While many travelers choose to visit new countries for their pristine beaches, fascinating history, or tempting gastronomy, there are some who travel with international gambling in mind. In years past, this would require sitting for hours on end in a busy casino, but with the increasing popularity of online gambling, you can now have the best of both worlds and place your bets while soaking up the sun, strolling through a museum or sampling some tasty tidbits. 

Can You Gamble Online While Traveling Abroad?

If you’d like to gamble online when you’re traveling, it is important to check the laws and regulations of the country you’ll be visiting before engaging in any betting. There are some countries with very strict laws against online gambling and betting, and breaking them can have serious consequences. 

Checking trusted comparison sites will give you a good idea of which online casinos are worth playing at in various countries across the globe. Doing research ahead of time will also help you ensure that you have the currency available and are linked to a compatible payment method. 

Where is Online Gambling Legal?

There are many countries where online gambling is legal. These include the majority of European countries, such as France, Malta, Germany, and The Netherlands. You can check the legitimacy of your chosen online casino by ensuring it is registered with its local regulators, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or The National Gambling Authority in France. 

If you’d prefer to spend your time in the Southern Hemisphere, you can visit Australia and South Africa for some sunshine and online betting. Imagine practicing your skills in a poker match while enjoying a safari, or spinning the reels on the slots while sunbathing on Bondi Beach! New Zealand offers legal online gambling too, but only for online casinos that are based in and regulated by New Zealand itself. 

Countries With Online Gambling Restrictions

There are many countries where online gambling is not entirely restricted, but is heavily regulated or falls into a grey area. One example of this is in Malaysia, where there are regulations around gambling, but “That legislation happens to be some 70 years old, however, so – as you’d expect – online gambling for real money isn’t covered.” (Source: https://www.business2communitymalaysia.com/en/gambling/malaysia-online-gambling

It is important to note that online gambling, and gambling in general, is banned entirely in many other Southeast Asian countries, so it is important to do your research and avoid assuming that one country represents all for any particular region. 

Countries such as Cambodia and Qatar have extremely strict rules against gambling in any format, so it is best avoided when visiting. Until recently, Japan had equally strict rules. However, if you plan on placing bets while visiting, you’ll need to do so on a racing event or visit a pachinko parlour.

Staying Safe When Gambling Online Internationally

There are several different ways to ensure your safety when betting online internationally, such as using a VPN, paying with cryptocurrency, and ensuring that your chosen casino is legal and regulated. 

Making use of a virtual private network, or VPN, is a good way to prevent unwanted third parties from watching your activities online. A VPN provides you with an extra layer of security, by hiding your IP address when you’re using public networks, such as airport or hotel Wi-Fi. 

Cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly popular in the online gambling world, thanks to its superior security and speedier transaction times. Its blockchain foundation makes it difficult for fraudsters and scammers to intercept your transactions and steal your information, while the removal of the traditional bank drastically increases the speed of transactions and has the added benefit of reducing fees. 

Researching reliable casinos is another important aspect of online gambling while abroad. Be sure to read the terms and conditions listed on the casino website carefully, and check that they are registered with the necessary authorities. It is also a good idea to read reviews of your chosen casino online before signing up, in order to ensure the safety of your personal information. 

Money-Saving Tips For International Online Gambling

While enjoying the different variety of games offered in the country you’re visiting might be your main aim, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough funds to enjoy them to their fullest while also getting to see the sights when you take a break. We’ve gathered a few tips for making the most of your international betting experience.

Backup Power

Investing in a good quality power bank before traveling abroad is one way to ensure you maximize your gambling time and don’t miss out on any potential winnings. You won’t want to be on the brink of winning a poker tournament only to have your mobile device run out of battery. Online casino games can use a lot of power, so keeping your power bank and charging cable on hand is a must. 

Avoid Mobile Data

Roaming charges can be exorbitant when traveling overseas, so it’s best to avoid using your mobile data when gambling online. Plan ahead and book a hotel or accommodation with reliable Wi-Fi, or consider purchasing a mobile hotspot and using a local provider for your data. The latter is a great option if you want to gamble on the go!

Set a Budget

Every responsible gambler knows that money management is the key to having a good time. Setting a budget before you start to play, or even before you leave home, is a great way to avoid overspending. Budgeting can also prevent emotional betting, as you’ll avoid spending money you don’t have and landing in a sticky situation. 

A great way to figure out how much you should budget is to investigate the different casinos and games ahead of time, making notes of the required buy-ins and minimum bets. Once you have this information, you can analyze your finances and choose a budget that will keep you in the green while also allowing you to have fun.

Practice or Pay

If you come across a game that you haven’t played before, be sure to play a few rounds without real money to master the rules. If you jump into a new game without understanding the rules and using your carefully budgeted funds, you could end up playing through your budget faster than you’d planned.

Published by HOLR Magazine.