The world of sports betting has changed quite a bit throughout time. From some of the first bets placed at the Roman Coliseum, to the innumerable amount of offshore sportsbooks that exist today, bookmakers have changed drastically. But the change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Rather, it’s the complete opposite.
In years past, gambling wasn’t always a sure thing. Without any internet, bettors had no option but to find a local bookie. More often than not, these were run by the mafia, which made cashing in on winnings more precarious than it needed to be. Forcing bettors to visit a local bookie made sports betting a massive hassle. Instead of simply logging in to check the lines, gamblers had no way of monitoring what the odds were at other than getting up and walking to the bookmaker.
Accounting for how demanding everyday life is, not everyone was able to use a bookmaker sportsbook.
Many gamblers bet their money at top offshore sportsbooks. Bets can be made on a wide array of events like sports, poker, casino games. And more so long as the sportsbook offers it, which it will if it is one of the top rated sportsbooks.
It’s crucial to choose with care a safe offshore sportsbook. There are many betting websites you had best avoid. We highlight all there is to know about offshore sports gambling, and the sportsbooks we have assessed and deemed worthy.
List of the Best Offshore Sportsbooks
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Is Offshore Betting Illegal?
Whether top offshore sportsbooks are legal or illegal depends because betting legality varies from one jurisdiction to the next. In many countries, there is thorough regulation. In others, it’s downright illegal.
You should ask yourself whether placing a bet as an individual may be an issue for you in your country or region. If the answer is negative, offshore betting is safe. In the majority of Western countries, betting on sports is either legal and regulated, or illegal but the penalty is a slap on the wrist.
Online Offshore Betting: Is it legal?
Best offshore sportsbooks operate by accepting bets from American residents. The authorities released a memo in 2007 stating that online gambling was illegal.
However, individuals can place bets online (check your jurisdiction). In 2011, the Obama administration backtracked the view that the Wire Act applied to all manners of gambling.
Casino gambling, for example, online casino games and poker was now legal, as long as a government-licensed operator offered it. Sports betting remained under the Wire Act. Offshore sportsbooks and offshore betting were, and remain, the focus of law enforcement.
IS IT LEGAL TO PLACE ONLINE OFFSHORE SPORTS BETS FROM THE US?
Yes, it is. Despite what the authorities have stated in prior memos, no law Federal law criminalizes an individual from placing an offshore bet from the US. Some states have laws outlawing online gambling and/or online sports betting. The legality of US offshore gambling varies from state to state.
But even then, these laws are seldom enforced. Utah and several other states such as Washington State have outlawed all forms of online gambling. This includes placing offshore sports bets from the US. Washington State, the law is rather harsh in that gambling online is considered a felony.
However, they have never arrested anyone, much less charged them with the crime. As a matter of fact, they have never charged anyone with the simple act of placing offshore sports bets from the US.
The overall legality of offshore betting is a gray area for gamblers in many jurisdictions, but enforcement is nominal. *Disclaimer: We are not legal experts. Confirm the wagering and/or gambling regulations that are applicable in your local jurisdiction.
What Is Online Offshore Sports Betting?
Offshore sports betting makes reference to the location of the sportsbook’s operators and servers. Many offshore gambling websites are in the Caribbean or Central America. Many offshore betting websites are in Canada or Asia. The term is like an umbrella for sites that offer online betting to American residents.
Basically, you’re betting from America on an overseas site. The site itself is in some other country while you are on your couch, at work, at a game itself, or anywhere else, betting on the sport that you want. Moreover, many of them offer the option to be on a device of your choice: your phone, your tablet, your laptop, your desktop, and so forth. As you might imagine, the popularity of sites like these have absolutely skyrocketed in recent years.
What is an Offshore Sportsbook?
It’s a site where you actually place the bets. This sportsbook is where you, the bettor, deposit your money and make one bet or another. These sites are run either by individuals or by companies. They are, in every way, the online equivalent of what the “bookies in the bar” used to offer. Instead, these come with promotions, an account you can deposit your money into and take out of, and so forth — all of the things that weren’t available online until recently.
What Types of Bets Can I Make?
Simply put, any that are offered on the site. It’s almost easier to answer with a question: “what kinds of bets do you want to make?” Indeed, that’s what can drive a person towards one sportsbook or another in the first place. Yes, most of the bets will be for sports, for the outcome of a game, or something that occurs in the game. For example, just about any sportsbook that you’d be interested in offers bets on the NFL. You can bet on National Football League games, plays, players, futures, and so forth.
But, sportsbooks now have many more options for customers than ever before. For example, it’s very common to find a sportsbook that has betting options for eSports. Yes, that’s right: you can bet on the outcomes of video games, video game tournaments, and so forth. The types of bets you can make are only limited by what bets the sportsbook itself offers.
Point Spreads
Perhaps the most common type of bet that gets made, with these bets, players just bet on one team or another to win. However, what makes these bets unique is the handicapping. With that, the spread is weighted, one way or another, to make the game more even. Remember, when these games are handicapped, the goal isn’t to make the most accurate representation or prediction of what’s going to happen in the game. Rather, it’s for the company running the platform to get as much action as possible.
So, to use an example, the point spread of the Super Bowl could be something like “Chiefs -3.” What that would mean is that the Chiefs are favored in the Super Bowl by three points. The handicappers expect them to win the game by three points. So, as a bettor, you have two options: you can bet the Chiefs, the favorite, to win by three or more points. Or, alternatively, you can bet on the other team to win.
If you decide to do the latter, that means that you’ll be betting “with the three points.” They will be “given to” you. What this means is that if your team loses the game but the Chiefs win by less than three, you will win the bet. Indeed, this is the essence of handicapping.
What Are the Odds?
At the risk of simplifying something that can be a challenge to figure out, the odds are the measurement of an event’s likelihood of outcome. Really, that’s all they are. It may seem more complicated than that when you’re looking at the odds on one sports betting site or another, but the idea that you’re just looking at how likely something is to occur, nothing else.
So, when you see the odds that say the Bills are “-150,” that means that they’re favored in the money line. What it also means is that if you bet on this team to win the game and they do, you’ll win money. The money line is built around the idea of you betting $100 (you can bet whatever you feel comfortable betting, of course) but as a rule of thumb, the money line is based around you, the bettor, betting $100.
Thus, if you bet on the Bills to win, then, for your $100, you’ll get $150. By that same token, say that the Bills were actually +3 in the game. If that’s the case, then you’ll have to bet $150 to get $100. These bets are just for if a team is going to win the game outright.
Parlay
This is one of the most popular bets on sports betting sites for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it’s one of the most lucrative. If you can hit one of these, you can make a lot of money indeed. The idea is that multiple bets are tied into the same bet.
To use an example from college football, consider a “3 Team Parlay.” Maybe you bet on Northwestern to beat Penn State and cover in a noon game in Happy Valley. You also bet on Florida State to beat the University of Miami and take the points in the late afternoon, finally betting on UCLA to beat USC and cover in Los Angeles at night. If you lose one of those bets, then you lose all of them. But, if you win each stake, then you can walk away with big bucks. These bets, as you can see, have their advantages (in terms of how much money you can make) but also can have low odds.
Pleaser
This is a type of bet you don’t see all that often, but, yes, it too gives the bettor a chance to make even more money. The idea behind this bet is that you actually give the house one more advantage in hopes of a better eventual payout. For example, you make two bets on games in a sport, say, the NFL. Then, you give the house a better point spread in hopes of receiving better odds. You’re making the bet tougher on yourself so that you can win more money.
So, imagine that you’re betting on Pittsburgh versus Cleveland at 1 PM and the Patriots versus the Dolphins at 8:15 PM. You take the Steelers and the Dolphins to win. But, the line on the games are Pittsburgh by two and the Pats by five, respectively. So, in a pleaser bet, the line could become the Steelers by five and the Pats by eight. Now, it’s harder for those teams to cover. But, if you get both bets, then that lead to quite a payout.
Teaser
This kind of bet, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of a “pleaser.” With this, the idea is that you’re going to make the point spread easier on you, and the house will lower the odds. You’re more likely to make money in this way, but you aren’t as likely to make as much money.
Let’s return to our example from the prior section: instead of the Steelers’ line moving to five, instead, it could move to a pick’em while the Pats line moves to two. Now, the Pats can cover simply by winning by a field goal while the Steelers can win you their part of the bet just by winning. In return for winning teasers like this, you’ll receive less money.
What Types of Sports Can I Bet On?
If you go to any offshore sports betting site, you’ll find many different kinds of sports to bet on, bets to make, and so forth. Some sites will offer more different kinds of bets and sports to bet on than others. Below are some of the most popular.
American Football
The most bet on sport in the United States is one of if not the most bet on sport in the world. With football betting, most of these bets are going to be about the outcome of games, but they very well could be “prop bets” as well. These bets will be about what a player is going to do in a given game, and so forth.
Additionally, there could be what are called “Futures” bets. These show up in just about every kind of sport and they’re excellent for keeping people involved with the site during the offseason. The idea is that users are betting on which team is going to do what at the end of the current season. These are perfect for “bragging rights” for fans of one team or another.
That said, remember that, in addition to these prop bets, with American football, you’ll be able to make a whole host of other bets as well. Just about everything mentioned in the previous section can be bet on the NFL.
American Baseball
It may not technically be America’s pastime anymore, but this still one of the most popular (and most wagered upon) sports in the world. MLB betting is popular the world over for many reasons, not the least of which is that so many more of the players than ever before grew up somewhere other than America. With so many stars from the global East and South, wagers on baseball come from everywhere now.
These bets are similar to ones mentioned above for football, but you can also find bets on what’s going to happen after five innings, and so forth. Some sites make it possible to bet inning by inning, or even in “in-game betting,” where you bet on occurrences after the game has already begun.
Soccer
The most popular sport in the world for a variety of reasons, futbol is one of the most bet upon sports anywhere. Indeed, so many of the “offshore” sites are actually housed in a country where soccer is bigger than it is in the United States. Of course, these sites off all kinds of soccer bets. Everything mentioned above is here: futures, point spreads, odds, money line, and so much more.
Basketball
As popular and as global a game as there is, basketball reaches all across the world. From the NBA to NCAA, to all of the overseas leagues, to even the D-league, if there’s a basketball game going on somewhere, someone is going to want to be able to use cash, cryptocurrency, or anything else to be able to bet on it. Basketball is played by people the world over so it is bet on by people the world over.
NHL Hockey
The NHL may not be the biggest sport in America (of the four big sports, it’s definitely the least popular) but it is truly a global game. Players from all over the world, from Russia, Germany, Sweden, The Czech Republic and elsewhere make their way to America to play for the best teams in the world. These games can be bet on as well. When it comes to ice hockey betting, the majority of the action is on the money line, yes, but there are other options available as well.
Horse Racing, Greyhound Racing, and Other Sports
Bet the ponies and the dogs. That’s popular in places far afield from America. In addition to the team sports mentioned above, don’t forget about sports like these. Many of these offshore sites will have their racebook, a place where someone can bet on the races that they want to bet on. These sites make it possible to get a bet down in races far away from where the bettor is, the site is, and so much more. No matter what shore (or in what country) the horses are racing on, you will most likely be able to find a site that caters to you.
In fact, that’s something that draws more bettors than you might think to an offshore site: betting availability. It may not be easy to find a site that will take a bet on dogs racing, on overseas baseball, on small-school college basketball, and so forth. Yet, these overseas sites may have a focus on particular events that American sites may not. Moreover, overseas sites may offer different lines, odds, services, and more that you may not be able to find elsewhere.
The truth is that, if there’s a sport you’re into, the odds are good that you’re going to be able to find someone on an offshore site to help you get a bet down on it. For example, there are plenty of tennis bets to be placed. Whether it’s on a grand slam or any other match, the odds are quite good that, well, you’ll be able to get odds on the match.
Pros of Offshore Betting
Bonuses at Top Offshore Sports books in US
Bonuses are a lot better for U.S. sports bettors than for international gamblers, especially when using the best offshore sportsbooks. Even in regulated jurisdictions, offshore betting websites operate in countries known as tax havens. Overhead is very cheap, allowing these top sportsbooks to offer generous bonuses. There are no bonuses when you gamble with local bookies. However, bonuses are one of the main perks of betting with the best offshore sportsbooks. These online bonuses can boost your bankroll significantly, with amounts ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Each may have different rules about when and how these bonuses are applied. Some may do it registration, others may do it at some later time. Before you decide which site is right for you, it makes all of the sense in the world to do real research into what their process for bonuses is. That way, you can better incorporate it into your betting strategies, both at the beginning of your time with a site and moving forward.
That said, you want to be careful of waiting too long. In some cases, there may even be time limits on depositors to be able to receive their money. The last thing you want is to do something which could put you into a situation where “forfeits bonus money” is a real possibility.
Offshore Sportsbook Reliability
There are some pretty good local bookies out there, but they are nowhere near as trustworthy as most offshore betting websites. Moreover, there are usually more betting markets, bonuses and other benefits when it comes to offshore gambling. Crypto-Revolution.
Payment processors were a big issue for offshore sportsbooks. That has changed in recent years thanks to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin.
Sportsbooks take other cryptos and keep adding more regularly. This has brought stability to the offshore business and allowed sportsbooks and players to benefit from it.
Crypto has changed the market for sites like these. All the best allow for that so that you’ll be able to bet on athletic contests in the manner of your choice.
Best Offshore Sportsbooks For US Players
- BetAnySports – Best Offshore Sportsbook
- MyBookie – Trusted Offshore Sportsbook
- BetOnline – Top Offshore Sportsbook Bonuses
- BetUS – Reputable Offshore Sportsbook
- BetWhale – New and Excellent Offshore Sportsbook
- XBet – Top Offshore Gambling Experience
Top Offshore Sportsbooks with Vegas Betting Lines
Las Vegas became heavily involved in the sportsbook business in the 70’s. During this time, Vegas became the place to bet on sports, which heavily influenced the creation of its ‘Sin City’ nickname. It all started when small, independent sportsbooks began sweeping the scene. These were much like the aforementioned bookies but offered a little more dependability.
However, eventually, Big Brother took over as corporations, including casinos and hotels, began taking over. They bought out much of their low-level competition and paved the way to today’s infamous Vegas sportsbooks.
Giant sportsbooks, with massive screens on the walls, buzzing to the brim with bettors, became the face of the sportsbook industry. Sweat and an atmosphere shivering with the latest lines was what had become of the sports betting world, until the breakout of offshore sportsbooks in the 90’s.
A new King
Offshore sports betting sank its roots in the UK, where a gentleman named Gary Bowman opened up American Football Pools. Bowman’s goal was simple: sell parlays to American bettors. While this might sound complicated at first, the UK’s lenient sports betting laws allowed Bowman‘s business to thrive.
Soon enough, others caught on to his winning formula. Bowman found so much success that soon he had no option but to expand his business.
American Football Pools began offering action on all sports, not just American Football. Soon enough, the enterprise adopted the name Bowman International. Eventually, a sportsbook in the US decided to open a location in the Dominican Republic. There, workers would accept bets from US clientele, far away from the meddling eye of the US government.
This was just the beginning of offshore sportsbooks, however. This all took place around the late 80’s and soon enough, the creation of the internet would accelerate the rate at which the most reputable online sportsbooks found success.
Cons of Offshore Sportsbooks Betting
No regulations. There are plenty of pros about offshore betting markets, but the absence of regulation makes getting paid an issue. In countries like the United Kingdom, bookie bets are guaranteed to be paid, otherwise, the government would not allow them to operate in the country and would revoke their licenses. The bright side of lacking regulation is bigger bonuses and better deals, but they don’t offer the same security as legal, regulated jurisdictions.
Funds Must Be Deposited to Bet
It’s hard to call this one a drawback of offshore sports betting, but when you bet with locals you’re betting on credit. That means you don’t have to put up the money before you can place bets. This is how people get their legs broken by hired goons, so all in all, it is also again.
What is the Minimum Bet?
The best part about local bookies and online betting options is the larger limits on prop bets or smaller markets. Most of the best offshore sportsbooks don’t allow more than $500 (and some limits are as low as $50) or thereabouts on prop bets and smaller markets. Many locals will spend much more money on props and obscure markets compared to the best offshore sportsbooks. This is a meaningful advantage because of the extra amount you can get down on weaker or softer odds before hitting a limit.
The above has been said, the truth is that the minimum bet is whatever the sportsbook wants it to be. It’s important to note that this industry is constantly in flux. It’s always changing, always improving. Thus, it’s likely that you’ll be able to find a site that’s able to let you put down a very small bet. However, your odds of winning a lot of money on that very small bet aren’t too good.
What is the Maximum Bet?
The same holds true for this question. There is no set “number” for what constitutes the maximum bet that you’ll find at one of these sites. They can include anything they would like as the “maximum” bet. Yes, there are plenty that won’t let you bet more than $500. By that same token, some will let you take more bets than that as well. The truth is, always, the maximum bet should be “something that you’re comfortable losing.” Always. That’s the attitude you should have when you’re betting, when you’re making deposits on these sites, and something similar.
Do Offshore Betting Site Offer Customer Service?
Short answer: they are better. If the one you’re considering using doesn’t, then you should opt for another. The truth is that this is crucially important. Whether you’re a bettor or running your own site, there has to be somewhere that the bettor can turn to for answers to their questions. Whether it’s technical issues (such as “how withdrawals work” or something like that) or something a bit meatier, you need to have someone you can talk to that you can trust.
Many of the best of these sites provide access to someone who answers questions 24/7. They have a call center staffed with trained professionals who know all of the information that could potentially help a bettor who calls in the middle of the night asking about one site feature or another.
Offshore Betting: Paying Taxes on Wins
Offshore betting may fall outside of the legal U.S. banking system, but that doesn’t mean your gains are tax-free. The IRS cares little about how you got your money, as long as they get their share. There is less paper trail when betting online, but your offshore betting tax liability is unchanged, whether you bet on a ticket in Vegas or at an offshore sportsbook. Paying taxes on sports bets is unavoidable.
Advantages of Offshore Sportsbook on Sports Betting
There are some particular advantages to these sites that not everyone who makes a wager on these sites might know. For example, the diversity of payment methods can be genuinely incredible. They make it possible for more people to make more bets how they want than ever before. Case in point: yes, you can pay by credit card, debit card, and the like. However, you can also pay with PayPal, cryptocurrency, (such as ethereum) too. You can make a bet on how you want to make a bet.
Unsure which site takes which form of crypto, other currencies, and the like? Check the site or read the reviews. That way, you’re getting the info you need from those who use the site.
The Many Different Kinds of Promotions (Sign Up Bonus)
This is something else that was not around in the days of the offline bookies. (Although, in fairness, it would have been difficult to pull off.) With this, the entire is that you’re given money for joining the site. They allow you to get what could be called a “welcome bonus.” This is more or less what it sounds like: maybe the site will match your funds (as BetNow does from time to time with what’s called a “deposit match”), maybe they’ll cover your first bet, something of that nature.
Bonuses can come in many forms as well. For example, some will provide you with a “sports betting bonus.” Essentially, with this, you’ll get bonuses for making bets. The idea is that if you do more betting, you deserve a bonus for this.
That said, there may also be a “crypto deposit bonus,” depending on the site. The truth is that, as omnipresent as cryptocurrency has become, there are still plenty who may not use it all that often. Thus, by responding to a promotion for this bonus, you’re helping the site to build up their crypto. Even a promo code, something that helps you to be able to take advantage, can be considered a type of bonus.
Be careful, however, with your bonus money. While these sites are happy to provide them, they also want to stay away from bonus abuse as well. To that end, be aware of any rollover requirements at the site. What we mean here by that is: the number of times that you have to bet your deposit and bonus before you can withdrawal your winnings. Try to do it too few times and they won’t let you. Always: read the fine print. The last thing you want is to use up your promo codes only to find that you’ll forfeit bonus money, all because you didn’t meet the wager requirements.
Real, Viable Payment Options in the Markets
With these offshore sites, payment can come in multiple ways. For example, many of them use what’s called “Neteller.” One of the most popular kinds of banking options in the industry, this serves as a kind of “e-money transfer service,” something that people on both sides of the pond (so to speak) can use to get their payments.
Obviously, you can have your money sent to you with your debit card, credit card, etc. By that same token, you may very well be able to get your money paid through Bitcoin cash as well. That’s one more way that more people than ever are availing themselves of more and more.
Work on Any Device
This is something that’s more important than many people realize. If a page doesn’t load, then, you aren’t going to be able to make bets, play the slots, or anything else. Thus, the best types of gambling site have links that will load on any device under any circumstances. Whether it’s on a Samsung Android phone, an iPhone, or anything else, these have to open when you need them to.
Running When You Need it To
One of the most frustrating feelings in the world for a bettor can be when they want to make a bet at a site and are unable, because the site is down, it isn’t streaming as it should, and so forth. Make sure to choose a site that is always going to be “up.” The right site should say something like it’s up more than 99% of the time. Sports that people want to bet on occur all over the world and at essentially all time – from Antiqua to Alaska, Panama to Philadephia, and everywhere in between. A site that’s always “up” is one that you can do business with.
Few Restrictions in Terms of Location
Whether you’re in New York, Costa Rica, or anywhere else in between, you can load up these sites and find the entertainment that you’re looking for. You don’t have to struggle to find some guy in your neighborhood that’s going to have a juice which is way, way too big. Instead, you can simply sit down on your couch, put down a deposit bonus, and you’re ready to go. That’s very empowering, to say the least.
Sports Leagues That You May Not Find Anywhere Else
We highlighted this because this is something that too few people are aware of. With the right site, you can have opportunities in betting that were simply unheard of a few years ago. For example, you can find someone to take not just your NASCAR bets (which is a popular motorsport, yes, but not necessarily popular in every part of the country) as well as sports such as beach volleyball, or NCAAB games.
Darts, for example, may not get the same crowd that the Super Bowl does. However, there are people who live and die with it, seeing it as one of their favorite sports. These sites make it possible to bet on that. They do the same for boxing, rugby, MMA, even more niche esports such as DOTA 2. Yes, none of these have the same kind of viability that NCAAF does, and you may have to go through a bit of trouble to find a sport that offers them, but this can be a great way to make money on games that matter to you.
That said, there are betting options at an “online sportsbook” that may not include “sports” at all. Case in point: politics. You can find political betting at any number of these sites.
Loyalty Program
Yes, it’s not just for buying groceries or gas – many of these sites have offerings such as a program for those that are loyal as well. The idea is that you can unlock certain rewards if you continue betting, if you stick with the site. So, instead of jumping to one of a site’s rivals or something similar, you stay with the site and keep betting. For many sites, this is a kind of test – it’s something they have you do long after the bonus funds have been dealt with, etc.
Depending on how the loyalty program works, it may be easy to become a member, however, it may also be challenging to meet the wagering requirement, etc. Some may even allow you to make bets at a sister site and on that still work towards growing your accounts. You could find that, in some cases, there are rebates available with the site itself. Check if there is a wager requirement to qualify for this perk or any other. As with everything else in regards to offshore betting, (whether it’s choosing a site, making a bet, or anything else, careful analysis is required.
Casino Section
Several of these sites offer more than just a football, baseball, or esports section. On top of that, they may also offer plenty of casino games. Indeed, you can play games like blackjack, slots, Texas Hold ’em and more – with the last, it can be just like you’re in someone’s poker room. You don’t have to physically hold a casino chip in your hands to be able to make good money playing these casino games.
Plenty of players find the casinos of an offshore sportsbook as a welcome respite from sports betting itself. After a big game (or before one) it can be a nice change of pace to play some of your favorite casino games before going back to the sports.
Many of them have “live dealers” so that it feels like you’re playing the game against a real person (because, technically, you are – whether you’re in Delaware, Nevada, or anywhere else). Not every site may offer this, but the ones that do give you more chances to win more money.
Real Security
To put it bluntly, you can’t trust your credit cards with just anyone. Whether you’re Discover, Visa, MasterCard, or anything else, the last thing you can do is to give your sensitive information to someone who will put it at risk. Indeed, for these platforms to be viable, they have to have the best possible security. When looking for one or another, you need to check this out first.
Viable Apps
Sure, you can open a site and go through all of the pages to find the exact bet that you want to make, the research you want to do, but for many, what they want are apps they can trust. These can make it easier for people, no matter where they might be, to be able to access all areas of the offshore sportsbook in minutes flat.
Actual Customer Support
Many don’t realize how important the user interface is until there are problems with it. Then, all of a sudden, everyone wants a rebate, to be able to talk to a professional, and so forth. So, the best of these sites make it possible for you to talk to a real, live human being about something that you’re struggling with in regards to the site, betting, and so forth.
There’s real value in transactions like those. When you have the ability to talk to a human being who can answer your questions, it’s one more way that a site can show it’s worth using, and that you can trust it to provide you with accurate payouts. A real, live human operator, talking to you, the player who is overseas, can do so much to boost both the functionality as well as the reputation of a site.
Tips and Advice
The above covers what some of the best sites are and what to look for. The truth is that the overseas online sports markets are thriving right now. There are plenty of sites that will provide you with exactly what you want, that will leave you perfectly content season after season.
There are plenty of experts out there, who will try to tell you exactly what site is right for you and why. Many mean while, but, before you put your hard-earned money into any site, you have to be careful. If you’re a football fan, think of it like when a team runs the “max protect” offensive package: that’s the one where everyone stays back to block for the QB while one wide receiver goes out. First, protection. Then, winning. After all, you don’t want to “lose” at a site, not for a lack of being a good bettor, but rather, because of something that was wrong with the site in the first place.
Always, make sure that you use a site that you feel comfortable using. Yes, you can follow our recommendations, but at the end of the day, it’s really about you. You’ll be the one going through the different bet types, you’ll be the one deciding whether to set up a VPN or not to use a certain site. Find one that has a license you can trust. Go with one that, as you look at promos, previews, feedback of what other people have said, and the like, your gut trusts as being a real “quality” site, an app you want to use. You’ve been around the block, so to speak – you know what that looks like when you see it.
FAQs About Offshore Sportsbooks
1. Are offshore sportsbooks legal?
Offshore sportsbooks refer to sports betting platforms that are based in a foreign country and not regulated by U.S. authorities. In the U.S., the legality of using offshore sportsbooks is a complex matter. While the act of placing a bet with an offshore sportsbook is not explicitly illegal for the individual bettor, the Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 do target the operations of such sites and their financial transactions. Furthermore, many states have their own regulations concerning online gambling. So while you might not face prosecution for placing a bet, there is a risk in entrusting your money to unregulated sites. Always consult local laws and consider the risks before engaging with offshore sportsbooks.
2. What is an offshore sportsbook?
An offshore sportsbook is a sports betting platform or website that operates outside the jurisdiction of the United States. These platforms are based in and regulated by foreign countries. Because they aren’t under U.S. jurisdiction, they don’t have to adhere to U.S. gaming regulations, which can offer more freedom in terms of the types of bets they offer and the ways in which they operate. However, this also means that they might not offer the same consumer protections as domestic, regulated platforms. Bettors using offshore sportsbooks do so at their own risk, as these sites may not be accountable in case of disputes or issues regarding payouts.
3. How do I start an offshore sportsbook?
Starting an offshore sportsbook involves several steps, including:
1. Choosing a jurisdiction:
You’ll need to select a country where online gambling is legal and obtain the necessary licenses.
2. Obtaining a gambling license:
This involves satisfying the licensing requirements of the chosen jurisdiction, which can include background checks, payment of licensing fees, and demonstrating the ability to pay out winnings.
3. Setting up operations:
This entails creating a website, setting up servers (preferably in the jurisdiction where you’re licensed), and establishing payment processing mechanisms.
4. Creating betting lines and managing risks:
This can be done in-house or through third-party providers.
5. Marketing and client acquisition:
Like any business, you’ll need to attract and retain customers.
You’ll need to select a country where online gambling is legal and obtain the necessary licenses.
It’s crucial to consult with legal professionals throughout this process. Operating an offshore sportsbook can be legally complex, and you’ll want to ensure you’re compliant with all laws in the jurisdiction where you’re based.
4. Can you use a VPN to sports bet?
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to sports bet can mask your IP address and make it appear as if you are accessing a betting site from a different location. While using a VPN is not inherently illegal, many sports betting sites have terms and conditions that prohibit the use of VPNs. If detected, the betting site might freeze your account or confiscate funds.
In the U.S., if you’re using a VPN to access a sports betting site that is prohibited in your state or jurisdiction, you’re bypassing local regulations, which could lead to potential legal consequences. Additionally, some licensed U.S. sportsbooks might have geolocation requirements that can detect VPN use. Always review the terms of service of the betting platform and consider the legal implications in your jurisdiction before using a VPN for sports betting.
