Ian Bruce became interested in betting in 1987, when he landed a winning Yankee on his first attempt. That stroke of luck (and he its that's exactly what it was) sparked an interest in understanding the strategies behind successful wagers. Over the years, he has become one of the UK's most prolific writers on betting and gaming, and is best known for his systematic approach to winning. Ian's career in the industry now spans over three decades. His favorite betting method is Dutching because, in his words, "It's the one I win with more often than not."
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Pavel dedicated seven years to working with Unibet, the flagship brand of Kindred, before ing SportsCasting.com in 2024. He holds an MBA in Marketing and, as a Senior Editor, ensures the accuracy and reliability of the site's content. Pavel is committed to promoting responsible gambling, stressing the importance of setting limits and making informed choices to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
All posts by pavelpudakovInternational casinos provide a world full of gaming excitement and adventure. It’s just as legal for UK players to visit international online casinos as it is for players in other countries, so this guide will explain how to do that while still enjoying the highest levels of safety and security.
What is an International Casino?
For the purpose of this discussion, an international online casino is one that is based outside the UK and is not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That means it won’t be subject to the various rules and regulations imposed by the UKGC. Nor will it usually be within the remit of other UK-focused organisations such as GAMSTOP.
That doesn’t mean that international casinos are a law unto themselves, of course. There are many more gambling regulators in the world than the UKGC, and the best international casinos are licensed by at least one and often several of them. We will look at some of the main regulators of overseas casinos accepting UK players in a few moments. For now, it’s enough to note that the top international casinos can be every bit as safe and legal as those based here.
Gambling online is popular not just in this country but around the world. In 2023, the global gambling industry generated a whopping £536 billion, and that figure is projected to reach even dizzier heights in the years ahead. The online casino scene is thriving everywhere, and new international casinos are being launched all the time, with several new platforms making their debut every month. Clearly, if you enjoy playing casino games, international casino sites aren’t something to be ignored.
International Gambling Regulators
We said in the previous section that there are plenty of gambling regulators in the world, so it’s now time to throw the spotlight on the ones that you’re most likely to come across. Not every international casino is licensed and regulated, so we strongly advise you to avoid any that aren’t. Instead, focus on those that have been given a license to operate by one or more of the regulators below. That way, you’ll automatically be focusing on the best international casinos and avoiding unlicensed venues that, for one reason or another, have chosen to operate as unregulated sites.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
Founded in 2001, the Malta Gaming Authority is a heavyweight regulator that is just as widely respected as our own UK Gambling Commission. In fact, it predates the UKGC by several years, and UK players in the early years of online gambling trusted the MGA seal of approval just as much as they now trust the UK regulator. Its rules are comfortingly strict and exist to protect players and promote transparency in the industry as a whole. In short, this is one of the most trusted regulators around.
Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB)
Another regulator that has existed for decades is the Curaçao Gaming Control Board. The GCB was awarding licences to international online casinos before the turn of the millennium, and it’s still going strong. It’s often said that the GCB is a lot less strict than some other regulators (we’re thinking particularly about the UKGC and the MGA here), but its licensees still need to run their businesses in a safe, legal, and fair manner.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)
The AGCC was established in 2000 and, as you might have guessed, is based in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Its licensing process is famously rigorous and aims to protect players and promote responsible gambling. Compliance is closely monitored, and the regulator is quick to take action against any licensee that lowers its standards. This reputation for integrity attracts many of the best international casinos and has made the AGCC a big player in the industry.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been licensing and regulating online gaming sites from the very beginning. It’s based in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Canada, so you’ll find its distinctive logo on many sites that are wholly or partially aimed at players in Canada and North America. One thing to note about this regulator is that any site that it licenses must be hosted at Mohawk Internet Technologies in the same Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC)
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission regulates both land-based and online gambling establishments, including betting shops, lotteries, and online casinos. Its objectives are to ensure that its licensees conduct their businesses in “a fair and open way”, to protect minors from the dangers of gambling, and to prevent illegal activity, such as money laundering.
Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA)
The GRA was established as an independent body under the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act 2000. It works in much the same way as the UKGC, which isn’t surprising when you consider that Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory. That means you can expect a casino licensed by this regulator to broadly adhere to similar rules as those licensed by the Gambling Commission. Needless to say, the GRA logo on a casino website is often viewed as a badge of honour.
Gambling Winnings and Tax
The taxation of winnings from gambling is a complicated topic, but a good rule of thumb to is that the tax laws of the country your winnings came from will probably apply. In other words, if you win cash from a casino in Spain, which taxes gambling winnings, your winnings will probably be taxable. But if you win cash from a casino in a country that doesn’t tax gambling winnings, such as Italy or , you’ll just as probably get to keep every cent.
Of course, this is just a broad generality. Some countries might only tax winnings when they reach a certain threshold, while others might have tax treaties with each other for online gambling purposes. For your peace of mind, we would strongly advise anyone who plays at international casinos to conduct their own research into any possible tax liability that might arise. If you don’t want to do that, play only at casino sites regulated by the UKGC because gambling winnings here aren’t subject to tax unless you’re a professional gambler.
The Benefits of Playing at International Casinos
The UKGC currently licenses over 180 online casino operators, from 32Red to Zecure Gaming (be sure to filter by Casino and Remote to see the refined list), and many of those operators run multiple casinos. That gives UK players a lot of choice already, so why also think about playing games at international casinos online? We can give you six good reasons. There are probably many more, but these are the biggest:
More Regulatory Freedom
International casinos that operate under licences from regulators such as the MGA or GCB will enjoy a bit – okay, maybe a lot – more freedom than those regulated by the UKGC. That’s simply because the UKGC is one of the strictest around. It doesn’t just aim to look out for your safety when playing online, but it actually bans things that it thinks will do you more harm than good. Other regulators are a bit more trusting of players and our ability to make our own decisions. They still impose rules on their licensees, but they don’t often view banning something as a valid preventative measure. If the UKGC comes across like an overzealous babysitter with a vicious streak, you’ll find most other regulators to be a bit more chill by comparison. Like, you know, the ones that used to let you stay up late and watch horror movies.Greater Variety of Games
The types of games that are offered at online casinos will tend to reflect the preferences of their players. Visit American casinos, and you’ll find plenty of slots with American themes, lots of video poker and American Roulette games. Similarly, if you spend time at casinos aimed at Japanese players, you’ll probably see quite a few Pachinko games in the lobbies. This being the case, playing at international casinos can give you access to a much greater variety of games.Additional Game Features
One of the benefits of playing at international casinos for UK players is that the games offered can be as fully featured as their designers intended. We said earlier that the UKGC tends to ban things that they view as potentially problematic. In the world of slot gaming, that includes the ability to speed up reel spins, buy the bonus round for a set sum of money, and so on. You simply won’t be offered those features at a UKGC casino, but sites licensed by less strict regulators will give you access to them without batting an eyelid.Fewer Staking Limits
Another thing that the UKGC has done is introduce limits on how much you can stake in certain games. From September 2024, new regulations were brought in to limit slot stakes to £5 per spin or an even lower £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24. We don’t advocate betting more than you can genuinely afford, but if the UKGC staking limits are on the low side for you, you’ll be glad to hear that few such limits are in place at international casinos.More Payment Methods
As well as boasting more games, more features and fewer staking limits, international casinos will also give you more ways to make deposits and withdrawals. Yet again, the UKGC has limited our options in this area, with credit cards having been banned from UK online gambling sites in 2020. Cryptocurrency deposit options are also impossible to find at UKGC casinos. Fortunately, both credit cards and cryptocurrencies can be used at many international casinos to make deposits, so if you’re a fan of those methods, you’ll be happy.Legal and Safe
Last, but not least, international casinos can be just as safe and legal as those that are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. We say “can be” because you need to be selective, and it’s essential to play only at casinos that are properly licensed and regulated. But, as you’ve seen, there are plenty of highly respected regulators around the world who work hard to ensure that games are fair and players are safe. Select a casino that’s licensed by one of those, and you’ll enjoy all of the other benefits we’ve mentioned here in a completely safe and legal way.
Bonuses and Promotions – What to Expect
International gambling sites work just as hard to attract and retain customers as any in Britain. That means you can expect casinos to offer plenty in the way of bonuses and promotions. The exact offers you’ll find will vary at each venue you visit, but the main types you’ll encounter are as follows:
New Player Bonuses
It should be no surprise that the biggest and best bonuses are given to new players. Also known as welcome bonuses or offers, these reward anyone of legal age who signs up for a new and makes a first deposit. The bonus offered will usually be directly related to the size of the deposit and will have a stated maximum value.
For example, you might be offered a 100% bonus on your first deposit, up to €200. In that case, if you were to deposit €50, you would get a bonus of €50. And if you deposited €200, you’d get the maximum bonus of the same value.
At international casinos (and UK casinos, for that matter) new player bonuses will tend to have wagering requirements attached. This is so that you use the bonus to actually play games, which means that you won’t be able to withdraw a bonus until you have wagered it a certain number of times. For players, the lower the wagering requirement is, the better.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses aren’t very common for new players these days but are more often aimed at existing customers. These bonuses don’t need you to make a deposit to qualify for them, so they tend to have a lower value than the new player bonuses discussed a moment ago. That said, they can still be very handy and give you an incentive to remain loyal to an international gambling site.
An example of a no deposit bonus is when a casino gives you a small amount of bonus cash at the beginning or end of each month, provided you have played a sufficient number of games to qualify for it.
Free Spins
Free spins are massively popular, as they allow you to play slot games without spending a penny of your own cash. They can be given as part of a welcome offer to new players or, just as common, to existing players as a reward for loyalty. Similarly, the slots they can be used on will also vary. Some free spins will be given for use on a particular game or range of games, and others can be used to play any slots the casino has to offer.
You should note that free spins usually have an expiry date, so you’ll need to claim and use them promptly when they’re offered. Winnings from free spins (see How to Win at Slots for some tips) might also be capped and could come with their own wagering requirements. As with all bonuses, the exact and conditions of use will vary from casino to casino.
Cashback Offers
Cashback offers are primarily aimed at regular players and are designed to encourage loyalty. They give you a partial refund on any net losses that you suffer over a given period (usually a week or a month) in the form of bonus funds. You can then use those funds to play more games. The cashback deal will generally be expressed in percentage , so you might be given 10% of your losses back. The bonus funds awarded might also have wagering requirements attached, so be sure to look into those before you use them.
Loyalty Programs
While all of the bonuses mentioned – apart from the welcome offers – can give players plenty of good reasons to be loyal to an international casino online, loyalty programs are purpose-built for the job. They provide loyalty points to players who maintain a certain level of activity at a site. Those points can then be exchanged for rewards such as free spins or bonus funds. A few casinos will also allow loyalty points – if sufficient in number – to be exchanged for tangible rewards, such as free dinners or even hotel stays at associated land-based casinos.
Games You Can Play at International Casinos
When you sign up with an international casino online, you’ll find that you can play all of the games you love at slot sites. Often, you’ll find a good mix of game genres to explore, with the sections below outlining the main game types you can expect to enjoy.
Slots
The current generation of players at casinos online tends to appreciate slots more than any other genre. For that reason, you’ll find thousands of slots at international casinos, from classic three-reel games with a single payline each to six-reel slots with thousands of paylines. Every theme imaginable has inspired a slot somewhere, so you’ll have no trouble finding hundreds that suit your personal preferences. And, as we said earlier, the slots at international casinos will often be packed with features that you can’t get in the UK. These will vary from game to game but can include the ability to toggle on Turbo spins or buy the feature at any time.
Table Games
European casinos will prefer European Roulette, for example) but most casinos provide a great range to appeal to all kinds of tastes.
Progressive Jackpot Games
Progressive jackpot games take a tiny percentage of the stake money used by players to fund a separate jackpot, which grows over time. The chances of hitting a progressive jackpot are slim (anything from 1 in 50 million to 1 in 100 million, according to some), but when it happens, the lucky winner lands the whole amount, which could itself be worth millions. International casinos will have plenty of these games for you to play, but when you do so, that progressive jackpot wins are about as likely as lottery jackpot wins, so keep your stakes modest.
Live Dealer Games
Playing at online casinos is a lot more convenient than visiting land-based venues, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the human touch. The best casino online sites will have a suite of Live Casino games operated by professional dealers. The action from these games is broadcast live by video from purpose-built casino studios and will give you the most realistic gaming experience you can have when playing remotely.
Game Show Titles
The latest trend in Live Casino games is the Game Show format. This puts you, the player, in the position of a contestant who plays games for the chance to win cash prizes. Some game show titles are based on proven formats, such as Deal or No Deal Live and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Roulette. Others are based on more original concepts, such as Dream Catcher, Crazy Time and Balloon Race. If you want to feel like the star of the show when visiting an international casino, be sure to check them out.
Game Providers
The biggest game providers design their titles for international audiences, so you’ll see plenty of familiar names on your virtual travels. Some of the biggest brands on the casino international online scene at the time of writing are as follows:
 Microgaming |
 Playtech |
 IGT |
 Pragmatic Play |
 Betsoft |
 NetEnt |
 Evolution Gaming |
 Novomatic |
 Play’n GO |
 Yggdrasil Gaming |
 Red Tiger |
 Blueprint |
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
Before you can play at international casinos for UK players, you’ll need to make sure you have some cash to bet with. There are several ways of making deposits, and while your options will depend on which casino you play at, they will usually include at least two of the following:
Credit Cards
You can’t use credit cards at casinos that the UK Gambling Commission regulates, but they’re a perfectly valid payment method at most international casinos. Simply visit the banking area of your chosen casino, select credit card as the method you want to use, enter your details and then state the sum that you want to deposit. That sum will then be handed to the casino and will appear on your next credit card bill. Note, however, that your card company might treat it as a cash advance and charge fees accordingly.
Debit Cards
These work exactly the same way as they do here, with money spent by debit card being taken directly from the bank it is linked to. If you’re happy using a debit card, you’ll be able to do so at many international casinos. Just bear in mind that a currency conversion could be involved and that your bank might charge you for that. If a site allows you to deposit and play in GBP, then it can often make sense to take advantage of the option.
eWallets
Those of you who prefer not to give your credit or debit card information directly to casino international sites could use an eWallet instead. PayPal is one of the most popular, but there are plenty of alternatives, including Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz and more. The advantage of these is that your card details are only known by the waller provider, and not ed onto the casino itself. That’s great for privacy and also for peace of mind.
Cryptocurrencies
For anyone who values privacy above all else, it’s hard to beat making casino deposits with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum. This isn’t something you can do at casinos licenced by the UKGC, but crypto casinos are booming in the rest of the world and many or licensed by alternative regulators, making them as safe as they are legal. You’ll need to know your way around crypto well enough to make deposits and withdrawals, but if you can handle that, this is a great payment method for the privacy-minded.
Are International Online Casinos Legal for UK Players?
The online casino international scene is open to all players in the UK who are of legal age to play. Bear in mind that the legal age in some countries might be higher than it is here, so look into that with the casinos you consider g up with if you think it could be a problem. Also, that sites that the UKGC doesn’t regulate can’t be held able by the UKGC, and organisations like GAMSTOP might have little or no sway overseas.
With all of that in mind, international casinos have plenty to offer. Licensed sites are safe and legal and will give you access to a broader range of games, added game features, extra payment options and more.
FAQs
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