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Aims To provide an overview of gambling and problem gambling in Switzerland, including historical aspects, past andcurrent legislation and policies, treatment options and the research base. Methods A literature search was conductedon two databases (PubMed and PsycINFO), and official government and statistical reports selected from the officialwebsites of four sources (Federal Office of Justice; Federal Gambling Board; Federal Office of Statistics; Swiss Lottery andBetting Board).Results After a history of banning or partial banning, Swiss gambling became regulated at the beginningof the 20th century through successive laws. The current system is characterized by important differences in the law andpolicies for casinos and lotteries, and contradictions in the regulation of these two areas are still under debate in order todevelop new legislation. Gambling is widespread in Switzerland, and the prevalence of problem gambling in this countrywas comparable to that in other European countries in 2014. Most gambling treatment facilities are integrated intomental health treatment services that have out-patient programmes, and treatment for problem gambling is covered bya universal compulsory Swiss health insurance system. The availability of public funding for gambling research is stilllimited.Conclusions Switzerland needs to develop a more coherent regulatory and prevention policy approach togambling, overcoming conflicts in the current dual system of federal and cantonal regulation. Recent efforts to enhancefunding for gambling research are promising, and could lead to a more systematic analysis of the efficacy of preventionand treatment programmes.