So buckle up, we will cover what offshore online casinos actually are, how their licensing works, what separates reputable offshore brands from the weak, as well as the risks associated with offshore online gambling. Just some facts useful to choose a casino to play the best way possible.
What “Offshore Casino” Actually Means
It’s an online operator licensed in a different country from where you play. So “offshore” is the concept that implies the geographical separation between you and that operator, and is always relative to the country you play from. If you’re playing from Sweden in a casino licensed in Malta, then Malta is offshore to you. But if you’re playing from Malta in an online casino with a Swedish license, then you change sides!
But it happened that popular opinion primarily attributes the offshore definition to places like Curaçao and Malta. Simply because their gambling legislation evolved in a way to make them attractive for online gambling operators wanting global outreach. And they started to open in such locations in droves.
Offshore vs. Unlicensed vs. Illegal are Very Different Things
Contrary to popular beliefs, the casino being offshore doesn’t outright imply it’s illegal or unlicensed. Such an operator always holds a real gaming license (or the equivalent), and is fully legal under the law of the country where it’s registered, even if the licensing requirements can be pretty lax when compared to more stringent jurisdictions.
An unlicensed casino holds no gaming license from any recognized authority. Thus isn’t bound to comply with any requirements other than those set by its goodwill. There is also no formal way for you to escalate a complaint about it, should you feel the need to, as there is no oversight.
An illegal casino actively violates either the law of the jurisdiction it operates from, the jurisdiction it’s targeting, or both. For example, it’s illegal by the license terms for Curaçao-based online casinos to attract players from the USA.
Why Offshore Online Casinos Became so Common
The concept started to take basic shape in the USA after gambling was banned almost everywhere but Nevada in 1910. By 1930 in California, mafia bosses, like Jack Dragna, and illegal gambling entrepreneurs, like Anthony Cornero, started to arrange gambling cruises. The ship would sail just outside the US 3-mile territorial water zone applicable at the time, and only then would people start playing, literally taking the game offshore!
After the post-WWII economic boom kicked in, more and more people could afford to travel outside of their country, and the concept of the gambling ship was further developed by cruise lines. Under maritime law, the ship’s flag determines jurisdiction, so if the country of the flag allowed gambling, it was legal by default on the ship anywhere in international waters.
There was a plane option for the rich card players too, as they would board a plane and fly outside the country’s airspace for a game.
The First Offshore Online Hubs
The Internet changed everything in the mid-1990s. Going on a cruise for gambling required free time and money. But now people could “travel” online for a negligible monthly Internet fee.
Curaçao saw the opportunity first, passing the National Offshore Gambling Decree in 1993, but it took until 1996 for the first licenses to be issued. So Antigua and Barbuda can be considered another offshore gambling pioneer, moving fast in 1994 with their Free Trade and Processing Act, which featured frameworks to license online gambling. Vanuatu, Nevis ( St.Kitts) and Costa Rica launched in the 90’s as well.
There were around 39 million Internet users in 1995 (according to the Telefónica research “How many Internet users are there in the world?” of 2025). The number has grown 10 times by 2000. So new offshore hubs came online with demand: Gibraltar in 1998, Kahnawake (Canada) in 1999, the Isle of Man in 2001, Malta in 2004.
How Offshore Online Casinos Outpaced the Domestic Product Despite Legal Resistance
The 2000s were the time of unrestricted online offshore casino growth, as online payments became the norm and the number of Internet users jumped to 1.03 billion by 2005 and 2.023 billion by 2010.
The legislation across the world was slow to react at first, only Australia (via the Interactive Gambling Act 2001,) and the USA (via the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006), quickly took measures. But the rest started tightening the legislative noose on iGaming in the 2010s, attempting to protect their gambling markets and prevent money drain.
France made offshore gambling illegal in 2010. The UK followed, making it illegal for the offshore online gambling operators to service players from the UK by supplementing the Gambling Act 2005 with the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.
Portugal prohibited the issue in 2015 via Decree-Law 66/2015 (or Portuguese Online Gambling Act). And Sweden reorganized Lotteriinspektionen into Spelinspektionen in 2019 through the Swedish Gaming Act (2018: 1138). And these are just a few examples.
The players, however, kept looking for offshore casinos, wanting none of their local gambling operators: often inferior in quality, bound by lower betting limits, capped deposits and bonuses, limited game choice, and jarring verification procedures.
So offshore operators continue to grow along with the domestically licensed ones, taking a major but hard-to-precisely-calculate part (may vary from 70 to 90% of total online casino number) of the market. The introduction of crypto gave them an extra boost, countering regulators' attempts in Germany, the United Kingdom, the US, Norway, and a dozen other countries to block card and bank casino payments to offshore operators.
The True Reason Behind the Casino Offshore Popularity
You might tell that’s low to zero taxes on revenue, and that’s right. But it gets a bit more complex than that.
Most offshore gambling hubs have small populations of some dozen thousand (like the Isle of Man, 85.000) to a few hundred thousand people (Malta, around 590.000). Only Panama (4.600 000 million) and Costa Rica (5.300 000) go higher than that.
Designing convenient legislation for the casino operators is important, but it matters whether the country has the means to maintain it. Because most online casino operators aren’t choosing their base location for being a “zero rules” place, but search for one providing an attractive and predictable cost structure overall.
Small countries have an advantage here. They can set their gambling taxes to zero and still be in profit when measured per capita, by chipping off of each operator a bit here and there via license fees, local legal, tech, and finance services (directly and through taxation), and through the local workforce employment.
And if you have a larger population, there is no way to compete with this. You have to tax your local gambling sector to fund all those government programmes to help chickens cross the road, which every large developed country has. And you have to limit ways online casinos can promote themselves to your populace simply because there is always an anti-gambling lobby, and it’s backed by several million people, impossible to ignore. Most offshore gambling jurisdictions, like Curaçao and Gibraltar, simply make offshore online casinos they legally host in the country to bar the local residents from playing there.
How Offshore Casino Licensing Actually Works
What an iGaming license typically covers
Each jurisdiction has its own set of rules, but the basic set is universal:
-
Fair games. Requires using random number generators (RNGs) that were audited by the independent testing labs like eCOGRA, BMM Testlabs, GLI, iTech Labs, NMi. And verified that the stated Return to Player (RTP) percentage matches the reality.
-
Financial safeguards. Operators must have enough capitalisation and separate operational funds from the player funds to keep the players protected if the operator runs into financial trouble.
-
AML and KYC checks. Exist in any legitimate jurisdiction to align with the worldwide anti-money laundering procedures according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.
-
Means to Complain. A requirement to have a formal escalation route for the player if their dispute with the casino failed to be resolved internally. Stricter jurisdictions require cooperation with independent Alternative Dispute Resolution schemes.
A List of Main Offshore Online Casino Jurisdictions
Different sources list different locations as offshore, but we’ve gathered the list of main ones universally considered as such. As you’re choosing a casino to play at, it’s important to understand what each can offer in terms of player protection — your protection.
While we at Gamblescope list the jurisdiction name and license info of each online casino, you can always check the footer of the casino’s homepage for this info in case you forget or something changes.
Curaçao (CGA), the Most Popular Offshore license
| Launched: | 1993 (per National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (NOOGH, 1993)) |
| Current status: | Due to pressure from the Netherlands, the island nation started a major gambling sector overhaul, active since 24 December 2024. This abolishes sub-licenses, introduces mandatory player protection tools, adjusts AML and KYC procedures in line with FATF requirements, and implements other means to bring the regulation closer to the industry's best practices. The reform is proceeding in accordance with the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (Landsverordening op de kansspelen, PB 2024, no. 157, “LOK”) |
| Regulated by: | Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), now under LOK |
| Legal basis: | National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), PB 2024 no. 157 (current); NOOGH (legacy) |
| Casino licensing timeline (approximate): | 4 to 6 months in a two-phase process; 8 weeks per phase once documents are complete. Possible extension of +4 weeks per phase |
| Cost to launch a casino: | approximately €52,042 (€4,592 application + €47,450 B2C approximal annual fee paid upfront, can be split as monthly payments) |
Gamblescope verdict: Curaçao isn’t the same lax iGaming offshore as it used to be a couple of years ago. Now it’s moving to a more formal system (even if under external pressure), which introduces portal-based licensing and split accounts for the operator’s and casino’s finances. Regular online casino compliance audits, including financial, are on the way as well.
This promises more protection to you, but the level of improvement depends on whether the reforms will be fully implemented or largely remain on paper.
Anjouan (Comoros), the Fake And Scandalous Offshore
-
Launched: 2005 (allegedly).
-
Current status: ongoing scandal and controversy regarding Anjouan regulatory gambling structures allegedly being fake and having no legitimacy to issue any kind of gambling licenses.
-
Regulated by: allegedly illegitimate “Anjouan Gaming Board” / “Anjouan Gaming Control Board” under the umbrella of the “Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority (AOFA)”, with administration by private companies such as “Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI)”.
-
Legal basis: (claimed, possibly fake) “Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005” or “Betting and Gaming Act 2005.”
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 4 to 6 weeks to launch.
-
Cost to launch a casino: €8,000 to €17,000 every year.
Gamblescope verdict: avoid at all costs, this jurisdiction is worse than non-licensed casinos because of illegally posing as a legitimate one and misleading players.
Malta (MGA), the EU-Grade Regulated Online Casino Offshore with High Trust
-
Launched: 2004 (after the publication of Remote Gaming Regulations).
-
Current status: the TOP-1 offshore jurisdiction for online casinos. What’s more to say?
-
Regulated by: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
-
Legal basis: the Gaming Act of 2018 (with adjustments) defines the current MGA licensing framework for Gaming Service license (B2C, for online casinos) and Critical Gaming Supply (B2B, for iGaming software companies).
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): around 6 months.
-
Cost to launch a casino: ~€130,000 minimum (€5,000 one-time application fee + €25,000 fixed annual license fee + €100,000 share capital minimum). Compliance contribution/taxes and operational buildout costs vary.
Gamblescope verdict: If your country isn’t restricted, then MGA online casinos make a number 1 candidate for the player wishing maximum safety and security, while still playing offshore. Malta is a model jurisdiction in this regard, where casinos face regular multi-faceted audits covering everything from finances to cyber-security and data protection.
However, if you’re looking for something less regulated for whatever reason, then perhaps MGA is not for you.
Isle of Man (GSC), the Trusted Offshore
-
Launched: 2001 (per Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001)
-
Current status: the Isle of Man is a strictly regulated, but very loyal, within the possibilities of the legal framework. The regulator focuses on mitigating risks through cooperation with casinos, letting them adjust and improve in case of minor regulation breaches that don’t carry serious risks, rather than going into hands-on enforcement mode.
-
However, in 2024, the enforcement policy became more active to keep in line with MONEYVAL (Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism) and FATF recommendations. There was a consultation in October 2025 about further reforms to the gambling legislation.
-
Regulated by: Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC).
-
Legal basis: Online Gambling Regulation Act (OGRA) 2001, Gambling Supervision Act 2010, Gambling (AML/CFT) Act 2018, and related acts.
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 8 to 12 weeks.
-
Cost to launch a casino: ~£42,000 ( £5,250 application + £36,750 annual cost)
Gamblescope verdict: like Malta, this is a well-regulated offshore jurisdiction, so we consider all online casinos operating under the GSC license as credible. All casinos are required to have self-exclusion tools. And crypto payments are supported since 2025, just don’t try depositing in crypto and withdrawing in fiat, as the local AML compliance won’t like this.
Gibraltar (GGC), the Expensive and Selective Casino Offshore
-
Launched: 2006.
-
Current status: Gibraltar ended up in the FATF “grey list” (increased monitoring for money laundering) in June 2022. So, a reform package was devised to be removed from it (done in February 2024). The new Gambling Act 2025 enforces stricter AML and obliges the operators to be locally represented via office and infrastructure; virtual presentation via a license isn’t enough anymore.
-
Regulated by: Gibraltar Gambling Commission (GGC) for online gambling.
-
Legal basis: Gambling Act 2005, Gambling Act 2025.
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 5 to 6 months (24 weeks).
-
Cost to launch a casino: £225,000 minimum. £30,000 application review + £100,000 for a licensing year (annually), 0.15% Gross Gaming Yield duty (minimum £85,000).
Gamblescope verdict: Gibraltar online casinos are a way to go, if you want or have to choose offshore gambling for whatever reasons, but want this to be as safe as any other Tier-1 jurisdiction. This is the place where the real game RNG matches the one declared by the casino. And disputes actually get resolved; if the casino refuses to cooperate within the allotted time limit of up to a month, you can always escalate to the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner if you have the evidence of the operator’s misconduct to prove your point.
Alderney (AGCC), a Small Model Casino Offshore That Was Never Greylisted
-
Launched: 2000.
-
Current status: Alderney offers a flawless reputation regarding player safety and money laundering, even boasting that it has never been greylisted or blacklisted, receiving an endorsement from MONEYVAL/FATF in 2025. So it’s relatively easy for a casino operator to partner with any bank for payment processing due to this. At the same time, it’s one of the fastest Tier-1 offshore jurisdictions for opening an online casino — you can make it in 4 weeks, if everything is done right.
-
Regulated by: Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC).
-
Legal basis: Gambling (Alderney) Law 1999, eGambling Ordinance 2009, eGambling Regulations 2009, with newer amendments in 2024 and 2025.
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 4 to 12 weeks.
-
Cost to launch a casino: £35,000 for a first-time license + fees banded to Net Gaming Yield (up to £450,000).
Gamblescope verdict: if the Alderney online casino has the games and vibe you want — go for it without second thoughts. There aren’t that many offshore brands licensed by the AGCC, but all of them are safe to play at, and you can be confident about RNG and deposits/withdrawals.
Kahnawà:ke (KGC), the Long-Running Indigenous Regulator From Canada
-
Launched: 1996, online gaming since 1999
-
Current status: Kahnawake is a part of the Mohawk Territory, a First Nation self-governing region in Canada. Canada acknowledges their rights to self-government according to the Constitution Act, 1982. And their right to regulate gambling within their territory in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46), Section 207.
-
The Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT) hosting located there allows the brands legally operate across the world (except restricted countries like the US) as long as they remain hosted at MIT. And hosting there is a part of the license requirement.
-
Regulated by: Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (KGC).
-
Legal basis: Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming (July 1999), with amendments of 2026.
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): up to 6 months.
-
Cost to launch a casino: ~$49,000: $20,000 application fee for CPA license + $20,000 license cost + $5,000 Key Person application fee (per person) + $3,770 hosting fee (every month) + $250 connection fee.
Gamblescope verdict: KGC strictly oversees players’ rights and anti-money laundering laws, and is considered a reputable Tier 2 jurisdiction, even if not on par with the likes of Alderney or the Isle of Man. But all Kahnawake online casinos are safe to play at. And they accept players almost from everywhere but the States.
Antigua & Barbuda (FSRC Division of Gaming), an Offshore With a Reserve System
-
Launched: 1994.
-
Current status: one of the oldest offshore online casino jurisdictions has long passed its prime, as the US and UK closed legal loopholes that allowed Antiguan online casinos to target players in their territories in the 2000s. And EU or EU-aligned jurisdictions like Malta and Alderney rerouted most European players due to convenience.
-
Still, it’s a very reputable Tier 2 jurisdiction with a unique requirement for the casinos to keep $100,000 on a reserve account established by the Commission as a security deposit for covering possible player obligations.
-
Regulated by: Financial Services Regulatory Commission Division of Gaming.
-
Legal basis: Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations 2007 (IGIWR), Financial Services Regulatory Commission Act No. 5 of 2013 (FSRCA).
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 3 to 5 months in the best cases.
-
Cost to launch a casino: minimum $246,000. $15,000 (due diligence) + $100,000 (annual casino license) + $5,000 (annual renewal fee) + $25,000 (monitoring fee — one license) + $100,000 (reserve/security) + $1,000 (at least one key person, first year).
Gamblescope verdict: An excellent option if you can’t or don’t want to play in the European offshore online casinos, but still want decent protection. The high cost to launch a brand cuts off the “I just want to try running a casino” type of newbie operators and scammers.
Panama (JCJ / MEF), the Best Tier-3 Online Casino Offshore
-
Launched: 2002.
-
Current status: operates on a clear legal framework tested by 20+ years in business. But still implements the unreliable and opaque master/sublicense system, so your protection level depends on the operator.
-
Regulated by: Junta de Control de Juegos (JCJ) under Panama’s Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF).
-
Legal basis: Resolución No. 65 of 25 Oct 2002 with amendments of Resolución No. 18 (14 Feb 2003) and Resolución No. 10 (22 Jun 2004).
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): from a few weeks to 2 months.
-
Cost to launch a casino: $30,000 ($20,000 sublicense cost), $60,000 via a master license ($40,000 license cost + $20,000 annual fee).
Gamblescope verdict: while the best Tier-3 offshore, it’s still the “best of the worst” in a way. The main problem is that you can stumble upon a decent casino caring for its reputation, or a complete garbage, and both under the same legislation. Sublicensing just makes the quality inconsistent. So if you really want to play here, at least pick the highest-ranking Panamanian online casinos from the Gamblescope rankings.
Costa Rica, a Gambling Offshore Without an Online Gambling license
-
Launched: earlier than 2000 (no de jure launch).
-
Current status: there’s no regulatory framework regarding online gambling and online casinos in general (only for the land-based ones). Offshore online casino operators obtain a Data Processing permission (often falsely advertised as a gambling license) that de facto allows offering casino services to players outside Costa Rica.
-
Regulated by: no online gambling regulator. Data processing permissions are issued at the municipal level.
-
Legal basis: Law No. 9050 and Executive Decree No. 39231-MSP-MH (2015).
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 2 to 3 weeks.
-
Cost to launch a casino: up to $12,000, including $5,500 to US$7,500 for the permit
Gamblescope verdict: avoid playing at Costa Rican offshore online casinos. Because, without a proper online gambling license, you have zero protection guarantees as a player. You can’t even start a real dispute, as there is no regulator to complain to.
Vanuatu (VGA), a New Relaunch of an Old Casino Offshore
-
Launched: 2024 (historically in 1993).
-
Current status: operating under a fully new licensing framework, attracting operators by easy online license application, cheap fees, and opportunity to target players in all countries aside from FATF-blacklisted.
-
Regulated by: Vanuatu Department of Customs and Inland Revenue (regulator), Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA) (administrator).
-
Legal basis: Interactive Gaming Act [CAP 261].
-
Casino licensing timeline (approximate): 1 month.
-
Cost to launch a casino: €15,000 (€5,000 application fee + €10,000 annual license fee (1 domain).
Gamblescope verdict: you can grab good offers here, as casinos offer more in bonuses and perks due to low maintenance costs and to build up a player base. Still, proceed at your own risk, and play only if you can’t play in Tier-1 and Tier-2 jurisdictions. Because VGA not only provides less player protection by default, but is less established regulatory-wise than Panama. It will take a few years to build a reputation.
Philippines (POGO) and Belize, the Inactive Offshores
As a heads-up, you might encounter online casinos claiming to have a Philippine or Belize license, but these are 100% fake. The Philippines closed its online casino offshore and dismantled the ecosystem in 2024. Belize is under a moratorium on issuing online casino licenses, and no operator is currently holding a valid license.
Is it Legal for You to Play at an Offshore Online Casino?
It pretty much depends on where you live, as well as a few legal nuances.
-
Permitted or regulated: your country has a domestic licensing regime that permits or doesn’t restrict playing in offshore jurisdictions. Individual casinos may be restricted for reasons other than operating from offshore.
-
Grey zone: no comprehensive domestic gambling framework, or one that doesn’t explicitly restrict players from offshore online casino services, but may target operators. Most of the world currently sits here.
-
Restricted: offshore online gambling is explicitly forbidden for players and operators. Several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, persecute players with means ranging from fines to imprisonment.
How Offshore Online Casino Restrictions are Enforced
Typically, regulators try to cut access to casino websites by blacklisting their domains and IP addresses. It can be moderately effective; there are means to bypass this, but casinos don’t like players gambling via said “bypasses” and often explicitly forbid hiding your real IP address.
Payment blocking is more effective, as local banks and payment systems can be legally instructed not to process gambling transactions (like via blocking MCC 7995 payments). A determined regulator can go as far as to restrict international payment systems used to circumvent this restriction, or legally enforce cooperation. For example, in Norway, you can’t deposit and withdraw from any foreign gambling operator via Skrill and Neteller. But no success in restricting crypto payments so far.
And remember, that it’s hard not to leave digital traces when doing transactions. If your country actively restricts and pursues players from playing at offshore online casinos, there is typically a system in place that monitors suspicious transactions.
Remember the Taxes!
If your country’s laws require you to pay tax on gambling winnings, then playing at offshore online zones doesn’t exempt you from the tax, unless only winnings in your local jurisdiction are taxed.
So, take care to research your country's laws, even seek tax guidance about how to correctly deal with winnings to avoid tax infringement in your case. Some countries care to go a long way to investigate and disclose such cases. The USA is particularly known for this, taxing all winnings of its residents, even if the casino, in nature, illegally offers services to them.
Why Choose an Offshore Casino?
No Domestic Alternative
Because online gambling is banned on paper, or remains unregulated. In both cases, there is no licensing body, so playing at offshore online casinos gives at least a semblance of protection when compared to unlicensed casinos.
Less Restrictions
Offshore online casinos give exactly this. Regulated domestic markets frequently impose various limits. For example, you’re limited by default by a €1,000 monthly deposit limit and €1 per spin across all locally licensed online operators in Germany. Other limits include restricted games or game providers, fewer slots, mandatory session breaks, and everything else a particular player might choose to avoid.
Bigger Bonuses
Since offshore casinos save a lot on taxes, they can use these funds to offer more lucrative welcome bonuses, reload offers, and loyalty programs.
Flexible Payments, Including Crypto
Offshore casinos were the first to adopt cryptocurrencies to bypass the MCC 7995 payment decline issue in some countries. Also, being legal de jure allows such casinos to partner with almost every payment system and e-wallet servicing the country, and offer payments via them to players.
Getting Over National Self-Exclusion Registers
Countries with domestic licensing regimes often have national self-exclusion systems that bind all locally licensed operators. GamStop covers UK-licensed sites. Sweden's Spelpaus covers Swedish licensees. Germany has OASIS, the Netherlands has CRUKS, and Denmark has ROFUS.
But offshore online casinos aren’t tied to such registers, thus have no limits on serving such players.
Your Risks of Playing Offshore
Offshore casinos have advantages, but there’s a caveat.
Dispute Resolution Is on You
The most significant difference between a domestic-regulated casino and an offshore one shows up when something goes wrong. In a regulated domestic market, an unresolved dispute escalates to a national regulator with real enforcement authority over the operator.
For offshore casinos, this option is often present just on paper. And even if it works, it involves cooperating with a foreign licensing body. The responsiveness, authority, and resources it can and has the will to dedicate to solving your complaint vary enormously.
MGA-licensed operators connect to the Consumer Affairs Tribunal ADR process. Curaçao's new CGA framework now mandates independent ADR. Kahnawà:ke publishes dispute outcomes. At the other end of the scale, some smaller jurisdictions like Costa Rica offer no practical escalation route for individual players.
Real Bonus Terms Sometimes Don’t Match the Declared
Offshore casino bonus offers frequently look more attractive than regulated alternatives. But in reality, their terms are more complex and are hidden in fine print. So, before claiming a bonus, spend some time checking the key features:
-
Wagering requirements: (rollover/playthrough): how many times you must bet the bonus amount before withdrawing. A 30x requirement on a $200 bonus means $6,000 in total bets, a 50x means $10,000.
-
Game weighting: some games offer lower percentages toward a wagering requirement. Slots may count 100%; blackjack or video poker may count 15%. If you’re here for the blackjack, then this substantially changes how much play is actually required to withdraw.
-
Maximum cashout caps: no-deposit bonuses often cap the amount you can withdraw from winnings, regardless of how much you’ve won. A $50 max cashout on a $20 no-deposit bonus is common because the house wishes to give away as little “free money” as possible.
-
Bonus condition abuse: broadly-worded terms allow operators to void bonuses or winnings on grounds of "irregular play" or "alleged scam". Here, you have to check the offshore casino for any similar unresolved complaints (can do it at Gamblescope, by the way), simply reading terms won’t be enough.
You Won’t Avoid KYC (Most Likely)
If you’re looking to play at offshore online casinos for “No KYC” reasons, most likely you won’t be in luck. Even if there is no overseeing body to enforce this, or the regulator doesn’t really care to, many offshore operators run at least a minimal verification on withdrawal on their own to prevent being scammed by players or being involved in large-scale money laundering.
But they do it on their terms. So, still require government ID, proof of address, sometimes a source of funds, and documentation, but can be quite flexible about the process. We know cases of casinos deliberately disabling accounts on the pretence of “failed” KYC to pocket the players’ money.
Slow Withdrawals
The casino wants to hold your money in their account for as long as possible to generate profits, and there are multiple schemes, earning on interest being the most obvious.
Some casinos would deliberately slow down withdrawals by a few days at best, or maybe even a week. Even if fast means, like cryptocurrencies, are used. The casino can always hide behind “manual approval process”, “extra checks”, and “difficulties with the payment processor”; there is no real way for you to verify whether it’s all true or not.
How to Evaluate an Offshore Casino
You can certainly trust more in some strictly-regulated offshore online casino zones, like Malta. While the likes of Panama require extra checks. Anyway, always look through the casino you’re interested in playing at.
Verify the License, Look Further that the Logo
The license number in the footer is just the starting point, but anyone can come up with a plausible mix of numbers and letters and stick a “license” banner on top.
Here's how to actually verify it:
-
Note the license number and jurisdiction in the footer.
-
Search for the regulator's website name directly; don't follow the link from the casino's own page, as it may lead to a fake license check.
-
Find the official public license register on the regulator's website, or use a “check license number” form.
-
Confirm the casino's name and license number in the register: that the license is currently active, and that the number matches.
Takes about 5 minutes, but you’ll know whether the operator is credible or not.
Look for Ownership Transparency
Reputable offshore operators disclose the company that holds the license, the jurisdiction of incorporation, and an operational address. Confirm this info by searching the company name and registration number in the relevant corporate registry.
Bear in mind that multiple casino brands sharing a platform and corporate structure is entirely normal. But the absence of any traceable corporate identity is not.
Check for Independent Game Testing
Look for logos from recognised independent testing laboratories: eCOGRA, BMM Testlabs, GLI, iTech Labs, NMi. They are proof that game software has been audited for fairness and that RTP figures match actual performance. If they are missing, it’s a bad signal worth noting.
Test Support Before You Deposit
Send a chat message or email before putting any money in. Is the response time reasonable? Does the operator have a clear, step-by-step complaints procedure? Is an independent ADR scheme identified with contact information?
Serious operators provide these details easily, as their inner compliance framework requires this. An operator that can't clearly explain what happens when a dispute arises means the casino is counting on players not pursuing issues if they happen.
Responsible Gambling at Offshore Casinos
Offshore casinos usually lack anti-addiction protection measures required in domestic, strictly regulated markets. Like proactive monitoring of play patterns for problem gambling indicators, mandatory customer interactions when at-risk behaviour is detected, and standardized financial harm checks.
But more basic protection tools are always there, especially in more reputable offshore jurisdictions. If you have gambling addiction problems, set them up.
Anti-addiction Tools to Look for
-
Deposit limits. You should be able to set daily, weekly, monthly deposit caps. Set them the moment you start playing, not after your spending patterns form later. If a casino lets you raise or remove a deposit limit instantly, without a 24–72 hour cooldown, then it provides weak protection to you.
-
Session time limits and reality checks. Timed reminders that interrupt play and display how long you've been playing and your net position.
-
Self-exclusion. The ability to suspend or permanently close your account, with a meaningful minimum exclusion period and a cooling-off requirement before any reactivation. Genuine self-exclusion is hard to reverse; if it can be done the same day, it's cosmetic.
-
Cooling-off periods. Short-term breaks without full account closure. Useful if you’re prone to impulsive play to break fixation.
-
Account statements. Useful for tracking how much you’re currently at a profit or at a loss. If the casino doesn’t provide such data, a simple spreadsheet for tracking deposits and withdrawals will do.
And if you’re currently enrolled in your national self-exclusion scheme, think again before playing at the offshore online casino. After all, you’ve earlier sought self-exclusion for a reason, right?
