The online gambling space is expansive and global. So, while there are many renowned sportsbooks in the UK, there are also reliable international betting sites punters can use. The primary difference between both is that the latter caters to a wider range of bettors.
Notably, the best betting sites in the world all strive to offer quality to gamblers. So, whether you’re using a local UK bookmaker or a foreign one, you’ll get a favourable experience if it’s a top site. Here, however, we’ll focus on overseas gambling sites. Let’s explore what makes these platforms unique and how you can pick the best ones.
What is Offshore Sports Betting?
In simple words, offshore betting involves placing wagers with sportsbooks based in other countries. For example, if you’re in the UK and using online betting sites based in France, that’s offshore sports betting. However, nowadays, it has more to do with licensing and legal jurisdictions.
The UK Gambling Commission typically regulates all bookmakers in Great Britain. Hence, when you use a betting site licensed by the UKGC, you’re subject to British gambling laws. To truly bet offshore, you have to consider platforms that have no links with the UKGC. Of course, there are many other renowned international licensing bodies.
You may want to ask, why bet offshore? Well, there are many reasons, although, for some players, it’s simply about diversity. You can consider popular betting sites in other countries to access more markets and higher odds. Indeed, these foreign bookmakers sometimes have better offers than UK betting sites.
How Do We Rate the Best International Betting Sites
While using foreign online betting sites has noteworthy upsides, you’ll get the opposite if you use an unreliable operator. Hence, we did the hard work of accessing different international sportsbooks to identify the best and most legitimate ones.
You can use our featured offshore gambling sites, and be rest assured that you get a fair and quality experience. That’s because we subject each platform to a rigorous test.
We’ll cover the factors that matter when choosing subsequently. For now, here are the key factors that define foreign betting sites:
Not Regulated by UKGC
Here’s the main condition for a bookmaker to qualify as an international betting site. It’s less about the location of the operator and more about its licence. For instance, if a site has a head office in the US but still holds a UKGC licence, you’re not betting offshore if you use it.
As a result, all top picks on our featured list are not regulated by UKGC. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not safe and legit. These foreign betting sites also hold licences from other renowned regulatory bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, and the Curacao eGaming Authority.
While rating the popular foreign sportsbook, we didn’t just take their word for it. We checked out their licences to ensure it’s valid.
Casino Section Available
The focus is on online sports betting, no doubt. However, many UK players are still fans of casino games, especially slots. Such punters simply want to ensure the variety of online gaming. As a result, we prioritise offshore betting sites with a quality casino section.
Besides slots, table games and live dealer games also meet the interests of gamblers in the UK. So, we rate international bookies based on their total game collection. Typically, the sites with the highest number of titles take precedence.
However, to us, it’s not only about quantity but also quality. For that reason, we also confirmed our top picks accommodate games from only renowned software providers.
Players Are Not Limited
It’s important to note that not all foreign betting sites without a UKGC licence welcome British players. Some regulatory laws will prevent international online sportsbooks from offering their services to UK punters. Others may accept but issue many limitations.
As a result, we aimed for gambling platforms outside the UK that fully accommodate punters inside the country. There shouldn’t be constraints when it comes to account registration and verification. Also, we rated only international betting sites that accept GBP and feature UK-friendly payment methods.
Another important aspect is customer support. As a player, if you can’t get help when you need it, it can be more than frustrating. Hence, our top list features foreign sports bookies that offer equal assistance to UK punters like players in other countries.
Based in Offshore Countries
Foreign gambling sites for UK players cannot be based locally. As explained earlier, the focus is more on the licence, but the company’s address still carries weight. Both go hand in hand because a sportsbook can’t be based in Great Britain without having a UKGC licence.
However, not all offshore countries are reliable regarding online betting. For instance, it’s important that sports betting is legal in the country. Some operators have head offices in regions with unfriendly gambling laws and obtain overseas licences. In the long run, such a model can result in complications.
So, we access the regulatory laws to confirm its robustness and up to UK standards. You don’t want to use a platform licensed by the UKGC, but it’s still ideal to use a site that offers similar security and fairness.
How to Choose the Top International Bookmakers
If you want to wager at the best international gambling sites, pick one from our review list. That said, here are some general key factors to consider when selecting betting operators located outside the UK:
Only Join Licensed Offshore Sites
First, before anything else, the international sportsbook must be licensed. Betting involves real money, and when you win, you expect payouts. Only regulated sports betting sites can guarantee you get value when your bet tickets turn green.
Since the UKGC is out of the question, you need to consider other top reputable licensing bodies. Based on expert knowledge of the iGaming space, here are some international regulatory commissions to consider:
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association
- Curacao eGaming Authority
Each of the above bodies doesn’t grant licences easily. They ensure the gaming platforms they approve are highly secure and trustworthy. Additionally, betting sites must employ KYC to verify the identity of users to keep scam players away. With these, you get reliable gaming and quality experience if you use an international sportsbook licensed by any of the listed regulatory bodies.
Safety and Security Are a Must
To an extent, having a licence means a site is safe and secure. However, there’s more to consider when it comes to these two factors. Particularly, you should ensure the international betting site can keep your data and information secure from any third party.
One of the key players when it comes to the safety and security of online gambling platforms is SSL. In other words, the website should load on HTTPS. It’s a basic requirement, which signifies that the traffic between your device and the site’s servers is secure. With that, no one can access your details without authorisation.
Another critical aspect to consider here is payments. Since you’re betting with real money, it’s essential you find the best betting sites with secure payment methods. Some sites may offer credit cards, eWallets, bank transfer, prepaid vouchers, and even crypto. Each option has varying providers, so you should ensure they’re safe to use and nothing will happen to your hard-earned cash.
If you're using a local betting site in the UK, you’ll typically look for options like PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, and Apple Pay. It’s worth checking international betting operators that support these secure payment methods, too. Thankfully, there are many of them available.
Look for as Many Sports and Markets as Possible
The sports betting industry is expansive, featuring a long list of categories. Hence, to get quality from a gambling site, you need as many betting options as possible. This is essential whether you’re using local or global betting sites.
Therefore, look for foreign bookies that support a wide range of sports events and markets. You don’t want to be limited to just a few, like football, tennis, and basketball. There should also be options to gamble on lesser-known categories and completions.
When it comes to markets, the same holds. The more markets available on a foreign sports betting platform, the more odds variety you get. Perhaps you can even come across options not available in some betting sites that operate within Britain.
One feature you can’t avoid missing is live betting. It’s invaluable when betting on sports as it lets you place your stake in play as the match progresses. Notably, all sites on our featured list support live betting.
How International Sports Betting Sites Use Promo Codes
Promo codes are applicable in the worldwide betting landscape. These keywords allow you to access promos and offers that can boost your bankroll. It may be a matched deposit bonus, free bets, or enhanced odds. So, when looking for the best foreign betting sites, you can opt for options that feature them.
Notably, how they work is simple. Upon registration or when you want to deposit, the site will request the code. Simply enter it, and when done, the bonus is yours. However, read the attached terms and conditions before using any promo code.
Betting Types and Odds
The best international sports betting sites will feature an array of betting options. It’s essential you understand how these betting types and l odds work to ensure you get quality experience.
First, the most common are traditional single bets. With these options, you simply wager on the outcome of a single event. For example, it can be a football match winner or the total points in a basketball game.
As you explore other options, you'll find accumulators, which combine multiple single bets into one. Such bet types offer relatively higher returns, but every single selection must win for the bet to be successful.
Furthermore, there's in-play or live betting, a dynamic form where odds change in real time as the match progresses. With this, you can instantly leverage game-changing moments and capitalise on the fluctuating odds.
Like betting types, you should also grasp odds on overseas online betting platforms. Simply put, an odd indicates the likelihood of an event happening and also the potential return on a winning bet. In international betting sites, you might find fractional, decimal, or moneyline odds. While the formats differ, note that they all serve the same purpose.
Popular Sports to Bet on at Offshore Sportsbooks
Since most are global, offshore sportsbooks provide punters with varying sports categories to bet on. You can find local UK events and games popular in other countries. Without question, Football stands tall as the most universally wagered sport. It still retains its position as the most popular sport to bet on at international betting sites.
After football, other globally renowned sports like tennis, basketball, and cricket dominate the overseas betting landscape. So, you can gamble on events like Wimbledon, the NBA Finals, or the Cricket World Cup.
Notably, expect offshore sportsbooks to feature sports, depending on their location. For instance, if you use foreign betting sites in the US, you can expect more North American sports like American football, baseball, and ice hockey. Suppose the bookie is based in Australia, then you’ll be looking at rugby and Aussie rules football.
Most Common Betting Markets at International Betting Sites
As mentioned before, worldwide sports betting sites feature a vast array of betting markets. The most popular ones, however, are moneyline, point spread, totals, and outright bets. We explain each one in detail below.
Moneyline
Moneyline bets are relatively straightforward, and that makes them. Basically, it involves wagering on which team or player will win a particular event or match. It's more or less a traditional bet in sports gambling and ideal if you’re a new betting player. You’ll find it in football, basketball, tennis, and more or less every other competitive sport.
For such bets, the main focus is on the odds, which signify the potential return when you place your wager. Typically, the favourite team or player will offer lower payouts if you wager on them compared to the underdogs.
Point Spread
Point Spread betting is another common market at overseas gambling sites. You may probably already know it as handicap betting. Primarily, this option lets you level the playing field for two competing teams or players.
The foreign bookie will allow you to give one team a head start over the other. For instance, in a basketball game, if Team A is favoured by -5.5 points over Team B, they need to win by 6 points or more for your wager on them to be successful. As a result, when it comes to the point spread market, strategy plays a big role.
Totals
Also known as Over/Under betting, the Totals market revolves around predicting the cumulative score of both teams in an event. The international bookmaker will set a benchmark figure; then, you bet on whether the score will be over or under this number. For example, in a football match with a total set at 2.5, three or more goals mean an 'over' bet wins. In contrast, two or fewer goals would favour an 'under' bet. To wager on this market, consider studying previous game results to know each team's capability.
Outright Bets
An Outright Bet is placed on the overall winner of a competition or tournament rather than individual matches. Consider the EPL, for example. Instead of picking Arsenal to win a game against Chelsea, you can select them to lift the trophy at the end of the season. It applies to almost all sports events on foreign sportsbooks that follow a competition format.
As the above shows, these bets are longer-term wagers. Usually, you’ll place them before the event even starts. They typically have high odds since there’s high uncertainty.
How to Start Gambling on Foreign Betting Sites Abroad
We’ve looked at how to choose the best foreign online sports betting sites, explained how we rate them and touched on the top markets. Now, how can you start gambling and placing bets? Find out with the below steps.
Browse Our Foreign Gambling Sites List
First, you have to decide on the site to use. That shouldn’t be difficult, as you can simply check out our list of foreign betting sites. We've reviewed these sites carefully to ensure they're trusted and offer a worthwhile range of betting options. Particularly, we ensure they’re licenced, although not by the UKGC. Regardless of what sports you prefer betting on, you’ll find a workable platform on our list.
Sign Up with an Overseas Bookie You Like
Once you mark the overseas bookie you want to use, the next step is to sign up. This is usually quick and won’t stress you much. You mainly have to load the signup form and provide all required details. Notably, you’ll have to set up a username and password. After registration, you should explore the site and become familiar with its interface. You need to identify all the areas you have to navigate while betting.
Browse Available Payment Options
Payment methods can significantly vary between local UK sportsbooks and international bookies. Hence, before placing bets on a foreign site, first review their banking section. Of course, you can’t even wager if you’ve not made a deposit.
Betting sites will typically feature a comprehensive list of available deposit and withdrawal methods. Go through it and check for familiar options like credit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers. Notably, confirm if there are options that are convenient to use in the UK.
Make a Deposit to Start Betting Worldwide
If the payment options check out, go ahead and deposit. For most betting sites, you’ll have to visit the cashier or banking section, select your preferred payment method, and specify the desired deposit amount. Next, follow the on-screen instructions and complete the transaction.
The entire process should take a few minutes, and the funds should appear in your account instantly. Suppose there’s a welcome bonus available, and you want to claim it, your first deposit should meet the minimum amount. After that, you’re set to start international sports betting.
Pros of International Sports Gambling Sites
- More variety of betting events and markets
- More flexibility with freedom from UK gaming laws
- A relatively larger collection of promotions and bonuses
- Access to payment methods restricted in the UK
- Varying odds formats for a unique betting experience
Cons of Worldwide Online Bookmakers
- There may be currency conversion fees if the sportsbook doesn’t natively support GPB
- Personalised customer service may be unavailable