Is Gambling Overseas for UK Players Possible?

uk gambling abroadLet’s start with the basics. If you’re on holiday or moving to another country, you might not be able to bet online or bet as if you were in the UK. Frankly, no one rule can be applied to wherever you are going in the world, as it depends on the regulations in the country you visit.

The process will also depend on whether you are a tourist or an Expat:

As a Tourist:

If you’re just visiting, you should not create a new casino account. Since your registered address hasn’t changed, you won’t need to update your account or make a new one. Still, we do recommend using UK casinos that accept players from many countries, including the one you are visiting.

If the site is blocked where you are, you can use a UK VPN to gamble, although that might have implications that we will go through in more detail below.

As an Expat:

As an Expat, you should choose a good international casino website that accepts players from the country you moved to. It mainly depends on the rules in your new country, as you need to have a verifiable address to gamble. You might be able to create an account and deposit without one, but you want to ensure you can receive your winnings too.

Still, it might be the case that your new location has banned online gambling. In this case, we recommend you obey the local laws and research what options are available to you.

UK Gambling Regulations

All of this is easier to understand if you know how markets are regulated on a basic level. There is no one answer to the question of whether or not you can play online casinos while travelling because it depends on the country you are in and the brand you use. Some brands will let you play in other countries if legally accepted, while others won’t.

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In some countries, gambling is completely illegal, so there is no safe way to while visiting these countries. We advise you to respect the regulations in place and avoid trying to find a way around them because you could get into a lot of trouble.

Some big UK casino brands work in markets that aren’t regulated, but you won’t be as safe as you would be if you played with them in the UK. Regardless of where you might be, we advise you to play at a licensed casino. Otherwise, you might face problems later on.

At the end of the day, it’s often a big grey area, so the best thing you can do is call your casino, tell them where you’re going, and ask if you can play there.

As previously mentioned, there are strict rules and licences in other countries, so creating a new casino account is rarely the answer. However, those who have a second home abroad or a holiday home might find this the best option.

Why Should I Not Create a New Casino Account?

All online casinos need to do KYC (Know Your Customer) checks on their customers before they can withdraw their winnings. These checks are performed before depositing in the UK, but not necessarily in other countries. A no ID casino UK might have a ID verification checks automatically implemented while registering, so it might seem like you are skipping this step even though you are not.

This means that customers need to show their ID and proof of address. So, anyone with a second home or a holiday home in a different country could give information about both addresses and legally be allowed to play in both countries.

If you cannot verify your address and have won big money, the casino will most likely not payout because you have broken their terms and conditions.

Gambling Abroad using a VPN

Some players use a VPN to get around the fact that gambling is illegal in the country they are currently in. But this is not something we recommend because it goes against the rules you agreed to when you signed up.

A VPN works by telling the website that you are located in the country used by your VPN. So, if you were in Spain but used a VPN and set your country to the UK, websites would think you were still in the UK while hiding your real location. This lets you keep using the UK version of your casino site, so you can keep gambling as usual while on vacation.

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Casinos that allow VPN might sound very smart, and it is, but there are risks involved. Some casino sites have caught on to players using VPNs and built software that can tell if you are using one. If they find out you are using a VPN, you could get in trouble in several ways.

They can automatically close your account for a short time or close it for good and put you on a blacklist so you can’t try to open another one. They can also take away any winnings you got while using the VPN, which would be terrible if you had a big win and were caught.

For these reasons, we recommend you do not use a VPN service to gamble in UK casinos abroad. If you cannot access the online casinos while on vacation, you are better off waiting until you get back. If you cannot wait this long, it might be a sign of a gambling issue, and a long break will do you good.

VPN Explained

A VPN, which stands for "Virtual Private Network," hides your IP address or "internet protocol address." This makes it harder to track what you do online, as well as your current location.

You don’t connect directly to the internet from where you are. Instead, you connect through a local server in the country from which you want to browse. This gives you more security and lets you choose where you want to be virtually. VPNs are now thought to be one of the safest ways to use the internet, and you can get them for your desktop, laptop, and mobile devices online.

For a reasonable fee, you can sign up for a VPN that you can use anywhere in the world. With unlimited data, you can browse and bet whenever you want. You can also use a free VPN, which will still give you the same service but will limit your access.

FAQs

Do all UK casinos allow gambling from abroad?

No, many UK websites have blocked visitors from all other countries, so you won’t be able to even open their website. However, casinos that are available in the UK and other international markets will often allow it since you they can legally allow gamblers from the country you currently are in.

How can I find out if my casino allows me to gamble while on vacation abroad?

The best way to find out is simply by asking them. Send an email to their support team or use the live chat if available.

Can I gamble in a UK casino while on vacation in Spain?

In most cases, no. Spain is a regulated market, so operators need a Spanish gambling license to allow players from Spain. However, if they do have a UKGC license and a Spanish casino license, it might be possible.

Can I gamble in UK casinos if I live abroad?

The UK Gambling Commission is for UK citizens only, so if you have a permanent address abroad, you must select a gambling site that can operate in your country of residence. Some UK gambling sites have other licenses also, such as MGA and Curacao, so you still might be able to play in a UK-licensed casino. However, you will not be playing under that jurisdiction.

Can I gamble in a Spanish casino site if I have a vacation home in Spain?

Most likely, yes. However, you need to have a provable address in Spain to do so.

author
Kate WebbEditor in Chief

With over ten years of experience working with gambling and writing about casinos, Kate brings a lot of knowledge to CasinoTop3.com. Kate oversees all the content written on CasinoTop3.com to ensure it contains factual information with value to you as a player.