Players often look for non-UK licensed casinos in order to see if they can scoop better bonuses or get some new types of payment methods or games not available in the United Kingdom. Some of them also look for no account casinos, which is a type of online casino heavily represented in the Nordics. Many British citizens are also asking themselves, how will Brexit change access to their favorite casino brands and what it means generally for punters. They want to know about the alternatives to UK regulated operators – find the list with operators who also have non-UK licenses.
CasinoPilot.co.uk provides comprehensive guides to casinos, bonuses and various types of games offered. We strongly recommend that UK players only play at licensed UK online casinos.
It is no secret that across the world new casino brands are launched daily. Thousands of casinos are vying for the attention of players, however, not all brands accept customers from all countries. In most cases, it’s the regulation that determines which country nationals can a casino accept as customers. In the EU, things are made a bit easier by the Single market in services, however, access to market still depends on the availability of national licenses.
For this purpose, we need to define two types of non UK casinos:
- Casino brands that are not based/owned by UK companies, but do have a UKGC license
- Casino brands that do not have a UK Gambling commission license
In the UK, according to the law, only casinos with a valid license are allowed to offer services remotely, no matter where their servers are. These casinos are deemed to be safe for UK players. So, non-UK casinos without a license should not accept players from the United Kingdom, even if they have Curacao or Malta license.
Check if the Casino is Licensed
If unsure if the casino brand is really registered with UKGC, you can check the license. First, the information on the license should be in the footer of the website. It should contain logo of the Gambling Commission and the registration number.
Next step is not simply believing the information on the website. Head over to Commission’s website and check does the brand and the company match and if the registration number is real.
Non UK Casinos Accepting UK players
With the rise of the online provision of services, it can be hard to understand why Internet connection is not enough to access any casino site that offers its services online. In most cases all one needs to sign up is an email or a phone number. Well, at least it seems it is that easy, however, many players forget that gambling is often target of national policies which aim to reduce the harm it can cause. So, while in theory UK players can open an account with any non-UK casino, in reality, they will be most likely blocked from doing so for the reasons we outlined above.
This does not prevent people from trying, and this does not also prevent some offshore companies from accepting players from the UK. Players must be aware that these non-UK companies bring certain benefits, but also risks.
Advantages of Non UK Casino Sites
- Faster signup with less ID verifications
- Sometimes they do not even require information on identity – players are anonymous
- Most often accept Cryptocurrencies
- Large bonuses and free spins
Disadvantages of Non UK Regulated Casinos
Disadvantages are mostly related to security and consumer protection:
- Casinos do not have to abide by the laws of UK
- Your deposits are not protected
- You most likely cannot deposit and withdraw in GBP
- There are no protections for problem gamblers (Like GamStop membership)
- Best and safest payment methods are not covered
- Unknown games and lack of the most popular software providers
Non UK Gambling Sites After Brexit
As we mentioned, EU’s Single market in online services is one of the main benefits operators in Europe enjoy when they operate within EU borders. So far, the Maltese MGA license was the most popular way for casinos outside the UK to gain access to the Single market. Many non UK gambling sites have established their presence on the island. It was similar on Gibraltar where many betting sites also got their license.
With UK leaving the EU in 2020, players are unsure what will happen to their favourite brands and to their accounts. For punters in the UK most likely little will change unless they are playing or betting with an operator which might pull out of the UK market following the Brexit. So far there are little indications that Brexit will cause this.
Also, for those who are, for whichever reason, looking for non UK casinos, little will change. In order for such casino to accept UK players, it must operate illegally, and this brings pros and cons we have outlined above. What is so far clear is that some operators will be opening EU subsidiaries, most likely in Malta, in order to cover the non-UK portion of their business in the UK.
Non-UK Casinos FAQ
Is it safe to play at non UK based online casino?
It doesn’t have to be unsafe, however, some guarantees and protections that are included when playing with UKGC registered casinos are not there. Risks are definitely higher!
Can non-UK casino sites regulated by MGA accept UK players?
They shouldn’t do so unless the brand also has a UKGC license. Only UK Gambling Commission licensed casinos can offer gambling in the UK.
Can I gamble with foreign sportsbooks advertised by UK football clubs?
While such deals do exist, the answer is still no. UK sports clubs are global brands and have audiences everywhere, this is why one should not expect them to only accept sponsorships for UK licensed companies.
06/05/2020