The online gambling industry has exploded in recent years, evolving from a niche sector into a multi-billion dollar business spanning the globe. However, due to varying levels of regulation and infrastructure across different countries, some markets present better opportunities than others for offshore operators looking to set up international online casinos, sportsbooks, and other gaming ventures, like Stake Casino. This article explores five of the best countries for the online gambling industry in 2024.
United Kingdom
As one of the most mature and well-developed markets, the United Kingdom remains an online gambling haven despite tighter regulation and higher tax rates compared to other jurisdictions. Recent statistics show that the UK gambling sector was valued at $8.4 billion in 2023, with over 30 million active online gamblers in the country.
The UK offers political stability, excellent infrastructure, and a large target audience to make it one of the top destinations for the offshore industry. The UK Gambling Commission imposes strict standards around responsible gambling, player protection, and transparency. So operators must comply with various licensing and reporting requirements. However, in return they gain credibility and access to a wealthy demographic.
Table 1: Key Facts about the UK Online Gambling Market
| Metric | Figure |
| Market value (2023) | $8.4 billion |
| Growth from 2022 | 4.2% |
| Active online gamblers | 30.2 million |
| Mobile penetration | 67% |
| Most popular sector | Sports betting |
Malta
Nicknamed the “Las Vegas of online Slots peak casinos,” Malta has been at the forefront of remote gaming for decades thanks to proactive legislation and attractive tax incentives. Nearly 500 operators are currently licensed under the Malta Gaming Authority.
While Malta imposes standards around responsible gambling, its regulatory regime is considered more relaxed and business-friendly relative to other jurisdictions. Corporate tax sits at just 5% for remote gaming companies in Malta, with no taxation on player profits. The country also offers political stability as a member of the European Union, along with advanced IT infrastructure and a bilingual workforce.
Recent estimates predict the Maltese digital gaming sector could be worth over €2 billion annually by 2025. So Malta remains a go-to destination for offshore brands looking to establish European operations.
Table 2: Malta’s Corporate Tax Incentives for Online Gambling Firms
| Tax Rate | Additional Incentives |
| 5% | No tax on player winnings |
| No withholding tax on dividends | |
| R&D tax credits | |
| expat tax incentives |
Curaçao
Located just 50 miles from Venezuela’s coast, the island nation of Curaçao has used its autonomy, advanced infrastructure, and favorable regulatory environment to become a hub for the international online gambling industry.
Nearly 300 operators are licensed under the Curaçao eGaming licensing body today. Overseen by the Government of Curaçao, this regulatory framework allows approved brands to offer gaming services to most global markets. The application process takes just 6-8 weeks, with low compliance costs compared to other jurisdictions.
Curaçao also offers a corporate tax rate of just 2% on international gaming revenue, with no taxation on local revenue or player earnings. Stable politics and connectivity make Curaçao a secure base for brands targeting emerging Latin American and European markets in particular.
Table 3: Curaçao’s Regulatory Timeframes for eGaming Licensing
| Stage | Duration |
| Initial application | 2 weeks |
| Review process | 4-6 weeks |
| License approval | 1 week |
| Total | 6-8 weeks |
Australia
Australia is an unlikely inclusion on this list given its strict internet gaming prohibition laws for local operators. However, the country’s advanced infrastructure, political stability, proximity to Asian markets, and educated workforce make it an appealing location for offshore gambling platforms not targeting Aussies specifically.
Several big international operators base their head offices in Sydney and Melbourne today. Platforms are hosted on local servers to benefit from extensive broadband networks and renewable energy sources. Various global betting sites also leverage an Australian domain extension (.com.au) to boost credibility across Asia-Pacific markets.
So while Australia cracks down on providers seeking Australian customers, it enables international companies to safely establish operations targeting other jurisdictions. Permitted activities include B2B services, affiliate marketing, sports data analytics and trading.
Table 4: Key Infrastructure Metrics for Australia
| Metric | Global Ranking |
| Internet speeds | 9th |
| Cybersecurity | 7th |
| IT infrastructure | 17th |
| Energy stability | 1st |
Costa Rica
With over 400 licensed online casinos and sportsbooks, Costa Rica is Central America’s leading base for the offshore gaming sector. Known for its beautiful landscapes and biological diversity, Costa Rica also offers an attractive mix of financial incentives, connectivity, and alignment with European time zones.
Operators pay no tax on gaming revenue or player earnings in Costa Rica. The corporate income tax rate sits at just 30% for sports betting firms specifically. Other benefits include no restrictions on foreign ownership, strong IP protection, and fast setup times under 10 weeks in regulated jurisdictions.
Connectivity is also impressive in Costa Rica, ranked 42nd globally, higher than many European countries. This enables secure hosting with redundancy across sites. And sharing the same GMT-6 time zone as cities like Chicago and Mexico City proves advantageous for customer service too.
So for operators considering a step into the Latin American or North American markets, Costa Rica ticks many boxes as an offshore gambling jurisdiction.