Offshore online casinos are available throughout the United States, even in states where online gambling has yet to be regulated.
We’ll show you exactly how offshore casinos differ from state-regulated sites, give you tips for using offshore casinos, and recommend some of our favorites. Plus, we’ll explain how licensing works for these casinos, as well as what safety features they have in place.
Offshore casinos are gambling sites that are licensed and regulated outside the United States, but are still available to US players.
Many offshore casinos are based in places like Panama, Malta, or Curaçao, and have licenses from gambling authorities in those nations. These organizations ensure that the casinos have met stringent security standards, comply with Know Your Customer rulings, and have their RNG games tested for fairness. Licenses from agencies like the Panama Gaming Commission are renewed yearly, which means that the online casino must constantly be in compliance or lose their license.
Even in states where online casino gambling is regulated, many players opt to use offshore casinos because they offer more bonuses, games, and deposit/withdrawal methods (such as cryptocurrency) than state-regulated sites.
Most states have yet to regulate online casino sites, but there are no laws that strictly prohibit—or allow—offshore casino sites. No players in the US have been persecuted for using offshore casino sites, and it’s unlikely that they would be.
There are plenty of offshore casinos vying for your attention, but only a few are really worth your time. We have compiled a list of the best offshore sites for poker, slots, blackjack, and more.
Despite only having opened in 2016, Cafe Casino has already outpaced more experienced gambling sites with their massive welcome bonus and unique, user-friendly layout. You can find all kinds of slots and table games at Cafe Casino.
If you’re new to online gambling, El Royale casino is a solid option for you to get started. They offer low deposit limits, including $30 min. for credit/debit cards and $20 for BTC, ETH, and LTC.
Their dapper 1920s speakeasy theme gives the casino a unique vibe. Plus, their sign-up process takes 2 minutes at most, and their site is compatible on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.
They have more than 500 games to choose from, including slots, blackjack, video poker, and plenty of specialty games like keno, bingo, and scratch-offs.
If you want to get started at El Royale, don’t miss out on their no-deposit bonus. New players can claim 25 free spins on the Cash Bandits Museum Heist game with the code 25BANDIT.
Wild Casino is the best offshore casino site for live dealer games. It offers an extensive library of live dealer games, a subset of casino games that most regulated online casinos can’t offer because of in-state restrictions.
Wild Casino has over 70 different tables, cover games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps from reputable providers Visionary iGaming (ViG), BetGames, and Fresh Deck Studios.
Plus, they have specialty games like lottery Lucky 7, Dice Deul, Wheel of Fortune, and more.
And finally, Wild Casino is one of the few online casinos that offers a live dealer promotion. The Wild Diamond 7s side bet is for the Visionary iGaming blackjack live dealer game. Users have the ability to pay for this side bet and win $100, $1,000 or the progressive jackpot, which is over $200,000 as of writing this.
Las Atlantis opened their virtual doors in 2020, but they offer some of the best free spins promotions in the industry. When you sign up, you can choose from more than half a dozen different bonuses, each with tailored deposit boosts and free spin awards.
For example, users can use the code TREASURECHEST to claim a 240%, 250%, or 260% deposit boost with up to 60 free spins for the Plentiful Treasure slot game. Many other promotions hand out free spins without deposit bonuses, like ANCIENTSPINS, which grants 170 free spins for Wild Hog Luau.
The New Game Bonus grants you 120 free spins on the Caribbean Islands slot game, and is available to claim on three different occasions.
Free spins are hard to find at state-regulated online casinos because of many promo-restrictions, but offshore sites often give out free spins to test out new games.
When our team sits down to review an offshore casino site, there are a lot of criteria that we look at to determine if the site is worth signing up at. We check out their terms and conditions, privacy policies, and mobile compatibility, to name a few. But, some of the most important factors we consider are:
Offshore sites need to offer banking methods that are commonly used by US players, including Visa, Mastercard, bank transfer, and crypto. And these options should have low minimum deposits and clear, quick payouts.
Most games you’ll play at offshore sites, aside from live dealer games, are powered by Random Number Generators (RNGs). We make sure that these games are tested by third parties for fairness, and that the software was legally obtained from high-quality software providers.
Offshore casino sites offer better bonuses than state-regulated sites, but they do come with higher wagering requirements. We look at the timeframes, the multiplier for wagering requirements, and which games contribute to ensure you get a good deal.
Offshore online casinos are licensed by non-US authorities, so we always verify that their license is active. We also check their license history, to see if there were any lapses in compliance, and make note of any third-party certifications for RNGs, player dispute services, or payment operators.
While most offshore online casino have similar banking methods and welcome packages, it can be helpful to compare them side by side. Here’s an overview of the most important features to consider.
Casino | License | # of Games | Sign Up Bonus | Min. Deposit | Security Feature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cafe Casino | Union of the Comoros | 547 casino games 6 live dealer | 250% up to $1,500 | $10 | TLS encryption, Dispute Resolution Officer, RNGs tested regularly |
El Royale | Comoros Union | 1,236 casino games 72 live dealer | 230% up to $7,500 | $20 | 256-bit TLS encryption, Uses AI to detect unusual financial transactions RNGs tested regularly |
Wild Casino | Panama Gaming Control Board | 1,012 casino games 68 live dealer | 100% Up to $5,000 | $20 | TLS encryption, KYC compliant, Anti-Money Laundering officer on staff |
Las Atlantis | Comoros Union | 1,258 casino games 26 live dealer | 280% Up to $14,000 | $20 | 256-Bit SSL encryption, fraud prevention systems, anti-virus protection tools |
Bovada Casino | Gaming Control Anjouan | 604 casino games 9 live dealer | 125% Up to $3,750 | $10 | Anti-money laundering regulations and KYC policies, All RNGs tested for fairness, Logins and personal data secured with reCAPTCHA |
Ignition Casino | Curaçao | 588 casino games 40 live dealer | 150% up to $1,500 | $25 | Anti-money laundering procedures and KYC standards, All RNGs tested for fairness by third-party developer, TLS encryption |
Super Slots | Panama Gaming Control Board | 915 casino games 32 live dealer | 250% up to $6,000 | $25 | RNGs certified by third party, TLS encryption |
High Roller Casino | Panama | 759 casino games 69 live dealer | 400% up to $4,000 | $20 | TLS encryption, RNGs tested for fairness by third party developers, Segregated escrow accounts to reduce the risk of fraud/money-laundering |
SlotsandCasino | Costa Rica | 691 casino games 14 live dealer | 500% up to $7,500 | $25 | Timeout after 5 minutes of inactivity to prevent unauthorized users, RNGs are built on radioactive decay models for fairer results, Additional documentation for Bitcoin transactions to verify player integrity |
DuckyLuck Casino | Costa Rica | 749 casino games 14 live dealer | 500% Up to $7,500 | $25 | TLS-encryption, Two-factor authentication, Acuitytec to monitor player accounts and protect against fraud |
There are a few key differences between offshore online casinos and state-regulated ones. Here’s a quick look at how these two types of casinos are different:
Offshore | State-Regulated |
---|---|
Licensed by offshore authorities, such as Panama Gaming Commission or Curaçao eGaming Authority | Licensed by the state and its regulatory body |
Available throughout the United States (with a few exceptions) | Only available in select states where casino gambling has been legalized |
Have larger gaming libraries partnerships with multiple different software developers | Sometimes has limited selections of games and partnerships with only a few developers |
Allow more deposit/withdrawal methods, including cryptocurrency | Allow popular debit/credit cards, Venmo, ApplePay, and other eWallets |
Players are responsible for reporting their winnings and paying taxes on them | The casino reports player winnings and taxes to the government |
Players can file disputes with the casino or a third-party dispute service, like CDS | Disputes are often handled through state gaming commissions |
Offshore online casinos are typically available across the United States. However, there are some places that restrict access to offshore sites because they are pursuing a regulated gambling market. Nevada, New Jersey, and New York usually restrict offshore casinos. But there a few, like BetUS, which remain available in almost every state.
All reputable offshore casinos and sportsbooks take player safety seriously and make efforts to enhance the user experience with state-of-the-art protection measures. Some of the notable features that the best offshore casino sites have to protect their players include:
Most—but not all—offshore casinos have a license from a gambling agency that certifies their commitment to player safety and their legitimacy.
Generally, the requirements to obtain a gambling license from somewhere like the Panama Gaming Commission or the Curaçao eGaming Authority’s four sub-licensees are similar. Here are some of the most prominent requirements that online gambling sites must meet to get a gambling license:
Licenses from offshore gambling authorities need to be renewed, and sometimes offshore sites let their license expire so they can obtain a license from a different locale. To see if an online casino has a gambling license, you can check in the footer of the website for a badge of certification. You can also check their Terms and Conditions for their exact license number.
Tips for Gambling at Offshore CasinosIf you’ve never used an offshore casino before, here are a few tips that will steer you in the right direction:
Bonuses and promos from offshore casino sites sometimes come with high wagering requirements you must fulfill before you can process a withdrawal. Make sure you brush up on how bonuses work and read the T&Cs to avoid claiming a bonus you can’t keep.
Offshore casinos promote crypto use because it’s faster than conventional banking methods, and they’re right. Visa or Mastercard withdrawals might take up to a week, whereas Bitcoin and Ethereum payouts are often processed the same day.
The gaming libraries at some offshore casinos are massive (take Las Atlantis, for example). Don’t get lost in the mix of games. Find one or two developers whose games you enjoy and sort the library by their titles. BetSoft, Microgaming, and RTG are three of the most popular, reputable developers that offshore casinos use.
Gambling at an online casino is meant to be a leisurely activity, and should never act as a way to supplement your income. If you feel like your gambling habits are getting out of control, or negatively impacting your relationships or finances, it’s time to seek help. Here are some of the best resources available to help people with gambling addiction.
Offshore casino sites allow players living in states where online gambling is not yet regulated to enjoy slots, table games, and live dealer lobbies.
These sites are licensed outside of the US by gambling agencies in Panama, Malta, Comoros, or Curacao, but have high standards for safety and fairness.
Offshore online casinos like Café Casino, Las Atlantis, and El Royale offer players larger bonuses, more games, and flexible banking options, things state-regulated casinos lack.