Key Things to Check Before Using Online Casinos While Traveling Abroad

Online casino play is big business and in the modern era, many players like to access their games via mobile. It’s the most convenient option while traveling, but if you are heading overseas, there are some key points to remember.

Whether logging into your account via a mobile device or on your laptop, you may notice some changes, so here’s a handy checklist for casino play abroad.

More countries continue to open up to the practice of online gambling. The United States’ decision to ease restrictions from 2018 hit the headlines, while near-neighbors Canada began to follow suit in 2022. Customers in those regions now had a choice of operators, each offering a selection of games, plus offers and promotions such as no deposit bonuses and free spins. It was a sudden and unexpected change and one that has offered a huge boost to the industry.

Because of these developments, some casino players might assume that it’s OK to play games anywhere in the world. This isn’t always the case, and it’s important to keep this in mind before you travel.

The first point to check before you travel is whether online casino play for real money stakes is legal in your destination. If the practice is outlawed, you will not be able to access the platform, even if it is legal to play online casino games in your country or state of origin.

This will be due to local laws which cover anyone currently based within the jurisdiction. If you think of other types of legislation, such as motoring offences, you would expect to be subject to local rulings when driving in another country. The same applies to online laws, and this covers real money casino games. If it's banned in your planned destination, you won’t be able to access your usual platforms.

A further anomaly may occur depending on which casino you play with. While online casinos may be legal in a specific country, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be open everywhere. Tighter regulations and local tax laws may see some big-name casinos withdraw from certain jurisdictions.

Some online casino companies have recently withdrawn from the fledgling market. Elsewhere, a number of US and mainland European operators have pulled out of the UK sector. This is due to a change in taxation introduced by the UK government in 2014.

The key point to check before using online casinos abroad clearly relates to legality. Ahead of your trip, you should firstly ascertain whether online gambling is legal at your destination. Remember that, like the United States, there could be a mixed picture where sports betting is OK, but casino play is outlawed.

The second task is to establish whether your favorite casinos are open. As we have seen, it may be the case that they are not available in certain countries, even if casino gambling is legal in that jurisdiction.

A popular way to get around any potential issues is to use a VPN. This software can show your location as your country of origin and is a method used to circumvent local laws. Travelers are free to use it, but there could be problems if this is discovered. Playing at online casinos with a VPN is strictly to be undertaken at your own risk.

Remember to check and double-check over legality. It really is the number one question for any online casino player heading overseas.