How to Bet Online from Abroad | Accessing Betting Sites in UK – Complete Guide [2024]
Many of the best bookmakers in the world have their operations in the United Kingdom.
What if you’re based outside the country, though? You will still likely want to play with the very best sites.
Our how to bet online from abroad guide for UK citizens is a comprehensive walkthrough on how to go about doing just that.
Over the following sections, we’ll show you how expats and foreign nationals alike can enjoy the perks and privileges of playing at UK bookmakers from abroad.
It might sound complicated, but this is a straightforward process. If you’re eager to learn how, and why this could be advantageous for you, read on to find out more…
- 1How to bet online from abroad for UK players – The only guide you’ll need
- 2I can’t access UK betting sites from abroad, can I?
- 3How to use UK betting sites when abroad – A step-by-step guide
- 4Play at the top UK bookmakers when abroad
- 5Bet abroad by using a trusted VPN
- 6Using a Remote Desktop App to bet abroad
- 7Licenses and regulation – Things worth noting about betting abroad
- 8Pros and cons of betting abroad in the UK
- 9Your FAQs on betting abroad at UK bookmakers answered
- 10Get started playing at UK online bookmakers today!
How to bet online from abroad for UK players – The only guide you’ll need
Ever found yourself wondering “can you use UK betting sites abroad?” but never stumbled across a definitive answer. You needn’t worry. Our guide will help straighten things out.
Nobody knows how many sites there are for betting on sports in the UK, but it is generally agreed that they represent some of the best, safest and fairest places to wager online.
Ordinarily – unless they also run international domains – these bookmakers are reserved for players residing in the UK.
However, in 2024, we have lots of tips, tricks and tools to get around this little problem. Our guide will introduce you to them.
Most trusted UK bookies when betting from abroad in 21 November 2024 – Updated List
I can’t access UK betting sites from abroad, can I?
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Of those expats, most live in countries where gambling is either prohibited almost entirely (such as the USA) or is restricted in some way, like in the European Union. Many EU countries prohibit access to UK betting sites and have only legalized online gambling to those sites which are licensed out of their own jurisdictions. This can make it tough for UK nationals residing in foreign countries to play at UK gambling sites from wherever they want.
If you were to make a quick scan of what UK betting sites work in the USA, you would see that many bookmakers by payment methods from Britain won’t accept you, or access is limited. UK citizens can only play in a handful of allowed casinos in countries where they reside.
Discovering which bookmakers by country work in America or learning how to use UK betting sites in Spain is made easy if you follow these few, short steps.
How to use UK betting sites when abroad – A step-by-step guide
If you’re wondering what UK betting sites work in Spain, or more generally the availability of UK mobile betting apps, we can help you. Just follow these steps, to get started:
Of course, if you reside in the UK full-time and are planning a trip to Spain on holiday, you can save yourself the trouble of registering via VPN. Just sign up at the casino before you go on holiday!
Play at the top UK bookmakers when abroad
Whether you are interested in snapping up betting offers, fancy trying your hand at CSGO betting sites, or simply want to play at the leading betting companies the UK has to offer; there are many top sites you can choose from. Here are ten of the best:
They also excel at providing UK horse racing betting. A VPN is often required to access this quintessentially British bookmaker.
Bet abroad by using a trusted VPN
Tip
At their most basic, VPNs (virtual private networks) are pieces of software which trick your internet service provider (and subsequent sites you visit) into assuming that you are based somewhere other than where you truly are. Not all of them excel at getting through the toughest geo-blocks.
However, ExpressVPN and NordVPN have been proven to do rather well in that regard. There is a wealth of other VPN software out there you can use, too, but make sure they excel at breaking geo-blocks.
Most of the best ones will cost money. However, you can “point” your VPN to the United Kingdom. From there, you can access horse racing betting sites in the UK, or any other gambling domains which tickle your fancy.
Using a Remote Desktop App to bet abroad
Another (slightly trickier) way to go about betting when abroad is to use a Remote Desktop App. These essentially allow you to access computers which are in other countries. In our case, those in the UK. TeamViewer is one such piece of software. The basic idea is that you will engage in your gambling activities using a computer which is based in the UK and connected to the internet from there. This is useful when you are live betting from another country.
It exists many similar software options for e-sports betting UK or traditional sports which you can use. If you are planning on going on a little vacation/holiday, for instance, it may be worth leaving your desktop computer on (while you are away) and taking your laptop with you.
This software allows you to control your desktop remotely via your laptop. Thus, you can sign in to your sportsbook account, and play abroad without any trouble at all.
Licenses and regulation – Things worth noting about betting abroad
Before you start to bet at UK bookmakers from abroad or maybe you prefer a UK betting exchange, you should know that there are a few things you should check out. For instance, each betting site has its own terms and conditions and policy regarding betting from outside the UK. Have a read of these first, because they may allow you to do it via an international site, as mentioned.
Any UK bookmakers you decide to play at should be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This organization controls the UK betting industry and determines the rules. Provided you are above the defined legal gambling age in the UK (18) and adhere to these terms, you are fine.
While these UKGC licensed betting sites are fully legal in the UK, they may not be where you currently reside. Betting sites and mobile betting sites with their licenses can typically be broken down into five categories, and these include:
Category
Description
Ideally, you will be hoping to play at regulated and licensed betting sites in UK, either restricted or unrestricted.
When betting abroad, it is also worth noting that the tax rules may be different from those in the UK. At home, there are no taxes on anything you win when betting online, even if you are betting for a living in the UK.
However, if you reside in a foreign country, their gambling tax laws will apply (if they have any) not those of the UK. You will be liable for any potential tax you may need to pay.
Pros and cons of betting abroad in the UK
There are a few pros and cons to take into consideration when you open betting accounts at UK sites when abroad. Here are some of them:
PROS
- UK bookmakers are arguably more heavily regulated than offshore domains
- UK betting sites tend to offer more variety in terms of games
- Gameplay is in English and with the British pound sterling
- Customer support is widely available
- Such sites must adhere to fair play and responsible gaming terms
CONS
- Only tend to be accessible to players residing in the UK
- Tend to carry smaller welcome bonuses than foreign casinos
Your FAQs on betting abroad at UK bookmakers answered
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this guide to betting abroad at UK bookmakers. However, if you have any lingering queries, we will try to answer them below.
Being able to wager using British pounds sterling has little to do with where you reside. Instead, it is dependent on the site itself. If your betting site accepts GBP, then you can wager with it. Here you can check our list of GBP bookmakers.
Yes. Provided you have an accepted bookmaker payment method; you can deposit and withdraw with ease.
There are strict laws of gambling in Spain. Players in Spain are restricted to wagering at regulates and licensed Spanish bookmakers. Spain doesn’t have any punishments in store for residents who bet at offshore sites, though. A good VPN can see you wager freely at foreign (UK) bookmakers.
The Bet365 sign up process is the same as other UK bookies. They will check your location when you sign-in. If they don’t operate in the country where you are, you can try using a VPN to play. However, this site is notoriously tough about restricting access to players using a VPN.
Having betting accounts in the UK, and betting accounts at local sites based in the country you holiday in is a decent idea. However, it is smarter to choose a domain which has sites in both countries anyway. This way, you can log-in with the same account, no matter where you are.
Some countries have legalised sports betting but not casino gaming, or vice-versa. For instance, you can wager on sports in Spain, but casino games (specifically games of chance) are banned. Each country has its own laws, so these are worth checking out before you decide to play at a local site.
Get started playing at UK online bookmakers today!
You could dive right at the traditional and well known biggest bookmakers UK sites. Alternatively, you may wish to check out some of the new UK betting sites (including 5 pound betting sites) doing the rounds.
Aside from just tell you how to bet online from abroad, we also provide UK players with top recommendations and links to many of the safest, fairest and most trusted UK bookmakers.
All our sites are vetted, checked and guaranteed to appeal to players who want to be at British websites while based abroad.
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