Best offshore sportsbooks for online betting?

Walter Edwards said:Cards with a CVV/CVC on the back should technically work fine for online shopping, PayPal, Moneybookers, or betting sites. However, some US banks just don't have those options enabled at all. So, cards from certain big banks—like Chase, for instance—might not work for these types of online transactions even if they have the code. It’s not an issue with the card itself, but rather the bank's settings.

From what I know, banks like JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo definitely issue cards that work. I've heard similar things about Bank of America, but I can't say for sure.

Also, you can't use an American Express card for gambling deposits; that's just their corporate policy. There's a little workaround to bypass it, but honestly, I doubt anyone here even has one, otherwise, this question wouldn't have come up in the first place.

I'm actually curious about that Amex part. What kind of setup are we talking about here? And does it hit the account instantly, or are you stuck waiting a few days? Thx!

Charles Richardson69 said:I didn't play there myself, but I wouldn't recommend it. I know they slap massive commissions on winning bettors on the exchange side. Plus, they had this huge scandal where they tried to snatch $3 million from a player, and when they messed up their own poker promo, they covered it by refusing to pay people out for months.

edit: btw I have a Visa Electron and it works on everything regular credit cards work on, plus you get it with a foreign currency account.

I think the whole high commission thing only applies if you're hitting massive, life-changing wins. Otherwise, they just charge a 5% margin on winnings after your personal deduction.
I've been playing through them for years and honestly, I've never had a single issue getting paid. They won't come after you and limit your account just because you're actually good at winning, unlike some other places. Withdrawing via Moneybookers usually takes about a day. In my book, it's easily the best sportsbook out there—the odds are unbeatable.
The whole exchange-style betting setup lets you take those already killer odds and make them even better.

Bryan Adams6 said:Using a Chase Master card is solid, and I read somewhere you can even use Visa Electron too, though I haven't actually given that a shot myself.

Not from Chase. You can use it to fund your sportsbook account, but it won't work for PayPal or direct Bank Account transfers. I've checked it myself.

Since I’m planning to open an online betting account, I was originally going to jump right into a local sportsbook, but after reading through some of your comments, I’ve almost reconsidered entirely. My question is: what’s actually the most profitable way to go about this in the US, and how much more sensible and convenient is it to just use something like Bet365, Betfair, or similar? Right now, I only have a standard checking account and I'm really not in the mood to deal with the hassle of setting up a bunch of extra stuff, so I'm wondering if that's going to be a major roadblock for using international online bookies 🤷

Thanks in advance 🙂

Gary Ross2 said:Since I'm planning on opening an online betting account, I almost rushed into signing up with a local sportsbook like DraftKings, but after reading through your comments, I’ve pretty much reconsidered. My question is: what is actually the most profitable option here in the States? Also, how much more sensible and practical is it to just go with something like Bet365 or Betfair instead? Right now, I only have a standard checking account and I'm really not in the mood to deal with the hassle of digging out all my different cards or documents just yet. Is that going to be a major roadblock when trying to use online sportsbooks? 🤷

Thanks in advance! 🙂

So, I decided to learn the hard way, and after doing some digging, I've come to the conclusion that a Visa Electron card is really the best way to go. It seems like everyone else is on the same page about that, too.

I have a few questions:

How long does it usually take from the moment I get everything sorted out at PBZ before I can actually start using my card?
So, how much of a solid choice is Expekt? From what I've skimmed online, they seem like a pretty decent option to get started with. Does anyone here have any specific bad experiences with them?
3) How practical is it to actually open a Moneybookers account? Specifically, how much does it really simplify things or make life easier? 🙂

Thanks again!🙂

@Gary Ross2/">@@Gary Ross2 I moved your posts from the "Internet Betting in America" thread over to this one since it’s actually about online gambling. Not sure if you've checked this thread out yet, but there's plenty of info here regarding bookies, Bank Accounts, and cards, so it's worth a read.

Regarding Chase, it took me about 7 to 10 days to get my card (that was a while ago, maybe things move faster now), and you can use it immediately—assuming you actually have funds in the account. For the most accurate delivery estimate, just ask at the bank when you go to open the account.

Not sure about Expert. Just make sure you check the house rules and the actual odds before you settle on a bookie.

Using a Bank Account is solid because it helps you sidestep those US tax regulations on gambling winnings. I haven't heard of anyone getting hit with taxes for transferring money from a bookie to a Bank Account yet—but once the IRS fully implements the new tracking systems, I don't think they'll be letting that slice of the pie slip away.

Thanks so much. Honestly, it was a bit of an information overload at first, but after sitting down and doing some more reading, I think I’ve pretty much wrapped my head around it. I hope you don't mind me jumping the gun with all those questions 😁

I'm going to go ahead and get this done now, then I'll post back here with a bit of a breakdown of how it went, just so anyone else coming along later has a heads-up 🙂

Gary Ross2 said:Thanks a ton. It was a massive info dump at first, but after digging through everything, I think I've got the gist of it. Hope you don't mind me jumping the gun with all the questions. 😁

Gonna go handle that now. I'll post an update on how it goes so others can see what to expect. 🙂

Asking questions isn't a problem at all—that's how we all learn. 🙂 I remember dumping a mountain of questions one day just about Moneybookers. 😁

Man, what a headache. I just got back from my local Chase branch, and despite what is clearly stated on their website, they wouldn't let me open a foreign currency account without a state ID. I only have my passport on me—I won't be getting my ID replaced for another few months, for sure. When I asked if a passport would suffice since that's what their site says, the teller just looked at me and said, "It's possible if you already have an existing account with us."

According to their site:

Who can open a foreign currency account?
Any individual, whether a resident or non-resident of the US, can open a foreign currency account. You can set this up at any local branch by presenting a state IDor a passport.

Looking around now, it seems like my best bet might be Wells Fargo. Does anyone know if I could go there and open an account and get a Visa Electron card using just my passport?

🙂

Gary Ross2 said:Dammit, I just got back from Citibank. Despite their website explicitly saying otherwise, they wouldn't let me open a foreign currency account without a Driver's License (I only have my passport; I won't be getting my Driver's License for another few months). I asked if a passport would work since that's what the site says, and the teller just goes, "It works if you already have an account with us."

The site says:

1. Who can open a foreign currency account?
Any individual, resident or non-resident of the USA, can open a foreign currency account. You can open an account at any local branch by presenting a Driver's License or a passport.

Reading through this now, looks like my only real move is Chase. Does anyone know if I can go there and get a Visa electron using just my passport instead of a Driver's License?

🙂

Hmm. Maybe call their toll-free number? Tell them you saw on their website that a passport is fine, but the branch refused. Or just shoot them an email. They'll probably just apologize and tell you to head back to the branch.

Man, I was getting so frustrated that I just headed straight over to the first branch. I just withdrew everything I needed from them, and they didn't give me any grief about not having my Driver's License on hand—I've got my foreign currency account set up, and my Visa will be arriving in three weeks. Plus, I should have my TAN sheet by Wednesday so I can finally handle my online banking

So, here's the thing: is it possible to deposit funds into an online sportsbook as soon as that TAN sheet arrives (or maybe even sooner?), or am I stuck waiting for the Visa? Also, how does PayPal fit into this whole setup? I was planning on opening an account there too, so I'm wondering if I can jump right in or if I need to wait

Let's go, Ersta! I'm soaked to the bone like a drowned cat, so let's hope the result isn't as gloomy as the weather 😁

Gary Ross2 said:They honestly just pushed my buttons—I headed straight to the first tier. I just pulled everything I needed from them and they didn't give me any grief about lacking a Driver's License. I have a foreign currency account, an Intel card arrives in three weeks, and by Wednesday, my TAN list should be here so I can handle net banking.

So, is it possible to deposit funds into an online sportsbook as soon as that TAN list arrives (or maybe even sooner?), or am I stuck waiting for the Intel card? Also, how does PayPal fit into this whole setup? I wanted to open one too, so I'm wondering if I need to wait or if I can dive right in.

Go first-tier! I'm soaked to the bone like a drowned cat—hopefully, it'll be worth the trouble. 😁

Three weeks of waiting for an Intel card? 😲 👎

I submitted my application for a foreign currency account yesterday and I can pick up the card this Monday. 😁

I don't think you'll be able to transfer money until the card actually shows up—you're going to need that CVV, the card number, and all that other nonsense.

James Taylor3 said:Waiting three whole weeks for an Intel Visa? 😲 👎

I put in my application for a foreign currency account yesterday, and I can swing by to grab the card this Monday. 😁

Pretty sure you can't move any cash until that card actually hits your hand, since you need the CVV, the card number, and all that other nonsense.

You can just drop money onto your Mastercard; as long as there's cash in your checking account, you don't even need the card right then. ☕

@James Taylor3 - I know it’s just a little nudge to keep things moving, but honestly, if they hadn't been so condescending when I dealt with Citibank, I probably would have thought twice about reaching out at all.

@Bryan Adams6: You sure about that? Like, could I just head down to a local branch tomorrow and deposit some cash into my PayPal account, or am I stuck waiting on this garbage internet connection? 😁
I realize I sound like a complete amateur here, but the whole process of depositing funds and managing banking online feels incredibly abstract to me. I've never actually had to deal with this stuff before.

Thanks, everyone. 🙂

Gary Ross2 said:@Bryan Adams6/">@@Bryan Adams6: you sure about that?
thanks guys 🙂

check your PM

Is it actually possible to get a bet placed on an online sportsbook right before a goal goes in? 😁

Anyone got any tips?

James Rogers53 said:Is it actually possible to slam a bet in right before a goal goes in? 😁

Anyone got any tips?

Nah, you can't drop a bet a split second before a goal. You think these sportsbooks are running on training wheels or something? ☕

Not really, but I know a buddy of mine used to play it like that—back in the day, maybe three years ago. He’d watch the game and have everything lined up so he was just one click away from placing his bet.

Then goals start dropping and he's still trying to deposit the exact same amounts before the sportsbook freezes the odds. He says he pulls it off about once every three times, especially if a goal comes out of nowhere.

James Rogers53 said:Nah, but I know a buddy of mine used to pull this move back in the day—maybe like three years ago. He’d watch the game and have everything set up so he was just one click away from dropping a bet.

The goal goes in, and he’s hitting that same hundred-dollar deposit before the sportsbook even freezes the odds. He says he pulls it off about once every three tries, especially if it's some random sudden goal.

🤣 What kind of sportsbook actually processes a live bet that fast? 😂

James Rogers53 said:Nah, but I know a buddy of mine used to play exactly like that maybe three years back. He’d watch the game and have everything lined up so he was just one click away from placing his bet.

The goals go in, he drops the exact same hundred bucks, and hits "pay" before the sportsbook even freezes up. He claims he pulls it off about once every three tries, especially if it's some random, unexpected goal.

Feel free to tell him he's full of it.🤣