Online casinos accepting players from Bermuda

Ever since gambling first appeared online, it made many countries rethink their stance on whether to regulate it or not. Since gambling is considered as a threat to the public's health by some countries and as a pastime by others, there are still different views about it all across the globe.

For instance, Islamic countries, due to religious reasons, have banned gambling. More liberal countries, like the UK, have embraced it and regulated it in order to keep control over it and make players experience fun but also safe. 

For Bermuda…

… you can say that it is somewhere in the middle. It is a country where tourism is booming since it is a country with over 180 volcanic islands, highly attractive to visitors. As such, it has the potential to become a gambling hub, considering tourists love spending money across casinos. However, until a decade ago the only available form of gambling in the country, regulated in 1975, was betting on sports. 

With the 2010 Green Paper…

… published by the government entitled Gaming for Bermuda, the government clearly shared its views on gambling regulation. It said that lottery and internet gambling would not likely assist in reviving the nation’s tourism industry, but land-based gambling might. 

Still, it was not only until 2014 that its government decided to actually legalize land-based gambling. The government passed a law, called the Casino Gaming Law, which made things clear: only a limited number of casino resorts can be established and fully controlled by the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission (BCGC). The number of casinos that can apply is 3, and they all must be part of a hotel resort. 

The regulatory and legislative framework…

… was ready by the end of the year, and the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission was appointed to oversee the licensing and enforce the regulatory regime.  Potential operators were invited to submit their applications for a license, and in 2016, St George and Hamilton Princess hotels were approved for the development of an integrated casino resort. The process for applying for licenses, however, was not yet announced. 

Later in 2016…

… the 2014 Casino Gaming Law was amended, and the one to approve the Casino Gaming Amendment Act 2016 was the House of Assembly. There were two reasons for it. One, Parliament asked for the tax imposed to operators to be reduced from 20% to 10% of a gross win, and two, it demanded better protection against gambling-related harms. The Senate passed the act and the bill was sent to the Premier of Bermuda for approval. The BCGC announced the application process for the three casinos would begin on 17 April 2017, with initial costs of BMD$600k, plus provisional license issue fees of BMD$1.4 million and a final issuance fee of BMD$1 million. 

Legal Online Gambling in Bermuda

Since only land-based gambling is regulated…

… in Bermuda, you would assume that online gambling is not. And you’d be right, however, there’s a loophole. Bermudian players are not prosecuted if gambling on international online casino sites. These sites are not banned in the country, nor blocked, so any citizen of Bermuda who would like to participate in online gambling can freely do so without worrying about being punished for it. 

No online casinos are licensed in Bermuda…

… however, so you won’t find an online casino that holds a license to operate by the Bermuda BCGC. While on the subject, since no online casinos are licensed in the country, players have to be really careful when gambling online since they have no backup by their government in case something goes wrong. If they join an unregulated, rogue site and for instance, get hustled for their money, they cannot get help and they have no one to report the problem to.

That’s why…

… they should still be looking for online casinos that hold at least one license by a gambling authority licensed to operate at a different regulated market. Casinos that hold a license to operate by the UK Gambling Commission are some of the safest, so you may consider such as options to join. Other respected watchdogs include Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, as well as the Malta Gaming Authority.

Bermuda Online Casinos

As mentioned, as a Bermudian online casino player, you have an option to play across international online casino sites, without worrying about being prosecuted for that. The Bermudian government has not forbidden players to join these sites, but players are left on their own when it comes to the safety of their sensitive details and funds. So, as suggested, you should be looking for international casinos that are licensed to operate by a trusted jurisdiction. 

Other than trustworthy licenses…

… you should look for casinos that implement tough security measures. Most online casinos do, but still, check for their SSL encryption by yourself, to be absolutely sure that your confidential information is safe. Check their SSL encryption certificate, and if it is provided by names like Thawte, DigiCert, GoDaddy or COMODO (SECTIGO), you can consider them safe.

Another thing to consider…

… is whether the casino offers games that run on a Random Number Generator (RNG) and whether it has that RNG tested. This is a device that uses an algorithm to generate fair results on all games offered. Software developers themselves design their games using a trusted RNG and have that RNG tested, but so do casinos. If you see that the casino is certified by names like GLI, eCOGRA or iTechLabs, it means that it is a casino that has the RNG tested. These three are trusted, industry-approved third-party auditors which ensure that the RNG provides only fair and random results, so any site that holds their Seal of Approval is a site you can join.

Games at Bermuda Online Casinos

Given the fact Bermudian players have access to international online casinos, they also have access to some of the best online casino games. These games are developed by premier software providers, award-winning developers who continuously innovate and improve their offering. Among them, we can mention NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, Microgaming and BetSoft. 

These are some…

… of the most appreciated developers who have created the world's most epic online casino games. Slot machines, online bingo, scratchcards, table games and Live Dealer variants are some of the basic game categories you will have at your disposal. In short, you can enjoy:

• Roulette;
• Keno; 
• Craps; 
• Blackjack;
• Video poker;
• Baccarat;
• Sportsbetting;

These are just some of the games you should expect to find across international online casinos but expect to also find many other unique variants.

Mobile Betting

Bermudian players can enjoy gaming on the go, as long as they find international online casino sites optimized for mobile gambling. And considering the fact we're currently living in a world where mobile devices are an integral part of our everyday lives, you should have no problem finding a mobile casino, since most, if not all, online casinos are mobile-optimized.

Playing on the go…

… has become the new normal, and that’s why developers have started creating their games in HTML5 format, to be playable across all devices, and casinos have started optimizing their sites to fit any device screen size. You’ll have no problem accessing your favourite games, on any Android or iOS-running device you might own.

The move to mobile has gone even further. Some online casinos have even created their own apps so that you don’t waste time logging in every time you want to play your games. Download the app, log in once and continue playing whenever you want. 

Bermuda Online Banking & Casino Payment Methods

Online gambling is not regulated in Bermuda, that’s true, but transactions to and from online casinos are not prohibited, since players are allowed to access foreign sites. Therefore, you can use any banking method that you want in order to play across online casinos. 

Keep in mind that…

… not all payment methods are available in Bermuda, and not all of them allow transactions with Bermudian dollars. Before deciding on the method to use, therefore, make sure you check for these two things. Also, if BMD is not an option, check how big currency exchange fees are, to choose the one that suits you most. 

The smartest thing to do…

… is to use mobile payments or eWallets to avoid hefty fees and get a more convenient online banking across international online casinos. These are usually global solutions that offer transactions in many currencies, sometimes even cryptocurrencies, but most importantly, allow transactions to be instant. That doesn’t mean that you cannot use VISA, MasterCard, or bank transfers, though. The choice is yours. The following are just some of your options:

• MuchBetter;
• Neteller;
• Zimpler;
• ecoPayz; 
• Mifinity;
• Skrill;
• CASHlib;

Before you choose the one to go with, again, check whether it is a method available in your country. If you are looking for a solution that is most certainly available, why not use Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash or Ethereum, for instance? These are virtual currencies that can be used by anyone, from anywhere in the world, Bermudian players included. 

FAQ

Will Bermuda ever regulate online gambling?

This depends on the government. The current government may believe that online gambling would contribute nothing for the country, but some future government may think otherwise. Nothing is for sure. 

Where can I see the licenses and certificates one casino holds?

The licenses and certificates can usually be found at the bottom of the casino’s homepage. If not there, they should be in the Terms and Conditions section. If you still can’t find them, try contacting the casino’s Customer Support for guidance. 

How to know whether Bermudian players are accepted at a particular online casino?

You can learn about the players’ eligibility from its homepage, or the Terms and Conditions page. Restricted players are usually highlighted there. Or, try registering, and when you put Bermuda as your country of residence, if the country is restricted, you won’t be able to continue with the registration. 

Is it legal to play across casinos that accept Bermudian players with digital currencies?

Legal is a strong word when it comes to digital currencies, as their main purpose is to be decentralized, away from authorities and regulations. But if you’re worried about whether you can get prosecuted for playing using Bitcoin, for instance, across online casinos, you can rest assured that you and your money will be safe. 

How old should Bermudian players be to be able to access international online casino sites?

18 is the age limit across most online casinos. But there are some European and US casinos where the age limit is 21, so if in doubt, make sure you check this information better. 

Where can I find the payment methods list available for deposits and withdrawals?

The payment methods list is usually found in the Banking page, sometimes called Cashier page, but you also have the logos of all accepted payment solutions at the bottom of the casino’s homepage, so you can check them out even before you join the site. 

If I use a credit card to play with, how long will it take for the withdrawal to reach my account?

Withdrawals with credit cards take a while since they need to be verified both by the casino and the issuing bank. But, they should be on your account in no more than a week.

Am I allowed to claim bonuses across international online casinos as a Bermudian player?

Sure! As long as you are allowed to join an online casino, you are allowed to enjoy all the perks, games, bonuses and promotions offered, just like any other player at the site is. 

Will it be mandatory to download software to play on a mobile device?

This depends on the casino you choose, but most leading online casinos have ensured no software downloading is mandatory, to provide players with a choice to decide whether they’d like to spare some memory space or not. 

How can I contact Customer Support at a particular online casino?

The Customer Support service differs from one casino to another, but the agents are usually available via several means, so depending on your choice, you can contact them via Live Chat, email, on-site contact form or phone line.