International Sports Betting Sites
Here are the best sports betting sites by location: International Bookmakers and Gambling sites. Shakespeare has once said “All the world is a stage, and all men and women merely players” If you want to be welcomed to the world’s online gambling stage, you need to embrace the idea of playing and betting at international betting sites. Best International online betting sites 2021. Our best international sports betting sites list boasts some of the biggest names in online wagering. These online betting sites are regulated by the safest jurisdictions in the world and must cater to multiple regions to make our best betting sites list. In my opinion, bet365 is the world’s best sportsbook site for betting on sports. With over 40 million satisfied bet365 customers, its hard to argue otherwise IMO. Bet365 features a suite of online casino games to play when your not wagering on a big game.
The Malta Gaming Authority [MGA] has yanked the regulatory license of several sports-betting sites operating there after the sites were linked to a major Mafia-controlled structure that was the target of a series of raids and arrests in Italy on Friday. The Italian raids resulted in 23 arrests, including an alleged Mafia figure widely known as the “betting king” in Sicily, Benedetto Bacchi. The Maltese regulatory action strips licensing from any and all sites operated by Phoenix International Ltd., a central ownership entity in the targeted operation.
Benedetto Bacchi, Sicily’s “gambling king,” being led away after his arrest.
Bacchi, 46, reportedly controlled over 700 betting shops in Sicily and across the Italian mainland, with a focus on the traditional Mafia-controlled locale of Palermo, in Sicily. The shops were unlicensed by Italian authorities and operated in a legal grey area, but the investigation was able to link the chain of shops and its business practices to several different alleged crimes, including money laundering, fraud, mafia association and other offences.
Friday’s raids resulted in the immediate closure of at least 40 of the 700 betting shops allegedly cntrolled by Bacchi. Each of the shops featured “data transmission centres,” or CRTs, video terminals that linked directly to online sites operated by Phoenix International. Those sites included online domains such as B2875.com, Bsport24.com and B28sport.com; the sites, now offline, appear to have offered a combination of English- and Italian-language online wagering.
Those sites are highly unlikely to return. A brief message posted at one of the English-language sites, B2875.com, read as follows:
Due to unforeseen circumstances Phoenix International Limited has ceased all gaming operations with immediate effect , No new registrations and new deposits will be accepted as the licence MGA/CL2/1163/2016 has been temporarily suspended, We kindly ask the players that have registered accounts and funds in their account to proceed in requesting for a withdrawal accordingly. Only limited accessibility to the website is allowed with player balance visualisation and the necessary steps in order for a withdrawal to be requested . We thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
“Unforeseen circumstances” indeed, though it’s far from the first time Mafia-controlled betting sites have been taken down by Italian authorities or Maltese regulators. A similar major bust occurred back in 2015 involving BetuniQ and several other sites, and there’s even a connection between that crackdown and this one, involving prominent Maltese lawyer David Gonzi.
Gonzi, the son of former Malta Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, had business ties to both the 2015 BetuniQ busts and Friday’s Phoenix International-related raids via his GVM Holdings company, which has provided fiduciary services to connected business entities in both instances. Gonzi and his company were cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the BetuniQ matter, and Gonzi already issued a statement asserting that his company’s association with the Bacchi-controlled operation ended in October of 2016.
“The shares in the company have since that date been held directly by the shareholder,” declared Gonzi. “GVM Holdings is a licensed fiduciary company providing fiduciary services in terms of the Trusts and Trustees Act. I hold a one third-shareholding in GVM Holdings and was appointed as the third director of GVM Holdings on the 2nd December 2014. As from December 2015, GVM has been winding down its activities and has since sent termination letters to all its clients.”
The MGA announced its termination of regulatory approval for the Phoenix International sites later on Friday, just hours after news broke about the arrest of Bacchi and the raids on the betting-shop chain. According to the MGA:
The Malta Gaming Authority (hereinafter the ‘Authority’) is hereby notifying that Phoenix International Limited, remote gaming licence MGA/CL2/1163/2016, has been suspended as of 2nd of February, 2018.
Phoenix International Limited has thus been directed to indefinitely suspend all gaming operations, cease to register new players or accept any deposits on the Licence and to submit all data and documentation requested by the Authority.
Furthermore the Authority hereby notifies that any websites operated by Phoenix International Limited, or associated with Phoenix International Limited, and which make reference to the Authority or the above-quoted licence is not approved to be operational by the Authority. Due to the suspension of the licence, Phoenix International Limited is therefore not authorised to continue conducting gaming by means of distance communications under an Authority licence.
Online Sports Betting
The gambling.org sports betting guide is a comprehensive resource for sports bettors.
Here you will learn everything you need to know about online sports betting and placing offline bets at local sportsbooks / casinos.
Sports gambling, in general, is going through somewhat of a renaissance period right now.
Legal online sports betting is expanding worldwide throughout different countries and regions at a very rapid rate.
These are exciting times in the world of online betting for sure…
This gambling.org sports betting guide looks at the online gambling laws around sports wagering and examines some of the most trusted sportsbooks for betting live on your mobile phone, PC or laptop.
Legal Sports Betting
In recent years, nations across the world are starting to pass their own legislation and form sports gambling laws that allow people to gamble on sports.
As more places begin to regulate these activities, the overall internet gambling market will grow as sportsbook sites form mega-affiliate advertising deals with the main media networks such as we’ve seen happening recently with Fox, CBS and ESPN all announcing major affiliate-style marketing deals with some big name online sportsbooks.
The ESPN / DraftKings deal is a good example of what’s to come with major sportsbooks and media titans joining forces to advertise their services to the growing internet betting market for sports.
USA Online Sports Betting
In the United States in particular, there is rapid momentum of legal online sports betting and general / offline sports gambling regulations getting passed. New betting laws are being created in the USA where states allow online sports gambling limited to people to bet on sporting games in the state.
I’ve written a recent article on the subject of USA sport betting in the Gambling.org news post: US sports betting is legal in 25 states [and growing].
More on USA online gambling sites.
What states have legal sports betting in the United States?
There are currently eighteen states that have created legislation passing bills that allow people to place legal bets on sports inside state boundaries.
- States with legal sports betting in 2021 (18 states):
Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia + Washington, D.C. - Passed bills in 2020 (4 states):
North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington. - Active bills in 2021 (9 states):
Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont. - States with failed legislation in 2020 (12 states):
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Wyoming - No legislation pending in 2021 (7 states):
Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin
UK Sports Betting
In the United Kingdom, people have been betting virtually on sports such as soccer/football golf, tennis, MMA fights, etc., since the country passed its own national regulations on online sports gambling / country-wide internet betting laws thus allowing Brits to gamble on-line safely and legally under the safeguards outlined in the 2005 Gambling Act. More on online gambling in UK.
Best UK Sportsbooks
I’ve included referral links to some of the most trusted UK sports betting bookie websites below. Gambling.org may earn referral fees for sending visitors to these online sportsbook wagering sites so thank you for visiting us and good luck on your sporting wagers.
- bet365 – 35 million people have gambled on their favorite teams on bet365 sportsbook. See the bet365 website for welcome bonus terms and conditions. Ages 21 and up only.
- Mr. Green – This popular online sportsbook site owned and operated by William Hill caters to sporting fans throughout the whole of UK.
- Red Bet – An alternative online bookmaker to Mr. Green, Red Bet offers punters the latest betting odds on golf, table tennis, formula one, football, American football, boxing and just about any sport one cares to wish a wager on. .
International Sports Gambling
In countries all over the world sports betting fever has struck a chord with many bettors around the world.
In countries such as Brazil, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia there are sports wagering movements occurring with mobile sports bettors multiplying like digital gremlins. However, of these countries, only Brazil has passed regulations to allow for general online gambling including sports wagers.
An estimated 60-70% of online sporting bets are placed, like magic, through thin air on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Offshore Sports Betting Sites
Many sportsbooks and online bookmakers are legally licensed to operate internet betting sites by offshore online gaming regulators. Some of the largest and most popular gaming destinations online are offshore sports betting sites such as Bovada sportsbook and Intertops. In the list below I’ve included referral links to some of the best offshore sports betting sites for real money online gambling in 2021.
- Bovada
- Intertops
- FortuneJack
What is the best sports betting site?
In my opinion, bet365 is the world’s best sportsbook site for betting on sports.
With over 40 million satisfied bet365 customers, its hard to argue otherwise IMO.
bet365 features a suite of online casino games to play when your not wagering on a big game.
Always remember to gamble responsibly when wagering over the web or at your local betting shop.
About Gambling.org
Sports Betting Sites Uk
We provide reviews of only the most trusted gambling sites along with articles on responsible gambling and game rules, etc. Gambling.org has advertising relationships with some of the betting sites listed on our website.
Best Sports Betting Info Sites
Our review editorial policy is independent of this and we remain objective when reviewing online casinos and sports betting websites.
For more information on sport gambling & recent sports news check out our Sports Betting Forum for the latest discussions around sporting games, matches and events.
Nj Online Sports Betting Sites
Gambling.org reminds everyone that gambling is only a form of entertainment and not a realistic way of making money. Never gamble money you can’t afford loosing and always remember to bet/play responsibly.