If you’re familiar with the gambling scene in the states, then you’ll have already heard the phrase ‘offshore sportsbook’ a fair amount. If not, though, then let us introduce you. The term is used to describe sportsbooks that are available to US citizens, but are not within the jurisdiction of the US government.
They can differ from US-based sportsbooks in a number of ways, including the types of casino games that you can bet on, what kind of bonuses or additional features are accessible, and of course the legality surrounding them.
Available Sports
In US states where betting is legal, there are a whole host of games for sports lovers to gamble on. Some of the most popular sports to bet on are basketball, American football, baseball, and ice hockey. Depending on the sportsbook and the state, you’ll be able to find regional, smaller leagues as well.
When it comes to sportsbooks that operate outside the country, the options are very similar to that of US-based books. You are still able to bet on all of the biggest sports in America, and countless leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB. This is not to mention all of the international leagues that you’ll have access to: the Premier League, the PGA Tour, MMA, to name a few.
Additional Features
One of the main features of offshore sportsbooks is that you can use cryptocurrency as well as all major credit cards. You can also expect generous welcome bonuses when you sign up, and regular rewards or gifts for returning customers. In this respect, they offer more than a lot of US-based sportsbooks, which may not accept crypto.
Sportsbooks in the US are likely to also offer welcome bonuses for new users, and other additional features such as allowing bets to be placed on live sports, promo codes, and prize draws. Having said that, the vast majority of these features can also be found on offshore sportsbooks.
Licensing and Legalities
Sports betting, online or otherwise, is outlawed in many US states, including California, Texas, and Florida. This means that you cannot legally gamble on any sports events, and the only type of betting that residents are allowed to take part in is often conducted at tribal land-based casinos.
In states where you cannot bet on sports, offshore sportsbooks can be a great option, as long as they are licensed and safe and secure for American citizens to use. Many offshore sportsbooks operate in a “gray area” legally, so it is important to check that whichever you choose is licensed and offers protections to its US customers.
Odds
One of the things that we do before placing our bets is to double check that the sportsbook of our choosing is offering competitive odds. Offshore sportsbooks are making exciting progress in this area, as many have integrated boosted odds for popular leagues or featured games.
A recent development with many offshore books is the ability for users to mix and match multiple types of bets, including parlays, teasers, if bets, and reverses, which makes the whole experience that bit more exciting!
US-based sportsbooks are also able to offer competitive odds. However, in states where there may only be one sportsbook available to use, such as in New Hampshire, you don’t have the luxury of exploring different books to find the best odds.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are a lot of similarities between US-based and offshore sportsbooks. Both are available to use for some of the most popular sports in America (and the rest of the world!), offer great additional features and odds, and are safe to use if licensed. What you choose to use will depend heavily on the legality surrounding sports betting in your state. If you live somewhere with no access to US-based books, then offshore betting is a great option.
