What are offshore casino sites?

When gambling online, the term “offshore casino” is one you will see often. We explain what an offshore casino website is, why offshore casinos are so prevalent when playing on the Internet and why offshore casinos provide the safest option when gambling for real money online.

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Offshore casinos explained

An offshore casino is one that is located on foreign soil, meaning it operates outside of the laws of your country. The term “offshore” can conjure up negative connotations, but when it comes to gambling online, offshore casinos typically provide your best and safest option.

Contrary to popular belief, just because a casino is based offshore, does not mean it is free to operate however it pleases and play by its own rules. Legitimate offshore casinos that have been adequately licensed by a reputable gambling jurisdiction must run under strict laws and regulations just like any other online or land based gambling operation.

Licensed offshore casino sites provide everything required for the successful operation of an online casino, including games from leading software developers, a user-friendly instant-play platform and a variety of safe deposit and withdrawal methods catering to a range of currencies. Customer service teams are on standby to assist if you have any queries, and gaming software is audited by third-party regulatory bodies to ensure safe gambling practices, game fairness and player safety is all in check.

Why play at an offshore casino?

Most countries enforce strict laws surrounding online gambling, with many countries either banning this activity entirely or forbidding online casino vendors from operating within their borders. Therefore, playing at offshore casino sites is often your only option.

If online gambling is banned within your country, playing at an offshore casino is typically still allowed, as the casino is operating outside of the jurisdiction of your governing laws. In countries where online gambling is legal and casino licenses are granted, offshore sites still provide a good alternative as these are amongst the best, most popular casinos on the Web.

Not sure of the laws regarding online gambling in your country? Click to read our detailed country guides below and find out which leading offshore casinos cater to your region:

Some governments have gone as far as to block players from accessing offshore casinos. If you want to get around any region blocks or would simply like to benefit from an added layer of security, you should definitely consider using a trusted VPN (virtual private network) service.

Can I trust an offshore casino site?

An offshore casino site can be trusted provided it meets the following essential criteria:

  • It is licensed by a reputable gambling jurisdiction.
  • It is protected by a minimum of 128 Bit SSL (secure socket layer) digital encryption security.
  • It offers games from trusted software providers.
  • It is audited by a third-party testing agency, like eCOGRA.
  • It offers recognisable and trustworthy payment methods.
  • It supports responsible gambling practices.

You can find this information within the casino’s ‘About’ section, in the FAQ guide, or within the terms and conditions of the site. Alternatively, you can contact a customer service member using the live chat or email functions offered to present any questions you may have.

The easiest way to ensure an offshore casino is adequately licensed, regulated and of upstanding reputation is to stick with the online casinos recommended on our site. These casinos have all been tested to ensure the above requirements are met and will be removed from our recommended list if they fail to comply at any time.

Best gambling jurisdictions for offshore casino sites

Now that you have a better understanding of what an offshore casino site is, you may be wondering which countries provide the most trustworthy platforms for offshore gambling. The best gambling jurisdictions for online casinos are not the most recognisable, so don’t be put off if you are not familiar with the country a casino site is licensed in. Click our links below to learn more about the most trusted gambling jurisdictions for online casinos and what these jurisdictions do to protect players: