Offshore/Unlicensed Casinos

Connecticut

One of the newer members to join the online casino party is Connecticut. Its first online casinos launched in October 2021, meaning residents can now enjoy playing their favorite slots and table games from the comfort of their homes or via a mobile casino app. With software developers like NetEnt and IGT helping to power these sites, the gaming experience in CT is second to none.

Types of Gambling at Offshore Internet Casinos

Offshore gambling establishments have action ranging from inexpensive lottery games to all-in poker tournaments. You may like to stick to slots or sports betting, but you will have plenty of other options if you get bored. Here are just a few of the games you will be able to play if you fancy a change of pace:

• Slots games: No brick-and-mortar casino worth its salt would enter the market without a big range of slots games, and offshore establishments are no different. There are also dedicated offshore slot sites that have nothing else.
• Table games: Casino standards like blackjack, baccarat and roulette are popular at casinos all over the world because they are really exciting to play and offer a good chance of winning.
• Sports books: Offshore sports betting sites not on GamStop give punters the opportunity to place bets on the outcomes of individual or team contests, and many of them allow bettors to hedge their bets or double down in real time.
• Bingo and Slingo: Bingo is one of the most popular casino games among British punters, and Slingo spices things up by combining elements of Bingo and Slots.
• Lotteries: The odds will not be in your favour if you play lottery games at overseas casinos, but winning the jackpot could really make your day.
• Poker: Just about every variation of poker from five-card draw to Omaha and Texas hold ‘em can be played at casinos not licenced by the UK Gambling Commission.

Betting Limitations

Many online casinos limit the maximum and lowest bets you can place on each spin or round of a slot machine or table game. This isn’t a problem at most online casinos because the maximum wager is usually quite high.

Several offshore gambling establishments provide high-limit tables and Premium perks. If you plan to bet a lot of money, you’ll need a high-roller-friendly offshore online casino.

3. The crypto sphere

Offshore casinos, especially those that accept cryptocurrency like Stake.com, BetOnline, XBet or BigSpinCasino, allow those who are not able to gamble in fiat currency the opportunity to enjoy games in a decentralized environment. This is handy for those who prefer keeping their gambling pastime more private. Many offshore casinos receive licensing from Curacao or other regulators, but many of them uphold a high standard of ethics. This is one of the first things we check for when reviewing the fiat and crypto casinos we promote on the PokCas site.

Advantages of Offshore Online Casinos

Since they are not subject to government oversight, many US players believe that offshore gambling sites are superior. However, these sites are able to offer major benefits to their players since they are no longer subject to tight laws. Casinos in the United Kingdom, for example, no longer provide their customers with lucrative incentives or VIP programs. And of course, GamStop doesn’t take bitcoin, therefore they’ve cut ties with other game producers. Offshore casinos, on the other hand, provide all of these benefits and even more! Here are some of the most important aspects of offshore gambling websites, and how you may take advantage of them.

Maximum Casino

Maximum Casino is a popular and desirable place to test your luck and play some of the most amazing games that are not controlled by gambling commissions from Europe. The site is safe, uses SSL encryption for all transitions and personal information, and has been considered the top choice for quite some time.

Games available are casino options such as slots, table games, live dealer, and many more. Sports, esports, and championship leagues are all available. We must add that tournaments and lotteries are offered as well. Bonuses are stunning and always ready for you. This offshore-licensed casino site does promote responsible gambling.

New Swiss casino licensing regions

Earlier in the year, the Federal Council of Switzerland approved the creation of two new casino licensing regions in the country. The move will allow two new casino licences to be granted, adding to the existing 21 licensees. A tender process will begin next month, with the winning licensees to be announced in autumn.

Switzerland allows one casino licence for each licensing region. Currently, there are 21 regions, but the Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) recommended the system be updated to add Lausanne and Winterthur as two new regions. The existing 21 casino licences will not be affected.

In May, the economics think tank Avenir Suisse suggested that Switzerland should change its approach of linking online casino licences to land-based casinos, proposing the country create online-only licences.

The think tank said that the gambling sector in Switzerland is politicised and inefficient, with politicians choosing to direct the proceeds of gambling revenue. It argued that this has created a “veritable cash distribution industry” around Switzerland’s two lotteries – Swisslos and Loterie Romandie.

Its report states: “The distribution of gambling money is not optimal. The cantonal lottery funds regularly finance projects that interpret the notion of public utility enshrined in the Constitution very broadly.”

It also noted that tax revenue from some casinos goes to different cantons, not those where the land-based casinos are located. Moreover, some cantons were effectively regulators and operators because of their stakes in casinos, the report argues. It also proposed that the two national gaming regulators, Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission (ESBK) for the German-speaking cantons and Gespa for the French, should be merged.

Stacey Powers4 months ago

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Playing at offshore casinos is a great way to increase your access to online gambling. But you probably are aware that not all offshore casino sites are trustworthy and reputable. Some may not have ironclad security, which could compromise your data. Others may not be financially stable. If they collapse, you could lose your money. Still others may be outright scams.

Thankfully, there are numerous offshore casino sites that are trustworthy. Let’s take a look at how you can find safe offshore online casinos step by step. Once you have found a safe offshore casino site to join, you can focus on having fun, knowing your money and data are safe.

10 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Gambling

Tags: Online Gambling Legalization, US Online Casinos, US online Gambling

June 5, 2020

About the Author

Quality games and bonuses

One of the most important aspects of an online casino is the games library and the bonus offerings.

A good casino would offer hundreds of games from notable providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Betsoft. At the same time, you want to find one with great bonuses and promotions without placing terrible wagering requirements that make it hard to cash out the winnings.

 1. Malta:

Malta holds the gold standard of iGaming licensing, this is attributed to the numerous attractive advantages it presents.

Great Tax-Free Income!

If you want to learn how to be a master of casino games or sports wagering, offshore gambling sites can provide you with an extra tax-free source of revenue that you can use to pay your bills or cover other expenditures while you pursue your passion. You will, however, be required to commit a portion of your day to training, information collecting, and the testing of new tactics and methods.

Lessons from the online poker boom

A great way to illustrate the dangers of unlicensed iGaming sites is by studying the rise and fall of some of the most popular online poker rooms of the early 2000s.

When accountant Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2003, online poker exploded in popularity, fueling the rise of gray market sites like Party Poker, Pacific Poker and PokerStars, all of which were headquartered outside of the US.

During these Wild West days of the industry, poker sites advertised aggressively on television, leading many casual players to believe, falsely, that the companies were in some way licensed or regulated by the government.

Pick a jurisdiction for your online gaming license

Next, you need to pick a jurisdiction where you will base your operations. Typically this will be where you are located for tax purposes, where you have your online casino license, and where the company is incorporated. Known as an offshore jurisdiction, they have some benefits including privacy, quicker or more cost-effective setup costs, and fiscal benefits. Several offshore jurisdictions offer an online gaming license but which one is the right one for you will depend on your circumstances. It’s best to consult your corporate services provider to look at all the benefits, pros, and cons.

Your services provider will take you through every aspect of the jurisdictions online casino license rules and regulations, compliance, tax, company laws, and various other matters. Remember, which jurisdiction you pick will have a big impact on the way you operate. Don’t undertake this decision without expert guidance.

Fast Offshore usually recommends three offshore gambling jurisdictions- Curacao, Kahnawake, and Malta. Each with a different price point, complexity of the license acquisition process, and time frame. You can read a more detailed analysis of these 3 licenses. Alternatively, contact Fast Offshore to discuss your options.

Best Offshore Online Casinos Reddit

Reddit is a hive of information, and there are plenty of threads related to the perceived best offshore casinos online. Needless to say, we recommend due diligence when reading what people have posted. A lot of the time, the OPs (original posters) are in some way affiliated with the offshore casino that they are talking about.

This isn’t to say that everything on Reddit is misguided half-truths, but rather to urge caution. Don’t take a single person’s word as fact. Compare opinions from other forums and other areas of the web.

The lack of transparency surrounding offshore casinos is a concern, which is another reason why we advise against them, and only advocate playing at licensed online establishments.

FAQ

Vegas Wild Casino

Here is another offshore casino site that is available to UK players but doesn’t come with the limitations set by the UKGC or any other gambling authority. In addition, they do have a proper Curacao gambling permit and they offer fair gambling.

Vegas Wild casino offers casino games that are divided into several sections. You can play table games, video poker, special games, slots, and more. All top-notch games are available and offered. Bonuses are high, always available, and above the average. All major payment methods are supported as well so you can use the one you like.

In other languages:

• Te reo Māori Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 437KB)    
• Chinese Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 507KB)    
• Hindi Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 421KB)    
• Japanese Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 514KB)    
• Korean Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 458KB)    
• Samoan Online Gambling in NZ Discussion Document Quick read (PDF, 448KB)    

Credit cards

International casinos do not have to follow British regulations, so they can accept credit cards and debit cards with MasterCard or Visa logos. If you want casinos that accept credit cards, you will have to look overseas.

3. Check into security protocols.

Data breaches compromise billions of records a year. In a time when cybercrime is rampant, it is vital to make sure any online offshore casinos where you gamble are taking appropriate security measures. Ask what kind of encryption they are using to secure customer data and funds.

Is It Legal To Play in an Offshore Casino?

Offshore wagering is legal, thus the answer to your question is yes. The United States does not allow offshore wagering companies, as well as sportsbooks, to operate in the country. Some gamblers are baffled by the fact that they operate outside the reach of the law and that some of them have been able to do so for an extended period of time.

Are Offshore Online Casinos Legal?

Most offshore casinos these days are licensed in Curacao. Therefore, in a general sense, yes, these are legal operations. However, if the question is more specific, ‘Are offshore casinos legal in the US?’ Then, you’ll find a mixed bag of answers.

Several websites claim that offshore casinos are legal in the US because they don’t have to adhere to the same rules as US-based operators. This is somewhat of a thin argument, to be honest. More notably, those that claim it’s perfectly fine to use offshore casino sites in the US are often promoting those exact casinos.

To provide more clarity in answering this question, we used the Free Legal Advice website, which has no affiliation with the gambling industry, so you’d expect impartially. It clearly states that using an offshore casino while in the US is illegal, just the same as it’s illegal to gamble online with at a New Jersey while being outside of the state.

The bottom line is that online casino gambling is illegal in 44 of America’s 50 states. This applies to offshore casinos and US operators. For the six states that have legalized online casinos, players can only use the brands that are licensed and regulated, which obviously excludes offshore online casinos like Stake.com.

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VIP Program

Several offshore casinos provide VIP programs that allow customers to engage in special promotions and play at a specialized table. Members of the casino’s most devoted patrons are eligible for VIP seating. Playing with these perks should make you feel as if you’re a VIP at a Steelhouse concert, allowing you to experience everything to its maximum potential.

How do offshore casinos and sportsbooks get licensed?

Offshore online casino websites contend they are legal because they have gotten a license in one or more jurisdictions.  The online casinos thus contend that they are legal gaming enterprises, not illegal gambling operations.  Being licensed supposedly adds legitimacy and credibility to the business that has received a license.  To my mind licensing should imply investigating and assuring the legitimacy of the licensed company and ongoing regulation of the licensee.

Is there substance to the licensing process in the jurisdictions that grant licenses to online casinos?  What is the cost of the license?  How much effort does it take to get a license?  Are there any meaningful standards that have to be met to get a license?  Is ample time provided to conduct a background check?  Is the licensee required to prove its legitimacy?  Is there any ongoing regulation and oversight by the licensing authority.  Here is some background on the licensing process in Nevada and New Jersey, jurisdictions we know thoroughly investigate licensees.  Information on the procedures in the jurisdictions that license online casinos is not available. Still, some inkling of what it must comprise can be discerned from the costs involved in obtaining those licenses and the time it takes to get them.

In Nevada and New Jersey, the applicant for an unrestricted gaming license can expect the process to take one to two years.  The applicant has the burden of proving to the licensing authorities that it is legitimate and has the necessary skills available to operate a casino in compliance with the law.  The applicant must pay the costs of the independent investigation undertaken to test the accuracy and complete truthfulness of its responses to the multiple questions answered in filling out the application.  These costs routinely amount to between $500,000 and $1,000,000.  There are public hearings to delve into personal and business transgressions admitted in the application or turned up in the investigation.  These amounts do not take into consideration the legal fees that each applicant incurs in getting help and advice in connection with the process.

In Nevada, the fees charged licensees are based on the number of slot machines and games that the licensee wants to operate.  The annual fee is $250 per slot machine and between $200 and $1,000 for each table game. There are also quarterly fees paid on a per-machine and per-table basis.  The annual total of these fees for a brick and mortar casino with 2,000 slot machines and 200 table games would come to over $800,000.  The licensee is also taxed on the gross revenue from the gaming operation, with the tax being 3.5% of the first $50,000 per month, 4.5% of the next $84,000, and 6.75% of the amount over $134,000.  So, if gross revenues amount to $100 per day per slot machine and $500 per day per table, the annual gross income would come to about $100 million, with a resulting total yearly state tax of about $6,700,000.

The following table is taken from information presented by Slogold (Last Visited 11-9-2003), a member of the Haglley Holding group, which assists in setting up offshore businesses and obtaining foreign casino licenses.  The table shows the license fees, tax rates, estimated times for licensing, and estimated legal fees that an applicant can expect in each of the offshore jurisdictions noted.

[1]  A report in 2001 commissioned by the Canada West Foundation says: “Internet Gambling: Kahnawake Gaming Commission   In June 1996, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake established the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to approve Internet gambling activities. The Commission has been providing gaming licenses for firms to use their Internet servers to host online casinos. The Kahnawake First Nation claims that they areoffering their clients the legal protection of a sovereign nation. While the Kahnawake Nation are not themselves conducting gambling activities, under the Criminal Code they do not have the authority to license such activities without provincial approval.

   The issue of Internet gambling and online betting is a controversial policy area. While in North America Internet gambling is prohibited, it is relatively hard to regulate. There is concern that even if Internet gambling continues to be prohibited in Canada, there is no realistic way to stop Canadiansfrom placing bets on offshore gambling sites. Some people, including Liberal MP Denis Mills, have lobbied for legalizing Internet gambling in order to stop revenues from being lost to Internet gambling sites located offshore.