Gambling on offshore platforms has risen exponentially in recent years. Take a country like the US, for instance. According to research by the American Gaming Association (AGA), Americans wager $673.6 billion annually on these platforms, spanning online casinos, sports betting and lottery games.
Offshore sport betting alone accounted for $84 billion in total wagers with $5 billion in revenue. Such figures are no small feat. They are evidence of the many people in the US and other regions using illegal sites to place bets, despite the availability of state-regulated wagering platforms.
But why are these sites popular? Consider these offshore platforms found at https://playcasino.eu.com/offshore-betting-sites/, for instance. Many of them often offer benefits that local operators struggle to replicate, such as anonymous gambling. It’s these gaps that continue to draw gamblers, even where regulated wagering markets already exist.
Catering to the need for anonymous gambling
Online incidents involving data breaches and exposure of people’s information have been on the rise globally. Flutter Entertainment, a parent company that manages various gambling brands, confirmed a data breach affecting over 800,000 sportsbook users in 2025. Well, of course, when you compare this to 16 billion credentials that DemandSage claims were leaked in 2025, Flutter Entertainment’s figure might look like a drop in the ocean.
But such data breaches are alarming, especially to bettors who expect a flawless gambling experience. It is for that reason that many prefer offshore sites because the anonymity reduces the amount of personal data stored on data servers, which, in turn, can reduce the risk of a data breach.
The use of encryption technology to protect customers’ personal details also allows these sites to appeal to privacy-conscious individuals. Encryption involves packaging customer data in a way that makes it unreadable to malicious persons.
To cater to the need for privacy even more, offshore sites do not disclose customer information and betting activities to government bodies or officials. They operate outside the direct jurisdiction of local authorities; therefore, they are not legally obligated to provide information about their gambling activities. This level of discretion and the government’s lack of intrusion assures customers of anonymity and thus, encourages exploration.
When it comes to discreet payment methods like Bitcoin and Ethereum, unregulated sportsbooks have also not been left behind. With the payment methods, users are able to move funds in and out of their accounts without tying transactions to personal identities. And if someone doesn’t want attention from any local authority, such options often tend to be more attractive.
Access to global markets
Phil Ivey, a professional gambler and poker pro, is quoted as saying, “Flexibility, which entails having multiple options, is what keeps you alive in gambling.” Unregulated sportsbooks remain popular in 2026 because they offer customers flexibility by providing access to multiple international markets that are unavailable with local sportsbooks.
To put it into perspective, consider a fan in the US who wants to bet on a cricket match in India. With an offshore site, they can do so without a lot of hassle. And a key advantage of accessing global betting markets is the exposure to better odds.
Some offshore wagering platforms are located in countries with factors that help create favorable odds, including:
- Relaxed betting laws and regulations
- Minimal taxes imposed on gambling revenue
- High competition that compels sportbooks to offer odds better than their rivals
In countries with lower betting taxes, sportsbooks can afford to pass those savings on to players through more competitive odds and wider wagering margins. The Isle of Man is one such jurisdiction known for low tax duties, featuring a tiered gambling duty on gross gaming yield (GGY) ranging from 0.1% to 1.5%, and a 0% corporate tax rate for most companies. Compare that to a state in the U.S like Ohio, whose sports betting tax rate is 20% of GGR.
Sportsbooks located in heavily taxed areas may be forced to include that tax margin in their prices. Consequently, it may result in them offering less competitive odds. It is for this reason that many bettors use offshore betting sites that give them access to markets with more favourable odds and better payout potential.
Better bonuses and promotions
As you may know, the sports wagering industry is highly competitive. To stand out from the competition, many sportbooks, including unregulated ones, are compelled to offer better bonuses and promotions. Unlike a local sportsbook, which may offer a lower bonus, say, a 50% welcome bonus upon signing up, offshore sites can go as high as 200%.
Look at it this way: if you deposit $5 in a local sportsbook with a 50% welcome bonus, you get an extra $2.5 you can use to place wagers with. But when you deposit the same $5 on an offshore platform with a 200% welcome bonus, you get an extra $10 to bet with. The high bonus stretches your bankroll, thereby giving you more betting opportunities.
And since bettors love such high bonus offers, it’s not a surprise to see unregulated sites dominate the market. When you combine that with the anonymity they offer gamblers through the use of data encryption technology and discreet payment systems, you realize they are here to stay. They icing on the cake? They give gamblers access to global markets with better odds and higher payout potential.
