Recommended non UK casino sites
Here you’ll find a selection of our experts’ favourite non UK casino sites. And the best part is, they all accept UK players! Plus, each site we list offers a 5-star experience. That means the best catalogue of games, incredible bonus deals and excellent mobile-friendly sites and apps.
Furthermore, because these casinos love British players, they also offer GBP as a preferred currency. Plus, you even get some payment options that you won’t find in the UK, such as credit cards.
So, to find your next great offshore casino, check our lists of trusted and reviewed sites.
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What is a non UK regulated casino?
Simply put, a non UK regulated casino is one that operates outside of UK territory. Thus, it doesn’t hold a UK licence.
All gambling sites in the UK must be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). But, a site based outside the UK doesn’t have to hold a UKGC licence. So this is considered an ‘overseas’ or ‘offshore’ casino.
Also, just because they aren’t British, it doesn’t stop non UK registered gambling sites advertising their services to UK players. So there are a lot of players who choose offshore sites over UK-based ones.
We’re going to get into the pros and cons of playing at an overseas site in a moment. But, for now, keep in mind that even though a site isn’t licensed by the UKGC, it still needs to have a valid licence from a reputable licensing body.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the world’s top licensing authorities and how they work.
The UK Gambling Commission
As we’ve seen, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the licensing body for the UK. And it was set up in 2005, after the UK government passed the Gambling Act, which put far tighter controls on gambling establishments across the country. This includes internet-based organisations, as well as land-based casinos and all other types of gambling.
As such, any online casino that wishes to operate in the UK must hold a UKGC licence. And the UKGC doesn’t just dish these out like sweets! In fact, the UKGC is a hard task-master, which has some extremely strict rules and regulations in place.
So, when you find a UKGC-licensed casino online, you know you’re on an extremely safe site, which has been vetted and checked thoroughly.
Finally, as a UK resident, you’re advised to only play at UKGC-licensed sites. However, a lot of players choose to take their custom elsewhere. As offshore sites offer a different experience. And don’t have to adhere to the same restrictive rules as UK sites do.
Non UK gaming licences
There are thousands of offshore sites who accept British players. But, as a customer at a real-money site, your online safety is imperative. As such, if playing overseas, you need to make sure that the site in question carries a valid licence.
Luckily, there are 2 major licensing authorities that cover the most trustworthy casinos based overseas. Namely, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and Curacao.
So, let’s take a look at these two licensing bodies in a little more detail.
Curacao Licence
This beautiful holiday destination is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. And hundreds of online casinos!
Curacao is a well-known tax haven for businesses. As such, online operators don’t face such heavy taxation as they do in places like the UK. Which makes Curacao the perfect HQ for a lot of overseas casinos accepting UK players.
Also, because of these relaxed tax laws, it means that casinos can offer their players more in terms of bonuses. So you’ll often see far bigger new player offers than you would from casinos based in the UK. This is because the UKGC taxes all British casinos heavily, including their bonuses.
Finally, Curacao is a well-known and trustworthy authority. So, not only do you get bigger bonuses, you can also relax in the knowledge that these sites are all regulated by Curacao’s licensing body.
Malta Licence
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) started life as a licensing and regulatory body for Malta’s own land-based gambling houses. But, they were one of the very first organisations to offer licences to online operators. So that they could offer a secure and regulated environment for players at these as-yet-unlicensed sites.
In fact, the MGA was so successful in keeping on top of their online gambling sites that countries from all over the world started approaching the MGA to licence their sites as well.
Nowadays, the MGA is one of the biggest and more trustworthy licensing authorities on the planet. And, by choosing an MGA-licensed casino, you can be sure you’re in very good hands. As the MGA has one of the strongest reputations of any licensing body around.
Can UK players play at non UK gambling sites legally?
The short answer is yes. If you are a UK resident, then it’s perfectly legal for you to gamble. That being said, the government advice is to always play at casinos licensed and regulated by the UKGC. Or, in short, UK casinos only.
However, because there are so many perks to playing overseas, a lot of UK customers prefer to play at non UK online casinos. Even though there are plenty of ‘home-grown’ casinos to choose from.
In summary, the UK government wants you spending your money in UK territory. But, as it’s your right to gamble, they can’t stop you from taking your business out of the country.
Our review process for non UK licensed casinos
We’ve talked a little about the fact that there are some great benefits to playing at a non UK registered casino site. But, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. As there are so many offering their services to British customers. That’s where our team of experts come in.
With over 10 years’ experience in the online gambling industry, our team of reviewers know exactly what to look for in a fantastic overseas casino.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of exactly what our team takes into account when they review an offshore site.
Bonus and free spins offers
One of the most exciting things about signing up to a great new casino is the welcome bonus you receive.
If you’ve ever played at any online casino before, you’ll recognise things like deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses and free spins. And the great news is, at overseas casinos, the bonuses are often even better than you find at UK sites.
Therefore, our experts take a good look at what exactly these sites are offering you as a player, in terms of bonus deals. Not only that, but they also take into consideration the terms and conditions that are attached to each bonus offer. As sometimes, these deals can come with pretty restrictive caveats. And these can often make it difficult to convert your bonus into real winnings that you can withdraw.
So, we only list sites that offer players fantastic bonuses with realistic terms and conditions attached.
Variety of casino games
The next thing our experts look at is the game selection at a casino site. It goes without saying, a casino with a poor game selection is not worth your business. But that doesn’t just mean we list sites that offer lots and lots of games.
What our experts search for is a carefully curated catalogue of titles, new and old, from a variety of software providers.
Offshore casinos have access to some of the greatest game developers in the world. So, we like to see a great selection of these providers and their games at any great overseas site.
Deposit & withdrawal methods
In order to make deposits and withdrawals quickly, easily and safely at your new casino, you need a good selection of the most cutting-edge payment platforms on the market.
These include things like:
- Debit and credit cards
- Pay by mobile options
- E-wallets
- Bank / Wire transfers
So, when our experts review a casino, they take into account what payment options are available to players. And this is especially important for UK players dealing with an overseas site.
We also look at whether the site in question offers GBP as a preferred currency. As we want you to have the easiest and most fuss-free experience possible. And that means not worrying about exchange rates in foreign currencies. Or losing money via a stingy exchange rate.
Site security
As said, keeping yourself safe online is imperative to your enjoyment. And, while a valid licence is one of the most important things to look for, we also want to ensure that our players are safe from any shady third parties or fraudulent activity.
That means we only work with sites that offer top security to their players. Things like SSL encryption protect players from third parties accessing their sensitive information. So we only list casinos that use the most top-notch and secure software in the industry.
Mobile casino
Finally, players nowadays demand a lot more from the casino operators. One such thing is a great mobile experience to compliment their online membership.
So, when our experts are reviewing a site, they look to see if the casino has a fantastic mobile-friendly version as well; so that players can access their favourite games from the palm of their hand.
Furthermore, some casinos offer their own dedicated apps. Which means they are serious about keeping their customers happy. Therefore, each casino we list also comes with a great mobile version of their site and/or a free downloadable app for your smartphone and tablet.
✔️ Advantages of non UK casino sites
Now it’s time to take a look at some of the pros of playing at a non UK regulated casino site:
- Bigger bonuses: Offshore operators aren’t governed by the UKGC. So they have a lot more freedom to offer larger bonuses to their players. These include larger match deposit bonuses, more generous no deposit offers and tons more free spins! Just remember to always read the T&Cs attached to these deals before you sign up
- New games from different providers: non UKGC licensed casinos have access to some of the greatest games that you won’t find in the UK. As they come from providers who operate overseas. So the result is a great selection of fresh titles you probably haven’t seen before
- Less KYC: Know your customer (KYC) protocols are in place at every casino. And they exist to protect you and the casino from fraudulent activity. But KYC at UK-based sites is overly thorough. So, by opting for a non-UK site, there’s usually less paperwork to get through. And you can be signed up and playing games ASAP
❌ Disadvantages of non UK casinos
Now let’s take into account some of the possible cons of playing at a non UK casino:
- Some of your favourite games won’t be available: some software developers only work with UK-licensed casinos. As such, some titles that you love might not be available. That said, these overseas games providers usually offer fun alternatives to the most well-known games on the market
- Don’t expect perfect English: casinos based overseas often won’t have English as a first language. So, while a site might be written in English, it’s often hard to decipher. Which can make understanding T&Cs tough. Also, customer service staff probably won’t speak great English, which can lead to frustration
- Harder to get help if there’s a problem: with unusual customer service hours, and licensing bodies based thousands of miles away, dealing with queries can be difficult. And, if there’s a problem, you might not be able to get it resolved as quickly as you would do in the UK
Promotions at non UK casinos
We talked already about how it’s possible to get bigger bonuses at these offshore sites. But what exactly are these bonuses?
Let’s take a closer look.
Free spins & bonuses with no deposit required
Probably the most popular bonus at any casino site is a no deposit bonus. These deals are the perfect way to try out a site and its games for free. As you don’t need to make a deposit with the casino in order to receive your bonus.
But, because you are taking on no financial responsibility whatsoever, this means that any deal you get will be relatively low in value. So you might find yourself with a little bonus cash to spend and/or a handful of free spins to use on slot machines.
That said, offshore casinos are known for offering larger bonuses than their UK counterparts. So you will usually get a lot more out of a foreign site than you would from a UK-licensed operator.
Free spins & bonuses with deposit required
The other most popular type of bonus is a deposit bonus. And, as you can probably guess, this is where you must make a payment into the site first, before you can receive your bonus.
Rather than just trying a site and its games, a great deposit deal is the key to seriously boosting your bankroll. And, with just a small deposit amount, you could unlock hundreds of free spins and lots of bonus cash.
The most common type of deposit bonus is called a ‘match’ deposit bonus. And this is where the casino will match your deposit amount with the percentage. Again, non UK casinos accepting UK players have the freedom to offer far greater match deposit bonus amounts. And some sites could offer you up to 500% on top of your deposit amount. So this type of deal is perfect for players who are prepared to make a sizeable payment into the casino.
VIP schemes
Finally, if you find a site that you really like, it could be time to take a look at what kind of VIP schemes they offer.
Loyalty/VIP programs entice players to keep depositing at the same casino. So, in return for your continued business, you can look forward to such perks as:
- Invitations to high-roller tables
- More bonuses and promos extended to you
- Your own account manager/PA
- Bigger max deposit limits
Responsible gambling at non UKGC licensed casinos
When it comes to any real money sites, it’s important that you gamble responsibly. It can be very easy to get swept up in the promise of bonus offers and exciting new games. But, you must always keep tabs on your spending. As well as how much time you spend at these sites. Otherwise you could run into some financial difficulties and other stresses.
With that in mind, we recommend taking into account the following two points when you choose an offshore site over a UK operator.
Gamstop is not available at non UK sites
The self-exclusion program Gamstop is an NGO run by the UK government. And it helps problem gamblers self-exclude from real-money sites in the UK.
The service is completely free to use, and allows you to effectively ban yourself from playing at any gambling site in the UK for a predetermined period of time. So, you can’t access any gambling sites whatsoever until your self-exclusion period has ended.
However, offshore casinos are not obligated to offer Gamstop to their players. As they are not based in the UK. Therefore, if you want to self exclude, you will have to seek out other ways to do so, other than Gamstop. And this can lead to gamblers not getting support as quickly or as easily as needed.
How to self exclude from overseas casinos
Every casino, whether in the UK or abroad, has a responsibility to offer support to their players who might be forming unhealthy gambling habits. Therefore, although Gamstop is not available to casino players outside of the UK, offshore casinos also offer their own self-exclusion programs. Details of these can be found at each site.
But, keep in mind, you’ll probably have to contact each casino individually if you want to be part of their self-exclusion program. And this is time-consuming and less effective than programs like Gamstop. As it’s easy to miss out certain sites. Plus, it’s very easy to then seek out other casino operators if you feel like you want to gamble again.
Deposits & withdrawals at non UK sites
As you know, we only work with sites that offer a wide variety of payment platforms. So that players can make deposits and withdrawals quickly and easily. As well as in their preferred currency of GBP. So we list sites that offer options such as bank transfers, debit cards, e-wallets and pay-by-mobile services.
But, it’s also worth noting that some offshore sites also offer payment platforms which are not available in the UK. One such payment method is credit cards. Which, as of April 2020, were banned in the UK at all online gambling establishments.
So, with a great offshore operator, you may still be able to use your credit card. However, the reason credit cards were banned is because they encouraged overspending. So, keep in mind that you must never gamble with money you can’t afford to lose.
FAQ
If you’re still not sure about choosing a non UK casino, then have a look at some of our FAQs.