Key Moments:
- Recent research uncovered a surge of offshore casinos explicitly aiming for the American market
- Many offshore operators lack licensing details, company information, or effective customer support
- TrustPilot reviews show widespread customer dissatisfaction, with an average rating of 1.5 for these brands
Offshore Casinos Enter the U.S. Market
While regulated brands such as FanDuel and DraftKings dominate public awareness of the U.S. online casino sector, a parallel world of offshore operators is making inroads. Contrary to European notions of “offshore,” these sites represent a distinctly different category, openly targeting American consumers without seeking the familiar licenses from regulators such as the MGA or Curaçao. This unexpected trend came to light while conducting unrelated research, highlighting a growing cohort of offshore brands positioning themselves for stateside traffic.
Regulatory Landscape and Market Access
Online casino regulation in the U.S. exists at the state level. Only seven states currently provide a fully regulated environment for online casino gambling, leaving 43 states outside the legal market. Although sweepstakes casinos operate more broadly, the vast majority of Americans remain unserved by regulated options. Offshore casinos, unconstrained by these legal boundaries, therefore access a significant audience — seemingly without regard for local regulation. Yield Sec has reported that Americans spend more than $67 billion dollars on offshore casinos, much of which is assumed to flow through crypto platforms or VPN-based gambling sites. The group spotlighted here is distinctly different, being much more visible to the public.
Transparency and Customer Support Gaps
Extensive reviews of top-ranking offshore casino sites highlight a concerning lack of transparency. These sites often reveal no company background, omit licensing details, and provide little or no effective contact options. In some cases, phone numbers, when dialed, immediately disconnect; physical addresses are absent; only a single email may be provided, which – notably – does respond. For users, this creates significant risk: there is no way to identify the operator, no regulatory backstop, and no established process for dispute resolution. Some operators reference an Anjouan license, but most do not mention any licensing at all.
User Experiences Reflect Major Issues
Public sources offer limited information about these casinos, but TrustPilot reviews paint a consistent picture. Players frequently report cancellations or delays in withdrawals of up to two weeks, reduced payouts, sudden account closures following wins, and unreachable customer service. On average, offshore casinos targeting American players receive a 1.5 rating on TrustPilot. Despite lacking explicit U.S.-centric branding, review data suggests their user base is predominantly American.
Affiliate Traffic Drives Visibility
Analysis with Ahrefs reveals that these offshore brands rely almost exclusively on affiliate marketing to attract users. There is little evidence of direct paid advertising or organic search visibility for their brand names. In-depth keyword data shows that large websites occupy top positions for searches like “offshore casinos” and “best offshore casino USA,” often featuring identical page layouts and promoting the same brands. This suggests that a handful of affiliate networks may be operating multiple sites across crypto, esports, and iGaming verticals. This situation points to a highly lucrative market with relatively low competitive pressure.
Competition Remains Sparse
The affiliate-driven offshore casino niche faces surprisingly little competition. Licensed brand affiliates have made some efforts to target related keywords, but the dominant ranking pages often appear to be competing with themselves. Compared to the competitive sweepstakes casino segment, this market segment is lower in volume but can offer significant financial upside to its participants.
Game Selection Raises Red Flags
Examining the gaming lobbies offered by these offshore sites reveals an absence of branded titles from established software studios. Instead, the selection features unbranded games missing developer attribution and lacking documentation on fairness or mathematical rigor. This means players have no assurance regarding the legitimacy of the games, and established game providers appear uninterested in partnerships with such operators.
Enforcement and Market Dynamics
Enforcement of gambling activity in the U.S. is typically executed at the state level, as seen in the sweepstakes industry. The rapid emergence and disappearance of offshore casino brands means that efforts to regulate them could quickly become a full-time pursuit. Federal authorities to date have mainly prioritized issues such as sports betting and match fixing. Should cases of nonpayment or outright fraud become more pronounced, enforcement attention may increase.
Implications for Operators and Affiliates
This trend holds significance even for European stakeholders. Many of the same affiliate sites promoting offshore operators to American players are also active in European markets, where they market fully regulated brands. As compliance standards for operators and affiliates continue to rise, understanding the intersection of these risks becomes increasingly vital.
Consequences for Players and Industry Reputation
Offshore operators’ disregard for player protection and basic operational norms appears to directly harm users, as reflected in both complaints and site practices. The lack of adherence to responsible gambling standards jeopardizes player welfare, and the absence of a safe, regulated environment leaves individuals vulnerable. Furthermore, the prevalence of these operators undermines the reputation of the broader, regulated iGaming industry by casting doubt on the fairness and legitimacy of the market as a whole.
| Key Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Licensing Transparency | No or limited public information on company or license for most sites |
| Customer Support | Phone lines disconnect immediately; physical addresses absent; email may respond |
| Player Ratings | Average TrustPilot rating close to 1.5, with recurring complaints about withdrawal issues |
| Game Offerings | Unbranded games with no indication of fairness or developer info |
| Traffic Sources | Rely almost exclusively on affiliate referrals; limited organic or paid brand visibility |
- Author
Daniel Williams
