The best online casinos operate under solemn gambling laws that aim to protect customers and ensure fairness and security for all, with the best offshore. Every offshore casino will give you not only an amazing signup bonus, but many ongoing bonuses, free spins at the new slots, cashback, rewards points, and more. This is truly where the offshore casino trumps the value of any USA licensed online casino, the latter simply cannot compete in term of value for your dollar. The best online gambling sites of 2020 888 Casino. As part of the 888 Holdings Group that consists of 888 Casinos, 888 Poker and 888 Sport, 888 Casino is one of the market leaders. Based in Gibraltar, 888 Casino is one of the longest standing online gambling sites, having first been established in 1997.
Unlike the online casino industry, where people have much more choice in quality establishments, the world of offshore sports betting has never had the options casino players enjoy. Sure, at first look it seems that there are a ton of online sportsbooks, but if you dig just a bit deeper, the truth is that most of those offshore betting sites are pure crap. Despite the many offshore sportsbooks, fact is that only a handful of them are trustworthy and really worthy of patronizing. As you can see, our list of recommended sportsbooks include only 3 of them; a testament to the quality of those betting websites, but also an evidence of the struggles the sports bettors have to endure, compared to casino players.
The list of the top offshore sportsbooks is next, and we have also included our reviews and thoughts on why each sportsbook deserves a place in our ranking. These three USA sportsbooks are of the highest quality, and honestly, the only places we would be comfortable to bet. Despite the limited selection, one should be able to find a match, regardless of the type of bettor – pro or casual. But we highly recommend you avoid any other sportsbook, at least for the foreseeable future.
Best Online Sportsbooks and Betting Sites:
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus | Payout Speed | Best For | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $500 | Extremely Fast 1-2 days | Pros | ||
| #2 | $250 | Fast 2-4 days | Casual | ||
| #3 | $750 | Very Fast 2-3 days | Both |
It’s important to underline the incredible fact that none of the sportsbooks on this list have missed any payments during the coronavirus epidemic, when for months no sports were being played anywhere in the world. Why is this fact so important – because it shows how financially stable and reliable these offshore betting sites are. When for months all their customers did was withdraw money from their betting accounts, these sportsbooks not only processed those payments in a timely fashion, but didn’t make bettors jump through hoops in order to get their much needed money.
So if you want to have the maximum possible peace of mind when betting online, choose any of these USA online sportsbooks and you won’t have to worry about a single thing. Sadly, there is a reason why our best sportsbook list is so short. Plenty of “famous” (read: those with a lot of advertising) betting websites failed to support their customers during those times of trial.
Bookmaker Review
Bookmaker is sitting atop our list of best online sportsbooks for a good reason, it is undoubtedly the best offshore sportsbook and has been for many years. This sports betting website is so good, it often outranks the Vegas sportsbooks when comparing features.
First, it’s reputation is impeccable; for well over 20 years Bookmaker has been a reliable betting site, always paying on time, never playing any games with its customers, there is really nothing bad you’d read on the Internet about Bookmaker. In other words, these guys always pay and they pay on time, without any BS.
Bookmaker is also the most liquid offshore sportsbook, something extremely important to both pro bettors and casual players alike. After all, how can you expect a sportsbook to pay its customers’ winnings, if they don’t have the money to cover their position? This betting company, however, is as rock solid financially, as they come. One can bet here without any worries about getting their payouts processed in a timely manner. Bookmaker has weathered many a storm in the online gambling industry and we are 100% confident they will continue to do so in the future.
Another great feature many bettors appreciate is the very high betting limits Bookmaker offers its customers. If you consider yourself a high stakes betting enthusiast, this top online sportsbook got you covered. Which brings us back to the importance of having solid financials – you can’t take and pay high stakes bets, if you don’t have the liquidity to cover them. But bets in the teens of thousands of dollars are an every week thing with this excellent betting site. Pro bettors and sharps choose Bookmaker over any other betting website, because here they are always welcome to try their skills.
Overall, this is truly the best online sportsbook, bar none! It has been rated highest for many years and it is one of the very few bright spots in the offshore sports betting market.
Bovada Sportsbook Review
The Bovada online casino has long been ranked in the top 3 casinos on our website, but did you know that Bovada also runs one of the most successful and solid sports betting websites? That’s right, the Bovada sportsbook gives bettors the same high quality service the casino side of the business does. The sportsbook, along with the casino and poker room, make Bovada the compete gambling package. And we would’ve had it at the top spot, if it weren’t for a few small shortcomings; plus, it’s really hard to dethrone Bookmaker from the first spot on the top online sportsbook ranking.
Bovada has an excellent bonus for new betting accounts and you can expect to find solid odds on nearly every sport being played all over the world. Want to bet on darts or snooker – no problem, the sportsbook has odds on such obscure sporting events, as well. Plenty of betting markets and tons of props on everything, from NFL props to winners of elections and reality shows, Bovada will offer you odds on anything.
Where we feel Bovada drops the ball a bit is in the high stakes betting options. While the sportsbook is well known for shunning away sharps, sometimes it feels that they are going somewhat overboard. Quite a few people have seen their betting limits lowered quite a bit, when the betting site suspects them of being sharp, arbing or acting like pro bettors. No doubt, this offshore sportsbook caters mostly towards the casual bettor, pros should avoid it.
But if you just want to bet on sports, without any shenanigans, you can’t go wrong with Bovada. The sportsbook, as well as the casino, is solid financially, pays on time and without hustle, offers plenty of betting options, odds and props, and the bonuses are the biggest you can find among the good offshore sportsbooks.
5 Dimes Review (CLOSED)
Normally we would’ve ranked the 5Dimes sportsbook right after Bookmaker, but this offshore betting website is heavily geared towards pro bettors, with high betting limits, low juice, many bet options, that we decided that Bovada, with its bonuses and ease of use, would be a better option for the casual bettor. That said, 5Dimes is an excellent online sportsbook for anyone looking to squeeze the most out of their bankroll when they bet on sports.
The most famous feature of this betting site is, without doubt, their low juice odds. Among the best online sportsbooks, 5Dimes offers the best odds thanks to the reduced juice, which many pro bettors actively look for when choosing a sports betting website. Not only is the vig smaller than any other offshore gambling website, here customers can go even further – choosing their own odds. On many sporting events, there would be multiple options you can choose from to place a bet. For example, you can move the point spread any way you want – don’t like the -3.5 points, simply change it to 4 or 3 points. Naturally the payout odds will also change, but no other top sportsbook would even think to give you this option, to begin with.
Besides the ability to set your own odds, lines and payout, 5Dimes is also a very stable offshore sportsbook. They have been in business for over two decades and are yet to miss payments, even through the several though times the sports betting industry has had to endure.
Online casinos are springing up like mushrooms these days, and most of them belong to the category of offshore casinos. Anyone who has ever conducted a web search for online casinos has undoubtedly come across the term “offshore online casinos”. Offshore casinos are, in essence, online gambling sites that are registered and operate in a country other than your own. When punters hear the word “offshore”, they might be overwhelmed by its negative connotations. However, the situation has changed. Nowadays, offshore casinos can be considered entirely legal, fair, and secure gaming venues for players to enjoy.
Read on to learn all there is to know about offshore online casinos.
Top 5 Offshore Online Casinos
Offshore Online Casinos in a Nutshell
Offshore online casinos are safe havens for all those players who reside in countries where gambling, together with online gambling and its other forms, are prohibited. This is where offshore casinos come into play.
What helps the players join these without any fear of legal prosecution is the fact that no gambling law prohibits them from accessing online casinos. Some countries, like the USA, or more specifically some of its states, can impose certain legal restrictions that prevent different payment processors from transferring funds to offshore casinos. Still, these are the harshest restrictions as far as banning offshore casinos goes. Elsewhere, offshore online casinos might
be blocked by the internet providers following the orders from the authorities, but players can use any Virtual Private Network (VPN) to circumvent the geo-restrictions.
Even though offshore casinos operate from jurisdictions with lenient gambling laws, that does not mean they are free to do as they please. Offshore casinos are legitimate casinos with clearly defined rules and guidelines that serve as the backbone of fair and safe gaming online. More importantly, offshore casinos must be licensed by reputable gambling jurisdictions in order to offer casino games to players worldwide and do business in any of the jurisdictions.
Are Offshore Online Casinos Legal and Safe?
When it comes to the legality and safety of offshore casinos, the most straightforward answer you can get is that they are no different from your locally licensed online casinos or any less safe. Offshore casinos, as enterprises, are simply registered in another country and abide by the laws of another jurisdiction, but that makes them no less legal than the online casinos registered anywhere else. Players from almost every country in the world can access offshore casinos without the fear of any legal repercussions. Since offshore casinos are not registered in the countries that prohibit gambling, they are not subject to their laws.
However, to be considered legal, all offshore casinos have to obtain gaming licenses, go through auditing processes, and are subjected to the same scrutiny as are their counterparts in the USA, the UK, and elsewhere. Some licensing authorities are widely regarded as global leaders and are a good sign of the fair practices of an online offshore casino.
Namely, offshore casinos licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gambling Authority can be considered the safest playing options. Apart from these gaming authorities, offshore casinos can often be licensed by other reputable gaming control bodies such as Curacao e-Gaming Authority, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, and others.
These gambling authorities perform rigorous checks of all aspects and characteristics of casinos, such as fairness of their games, the safety of information and banking transactions, and more. They also perform regular checks to make sure casino operators stick to the responsible gaming policies and abide by the gambling laws of the country they are registered in.
On top of having a reputable gaming license, some offshore casinos have their games, especially the RNG-powered ones, tested by the independent auditing agencies such as eCOGRA, iTechLabs, and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). With such stamps of approval, offshore casinos can vouch for the fairness of their games and confirm that every outcome of spins or hands played is indeed random.
Why Play in Offshore Online Casinos — The Advantages of Offshore Online Casinos
One of the primary reasons why players opt for offshore online casinos is because they want to avoid the restrictive gambling laws that might be in power in their countries. In that case, offshore online casinos provide a legal and safe alternative. However, that is not the only reason.
Namely, offshore online casinos are premier gaming venues with thousands of different slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, keno, and many other games. Thanks to modern technology and the power of the internet, offshore online casinos can offer top-notch casino experience 24/7, every day of the year.
The gaming catalogs in offshore online casinos are powered by dozens of top software providers, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Novomatic, IGT, ShuffleMaster, NYX Gaming, and many others. That sort of gaming diversity and playing options are impossible to see anywhere other than in online casinos. Most offshore casinos now have Live Casino sections where players can play their favorite casino games against live dealers via HD streaming services. These Live Casino games in online casinos provide a realistic gaming experience that was otherwise only available in land-based casinos.
What’s more, you can now access all of the offshore online casinos’ games and features anywhere whether you are using your PC, laptop, or a mobile device. Being able to play favorite casino games on the go via mobile devices is becoming a top priority for many casino players, and offshore casinos are creating dedicated mobile apps and mobile versions of the sites for Android, iOS, and any other kind of operating system so that players can have a personalized and premium gaming experience.
Furthermore, the market for offshore online casinos is as fierce as they come. Strong competition pushes casinos to improve their offers continually and attract new players with different promotions. Offshore casinos offer lucrative sign-up offers for newly-registered players, together with the reload bonuses and VIP loyalty schemes for existing ones, thus keeping everybody happy.
Another crucial advantage of offshore casinos is that the winnings generated in online casinos are not taxable. This means you are not legally required to report the winnings to the IRS as they are not generated within your country.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Offshore Online Casinos?
It must be pointed out that not all offshore online casinos are licensed and regulated casinos, which might lead to a series of problems for players who don’t make sure to check whether the casino is licensed or not.
First, some players have reported issues with payments when playing in offshore online casinos. Some casinos have been known to deny players the money they earned, invoking some obscure rules from the Terms and Conditions sections of the site to justify their actions. In that case, the players can’t complain to their local authorities since offshore casinos are beyond their jurisdiction. Even if the offshore casino is licensed, there can be problems with payment withdrawals and processing, so it is definitely something that falls under the disadvantages category.
Secondly, you can never be too sure if the games are rigged or not. If the offshore casino does not hold any valid licenses or stamps of approval by independent software testing agencies, you can’t possibly know if the games are truly fair.
Banking in Offshore Online Casinos
Offshore online casinos offer various payment methods to players, but processing a payment to an online offshore casino is not always smooth sailing. There are legal restrictions that countries that have banned online gambling of any sort impose and that deal with processing casino payments, most notably the USA’s UIGEA.
Under UIGEA, no financial institution is permitted to process transactions between players and offshore online casinos knowingly. The result of these restrictions is seen in financial institutions performing regular screenings to find such payments and block them. The biggest issue for players is not knowing whether their deposits and withdrawals will come through.
The most common payment methods used by players in offshore online casinos are credit/debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Maestro. These financial institutions do process the payments, but not all of them come through due to these legal restrictions.
Players can then turn to prepaid cards, such as Visa prepaid and Paysafecard. These methods are safe and convenient, but you need to make sure the prepaid cards can be used internationally.
Players can also use bank transfers, but these are risky because of legal restrictions and typically high fees. However, they are suitable for high rollers due to high deposit and withdrawal limits.
The safest and most propagated banking method for offshore online casinos these days is banking with cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others, are not controlled by financial institutions, which means you can safely make payments regardless of the legal restrictions.
What to Look for In Offshore Online Casinos?
To make sure you have made the best choice when it comes to offshore online casinos, you need to pay attention to the following casino characteristics.
First, check if the casino holds any of the reputable gaming licenses we mentioned, such as the one from UKGC or Malta Gaming Authority. If these gambling jurisdictions have licensed the casino, then you have a reason to feel safe playing there. In addition, if any of the software testing agencies like eCOGRA and GLI have tested the gaming software, then the fairness of the games is guaranteed.
Speaking of security, we can add that casinos that employ at least the 128-bit SSL encryption methods to protect the transactions and personal data are highly recommended. This is because no third-party interference is possible if these safety measures are used.
Moreover, you should always check the banking methods that the offshore casino has to offer. If the casino allows the use of Skrill, Neteller, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, or any other of the reliable and recognizable payment methods, then you can expect all money transactions with the casino to go through smoothly and without any unexpected fees.
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Offshore online casinos are also quite famous for the hefty casino bonuses they offer. When choosing the next offshore casino, check what welcome bonuses it offers and what their terms and conditions are. With casino bonuses, it is always wise to check the wagering requirements and other limitations. The biggest bonuses in terms of bonus funds or free spins are not always the best choices. You need to look for a balance between what you get from the casino and how you can cash in on those bonuses and promotions.
Best Offshore Online Casino Slots
Finally, you should pay attention to the casino’s fair and responsible gaming policies. If the casino follows the responsible gaming policy (and thus protects vulnerable players from the adverse effects of irresponsible gambling through any of the self-exclusion schemes or similar), then that casino is worthy of consideration.