Are Crypto Sportsbooks Legal? A 2025 Guide for Offshore Bettors

So, is it legal to use a crypto sportsbook? Are crypto sportsbooks legal in 2025?

The answer to that is yes, but let's look a bit deeper into the details.

If you live in a country like the United States, gambling laws can be unclear. They can also vary wildly from state to state. This means it can be difficult to determine where you stand and what you're legally allowed to do.

In the US, for example, the legalities apply to both the location of the sportsbook operator and the player, while cryptocurrency is completely legal.

In this section we'll look deeper into where the confusion lies. Additionally, we'll look at where the grey areas are and what you should consider before delving into offshore betting.

Key Takeaways:

• Crypto sportsbooks are legal to use in many countries, including the U.S., provided players use licensed offshore platforms, as there are no federal prohibitions.
• U.S. gambling laws vary by state, creating a legal gray area for players while operating a sportsbook may be restricted, placing bets offshore typically is not.
• Crypto sportsbooks differ from traditional sportsbooks by offering faster payments, greater privacy, fewer banking restrictions, and offshore licensing.
• Offshore sportsbooks operate under international licenses (e.g., Curacao, Panama), offering legal betting access outside U.S. jurisdiction.
• Privacy is a major benefit of crypto sportsbooks, especially those with no or light KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, though verification may be required for larger withdrawals.
• Risks include lack of local dispute resolution, variable KYC policies, and reduced protections if using unlicensed or unregulated operators.
• Gambling laws differ globally, with regions like Canada, Latin America, and parts of Asia increasingly relying on offshore crypto books due to local restrictions or lack of domestic options.
• To stay safe, players should only use licensed offshore sportsbooks, verify payout terms, avoid VPN use unless legal, and test platforms with small deposits.
• Crypto sportsbooks remain accessible, but legal clarity and compliance requirements are evolving rapidly. Understanding local law and choosing vetted sites is essential.

Crypto Sportsbooks vs Traditional Sportsbooks – What's the Difference?

Cryptocurrency accepted

As you may have guessed, crypto sportsbooks are in a position to accept BTC, ETH, and USDT for both deposits and withdrawals. These payment methods are quicker for users and are usually not available with traditional sportsbooks.

Based offshore

This is one of the major causes of confusion when determining if crypto sportsbooks are legal. Where traditional sportsbooks are based in the USA and therefore must adhere to state laws, crypto books tend to be offshore. This means they are obliged to follow a different set of crypto betting laws. They often register in places like Curacao or Costa Rica.

Overcome fiat restrictions

Traditional banking methods, also referred to as "fiat", tend to be tied to other heavily regulated industries like banking and finance. This can leave players in some areas completely shut out from gambling. Legal crypto offshore sportsbooks allow players to use different payment methods to bypass these restrictions. They also face fewer identity checks in the process.

More Privacy

Crypto sportsbooks offer more privacy by cutting down on KYC requirements. This is where companies are obliged to gather identification and complete lengthy anti-money laundering checks for every new person. There are different standards when it comes to crypto sportsbook compliance, allowing users to operate with more privacy.

Is It Legal to Bet with Crypto in the U.S.?

The USA is one of the most heavily regulated nations in the world when it comes to gambling. let's consider these key points when it comes to assessing offshore sportsbook legality in the States:

• There is no federal law that prohibits individual U.S residents from placing bets using crypto. Although it's still best to check your local laws to ensure there's nothing to prohibits online gambling explicitly.
• US regulation touches everything from banks and licensed casinos in all 50 states. Offshore crypto sportsbooks are based abroad and therefore outside of U.S jurisdiction.
• Many US players still use crypto sportsbooks even if licensed gambling is legal in their state. This is largely due to the benefits of bypassing fiat methods and other financial flags that inhibit play.
• Many of the offshore sites operate legally under international gaming licenses. Although they aren't obliged to follow U.S. laws. laws, they still operate legally under strict laws to ensure fair play.

A key reason for the gray area for US citizens comes down to the fact that it's not necessarily legal to operate a sportsbook in most states. This means individuals may think this means that, in turn, they can't gamble either. This is not the case, and players who use offshore crypto sportsbooks face no specific prohibition.

What About Other Countries?

Having looked almost exclusively at the US crypto gambling legal status, how does it affect other countries and continents around the world?

Canada

Canadian citizens often find themselves in a similar situation to those over the border in the USA. This is largely due to heavy regulation and a lack of local options. As a result, bettors often take advantage of the legality of offshore sportsbooks to play from Canada.

European Union (EU)

Due to the sheer number of countries, this does vary throughout the continent. Some have moved to revoke the legal status of gambling with Bitcoin, whereas others are more relaxed. Crypto sportsbooks operate with popularity.

Latin America

Although many bettors find themselves able to gamble due to a lack of restrictions, offshore crypto sportsbooks are increasing in popularity due to the bonuses and variety of odds on offer.

Asia

Although the legal status of crypto sportsbooks is mixed throughout Asia, we've found that there are a large number of bettors from the region who choose to use offshore books.

Offshore Crypto Sportsbooks: Legal But Lightly Regulated

Although the US crypto gambling legal status makes it difficult for new sportsbooks to base themselves in the States, there are international gaming licenses that regulate crypto sportsbooks.

This is why the majority of them are based in countries like Curacao or Panama. Crypto gambling is permitted, and they're able to obtain licenses that allow them to offer legal crypto betting to players all around the world.

It's important to note that although these licenses are difficult to obtain and they do impose strict standards on the crypto sportsbooks that operate in their jurisdiction, regulation is usually lighter.

Risks to Be Aware Of

Legal gray zones: Sometimes it's hard to get a true answer to what are the laws on crypto betting where you live because there are legal gray areas. Often, it's not seen as illegal activity, but it's not explicitly permitted either.

Less oversight in dispute resolution: In the United States, for example, every state has a gaming or gambling commission where you can go to with any conflicts, while companies have registered addresses and you can take them to a court in your country if you're not happy with the outcome.

That's more difficult when the company is based overseas. International gaming commissions and licenses do still offer attempts to resolve conflicts. It's in a sportsbook's best interests to treat customers fairly, but it can be harder to get answers if things go wrong.

Limited player protections if sportsbook is unlicensed or unregulated: If you choose to play with a sportsbook that doesn't have a gaming license or is unregulated, then there are minimal protections in place for you if you have a dispute.

KYC requirements vary — may affect anonymity and withdrawal policies: One of the key reasons for using coins like Tether or Ethereum for sports betting is the enhanced privacy and potential to stay anonymous online.

Although many crypto sportsbooks don't have KYC requirements, there's no set crypto sportsbook compliance framework to define what is required. This means you'll find that rules and ID checks will vary from sportsbook to sportsbook.

How to Stay Safe When Using Crypto Sportsbooks

Now that you have an understanding of international crypto betting laws and using coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum for betting, let's take a look at some key requirements to protect you and your money when betting offshore:

• Stick to licensed offshore sportsbooks with a verified reputation: As previously mentioned, if you use a sportsbook without a license, then your player protections are extremely limited. Use this list to guide you when picking a sportsbook to ensure you stick to legit crypto sportsbooks.
• Confirm the site’s gaming license: Some will make this easier to find than others. Most display the information and registration number for their gaming license in their "about us" section or at the bottom of their homepage.
• Look for clear payout policies and bonus terms: Withdrawing your winnings is the ultimate reason for gambling. Make sure you can see clear policies of how long it will take and any relevant limits. Also, take time to understand the rollover requirements of any bonuses before you gamble.
• Use VPNs only if legal in your country: It may be possible to use a VPN to bypass restricted countries' blocks on certain crypto betting sites. The problem is, you'll find it almost impossible to withdraw your funds. This is because the crypto betting laws may not be compatible with your country or location.
• Start with small deposits and test withdrawals: If you're unsure, then always test with smaller amounts that won't hurt too much if they're lost or if withdrawals take longer than expected. This allows you to know the process inside out before you finally make that huge withdrawal after winning big.

FAQs – Crypto Sportsbook Legality

Final Thoughts – Crypto Gambling Is Evolving, But Still Accessible

As we've discovered, the ins and outs of offshore sportsbook legality can be complicated depending on your location. Most of the crypto sportsbooks operate in a legal gray zone, which means they're not illegal for most users.

Crypto betting also offers an avenue for players who find themselves restricted by fiat banking methods. It also opens up the possibility of playing anonymously for players, even if there are licensed options in their state or country.

It's more important than ever to ensure that you stick with sites that are trusted and reviewed, both by us and by real bettors around the world. Also, check that your chosen sportsbooks have a gaming license to reduce your own risk before gambling.