Foreign Casino Sites — Best International Casinos and Playing With VPN

In Latvia, winnings are subject to income tax as per the "Income Tax Law", Section 15, Article 24.

" If the payer has won a prize in a lottery or gambling which exceeds EUR 3000 and it has been disbursed in one instalment or by summing up the entire visit of a place where gambling or lottery is organised, the tax rate in the amount of 23 per cent shall be applied to the part of the prize of a lottery or gambling which exceeds EUR 3000, but does not exceed the maximum amount of the object of mandatory contributions specified in accordance with the law On State Social Insurance in the taxation year, but the tax rate in the amount of 31 per cent shall be applied to the part of the prize of a lottery or gambling which exceeds the maximum amount of the object of mandatory contributions specified in accordance with the law On State Social Insurance.”

Foreign online casino bonuses and special offers are more impressive, diverse, and extensive. Larger winnings, Jackpots, loyalty programmes with prizes like new cars or trips to Las Vegas, etc. Players can also choose the most suitable bonus plans for their interests and budget.

International online casinos often offer bonus types rarely found in Latvia, such as no deposit casino bonuses.

No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses are common in many international online casinos. As the name suggests, this bonus is awarded without depositing money into your account. Usually, new players receive free spins or a certain amount of free play money upon registration.

After registering, players may receive, for instance, free spins or a certain amount of free play money to start playing. A no deposit bonus can also be in the form of free bets and, in the best case, free play money without turnover requirements.

Although it is a casino bonus without a deposit, that doesn't mean you can't win real money. Gaming is just like playing with real money, but the bonus terms must be considered.

• The bonus often applies to specific games.
• Check the bonus wagering requirements you must meet to withdraw winnings.
  
• No deposit bonuses often have a validity period, which will be indicated in the terms and conditions.
  

Free Spins

Most European casinos offer free spins. They are usually part of a welcome bonus, meaning you deposit funds into your new account upon completing registration and receive the corresponding bonus, 100% or otherwise.

Free spins are offered as a no deposit bonus type or a part of a deposit bonus offer. They are sometimes combined with cash prizes. As the name implies, a no deposit bonus is a chance to win without spending your own money.

Instead, a casino grants you bonus funds for future use, free spins, risk-free bets, or other bonuses.

All casinos offer free spins with specific bonus terms you must fulfill.

• They can only be used in slot machine games that are specified in the bonus terms and conditions.
• They must be played by the deadline stated in the bonus terms.
• Free spins usually have significantly higher wagering requirements.
• All free bonuses vary in each casino. In Latvian online casinos, you can usually receive from 100-300 free spins, while in international casino sites, you can get up to 500 free spins.
  

International Online Gambling Casino Bonus Terms

Foreign casino bonuses always guarantee larger winnings, broader choices, and more games to use the bonuses. However, to receive these bonuses, you must consider several conditions.

• European and international casinos usually don't have Latvian language available (both the bonus terms and conditions and the casino itself).
• Latvian casino bonuses have a smaller minimum deposit and lower wagering requirements, but foreign casino offers have a larger bonus, but a higher minimum deposit and higher turnover requirements.
  
• Some bonuses apply to specific deposit methods, which may not be available to Latvian players.

We have selected the best foreign online casinos, which are licensed in foreign countries (with the right to organize online gambling) and which are regulated by globally recognized gambling regulators in accordance with the laws of the respective country. We have evaluated each of these online casinos, in order to carefully select only those casinos, which meet our casino evaluation criteria and overall safety requirements.

When evaluating foreign casino safety, we take in account:

In addition, we:

• We checked how to register in online casinos that are not licensed in Latvia and went through the identity verification process;
• We checked what are the available deposit and withdrawal methods- are they safe and available to players from Latvia;
• Evaluated what are the special bonuses and the chances to win in these casinos.

Foreign gambling licenses

A common myth is that a casino without a Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection licence is unlicensed. However, this is not true as 99% of these online casinos are licensed, indicating that licensed foreign casinos are safe. The difference is that the license is not issued in Latvia, but in another country. Let's look at some popular international gambling licenses.

MGA or Malta Gaming Authority License

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the most popular online casino licenses found in many European casinos. A Maltese casino license ensures safety and fairness, adhering to fair play principles, protecting players' rights, and significantly reducing fraud risks.

Curacao eGaming Gambling License

This is one of the first jurisdictions to issue licenses. Many new online casinos choose it due to its relative ease of acquisition. The Curacao e-gaming commission issues a single license suitable for slot machines, table games, live casinos, and sportsbooks. Many popular international casinos have this license and comply with all necessary safety measures. However, Curacao is less involved and supportive in disputes between online casinos and customers than in other jurisdictions.

Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) regulates and licenses all online casino activity withing its jurisdiction. The institution has been operating for several years and is trusted by players. Sites with Gibraltar gambling license are a sign, that strict regulations are being followers, with various security measures in place, ensuring a fair game for players.

UKGC or United Kingdom Gambling Commission License

If the operator is licensed by the UKGC, players can be sure of the sites fairness, privacy protection or their payments. A UK gambling commission license is proof that a casino follows the highest standards.

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the main regulatory body responsible for licensing and supervision of gambling activities withing in the UK. This authority is one of the most reliable that issues licenses for online casinos. Gambling Commission license is one of the prestigious licenses in the world, thats why players can expect complete transparency and fair gambling session, while playing casinos with UKGC license.

Examples of gambling licenses

Information about the restrictions of illegal interactive gambling and lottery offers. 

There is fixed information about that, how many illegal interactive gambling offers are restricted. In the last three years the amount of restricted websites has increased. In 2021 the Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection restricted 66 websites, in 2022 it was 95 websites and in 2023 (up until the 3rd quarter) it was 251 websites.

Most of the popular licensed foreign casino websites are blocked for Latvian users who try to access them from Latvia or with a Latvian IP address. However, there are ways to bypass this block, such as using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

What is VPN or Virtual Private Network?

A VPN is a tool that 'masks' your IP address and encrypts your internet connection, allowing access to content that is blocked in a specific country.

The Most Popular VPN Service Providers

What do the best VPN service providers offer? Availability for all devices, service speed and quality, excellent security features, widely spread server networks. As the number of VPN service providers has increased in recent years, let's look at some of the most popular ones.

NordVPN

This VPN product is made in Lithuania and offered by Norsec Ltd., with an application available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android iOS, Android TV, and tvOS. Manual installation is also possible for wireless routers, NAS devices and other platforms.

• Price: Monthly subscription (€12.99 to €16.59), annual subscription (€4.59 to €8.09 per month + 3 months free; €68.85 to €121.35 per year).

Private Internet Access

Using thousands of servers in 91 countries, you can easily access all your favourite content on any of your devices. For faster and safer web activity, an ad, malware, and search engine blocker are available. In addition to the extensive resource library, you can comfortably communicate with technical customer support by email and 24/7 live chat.

• Price: Monthly subscription (€11.69), Annual subscription (€3.10 per month, €37.19 per year).

ExpressVPN

This high-speed server network lets you feel like you're in any of the network's 94 countries worldwide and enjoy online freedom anywhere. ExpressVPN's best encryption ensures your security and privacy on any network.

• Price: Monthly subscription (€12.95), Annual subscription (€6.67 per month + 3 months for free, €99.95 per year).

SurfShark

An award-winning VPN characterized by stability and speed. Surfshark VPN technology provides global connections with 10 GBit servers in 100 countries. Browse the web without ads, trackers, or cookie pop-ups.

• Price: Monthly subscription (€15.45), Annual subscription (€3.99 per month, €47.88 per year).

CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN encrypts your online traffic and hides your real IP address whether you're streaming, playing, shopping, banking, or just browsing the internet. Connect up to 7 devices simultaneously using just 1 subscription.

• Price: Monthly subscription (€11.99), 2-year subscription (€2.11 per month + 3 months free, €56.97 per year).

Most of the gambling games you find in foreign casinos are available regardless of your location. Major game providers, such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, etc., produce games for an international audience.

Foreign casinos offer games from mythical and magical themes to characters you know from TV series and movies.

The most popular types of gambling games in these casinos are:

• Slot Machines. Thousands of slot games, including the latest and most modern slot machines. High RTP, all possible themes, and exciting bonus features.
• Table Games. Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, poker.
  
• Live Casino. Live Blackjack, Live Roulette, game shows.
  
• Sports Betting. A much larger betting offer on, for example, NBA, NHL, UFC, and other sports leagues.
  

Is It Possible to Play in International Mobile Casinos in Latvia?

Most well-known online casinos develop high-quality online games adapted for mobile devices. Some casinos even have a mobile casino app, available just like the casino's desktop version. This means that if you prefer playing in mobile apps, you can get the same casino gaming experience without losing game quality and all casino functions.

What Should a Player from Latvia Know Before Making Deposits and Withdrawals from a Casino Licensed in Another Country?

• Not all payment methods available on the site will be available in the specific country from which you play.
• Depending on the currency or payment provider, withdrawal or deposit times may also differ. When registering on a casino site, check which options are most suitable for you.
  
• Foreign casino bonuses also have wagering requirements that you must fulfill before you can withdraw winnings, and they tend to be larger than those in Latvian casinos.
  
• Some payment methods may have deposit and withdrawal limits or minimums. For example, if you pay with a certain e-wallet, the minimum deposit is €10, but if you make a deposit with cryptocurrency, it is € 20.
  

Research the specific country's and online casino's laws and regulations, as they can affect factors related to payments.