Crypto casinos rapidly grow and rival traditional gambling operators’ size and scale.
In 2024, the sector generated an estimated $81.4 billion in gross gaming revenue, a fivefold increase from 2022, even though such platforms are illegal in many countries.
Workarounds keep offshore platforms accessible
Despite restrictions in markets like the U.S., UK, China, and across the EU, users continue to access crypto casinos using VPNs, redirected URLs, and mirror sites. Online forums and social media influencers regularly share instructions on bypassing geoblocking. Jordan Lea, a former problem gambler, explained that peer-to-peer marketplaces are also used to sell verified user accounts, making access easier for new users.
Most crypto casinos operate from jurisdictions where digital gambling is permitted, including Curaçao, Malta, and Gibraltar. Platforms such as Stake, Rollbit, and Roobet now handle volumes comparable to large traditional operators. One Curaçao-based casino claims it processes up to 4% of global Bitcoin transactions and has facilitated over 300 billion bets since 2017. That same operator reported a gross revenue of $4.7 billion last year, an 80% increase from the previous year.
Regulatory enforcement faces major obstacles
In the UK and the U.S., using offshore gambling sites through VPNs is not illegal for individuals. However, operators may break local laws by serving users in those regions. Legal experts say enforcement is limited. A UK lawyer, Richard Williams noted that offshore companies offering services to UK residents may face penalties, though legal action is rare.
U.S. attorney Matthew Litt has described that although laws exist, they are challenging to enforce because offshore firms operate out of reach of domestic regulators. Research organizations and lobby groups argue that authorized operators and oversight bodies fail to respond to this matter, enabling illegal operators to participate in unfair competition.
Crypto casinos appeal to risk-takers and youth
Due to the absence of identification systems and financial caps crypto casinos provide gaming services to potentially dangerous gamblers below the minimum age and those with risky gambling habits. Cryptocurrency platforms appeal to underage players because they lack sufficient legal options in their territories according to campaigner Rob Minnick who used to gamble as an underage player himself. Digital currencies generate additional difficulties for gambling behaviors because of their unstable nature. The betting patterns of former users experienced changes after crypto prices moved which they described as losing-chasing behavior and income treatment. Online influencers frequently present untrue information about gambling success which deceives young people.