How We Compare and Rate International Casinos
Since hundreds of international online gambling sites exist, we look at at least five factors that make a casino reliable. Some of the elements we consider include:
Presence of License
Before recommending any international casino, we first check its license information. Licensing bodies such as MGA, The UK Gambling Commission, and Curacao eGaming Authority employ rules to ensure operators conduct gambling activities openly and fairly. This way, they are able to protect children and vulnerable gamblers from unfair gambling. For a casino to acquire a gaming license, it must meet certain criteria stated in the license condition and codes of practice.
Reputation in the Industry
A casino must be known to promote responsible gambling before we consider featuring it in our list. Secondly, its games must be tested regularly for fairness. These games must use Random Number Generators and produce higher RTPs before we consider the platform. Finally, its customer support, game selection, and payments must be reliable. We evaluate this information by signing up and playing at the casino before recommending it.
How the Casino Protects Personal Data from Players
Safety is crucial when it comes to online gambling. For that reason, we focus beyond the casino license. First, a casino must prove that it uses the latest encryption technology to protect its customers’ data. In this case, we visit the site and check if its connection is secure. We then ascertain whether it is regulated by bodies such as eCOGRA and whether it states how it uses the customers’ information.
Game Selection and Categories
We also compare different platforms in terms of game selection and categories to give players many varieties where they can choose their favorite games. We check the software developers powering a particular international casino online to acquire this information. For instance, some gaming developers are excellent at offering live games, while others will provide unique slot titles.
And since we understand that not all software providers will accept players from countries like Sweden, we incorporate all this information to come up with a list of casinos catering to everyone’s needs.
Availability of Demo Versions
Free demo games allow you to play without staking any real money. The best part is real-money games such as slots will enable you to gauge your gambling strategies.
Introduction to the Best International Online Casinos
International gambling online casinos offer some of the most appealing features to their global clientele. First, they provide new players with a welcome bonus to kickstart their gambling adventures. Besides, loyal customers can claim other bonuses and promotions, including free spins, reload bonuses, affiliate programs, and more. Usually, international casino operators ensure multiple payment methods accompany these promotions.
In addition, international online gambling sites partner with the most reputable software developers to ensure you access their games in HD. The developers include Microgaming, NetEnt, iGaming, BetSoft, and more. With the innovators mentioned above, you are guaranteed a seamless gaming experience for you to enjoy in the comfort of your home. Additionally, the best online casinos in the world are compatible with devices running on Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS. Although not many will offer a downloadable app, they still offer instant games that don’t require downloaded software.
Another feature a reliable online casino guarantees players is top security protocols. Most leading international casinos use 128-bit SSL encryption to keep customers’ information safe.
Finally, the best online casinos in the world ensure they have a reliable customer support system that players can access 24/7. Some of the channels to reach the support team include live chat, toll-free numbers, and email addresses. Note that any reliable platform will provide more than five international languages for a smooth gambling experience.
International Casinos Without Spelpaus
Spelpaus means a game break in English. It refers to a self-exclusion scheme usually found in online casinos licensed under the Swedish Gambling Authority. According to the government of Sweden, all casinos running under its license must use Spelpaus.
But there are also casinos without a license and Spelpaus in Sweden, which can also be played safely and successfully.
With the Spelpaus system, you can exclude yourself from gambling activities for any period you wish. Once you exclude yourself, you are blocked from all gambling activities so long as Spelpaus is active. Unfortunately, you cannot reserve the decision; you must wait until your exclusion period is complete. However, our list of casinos above contains gambling sites with no Spelpaus system. This is good news for players who like to enjoy their favorite casino games without restrictions. Even better, casinos without the Swedish license don’t have to use Spelpaus because it’s the property of the Swedish Government.
Games Available at International Casinos
European countries like Sweden are home to the most popular casino games. Fortunately, these games come from leading software developers, as stated above. Here is a brief review of the best international casino games online.
Slot Machines
There are multiple variants of online slots to expect from the best online casino sites in the world. They include Video Slots, Classic Slots, and Progressive Slots. With Classic Slots, you get to remind yourself of older gambling times. On the other hand, Video Slots feature intuitive graphics to keep you entertained all day long. Finally, Progressive Slots give you a chance of winning millions in a short period.
Table Games
Also, expect some of the best table games from international gambling platforms. Once you sign up at any of the above gambling sites, you can enjoy games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker, and Roulette to spice up your gaming sessions.
Video Poker
Besides regular pokies, international casino sites feature popular video poker titles. These include variants like Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better.
Live Casino
With live casino games, international sites can guarantee a brick-and-mortar casino experience. These variants are powered by software developers like Evolution Gaming and are broadcasted directly from a real casino studio where players interact with a live dealer.
License at International Casinos
Experts recommend that for any casino online, international players must have the platform’s license information. In this case, you can check if an international online casino holds any of the following licenses.
MGA License
Malta Gaming Authority is an internationally recognized gambling regulating body. It focuses on competence in various sectors of the gaming industry. It has a set of rules and regulations to guarantee players a fair and transparent gambling environment. Finally, it prevents vices such as underage gambling, corruption, and money laundering.
Curacao License
Curacao eGaming Authority is among the leading regulatory bodies in the casino industry. It began its services in 2016 and currently regulates casinos internationally. Besides licensing, this body manages bank accounts and offshore infrastructure for most gambling operators in the world.
UKGC License
The UK Gambling Commission regulates and supervises gaming law to protect players in the UK as well as players from other territories from unfair gambling. In addition, it is one of the bodies mandated with advising gambling operators in Great Britain. This includes the national lottery, bingo, arcades, sports betting, software providers, lottery operators, as well as remote gambling sites that use British-based equipment.
Is it Legal to Play in International Casinos with No Swedish License?
It is NOT illegal to play a casino without a Swedish license because these casinos were present in Sweden before the government introduced Spelpaus. Although the government of Sweden does not allow such platforms to operate in its territory, there are no legal consequences for gamblers who opt to play at offshore casinos. In addition, some players feel that the risk of offshore casinos goes to the operators and not the player.
Gaming Freedom in International Casinos
You will enjoy many benefits by playing at an international casino, no matter where you are. Unlike casinos with Spelpaus, international casino sites guarantee more advantages because they lack the Swedish government’s license. Unfortunately, the Swedish license regulates online casino bonuses in terms of size. It states that casino operators can only issue one bonus to each player. In this respect, these casinos are independent, unlike other types of Swedish casinos.
However, an international casino will offer excellent features such as big payouts and unlimited generous bonuses. This means international gambling sites will provide cashback rewards, free spins, and VIP bonuses to foreign players. Finally, you can play unlimited games without excluding yourself at international casino sites.
International Casino Free Tax
There are a lot of international casinos that will not tax your winnings. This is because these casinos don’t consider gambling as a form of employment. The best part is that most international casinos don’t tax lottery winnings, horse racing, and sports betting. As a result, players can maximize their winnings since no money is deducted from them. However, if you earn interest from the winnings, you will have to pay tax.
And since playing at an international casino excludes you from paying gambling tax, you don’t have to declare your taxes to anyone. Note that it is crucial to keep track of your wins and losses to keep everything under control if you are required to show your financial statements.
Free International Online Casinos
Some international casinos like to give free games and bonuses to new and existing customers. For instance, a casino site might offer you up to 25 free spins on a specific slot game. However, it is important to read the terms and conditions to determine whether the offer is easy to claim or not. Although slot titles dominate many casinos’ free games, some platforms plan to introduce free versions of games like bingo, scratch cards, baccarat, and craps.
Payment Suppliers at International Casinos
Many payment suppliers have partnered with international online gambling sites to give players seamless deposits and withdrawals. However, these payment methods differ in terms of processing time, your location, deposit/withdrawal limits, and transaction fees. Here is a brief review of payment suppers partnering with international casinos today.
Visa
Visa is among the most popular banking methods in the casino industry. It uses the Visa network to offer its services globally. One of the reasons behind Visa’s success is that you will find a platform accepting Visa payments without a hassle. The best part is that Visa accepts both casino deposits and withdrawals. You can deposit using Visa by simply entering the card’s information and the casino’s unique code, making it a reliable banking method.
Mastercard
Mastercard is also among the most recognized payment methods in the gaming industry. More importantly, it is convenient for online and offline payments. It is among the largest credit and debit card service providers, partnering with more than 25,000 banks. You can benefit from Mastercard’s global presence as well as security once you start using it.
Trustly
Founded in Sweden in 2008, Trustly is also a leading global payment method globally. No matter where you are, you can pay via your bank account since it acts as an intermediary between you and the casino. Besides Trustly being secure, you can make casino deposits without signing up for an app. Some casinos partner with Trustly to allow you to deposit your wagering money and begin betting immediately without creating an account with that particular casino.
Skrill
Besides credit cards, Skrill is another popular payment method today. Skrill is relatively secure since it is a multi-layered platform that uses SSL encryption technology. Its deposits and withdrawals take less than 24 hours, unlike credit cards which take 1-3 days to process cashout requests. Even better, you can access Skrill services in more than 100 countries where it accepts more than 40 fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies.
EcoPayz
EcoPayz brand began as ecoCard in 2000, making it one of the oldest e-wallets in the world. The brand allows you to top up your ecoAccount using your bank account. You can use ecoPayz like an e-Wallet to fund your gambling account. More importantly, ecoPayz partners with Mastercard to allow you to use ecoCard, a prepaid version of ecoPayz. Finally, you don’t have to worry about data theft because ecoPayz is a secure platform.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies have also become popular casino payments over the years because they offer more benefits than traditional payment methods. They have led to the emergence of many good bitcoin casinos. Cryptocurrency networks are decentralized to eliminate the need for third-party approvals when doing transactions.
They are also secure since you don’t need to provide personal data when depositing or withdrawing from casino accounts. This feature also makes your banking information private while guaranteeing anonymity. Finally, cryptocurrency transactions are fast and don’t require processing fees because no intermediaries are involved.
World Casino Bonus, Cashback, and Free Spins
Almost every international casino online has a dedicated program to reward new and existing customers. These promotions differ depending on the casino as well as the terms and conditions. Note that you can benefit from the following promotions if you develop a gaming strategy to maximize your winnings.
- Welcome bonuses: You can claim this bonus once you sign up at an international online casino. Usually, the welcome bonus comes in the form of a match-up reward up to a certain amount.
- No deposit bonuses: An international casino no deposit bonus allows you to play real money games without depositing any wagering money.
- Deposit bonuses: The deposit bonus requires you to fund your account with a specific minimum to claim the reward while increasing your wagering funds.
- Free spins: Usually, international online casinos dedicate free spins to specific slot games.
- Cashback rewards: Cashback promotions are among the most appealing promotions because they refund your money once you lose a bet.
- Reload bonuses: Most international gambling sites offer players reload bonuses weekly or monthly. In this case, they require you to keep funding your casino account to enjoy more perks.
Pros and Cons of International Casinos
Like any other gambling platform, international gambling platforms have their share of benefits and drawbacks. Here are the notable ones.
Pros of International Casinos
- Your winnings are tax-free
- You can enjoy unlimited bonuses and promotions
- International online casinos are multilingual and accept multiple banking methods
- They partner with top software developers to provide the best live dealer games
- They offer free spins on specific slot games
Cons of International Casinos
- International casinos online lack a self-exclusion program.
