Offshore casinos give players more options and allow people from all jurisdictions to enjoy their favorite games. Some choose to play at offshore casinos because they don’t have many online casinos based in their country.
Others like offshore casinos because of the bonuses they have or the unique games they offer.
Playing at an online casino comes with a certain level of risk, however, but this risk can be mitigated if you know how to pick casinos wisely. Here are a few things that you should do before playing at an offshore casino.
Contents
Look at Their License
The most important thing to look out for when picking the best offshore casinos in the USA is their license. You also have to check that their license was issued by a reputable regulatory agency.
This is proof that the casino is operating lawfully and will reduce the chances that they will run with your money.
If the casino is based in the EU or the UK, look at whether it was licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, or the UK Gambling Commission.
The Malta Gaming Authority is another respected body that regulates online casinos in the UK and Europe.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission regulates many of the casinos in North America. You can also trust casinos that were licensed by the Curacao Gaming Authority.
If the casino doesn’t have a license or has one from an unverifiable body, there is a very strong chance that the site is fraudulent.
Look at Their Technology
Not all casinos abide by the same standards when it comes to security, so it would be wise to check how secure transactions will be on the site.
All communications should be encrypted to protect your identity and financial information. The minimum level of encryption for online casinos is 128-bit, but you should privilege sites that feature 256-bit encryption.
This is the level of encryption major financial institutions use, so you’ll know that your information will be safe at all times.
Contact Their Customer Service
You also have to contact the customer service department of any offshore casino you intend to play at. Try to call at different times of the day and see how long it takes to get a response.
See if the agent you speak to uses proper English. You also have to ask specific questions to see if they know what they’re talking about.
A good question you could ask a customer service rep is the return-to-player ratio on some of their games. You can also ask them questions about wagering requirements on their bonuses.
Asking questions like these will let you know how seriously the casino takes customer service. This is very important to know since there’s a chance that you could run into trouble at some point.
You want to know that you’ll be able to speak with someone who’s savvy and speaks English easily at any time of the day.
Look for Withdrawal and Deposit Times
Withdrawal delays are one of the biggest problems when you’re dealing with an offshore casino.
It’s not unusual for players to have to wait for weeks to get their money, so this is something you’ll have to verify before you decide to spend at any casino. You can ask about withdrawal times with their customer service department.
It would also be a good idea to speak with other players from your country who have played there and ask them about their experiences with withdrawals. This should give you a good idea of what you can expect.
It would also be wise to check what payment methods they accept for deposits. Depending on the casino and where you are based, your options could be severely limited.
Some payment methods will take more time than others, while some will cost more. So, it’s always a good idea to check what options are available to players in your country and how long it will take for the money to show in your account.
Game Fairness
You should also check if the casino is dedicated to fairness. An easy way to tell is if the casino has its games audited by a third party.
Some agencies test online casino games for fairness and make the results public. Casinos that are ready to go through this process and have their license are most likely to be legitimate.
Look at Their Bonus Structure
Offshore casinos will often have outlandish-looking bonuses, but you shouldn’t get overwhelmed by them. In most cases, they will have hidden rules that make them a lot less attractive.
Some will have excessive wagering requirements, for instance. Others will offer free play options, but they’ll be very limited. So, before you go crazy for an offer, look at the fine print and don’t hesitate to contact the casino if you have any questions.
Game Selection
One of the greatest appeals of offshore casinos is the variety they offer. Not all of them will have a quasi-infinite selection of common and exotic games, however.
You should go with reputable casinos that have a wide selection of games that is constantly updated if you want to have fun.
We suggest that you try as many offshore casinos as you can and compare their game selection. You’ll notice that the number of games is usually around the same for most casinos, but you’ll be able to spot some outliers as well.
You can never go wrong with a casino that has more games, as long as it’s reputable. So, pick the one with the highest selection and check what software they’re using to power their games.
Different providers will have different styles and selections, and understanding the difference between them could allow you to tell how much fun you can expect to have at a casino before even playing.
These are all very important things you’ll need to look out for before you play at an offshore casino. They are only a risk if you don’t do your research, so take the time to verify any casino’s history and information before you pick them.
