The gambling industry in the UK has been growing exponentially in the last decade. But then, the strict regulations are not in favour of the UK-based online gambling operators. Today, non-UK casinos are the most sought after online gambling platforms in the country, rivalling the UK casinos. In this article, find out everything you need to know about non-UK casinos and gambling sites.
There are hundreds of non UK casino and betting sites; some are genuine, while others are bogus gambling sites not worth your time. Luckily, our experts have scoured the market and analysed dozens of offshores casinos to come up with this list of the best non UK casinos. If you are on the hunt for a non UK casino, below are the sites that should be on your wish list.
The country’s strict gambling regulations have bred a new classification of casinos; UK casinos and non UK casinos. The difference between the two narrows down to the casino’s country of origin and the regulatory authority.
UK casinos and gambling sites are all online gambling establishments registered in the UK. On the other hand, non UK casinos are those online gambling establishments whose origins are out of the UK, also known as offshore casinos.
All UK casinos are licensed and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Gambling Commission (UKGC). But non UK casinos are licensed by other offshore online gambling regulatory authorities, for example, ARJEL (France), Nevada Gaming Control Board (Nevada), Panama Gaming Control Board (Panama), Gambling Supervision Commission (Isle of Man), Curaçao Internet Gambling Association (Curaçao), and Malta Gaming Authority (Malta) just to mention a few. For the record, not all non-UK casinos are licensed.
Non-UK casinos are not prohibited for UK players even though they are not listed in Gamstop and don’t align with the UK gambling laws. No law prohibits UK players from signing up and playing on non UK gambling sites.
However, as a player, your safety and privacy are fundamental. That is why experts recommend that UK players sign up and gamble on licensed international casinos that accept UK players. There are hundreds of international casinos that accept UK players, but then, not all of them are good for you.
The good thing is that the Gambling Commission has whitelisted several gambling jurisdictions because at least they meet the standards of the Gambling Act 2005. The whitelisted jurisdictions include EEA (European Economic Area) countries, Alderney, Antigua and Barbuda, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, and Tasmania.
As mentioned earlier, gambling laws in the UK, especially the Gambling Act 2005, are stringent. This makes it hard for operators to set up shop, and also, some regulations limit players.
One of the strict laws is that all online casinos should be registered with Gamstop. This self-exclusion scheme aims at helping UK players with problem gambling. Without this requirement, no casino operator can be issued with the license to operate in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Gamstop is instrumental in combating problem gambling, but sometimes it sucks. Once signed up for Gamstop self-exclusion, players have to wait until the self-exclusion window elapses. It’s not possible to cancel Gamstop. Even after the exclusion period elapses you still have to contact Gamstop to have the exclusion lifted. For the record, once a player self excludes, they won’t be able to play on any gambling site licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
One way of getting around Gamstop self-exclusion is playing on non UK casinos, commonly referred to as casinos not on Gamstop. Unlike UK casinos, non-UK casinos are not bound by any of the strict UK gambling laws. That means UK players can still gamble even when they have self-excluded on Gamstop.
Besides beating Gamstop self-exclusion, non UK casinos have several other advantages. From the recent events in the UK gambling scene, it’s evident that tighter regulations are in the pipeline.
In 2020, for example, the Gambling Related Harm All-Party Parliamentary Group called on the government to tighten the UK gambling laws. The propositions include banning TV and online gambling adverts, capping the stake for online slots, abolishing VIP schemes, and introducing affordability checks on players. The cross-party group of MPs also wants a £50 daily gambling limit imposed during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Considering the previous success of the team that championed for the cap on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), all these new laws could be implemented soon.
Such laws will make gambling in the UK harder, and that’s where non-UK casinos will come in handy. UK players will be able to beat such restrictions by betting and wagering on casino games at gambling sites not on Gamstop.
One of the problems with casinos on Gamstop is the strenuous KYC verification during the registration process. But with non-UK casinos and gambling sites, the verification process, especially ID verification, is speedy, and smooth.
Non UK casinos also offer a wide variety of banking options. You can choose to play using fiat currency or cryptocurrency. More so, all international online payments methods are supported.
Last, non UK casinos have a wide variety of gambling options tailored to meet the demands of all players globally. This is unlike UK casinos that tailor betting options based on popular games in the UK.
While non UK casinos have many advantages compared to their UK counterparts, there are flaws which players need to be aware of.
First, if you are a compulsive gambler, non-UK casinos shouldn’t cross your mind. Yes, there are offshore casinos that abide by the universal responsible gambling laws and regulations, but most of them have no self-exclusion schemes. That means, if you are battling problem gambling, chances are high, you will sink deeper into the addiction.
Besides the lack of proper measures to help compulsive gamblers, non UK casinos are not licensed by the UKGC. That means UK players have no avenue to lodge complaints. This can be a big scare because some non UK online casino operators are frauds, while others may not pay winnings.
But with proper background checks, you shouldn’t fall into such traps as most of the non UK casinos in this article have been adequately vetted.
As mentioned earlier, there are hundreds of non-UK gambling sites. Some are genuine while others are operated by scammers and unscrupulous dealers who are out to defraud unsuspecting players. In this section, find out how to identify the best non UK casino to sign up on.
Of course, you need to gamble at a casino that is licensed by a renowned regulatory authority. Already, several jurisdictions have been accredited by the Gambling Commission. Even if the casino is not under the jurisdictions recommended by the Gambling Commission, make sure it’s licensed by at least any other renowned online gambling regulatory authority.
Besides the licensing and regulations, make an effort to check the online reputation of the particular casino or operator. Here, online casino reviews will come in handy.
Besides the licensing and regulations, check out the gambling options available. Some casinos only have the traditional online casino games, while others go the extra mile.
A worthy non-UK casino should have a wide variety of casino games that cut across all genres, such as roulette, blackjack, slots, poker, craps, lotteries, bingo, and more. Besides the typical RNG casino games, a live casino will be a superb extra, especially for the seasoned gamblers looking for an authentic casino experience. For the record, some non UK casinos will also include a sportsbook that offers sports betting markets in the popular games, as well as virtual sports betting and eSports betting.
Another essential factor to consider is the banking options. Make sure the non UK casino you want to sign up on allows you to play in your preferred currency; whether it’s fiat money or cryptocurrency. It should also support the British pound, or any other currency you are familiar with. Still on banking, check whether the platforms are secured using the latest, military-grade encryption.
The above are important considerations when choosing the best non-UK casinos to join. Besides, check out the usability of the casino, mobile compatibility, and promotions and bonuses. Talking of promotions, be on the lookout for non UK casino no deposit bonuses, non UK casino deposit bonuses, non UK casino reload bonuses, and VIP programs.
That’s it for this non UK casinos guide. While these casinos serve as the perfect way of getting around Gamstop, responsible gambling should be a priority. Don’t play on non-UK casinos if you are dealing with problem gambling.
In the past, several UK casinos were not listed in Gamstop. But a recent law by the Gambling Commission now requires that all UK casinos be on Gamstop.
Yes. There are many legitimate non-UK casinos that are under the watch of renowned online gambling regulatory authorities. But then, some are operated by fraudsters and unscrupulous dealers.
No. UK players are free to register and play on offshore casinos. But it’s upon them to make sure the site they are playing on is legitimate.