Offshore casino and sportsbook gambling sites are based or operate from nearly all over the globe. This form of gambling has been getting more attention in recent years, as online gambling addiction becomes a global issue.
These platforms have called the following countries or jurisdictions home:
- Alderney
- Anjouan
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aurora
- Belize
- Cagayan
- Costa Rica
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Gibraltar
- Isle of Man
- Jersey (Channel Islands)
- Kahnawake
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Nevis
- Panama
- Tinian
- Tobique
- Vanuatu
There are thousands of offshore gambling sites and brands. Some exist for years, while others are short-lived and often don’t pay out users when they close. Your money might not be safe with an offshore gambling platform.
Licensing frameworks can vary. Many of these jurisdictions have been accused of lacking adequate oversight over gambling websites offering products and services to users globally. Online gambling is a global epidemic, critics say.
Many countries, including the United States, consider online gambling sites registered in many of the aforementioned jurisdictions to be illegal. In fact, the U.S. government has been considering a broad offshore gambling enforcement action.
Many individual states have issued cease-and-desist orders against gambling sites based offshore.
Offshore Casino Licensing and Fee Structures
In September 2025, offshore gambling researchers Steve Menary and Marko Begović released a report titled Mapping the Offshore Gambling Regulators.
The study, funded by the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, provided information on offshore gambling regulatory fees and application processing periods. It’s the most recent research to date on the topic.
The findings showed allegedly low and weak regulatory requirements for many gambling websites causing harm globally.
|
Jurisdiction |
Registration |
Annual fee |
Application time |
Gambling tax |
Corporate tax |
| Alderney | £35,000 | £50,000 | 4–12 weeks | 0% | 20% |
| Anjouan | €17,000 | €6,000 | 2–3 weeks | 0% | 0% |
| Aurora | $40,000 | €19,000 | 2–3 months | 2% | 0% |
| Antigua & Barbuda | $90,000 | $35,000 | 3–6 months | 0% | 3% |
| Cagayan | $40,000 | $40,000 | 2–3 months | 5% | 0% |
| Curaçao | €4,600 | €55,000 | 2 months | 0% | 2% |
| Estonia | €47,940 | €0 | 4–6 months | 6% | 20% |
| Gibraltar | £30,000 | £50,000–£300,000 | 2–6 months | 0.15% | 12.50% |
| Isle of Man | £36,750 | £5,250 | 3 months | 0.1%–0.15% | 0% |
| Kahnawake | $40,000 | $15,000 | 4 months | 0% | 0% |
| Malta | €5,000 | €10,000–€25,000 | 12–18 weeks | 5% | 5% |
| Nevis | €28,000 | €28,500 | 1 month | 0% | 0% |
| Panama | $40,000 | $20,000 | 2–3 months | 0% | 0% |
| Tobique | €2,500 | €36,000 | 3–4 weeks | 0% | 0% |
| Vanuatu | €5,000 | €10,000 | 1 month | 1% | 0% |
Why Offshore Gambling Can Be Dangerous
Gambling online can be an inherently addictive activity, whether it’s through a legit or offshore gambling platform.
However, offshore sites can be especially dangerous because they allegedly lack:
- Self-exclusion
- Age verification
- Self-imposed time/deposit limits
- Adequate customer support
- Real resources for addiction help
- Restrictions on use of credit/debt
- Anti-money laundering safeguards
Many offshore gambling sites based in the above jurisdictions deal in cryptocurrency, increasing risks of criminal activity.
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