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If you’re in the US, chances are that offshore casinos are the only gaming sites available to you. That’s not a bad thing, though, because these operators feature large game selections, massive bonuses, and high security.
Of course, you’ll want to know what the best offshore casinos are—start with the list below.
Why Choose Offshore Casinos?
You have two options when it comes to US online gaming: state-licensed or offshore casinos. Actually, you may only have one choice because most states don’t have licensed gaming sites.
Other than that, here are five reasons to pick offshore casinos:
- Availability: Offshore casinos are accessible throughout the entire country, allowing you to cross state boundaries without restrictions.
- Generous Bonuses: Many offshore casinos offer large welcome bonuses, with some reaching up to $10,000, 10 ETH, or 3 BTC. Smaller bonuses can go up to $1,000.
- Extensive Game Selections: Offshore casinos often boast a wide variety of games, with some offering over 1,000 options, including slots, roulette, live tables, blackjack, and more.
- Variety of Payment Methods: Offshore casinos tend to offer a broader range of payment methods, including cryptocurrency, e-wallets, and traditional banking options.
- Better Rewards and Promotions: Many offshore sites offer ongoing promotions, loyalty rewards, and VIP programs that enhance the gaming experience.
🎰 Best Offshore Casino Overall: Wild Casino
Wild earns our nod as the best offshore online casino due to its impressive all-around offerings. It features more than 1,200 games, 20+ banking methods, and many promotions.
What ultimately seals the deal for us is Wild Casino’s tournament lineup, which separates it from the pack. You’ll find up to $15,000 tourneys across multiple games, including Let It Ride, blackjack, and slots.
Wild Casino also has the essentials down, including a secure website, solid customer support, and licensing with the Panama Gaming Control Board. Simply put, Wild rates good to excellent in every important category.
Safety of Offshore Casinos
You may feel conflicted on offshore online casinos because, well, they’re located overseas. The following Q&A section explains why they can be as safe as state-licensed sites.
Are offshore casino games rigged?
👉 The risk of rigged games is practically nil at the best offshore online casinos. Top gaming sites use trusted software providers that have passed independent testing from auditors like iTech Labs.
Do offshore online casinos actually pay out?
👉 Yes, all the offshore casino sites we review pay out. The big thing is when you’ll get paid. Most of the offshore gambling sites in our list process withdrawal requests within 24 hours.
Are offshore casinos regulated?
👉 Many offshore casinos are regulated—just in locations outside the US, such as Anjouan, Mwali, and Panama. They’re completely legal in their home jurisdictions and only serve countries/territories approved under their licensing agreement.
How do I know an offshore casino is legit?
👉 You can verify how legit an offshore casino is by looking for SSL website security, licensing, and a favorable reputation. Reviews will help you figure out the reputation aspect.
Do offshore online casinos promote responsible gambling?
👉 A growing number of offshore casinos promote responsible gaming through tips, resources (eg NCPG), and tools. Examples of the latter include time limits, deposit limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion.
Is it safe to share personal details with an offshore casino?
👉 Yes, you’re normally good to share personal info with overseas casinos. The key is making sure a gaming site has SSL encryption (check for a padlock in the address bar). SSL keeps your details safe by keeping hackers out.
Is Offshore Gambling Legal in the US?
The age-old question: can you legally bet with offshore gambling sites in the US? The answer isn’t so cut and dried because the federal government has never outright prohibited offshore gambling.
These sites operate in a gray area and don’t have licensing in the states they serve, but they’re not banned on a federal level either. Our recommended offshore gambling sites are licensed by offshore jurisdictions and adhere to strict safety standards to keep you and your money safe.
The most important part is that you, as a player, face almost zero legal risk by playing at offshore casinos. We’ve never seen a documented case of somebody getting prosecuted for offshore gambling.
But a word of caution: a handful of states have harsh rules against unauthorized gambling. For example, Washington labels illegal online gambling a class C felony.
We suggest checking your local laws before jumping into the matter. Even in Washington’s case, though, nobody has been arrested for playing at an offshore casino online.
Signs of a Trustworthy Offshore Casino
Most offshore online casinos out there are trustworthy, but nothing’s an absolute. You should still keep the following key aspects in mind when finding legit offshore casinos.
Secure Website
- What to Look For: SSL protection and reputable certification (eg Google Trust Services).
- Why It Matters: A protected website encrypts personal and payment info shared with an offshore casino so nobody can steal it.
Reputable Game Providers
- What to Look For: Established and trustworthy software developers, such as Betsoft, Dragon Gaming, Nucleus, Pragmatic Play, and Rival Gaming.
- Why It Matters: Reputable providers have passed third-party game audits, proving they offer fair play and accurate RTP.
Transparent General & Bonus Terms and Conditions
- What to Look For: Clearly outlined policies for withdrawals, bonuses, wagering requirements, game malfunctions, and more.
- Why It Matters: Vague or hidden terms might signal shady practices and a casino that doesn’t like to pay bonus winnings. Trustworthy casinos are upfront about their rules.
Valid Licensing
- What to Look For: Licensing from a reputable offshore casino jurisdiction, like Panama or Anjouan.
- Why It Matters: A licensed gaming site must follow standards established by its respective gaming authority.
Trusted Payment Options
- What to Look For: Reliable and commonly used payment methods, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire.
- Why It Matters: You need secure and trustworthy options for making deposits and withdrawals.
Reasonable Payout Speed & Transparency
- What to Look For: Reasonable payout speeds (eg 0-2 days on crypto) with clear withdrawal timelines on each payment method.
- Why It Matters: You need some indication that you won’t be waiting weeks on winnings to arrive.
Responsible Gambling Measures
- What to Look For: A dedicated page with resources and tools, such as self-exclusion and deposit limits.
- Why It Matters: Offshore casino sites should help ensure gaming is fun and reduce the temptation to overspend on games.
Offshore Casinos vs State-Licensed Casinos
If you have the option to play at state-licensed and offshore casinos, you may wonder how they compare. Let’s look at how these two types of gaming sites stack up in different categories.
| Feature | Offshore Casinos | State-Licensed Casinos |
|---|---|---|
| Bonuses | Often larger and less restrictive | Smaller, more restrictive |
| Licensing | Licensed by offshore gaming authorities | Hold licensing within the state they serve |
| Availability | Available in many states & countries | Must be used within state borders & enforced by geolocation tools |
| Progressive jackpots | Can offer bigger jackpots (eg Aztec’s Millions’ 7-figure jackpot) | Typically don’t feature jackpots above 6 figures |
| Banking methods | Crypto, credit/debit cards & bank wire are common | Don’t offer crypto, but do have bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and in-person payments |
| Customer support | 24/7 at most offshore casinos | Normally have limited hours |
Bonuses Available at Offshore Gambling Sites
Most offshore online casinos excel in the promotions department, offering everything from free spins to cashback. You can see common bonuses available at offshore casinos below:
- Welcome offer: The first—and normally best—bonus available at a new casino. For example, your first deposit might be eligible for a 200% up to $1,000 bonus. The best offshore casinos offer reasonable terms, such as 30x wagering requirements or lower.
- Reload bonus: Follow-up deposit bonuses available to you as an existing player. These deals are usually smaller than welcome offers (eg 75% up to $100), but they still give you something to play for.
- Free spins: Get free spins to use on real money slots at overseas casinos. For instance, you might collect 100 spins after depositing $20 or more.
- Crypto bonus: Exclusive to offshore gambling sites, these bonuses are specifically for crypto deposits. Some casinos even give you better deals for depositing with crypto versus credit cards.
- No deposit bonus: An offshore casino no deposit bonus gives you free spins or cash for signing up. Of course, you’ll need to meet wagering requirements and other terms before withdrawing winnings.
- Cashback: This promo returns a portion of your losses over a weeklong span. For instance, you might get back 10% up to $300 of your weekly losses.
- Leaderboard races: Compete against other players for cash payouts or other prizes. A typical leaderboard race might see you play slots to earn points and move up the rankings.
Now that we’ve looked at what bonuses international casino sites offer, let’s compare their promotions to state-licensed gaming sites.
| Bonus Type | Offshore Casinos | State-Licensed Casinos |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100%-300% match | 100%-150% match |
| Reload Bonuses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Spins | ✅ | ✅ |
| Crypto Bonuses | ✅ | No |
| No Deposit Bonuses | Rare | Rare |
| Cashback | ✅ | Rare |
| Leaderboard races | ✅ | Sometimes |
🎁 Best Offshore Casinos for Bonuses: Raging Bull Casino
We pick Raging Bull as the best offshore online casino for bonuses due to 3 reasons:
- Frequent promos
- Reasonable terms & conditions
- Great entry-level VIP rewards
This gaming site sends new bonuses through your inbox every day. You’ll receive reload bonuses, free chips, and more in your onsite mail.
We find the Raging Bull bonus terms better than at most international casino sites. For example, the 250% up to $2,500 welcome bonus has 30x wagering requirements—versus the 40x industry standard.
The first level of the Raging Bull loyalty program is also better than what we’re used to seeing. You’ll get cashback, reload bonuses, free chips, comp points, and crypto bonuses as a new member.
Game Variety at Offshore Casinos
The best offshore online casinos offer a buffet of gaming options—not just the popular ones like blackjack and slots. You can see top game categories available in offshore gambling below, including each one’s advantages and drawbacks.
Slots
Slots have an interesting blend of flashiness and simplicity. Just hit the spin button and enjoy entertaining animations and themes while your bet hangs in the balance.
- Pros: Many different themes and formats (eg cluster pays), plus the chance to play for huge wins.
- Cons: Lower RTP (95-96% average) than most games and no strategic play involved.
Expert Tip: Always consider volatility and how it affects your bankroll. High volatility offers bigger prizes/more short-term risk, while low volatility has smaller prizes/more frequent payouts.
Blackjack
Blackjack is perfect if you’re a thinker who likes using strategy. It’s typically the highest-paying game at offshore casinos.
- Pros: Strategic play that leads to over 99% RTP with most online variations.
- Cons: Not the best option for casual gaming since bad play leads to lower winnings.
Expert Tip: Make sure you learn specific strategies for the variation you choose. For example, Vegas Strip blackjack requires a different approach than Double Exposure.
Roulette
Roulette is among the easiest table games to play, plus it features many different bets. You can wager on everything from red/black to single numbers.
- Pros: Classic feel, simple gameplay, and a wide range of bets.
- Cons: May not keep you engaged for long periods of time like slots or blackjack.
Expert Tip: Play on European wheels (97.3% RTP) and avoid the American wheel (94.74% RTP). Even better, look for the rarer French roulette (98.65%).
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games bridge the gap between online and brick-and-mortar casinos. You get human dealers and real casino atmospheres.
- Pros: Authentic atmosphere and innovative games.
- Cons: Higher minimum bets compared to virtual games.
Expert Tip: Ensure you have a stable internet connection to handle high-quality streams.
Scratchcards
Scratchcards are as straightforward as it gets. Virtually scratch off a panel and see if you’ve won. No complex thoughts, no strategy—just fast results.
- Pros: Easy to play and can offer significant prizes.
- Cons: No real strategy and highly volatile.
Expert Tip: The novelty of scratching and praying wears off quickly. To maintain interest, limit your sessions or mix in other games.
Provably Fair Games
Provably fair games combine casino gambling and blockchain tech, with the latter letting you verify results for fairness. You won’t find these games anywhere else but offshore casinos.
- Pros: You can ensure games aren’t rigged yourself.
- Cons: Limited games in this niche, plus learning how to check results can make your brain hurt.
Expert Tip: Some of the best offshore online casinos offer guides on provably fair gaming—take advantage of these to learn the process.
🎲 Best Offshore Casino for Games: BetWhale
BetWhale is a great choice if game variety is high on your list of needs. It features over 1,400 games, including more than 1,200 slots and a large live dealer casino.
The BetWhale selection covers plenty of ground, with slots, live dealer tables, video poker, specialty, and table games available. You can also expect dozens of jackpot slots, including some progressive prizes worth six figures.
As for the BetWhale live casino, you’ll find over two dozen games spread across 70+ tables. Some of the games include baccarat, blackjack, Instant Lucky 7, Super 6, T-Basket, and T-Kick.
Banking Options at Offshore Gambling Sites
The best offshore gambling sites ensure you have plenty of ways to move funds on and off their platforms. Here are common, and not so common, banking methods at international online casinos.
Credit & Debit Cards
Visa and Mastercard are the first stops here, and for good reason—they’re convenient and familiar. You’ll also find American Express and Discover at some overseas casinos.
No matter the brand, you can make quick deposits by entering the card details, expiry date, and security code.
- The Good: Fast, easy to use, and highly secure.
- The Bad: Some issuing banks prohibit online gambling transactions and/or charge high fees.
Cryptocurrencies
The offshore casino industry thrives on crypto because there’s no greedy banker or other middlemen in the way. Just you and the casino making direct transactions with each other.
Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and XRP are among the most popular cryptocurrencies you can use to play at an offshore casino online.
- The Good: Low blockchain fees, no middlemen involved, and secure blockchain networks.
- The Bad: Slight learning curve and 100% liability if you send crypto to the wrong address.
Bank Wires
This old-school payment option is normally available for withdrawals at offshore casinos. You can request payment by providing the casino with your personal and bank details (eg ABA routing number).
You normally need to cover $25-$50 wire fees because banks don’t provide this service for free.
- The Good: Offers the safety and security of using a bank network.
- The Bad: Usually pretty slow and comes with high fees compared to most offshore casino payment methods.
Ewallets
Brands like PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill are versatile banking options available for deposits and withdrawals. You can also link your debit card, credit card, and bank account to them.
The big issue: eWallets don’t normally serve offshore casino sites—especially if you’re in the US.
- The Good: Very convenient way to deposit and withdraw funds through internationally trusted brands.
- The Bad: Good luck finding an offshore casino with e-wallet options.
The Best Method for Your Gambling Style
Each offshore casino online payment option has certain advantages. But what if you’re looking for something specific to your playing style?
Here’s a breakdown of which banking methods suit certain types:
- For High Rollers: Bank Transfers, Wire Transfers, and Crypto.
- For Beginners: Credit/Debit Cards.
- For Privacy Seekers: Crypto.
- For the Cost Conscious: E-wallets, Crypto.
- For (Hopeful) Big Winners: Crypto, Bank Transfers.
- For Traditionalists: Wire Transfers, Bank Transfers.
💳 Best Offshore Casino for Payment Methods: Lucky Red
We like Lucky Red for its variety of payment methods and quick payout times. It has an impressive mix of crypto and traditional banking options, including five credit cards, seven cryptocurrencies, bank transfer, check, and wire transfer.
You can also withdraw more here than at most offshore online casinos. Lucky Red allows up to $5,000 withdrawals through Bitcoin, bank transfer, and wire. By comparison, many offshore operators don’t let you cash out more than $2,500.
As for payout times, you can expect Bitcoin payouts within 24 hours and checks within 4-5 business days.
Top International Casinos at a Glance
We’d like to compare the best offshore gambling sites in terms of notable features, welcome bonuses, and payment methods. You can use this table to choose the best offshore online casino based on your preferences.
| Offshore Casino | Top Features | Best For | Welcome Bonus | Payment Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Casino | Great tournament lineup, 16 cryptocurrencies | Tournaments & crypto gaming | 250% up to $5,000 | Crypto, Credit Cards, Check, Money Order |
| Raging Bull | Daily inbox bonuses, best entry-level VIP rewards | Bonuses & VIP rewards | 250% up to $2,500 | Bitcoin, Bank Transfer, CoinDraw, Check Transfer |
| BetWhale | 1,400+ games, unique live dealer games | Game variety & big jackpots | 250% matched deposit bonus | Crypto, E-wallet, Neosurf |
| Lucky Red | Large of crypto & traditional banking methods | Banking options & bigger withdrawals | 400% up to $4,500 + $75 free chip | Crypto, Credit Cards, Check, Wire Transfer |
Taxes and Offshore Gambling: What You Need to Know
Offshore casinos don’t report your winnings to US tax authorities or withhold a percentage of jackpot payouts like state-licensed gaming sites.
The IRS and some state governments require you to report gambling wins as income. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to add offshore casino profits to your tax return.
We suggest talking to a tax professional about the matter if you’re unsure about offshore gambling wins.
Mistakes to Avoid When Gambling at Offshore Online Casinos
We find playing at offshore casinos online to generally be enjoyable, but there are some pitfalls to be aware of. Make sure you avoid the following offshore gambling mistakes.
Skimming Over Bonus Terms & Conditions
- Why It’s a Problem: You could opt into a bad bonus or miss important terms that cost you bonus winnings.
- How to Avoid It: Thoroughly examine the general bonus T&Cs and additional terms behind a specific promotion.
Neglecting Tax Responsibilities
- Why It’s a Problem: Assuming offshore winnings are untaxed can lead to trouble with the IRS.
- How to Avoid It: Keep detailed records of your wins and losses and consult a tax professional. Reporting your winnings is a requirement under US law.
Failing to Consider Fees
- Why It’s a Problem: Some offshore casinos don’t cover your credit card deposit fees, leaving you paying 3-10% on average. They might also require withdrawal fees on certain payment methods.
- How to Avoid It: Carefully review a casino’s banking section for fees. You can also normally see extra charges in the cashier when logged in.
Wasting Too Much Time on No Deposit Bonuses
- Why It’s a Problem: While an offshore casino no deposit bonus provides a free shot at winning money, it normally doesn’t pay off due to unrealistic terms (e.g. 60x rollover).
- How to Avoid It: Focus on quality welcome bonuses with low wagering requirements.
Ignoring Warning Signs
- Why It’s a Problem: You could deposit at an untrustworthy casino that won’t pay out.
- How to Avoid It: Avoid any offshore online casino with no licensing, no responsible gambling page, slow payouts, and, especially, an unsecure website.
FAQs About Overseas Casinos
Are offshore casinos illegal?
What’s the best offshore casino?
Do offshore casinos report to the IRS?
Can I gamble with crypto at offshore casinos?
References
- https://www.gamingregulation.com/agency/panama/junta-de-control-de-juegos (Panama Gaming Control Board)
- https://itechlabs.com (iTech Labs)
- https://www.ncpgambling.org/responsible-gambling/resources (NCPG)
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