF grey list:

- Algeria
- Angola
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Haiti
- Kenya
- Laos (added in February 2025)
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Monaco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal (added in February 2025)
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen

As you noticed, there are 2 EU countries in this list, namely Bulgaria and Croatia, and of course Monaco, a state with the highest per capita concentration of billionaires globally.

3. The EU List of High-Risk Third Countries:

Afghanistan

Barbados

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gibraltar

Haiti

Iran

Jamaica

Jordan

Mali

Mozambique

Myanmar

Nigeria

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Panama

Philippines

Senegal

South Africa

South Sudan

Syria

Tanzania

Trinidad and Tobago

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Yemen

Imagine, a bookmaker based in Gibraltar, considers fellow Gibraltarians as high risk players.

4. Countries and Regions Under OFAC Sanctions:

- Iran 

- North Korea 

- Russia 

- Syria 

- Cuba
- Venezuela

- Myanmar 

- Sudan 

- Belarus 

- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Nicaragua
- Zimbabwe 

- Lebanon 

- Central African Republic
- South Sudan
- Yemen
- Ethiopia 

- Libya 

- Iraq 

- Somalia 

- Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions) 

- Afghanistan
- Hong Kong
- China 

- Turkey

These are countries with criminal records actually. Countries that keep invading other countries, Islamists, Communists, and others ists.

5. Lastly, there are the Countries identified as Jurisdictions of Concern or Primary Concern in the U.S. Department of State’s annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. This list is not available on line at this very moment. I believe it is because the US is not naming and shaming key NATO allies who act like Narcostates, where even the prime ministers are engaged in drug trade operations.

As expected, the usual suspects are in all lists, but some EU countries as well are considered very dangerous in the eyes of bookmakers. Now you know why some bookmakers are misbehaving when treating certain nationalities.

Interesting reading.

I would be even more curious to know the opposite list, if possible.

Name the countries that treat betters the best way.

You named France as example,
Of course the US, but otherwise?