Are you a UK punter currently away from Blighty? Well, the good news is that are ways and means of betting online abroad, which we'll cover in detail throughout this article. Read on to find out the best UK sites that provide international access, top VPN services you can use, and how legislation in different countries affects betting online.
- Should I Choose a Foreign Betting Site When Travelling?
- How To Access Betting Sites/Apps Overseas
- Tips for Betting Online Abroad
- What Is a VPN?
- Using a VPN
- How To Use a VPN for Betting on International Sportsbooks
- Best VPNs for Betting Overseas
- 5 Legal Statuses of Betting on International Sportsbooks
- Betting Online Abroad FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Sites for Betting Abroad
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Should I Choose a Foreign Betting Site When Travelling?
If you find yourself abroad on holiday or venturing overseas for a new life, fear not – you can still bet online as if you were in the UK. You might not be able to use all the best UK online bookies, but there’s still an excellent array of options available.
For one thing, betting abroad works in the same way as if you were in the UK. If you can access your account in the UK from the country you’re in, it is possible to use the same account.
However, if you plan on remaining abroad for a longer period, you could consider signing up to a more internationally oriented site or using a VPN.
Expats vs Tourists
Which site you should choose when betting online abroad depends a lot on whether you are an expat or a tourist.
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As a Tourist:
As a tourist, you will likely not need to create a new account. Either you access the site directly from the location you are in, or you use a VPN if betting sites are blocked.
Since your registered address has not changed, you will not need to update your account or create a new one. That said, we do recommend using UK betting sites that cater to many regions, such as Betfair or bet365.
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As an Expat:
As an expat, you are better off choosing a site that accepts players from all over the world or a local betting site. A lot depends on the regulations of the country in which you are located. One of the best bookies we recommend for international bettors is 888sport.
Potential Risks of Using Foreign Betting Sites While Travelling
Choosing a foreign betting site is not without its risks, especially when you are a tourist. Even if you manage to open an account and deposit, you are most likely to face difficulties when cashing out. In order to withdraw cash, you will usually need to provide proof of address, which is usually a recent utility bill or bank statement.
These documents are bound to point to an address outside of the country you are currently in, which foreign websites can deem as a breach of terms and conditions. Therefore, it’s better to choose a UK operator like bet365 that also caters to international customers.
How To Access Betting Sites/Apps Overseas
You can still use betting sites or apps overseas if your location permits online sports betting. If you’re a UK resident, your best approach is to use a betting site that is available both in the UK and the country you’re visiting. In doing so, you'll be able to access your account using your username and password before placing your bets.
Issues could arise if the country you are visiting has laws that forbid betting on sports. If that is the case, you cannot legally access your betting site through any means, even with the use of a VPN.
Can I Bet Abroad Using the British Pound?
Which currency you can use depends on which currency your betting account is in. Most betting sites let you choose between euros, dollars, or pounds when you create an account.
If you decide to switch currencies, note that conversion fees will apply. Alternatively, you can opt for betting sites that accept cryptocurrencies and avoid paying conversion fees, all the while enjoying faster payouts and exclusive crypto bonuses.
Tips for Betting Online Abroad
Before betting online abroad, it is best to go through as yourself these four questions:
1. Where Is the Bookie Legally Permitted To Operate?
Most bookies list which countries’ residents can play at their site within their site's general terms and conditions. If you have any doubts remaining, though, it is best to send a message to the customer service through live chat. If you sign up from a banned region, the casino could forfeit your winnings and return your original deposit.
Luckily, the major UK betting sites accept punters from most countries in the world.
2. What Are the Local Regulations?
Regardless of whether a bookie will accept your bet, it is important to make sure you are not breaking any local laws. Depending on what country you are trying to bet in, regulations regarding sports betting can change from state to state, even by travelling just a few miles. For example, in the US, sports betting is legal in 21 states, but the majority of regions still have strict regulations prohibiting online sports betting.
3. Which Payment Options Are Available?
While UK players have a wealth of payment options at their fingertips, many payment options are not available abroad. While you should have no problem using your UK bank account, transferring betting funds into your local account may be more challenging. Instead, you could choose to use e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, or NETELLER, which are available in most countries.
4. Can I Use a VPN?
In many cases, we recommend using a VPN, something which has become extremely popular both in and outside the UK.
VPNs keep your online activity private and provide a secure connection to the internet, ensuring that all of your personal details are protected. More importantly, you can choose from which location you wish to be connected, allowing you to use an IP address from the UK even if you’re thousands of miles away.
Of course, apart from having huge benefits for those betting online abroad, using a VPN can give you access to other geo-locked platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus, among others.
The drawback here is that some betting sites may block the use of a VPN.
We’ll now explain the use of VPNs in greater detail.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN – otherwise known as a Virtual Private Network in full – masks your IP address (internet protocol address), making your online actions harder to trace.
Instead of surfing the web directly from your location, you make a connection through a local server in the country from which you wish to browse. This gives you added security while letting you chose your virtual location.
VPNs are now considered one of the safest ways to use the internet, and are now readily available online for your desktop, laptop, and mobile devices.
For a reasonable fee, you can secure a subscription for a VPN to use across the world, with unlimited data allowing you to browse and bet at your leisure. Alternatively, you can use a free VPN that still provides the same service, although your access will be limited.
Using a VPN
Your access to a betting site can be blocked in two ways. Either your internet service provider (ISP) will block betting sites (or certain operators), or some betting sites will not accept players from your location.
How can a VPN help you get around this? To put things simply, it will help you bypass blocks set up by your internet service provider and let you access betting sites that are geo-restricted.
Of course, it is best to make sure you are not breaking any laws to begin with, since certain countries are even taking steps to ban VPNs. Thankfully, the majority of VPNs are safe and legal to use, ensuring that you have access to all the usual comforts of the UK when abroad.
Additionally, it is best to check whether your betting site allows you play with a VPN in the first place. To help out with this, we've got a complete breakdown of VPN-friendly sites to save you both time and hassle.
How To Use a VPN for Betting on International Sportsbooks
Using a VPN is simple enough – you simply download it, install it and run it.
However, you should pay attention to a few details to remain 100% anonymous:
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Select one of the best VPNs.
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Clear your cookies.
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Open your VPN app.
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Select a VPN server from the country where you wish to play (for example, the UK).
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Log in to the site and play as usual.
To use the steps on your mobile device, the situation is a little bit different.
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Open the App Store or Google Play Store.
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Search for the VPN you wish to use.
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Download the app to your device.
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Sign up for an account.
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Connect to the VPN on your device.
If you have any issues, changing the VPN protocol or settings will often solve the problem. If not, you can always contact the VPN's customer support.
When using your mobile device, you may need to adjust certain settings in order to enable the VPN connection. However, this usually only takes a click (or tap) of a button.
Best VPNs for Betting Overseas
While there are various VPNs on the market, we recommend taking your time and choosing a high-quality product instead of selecting one randomly. Otherwise, you may end up with very limited data or an incredibly slow connection, which would make live betting impossible.
Worth bearing in mind, though, is that certain ISPs and betting sites keep track of known VNP IPs. In response, however, top-notch VPNs regularly update their service with new IPs, making it harder for governments to keep track of them.
Below is a detailed list containing our our hand-picked selections of the very best VPNs for betting online.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the most solid choice on the market. As it does not keep any logs, your online gambling activity will be completely untraceable. It also implements 256-bit AES encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy (FPS) and DNS leak protection. Moreover, the Android version has automatic WiFi protection.
With over 5,500 servers in over 60 countries, NordVPN will let you unblock virtually any betting site and give you access to platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime at high streaming speeds.
The basic plan lets you connect up to six devices, which is quite a decent amount as far as we're concerned. Apps are also available for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android users.
- High encryption standards with DNS leak protection
- Automatic WiFi protection for Android
- Fast enough for online poker, live betting, and HD streaming
- 24/7 live chat support
- Desktop app has a complicated interface
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers first-class security. The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which protects it from the tentacles of American and European governments. The service itself comes 256-bit AES encryption, ensuring Perfect Forward Secrecy.
Just like NordVPN, it comes with an internet kill switch and DNS protection, ensuring nobody knows your true IP. You sign up without using any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), meaning nobody can ever tie your identity to any purchase you have made.
ExpressVPN has a strong and reliable network, with over 3,200 servers in 94 countries. This gives you plenty of choice. You can count on fast speeds and an uninterrupted connection, perfect for streaming, live betting, or playing poker online. Along with all this, you'll also have access to streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. With apps for Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, and certain WiFi routers, ExpressVPN caters to a very wide audience indeed.
- Top of the line internet traffic encryption
- Total online privacy
- Access geo-restricted sites from anywhere
- Fast servers, ideal for surfing, streaming, and downloads
- Live chat customer support
- 24/7 live chat support
- Pricier option
3. Surfshark
Just like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark uses ensures your security with 256-bit encryption. It also comes with a kill switch and protects users against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, keeping your activity hidden from prying eyes together with the absence of traffic logs.
Having 1,700 servers in over 60 countries, Surfshark users very fast and stable connections and access to not only locally blocked content from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, but also blocked gambling sites that allow the use of a VPN.
Surfshark offers apps for Android, Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Linux.
- Fast streaming
- Unblocks most services
- Protects against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks
- Keeps no logs
- 24/7 live chat
- Servers for smaller countries can be slower
4. Proton VPN
Proton VPN has an outstanding reputation for its range of servers and the amount of bandwidth supplied for users. If offers 256-bit encryption like the other providers mentioned on this list, and boasts protocols for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Proton VPN also has a kill switch, securing your identity the second your connection drops.
There are up to 1,700 servers available from 63 countries, including 85 specific server locations. It offers great speeds at 500mbps, while its usability is one of the best in the business, with clean aesthetics and sound navigation around the product. You can unlock all of your favourite streaming sites too such as Netflix, Disney, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
And, of course, Proton VPN will provide you with the ability to use your betting site abroad in legal locations.
- Fast speeds
- Large amount of servers
- Secures data with encryption software
- Kill switch
- No 24/7 customer service
- More expensive than rivals
5. Windscribe
Windscribe is one of the best VPNs out there for bettors on a budget. It offers one of the best free packages online, providing users up to 10GB of data per month. If you’re heading on a short trip away and fancy a flutter, then this provider is probably right up your street.
However, although Windscribe offers a great range of connections (over 400 servers in 110 locations and 65 countries around the world), you’ll not get all of these on the free package; that said, you’ll still receive access to many popular locations – including the UK.
Their app is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, and has strong levels of encryption software to protect your data. Windscribe's speeds are also impressive, clocking up to around 600mbps. There are a few blemishes, but if you’re using the free product, these are not overly concerning.
- Excellent free product
- Impressive range of countries and servers
- Quality apps available
- No 24/7 customer support
- Few features available
5 Legal Statuses of Betting on International Sportsbooks
When it comes to betting, there are five types of jurisdictions. While each country in the world has its own set of rules, the latter all fall into one of these categories below.
1. Licensed and Unrestricted
In a licensed and unrestricted country, betting is legal. However, websites need to have a licence from the local government and adhere to local gambling laws and tax laws. Often, the largest betting sites try to obtain licences from as many jurisdictions as possible in order to get a wide customer base. That means you have a good chance of your betting site being legal, especially if you use one of the larger betting sites like Ladbrokes or Betfair.
2. Licensed but Restricted
Certain countries don't just allow any operator to offer bets in their jurisdiction. In fact, many of these jurisdictions try to channel betting into a limited number of legal sites while banning the rest. This could mean that while betting is legal, access to your favourite betting site may not be allowed. Make sure you know whether your usual bookmaker is restricted in a particular country before setting off on your travels.
3. Regulated
Regulated countries have gambling laws; however, they do not offer licensing themselves. If your bookie chooses to operate there, they will have to follow the local laws. This can affect the types of bets or bonuses on offer for the local site. Check on your bookie’s page to see whether your country is accepted or not.
4. Unregulated
Unregulated markets are simply countries that do not license, regulate or prohibit betting. Essentially, betting is neither legal nor illegal, since it is not mentioned in the law.
This gives betting sites freedom to offer any terms that they please, meaning you will sometimes find dodgy operators in these regions. Hence, we consider this yet another reason to opt for a renowned and trustworthy brand to be on the safe side.
5. Illegal
In some countries, betting is simply illegal. Many betting sites actively block punters from these jurisdictions, and list in their terms of conditions that they will not accept customers from these regions.
On the other hand, many betting sites do not really care about local laws, and actively encourage players to use VPNs or set up mirror sites in case their site is blocked by the local internet service providers.
Some jurisdictions are very strict, while many do not really care what you are doing online, especially if it is a foreign site and you are using foreign money on a foreign bank account. VPNs can protect you, since they hide your internet activity from local internet service providers and authorities. In any case, we recommend you make sure you know the risks before going ahead.
Tax in Other Countries
Whether you owe tax on your winnings is another important question. In the UK, winnings from gambling are tax-free; having said that, every other country has its own tax regulations.
Of course, simply being a tourist for a few weeks in a country will not make you a tax resident. In most cases, you become a tax resident of a country after you have spent a total of 183 days or more living there.
As long as you are simply on holiday, you will not have to pay any local taxes. If you are a tax resident in a particular country, you should check if the local government places taxes on gambling wins.
Betting Online Abroad FAQs
You can bet online abroad if the country you are travelling permits online sports betting and you can log in to your usual account. Alternatively, if there are no regulations against sports betting, but your chosen bookmaker is not available in the region, you can use a VPN.
Many sites allow betting with a VPN. However, first check whether your chosen destination abroad falls within your betting site’s list of restricted countries and whether it allows VPN betting.
You can place your bets before leaving to go on holiday to ensure you can legally submit your wagers. However, you may miss out on useful features such as cash out, as well as live betting options.
Usually not, however certain jurisdictions have different a legal status for each product. Best to check the local laws, or use a VPN to keep your activity secret.
bet365 accepts players from most countries. Visit the site to see if your destination is on the restricted list.
Yes, if you can access your account in the UK from the area you will be staying, you can usually use the same account.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The good news for UK bettors is that you don’t have to worry too much about missing out when travelling aboard for a holiday. There are many betting sites that operate internationally that will let you use your account overseas.
For those that are not available, there are ways and means to access your favorite betting sites through VPNs, of which we have given a full breakdown above. We'll conclude by again reminding you to be wary of the laws of the country you’re travelling to, ensuring that you can legally bet online. If so, sit back and enjoy betting on your holiday.