ALTHOUGH it is difficult to say exactly how much money British people spend on casinos without GamStop annually, there is no doubt that the number is high. Various gambling organizations have all tried to estimate how much money British people spend on gambling online, but the figures from each player vary relatively widely, which is not surprising.
The simple reason for this is that it is simply impossible to obtain an overview showing these figures. As there is no licensing scheme for offshore gambling in the UK, these numbers are therefore with each of the offshore players where British people play.
Several Hundred Thousand British People Actively Play Offshore Gambling Games
The UKGC has estimated that the number of British people who actively play offshore gambling games is 200,000 people. Active gambling refers to players who regularly visit offshore gambling websites to play gambling games. The UKGC’s own figures also show that as many as 2.2 million people have played money games in the same year.
Is It Legal to Play Real Money Games at Offshore Gaming Companies?
This is a common question that many around The UK have asked themselves in recent years. To make it clear: It is simply completely wrong. It is still perfectly legal to play gambling online abroad for British people living in the UK.
The UKGC has done its utmost to portray offshore gambling websites in the worst imaginable way. This is simply a blow below the belt and something they should stay too good at doing.
Many offshore gambling websites are just as serious. Offshore players are required to follow strict rules from the license issuer in the jurisdiction they offer gambling from, for example, Malta, and they must, among other things, prevent and counter money laundering, terrorist financing, gambling problems and more.
How Much Money Is Spent on Offshore Gambling?
How much money do British people spend annually on offshore gambling (1)As we mentioned in the introduction, it is difficult to quantify how much is played for by the offshore players, as this information is not available. Therefore, there will only be different estimates, which again can be very variable.
In any case, the UKGC has come up with its estimates, which say that British people spend a total of €2.4 billion annually with offshore gaming players. Another player who has come up with an estimate is Menon Economics. They have carried out a survey which concluded that British people spend a total of €3.4 billion annually.
There are thus quite large differences between the two estimates, but if we look more closely at it, it is more likely that the figures from Menon Economics are more correct. The company was paid by a group of well-known gaming companies and these are among the very largest and most popular players in the British market.
Choose Safe & Reliable Gambling Sites Among the Offshore Players
When British people play on offshore gambling sites, you do not have the same consumer protection as you have in The UK. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between the serious providers of offshore gambling and those that are scams.
Fortunately, there are several good ways to avoid the scam sites. You should make it a routine to always check that the casinos you play at have a casino license from gambling authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao Gaming Control Board. Such a license tells you that you are playing at a safe gaming website.
You should also read ratings and reviews of the non GamStop casinos. This is an easy way to get a good insight into what the gambling website offers, whether they are reliable, as well as other useful information. In this way, you separate the scam sites from the really good sites that offer fantastic gaming experiences with offshore gambling.