Best offshore sportsbooks for online betting?

darkhound77 said:Hey!

I'm trying to figure out if those offshore betting sites are still considered "gray area" now that we're part of the European Union?

Has anyone actually been hit with a fine—you know, that famous one up to 50 $0.00—just because they used or withdrew money from an overseas sportsbook?

And how much can you actually pull out before you end up flying under the IRS radar? I mean, without getting flagged or having the bank call you up asking questions?

Say you withdraw $333, would that even cause a headache? 🙂

Regarding that last point—look, I've been betting on Marathon for about two years now and I haven't had a single issue withdrawing my cash. Seriously, don't sweat it. As for specific dollar amounts, we aren't supposed to talk about that here, from what I gather—it's against the rules. But honestly? Most of my withdrawals have been way higher than the amount you're even worried about.

Kyle Ward said:As far as Marathon goes—I've been betting there for maybe two years now and haven't had any issues pulling my cash. Don't sweat it... I won't get into specific amounts since I don't think that's allowed here, but they're definitely bigger than what you mentioned.

Actually, since you brought up Marathon, let me ask you something. I've been reading some forums where people are complaining about getting limited after just a few winning bets, or even having their accounts shut down entirely. Some say they're technically in the green but still getting hit with limits. I figured they might throttle people a bit, but I find it hard to believe they'd do it after only three bets—especially if the stakes weren't even that high. What's your experience been like?...

Nicholas Lopez89 said:Funny you mention Marathon, because I actually wanted to ask you something. I've been browsing some forums where people are complaining about Marathon limiting them after just a few winning bets, or even straight-up closing their accounts. Some folks mentioned they're sitting on a balance but still got hit with limits. Personally, I think they might throttle people a bit, but I don't buy the idea that they'd do it after only three bets—especially if the amounts aren't huge. What’s your experience been like?

Look, when it comes to the lines and the odds, they're easily the best out there. But man, they'll limit you fast the second you start pulling cash out. If you win two or three times, they immediately slash your max bet. Even if you're down overall, you can still get restricted. Plus, I've been waiting two months for a payout to my Chase account... honestly, I might have to file a formal complaint at this point. That's my last resort, but they're making me look like an idiot here.

What’s the point of even suing them? They’ve got a wall of the country's top lawyers protecting them. Besides, you aren't exactly an expert on their legal system—they could just invent a new law on the spot specifically to make sure they get off easy.

There are people online who deal with this stuff all the time, and I’ve actually got the documentation proving they received my withdrawal request and everything else. The money just isn't hitting my account yet. I used to withdraw directly to my Chase account without any issues, but since this amount is so huge, I'm getting nervous. If they don't get this sorted out by mid-August, I'm taking action—period. No more playing nice.

They have these bizarre betting limits—honestly, who knows what kind of games they’re playing behind the scenes... 😁
Every single matchup seems to have its own arbitrary cap. For some games, you can barely drop a few dozen bucks—take the Chelsea vs. Kansas City Chiefs game, for instance, with odds at 14; they'll let you put down $25 on the underdog, but you could bet over a thousand on Chelsea. Then there are the mid-range ones—like a matchup between a team from Seattle and one from Chicago, where I'm seeing limits around $400 for one side, $212 for the other, and maybe $222 for a third option. Or take a game like Lokomotiv vs. Slaven—they'll allow $250 on the favorite, but only $86 on the underdog, and $108 on the draw... meanwhile, on certain high-profile matches, you could practically bet the deed to your house—I saw a limit of $18,000 today for a specific game... 😁

When it comes to parlays—which is my bread and butter, naturally—the logic is simple: as the total odds climb, the betting limit drops. If I'm running a 10-leg parlay with total odds around 130, the limit sits at roughly $70. Eventually, it hits a floor of $50, regardless of how insane the payout looks.

And get this—there is no maximum payout. I actually tested it by placing a measly 10-cent bet just to see if it would clear... and it went through without a hitch. If a massive ticket actually hits—which, let's face it, won't happen—🤣 it's not because they're afraid of going broke... it's more about ensuring they don't run out of cash to lend to all those Russian oligarchs... 🤣

Look, limits exist, sure. But those are for the small-timers. If you want to play in the big leagues, there are VIP betting options available. You can drop $300 or whatever else you feel like putting on the line—it's your money. So why don't you just play that way? 😉

Anyway, I wanted to ask about that guy who hasn't seen his payout yet...

What did they actually tell him? What was their excuse? Where exactly is the holdup happening?

Kyle Ward said:Look, there are limits, sure. But that's for people playing for peanuts. If you want to play big, there are VIP bets. You can drop $300 or more on whatever you want. Just play that way. 😉

Anyway, I wanted to ask about this guy who hasn't been paid yet...

What did they tell you exactly? What's the excuse? Where exactly is the holdup?

These scammers have been lying to my face for a month now. The first time I ever tried to withdraw to my checking account, everything went south. They claim they sent the money, but I'm telling them it's not there. Then they try to act like they'll call the bank to get some ARN number to prove where the cash went, but it’s been two weeks and nothing. I finally lost it, went down to my local Chase branch, and sat down with the manager. I showed her all my paperwork, and after a few days, she tells me straight up: there was never even an attempt to deposit anything into my account. After I told customer service to stop treating me like an idiot, I finally managed to talk them into just putting the money back into my sportsbook account. Now I'm trying to figure out how to actually get it out—I suggested a wire transfer and I'm just waiting to hear back. So yeah, that's the situation. I filed the withdrawal on June 16th, and their supposed turnaround is 3 to 5 days. Honestly, it's pathetic.

Maybe the issue is just with the current exchange rate or something. I honestly find it hard to believe the amount you were aiming for is the problem—I know plenty of people who had payouts of $20,000 hit their accounts without any drama at all.

Anyway, from what I’ve seen, everyone I know just set up their accounts using cards linked directly to their foreign currency accounts, and within three days, everything was cleared and sitting in their bank accounts perfectly fine.

Whoever told you they were cashing out 20k bucks is straight up lying to your face. The absolute max payout is 10 grand, and once you hit that, they’ll just shut your account down and cap your bets at a single dollar. Whether you're betting on horse racing or MMA, if they limit you to $1 per bet, there's zero chance you're ever seeing 20k in your pocket again.

Speaking from my own experience, I have to say that just isn't true. I mostly stick to the NBA—mainly player props, about 90% of my action there—and then throw some small amounts at the NHL, NFL, and MLB. Right before the NBA playoffs kicked off, after I took a pretty nasty hit, I actually had more than the amount you mentioned sitting in my account. And let me tell you, they didn't block my account or anything. Like I said before, they’d limit bets under $300, but those VIP-style wagers—anything north of $300—still went through without a hitch.

So, what exactly are you betting on?

Hello, I have run into a bit of a situation. I’ve managed to commit what might be the single greatest blunder possible: I initiated a transaction using a local currency instead of USD. Does anyone happen to know how much extra I'll be getting hit with in fees for processing deposits or withdrawals with an overseas sportsbook this way?
Also, is it actually feasible to make a deposit, say, to Bet365 using PayPal?
I would appreciate any insight you can offer.

Kyle Ward said:Speaking from experience, I gotta say that’s just not true. I mostly stick to the NBA (mostly player props, about 90% of my action), plus a little NHL, NFL, and MLB on the side. Right before the NBA playoffs kicked off—after taking a decent hit—I actually had more than the amount you mentioned sitting in my account. And no, they didn't block my account at all. Like I said, there was some limiting on bets under $300, but those VIP bets (anything over $300) still went through just fine.

So, what exactly are you betting on?

Well, if you aren't trying to withdraw, anything goes. You could transfer a million bucks from your own bank account and nobody cares, but once you try to pull out a certain amount that hits their programmed limit? Goodbye, kid. I play almost exclusively live basketball—95% of my stuff, maybe 2% handball or water polo, and the other 3% goes toward NBA player props and EuroLeague. And let me tell you, that "VIP" bet thing is a total scam. Out of 10 bets, 8 times it's been rejected, once it was accepted, and once they cut my payout in half. Once you drop a VIP bet, ten minutes later some genius at Marathon decides if they feel like honoring it or not, and usually, you just get screwed. That's just how it's been for me.

Lawrence Castillo76 said:So you can deposit whatever you want—you could transfer a million bucks from your account if you felt like it—but the second you try to withdraw anything significant, the system just shuts the door on you. It's all rigged. I mostly stick to live basketball, maybe a little handball or water polo, and about 3% goes toward NBA and EuroLeague players. And don't even get me started on those VIP bets; they're a total scam. Out of ten VIP attempts, eight times my bet gets rejected, once it's accepted, and once they just slash my stake in half. You place a VIP bet and then you have to wait ten minutes for some genius at Marathon to decide whether they actually feel like honoring it or not. Usually, you just end up getting screwed. That’s just how it's worked for me.

Hmm, seems like it varies wildly from person to person. Some places cap you out immediately while others don't seem to care. For instance, I get hit with heavy limits over at BetMGM, but so far, things have been pretty smooth on Marathon ...
Anyway, Lawrence Castillo76 we basically bet on the same stuff (mostly hoops), so hopefully we can trade some picks once the season really kicks into high gear this fall!!

rustycanyon16 said:Hey, I’ve run into a bit of a mess—I made a huge mistake and processed a transaction via PayPal using US dollars instead of my local currency. Does anyone know how much extra I'll get hit with in fees when trying to deposit or withdraw from an offshore sportsbook like this?
+Also, is it possible to deposit, say, at Bet365 using PayPal?
Thanks for any help

I was just checking Bet365—it looks like they don't list PayPal for deposits. You've got Neteller, PayPal, Western Union...

Zachary Booth said:I'm checking Bet365 right now, and there isn't any mention of PayPal for deposits. You have Neteller, PayPal, Western Union...

Much appreciated. I'll go ahead and open an account with both Neteller and PayPal to ensure I don't make that mistake again.
Does Bet365 still not offer a sign-on bonus for Americans, or am I just imagining things?
I'll sign up regardless, but let's be honest... a bonus is a bonus.😢

silverridge3 said:Hmm, looks like it’s all pretty hit-or-miss—some places slap you with limits immediately while others don't give you any grief at all. Personally, I get hammered with limits over at BetMGM, but so far, things have been smooth sailing on Marathon...
By the way, Lawrence Castillo76 plays basically the same way I do (basketball), so hopefully we can team up once the season kicks into high gear this fall!!

Honestly, it really comes down to how you actually place your bets. When it comes to live betting, almost every serious tipster I’ve ever known ran into massive issues with account limits. And I’m not just talking about Marathon here.

The big selling point for Marathon compared to everyone else—at least when it comes to basketball—isn't just those better odds, it's the player props. They absolutely dominate everyone else in that department; they're basically Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit combined. I mean, even TonyBet isn't terrible in that area, and they actually have a slightly wider selection... except their odds are stuck at 1.85.

rustycanyon16 said:Thanks so much—I'll go ahead and open an account with PayPal too, just to be safe and avoid making the same mistake again.
Is it just me, or is there still no bonus available for Americans on Bet365?
Regardless, I'll sign up... but let's face it, a bonus is a bonus.😢

There isn't one this season.

Though, over the last couple of years, I managed to snag three different $100 deposit bonuses—one for being a new member and two from the "Sign-on bonus" offers.

I honestly think if they bring back the "Sign-on bonus," it shouldn't matter that we're in the US—they usually honor our bonuses, unlike some other regions. -.-

Bryan Adams6 says every bookie has their own little rules when it comes to bonuses—if it's a no deposit bonus, then it's usually smooth sailing... but if you actually have to deposit something first... man, you aren't seeing a dime until every single condition is met

I totally get that, but I wasn't really asking about how some random overseas sportsbook operates—I was wondering if you snagged a no deposit bonus and somehow crushed it for $2,000 after hitting all the requirements, and then moved that cash via Skrill to your bank (either here in the States or abroad), or just sent it straight to your account... wouldn't there be zero issues if your bank called to ask where the money came from? Like, if you just tell them the truth—that you won it from an online sportsbook without ever having to deposit a cent from anywhere in the US , or even using a local bank account?

Because, as far as I know, under US gaming laws there isn't anything written anywhere that says betting on foreign online sites is illegal—it's more like if you were actually processing payments or taking wagers for those offshore sites from within the US, then you'd be stuck in that legal gray area