The figures of people who like online gambling are continuously increasing. Over 155.3 million people enjoy gambling. However, the number can be higher if many gamblers don’t give up due to online restrictions.
Giving up after geographic restrictions is a thing of the past. VPNs exist for a reason. And now, they are better and as affordable as possible. So, read along as we explore how to avoid gambling restrictions online.
How to avoid gambling restrictions with VPNs – Quick guide
Most gambling platforms prefer liability avoidance. As such, they typically frown on virtual private networks (VPNs). However, that hasn’t stopped people from using VPNs to access these platforms.
Here’s how you can avoid restrictions when gambling online:
How are online gambling restrictions enforced?
Unlike countries with physical borders, the internet doesn’t have physical borders and agencies to keep you boxed in. Thus, hearing that an online casino knows your whereabouts enough to keep you out can be confusing.
While the internet doesn’t have physical borders, it contains infrastructure to identify most user locations. The primary identity source these infrastructures check is your IP address–a unique number that tells your device apart from others.
VPNs overcome this roadblock by masking and altering your IP address to change your location. However, while you may now be able to access the site, there’s no guarantee that you can play games on it. Why? Most online casinos have stringent KYC processes, depending on your region.
Furthermore, if you evade the registration process and can play on the platform, you’ll encounter another problem when you try to cash out your winnings. Online casinos with strict KYC processes will likely ask you to submit proof of residency and identity to process bigger cashouts.
Remember that there’s no well-defined process to avoid online gambling restrictions. However, some VPNs can greatly improve your chances of accessing and playing on some restricted platforms.
How to avoid online gambling restrictions? All possible ways
Yes, VPNs can do the heavy lifting of masking your IP address and changing your location. However, you can also use other ways to avoid restrictions when gambling online.
Here are some of our best tips:
- Try global online casinos: Sometimes, your region is not the problem–the online casino may be designed for audiences in a certain location. For example, the Stake casino brand has a global platform, with a separate one for US audiences. So, you want to look out for online casinos with a more global reach.
- Try crypto: Most online casinos have strict payment rules regarding fiat (standard currency). However, you can just look to play on platforms that accept cryptocurrencies. Casinos and platforms that accept digital currencies may have less strict KYC processes. These can help you avoid problems where you live and skip complicated verification processes.
- Stay up to date: Online casinos may sometimes enter new markets, becoming available in previously unreachable areas. This might be due to policy changes by operators or the governments of said regions. You want to keep up with the news and policy changes to learn when such changes occur.
- Study legal policies: Different places have different online gambling rules. Therefore, before you play games at an online casino, find out the regulations in your area. Staying on the right side of the law is crucial to enjoy playing without legal problems.
How does betting using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) work?
VPNs change your online location and make your internet connection more secure. This keeps your data safe and ensures a better and safer gaming experience. Consequently, letting you enjoy playing games at your favorite online casino, whether it’s for live games, poker, or sports betting.
The best part is that you won’t lose your winnings or data to hackers and malicious third parties. Additionally, a VPN prevents your internet service provider (ISP) and governmental agencies from tracking your online activity.
Why are there limits placed on online gambling?
With all that free will they say you have, how come governments can just ban online gambling in your country?
Religious, social, and political influences are three main reasons governments take such actions.
For example, countries with strong religious views tend to mix religion and state. Consequently, you can expect that some prevailing regulations are influenced by the state religion(s).
However, some countries that forbid gambling, both in online and traditional casinos, don’t extend those rules to visiting foreigners. This reinforces the earlier point that a country or region’s religious, social, and political reasoning influences gambling rules. Thus, they may only apply to its inhabitants.
Conversely, some people cannot access online casinos because of global regulations and compliance requirements. To continue operating, online casinos must comply with these regulations.
Which countries allow you to gamble online?
If governments decide whether online gambling is legal, and several prohibit it, is online gambling allowed anywhere? Absolutely. Gambling isn’t illegal worldwide, and many countries make it legal for citizens to gamble online.
These countries protect their citizens through regulations that oversee gambling operators and activities within their regions. Here are some of the most popular ones you’ve heard of:
1. Curacao
Curacao is home to one of the most popular licensing regulators among online casinos: the Curacao Gaming Control Board. This body licenses several of the biggest online casinos operating in different regions globally.
Of course, licensed operators adhere to fair gaming, responsible gambling, and player funds safety conventions under this regulatory framework. They also comply with regulatory requirements like player protection and anti-money laundering provisions.
2. Canada
Two primary regulatory agencies in Canada oversee provincial and federal regulations. At the federal level, Section 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada allows territories and provinces to manage and grant operational rights to online gambling operators.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) and British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) are good examples of regulatory frameworks at the provincial level. These agencies service Atlantic Canada and British Columbia.
Despite provincial gambling authorities, provinces can use government-operated or offshore gambling platforms. However, the eligibility of these external platforms remains a legal gray area.
3. The United Kingdom
The Gambling Act 2005 was established in the UK to regulate online casinos. Like Canada and Curacao, the UK has a central oversight structure–the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This commission oversees all gambling promotions to ensure compliance with strict licensing regulations.
Following the passing of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, online casinos operating within the region are legally required to be licensed by the UKGC. This allows them to advertise and offer their services to UK residents.
4. The United States
Federal and state laws govern online gambling in the US. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is the country’s federal regulatory body for online gambling. It forbids banks and other financial entities from processing online gambling transactions that are illegal at the state and federal levels.
Additionally, online gambling regulations vary across states. Consequently, while some forms of it are legal in certain jurisdictions, others don’t allow it. US states that allow online gambling include West Virginia, Delaware, Nevada, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. However, we recommend gambling in the US with a VPN.
Popular gambling sites and their stance on VPN use
Operators must adhere to strict licensing regulations, so what do they think of VPNs? Most betting sites forbid VPN use and penalize players who break this rule.
Below are some common global gambling platforms and their policies regarding VPN usage:
1. 888Casino
This operator monitors user software to detect and prevent fraud. Additionally, 888Casino clearly states that their system checks and flags VPNs and proxies. Gambling on this casino with a VPN may not help you bypass their detection features. That may come with some risks.
2. Bovada
Bovada is another popular operator with a clear stance on using proxy servers and VPNs, particularly if you use them to mask your location.
You cannot use false information to play poker through third parties. If you do, you may lose access to your account or see it terminated.
3. PokerStars
PokerStars’ terms of use forbid VPN use. It uses GeoComply technology to check for VPN use, and you must agree to forfeit your winnings when registering. However, that depends on your location. It’s another measure the operator employs to prevent players from using VPNs to bypass geographic restrictions.
4. Red Dog Casino
Red Dog Casino’s terms of service prohibit players from using software to circumvent restrictions. This policy aims to prevent you from using VPNs and other malware.
However, you should note that while the platform classifies VPNs as malware, that description isn’t accurate and doesn’t reflect their functionality and purpose.
5. Roobet
This gambling site also has strict rules against VPN use. It states that players cannot use VPNs and similar tools, like anonymizing proxies, to overcome legal geographic restrictions. You’ll face penalties if you violate these terms, including forfeiting your winnings, playing balance, and account termination.
6. Stake Bitcoin Casino
Despite being a crypto casino, which typically has more relaxed regulations than traditional online casinos, this operator frowns on VPN use. The terms of service prohibit players from masking their locations using proxy servers. Breaching this policy may lead to your account being suspended or terminated.
7. William Hill
William Hill is one of the most popular betting sites on this list. It operates out of Gibraltar, Jersey, and the United Kingdom. Its VPN terms are consistent across all three regions.
The operator forbids using proxies and VPNs to mask your device identity and location. The penalty for violating these terms is account suspension and forfeiture of funds.
How to block gambling sites
As much as we want you to know how to avoid restrictions when gambling online, we also want you to be safe. Sometimes, safety involves preventing your access to online gambling platforms. This is especially important when you share your devices with others, particularly minors.
Beyond protecting others, the tips outlined in this section will also protect you from bad gambling habits.
- Internet Service Provider (ISP) restrictions: Your internet service provider (ISP) likely provides tools like parental controls and filters to keep you safe online. However, you may need to ask the ISP to activate them. Once set up, they can prevent others from using your devices and network to access online casinos.
- Parental control: Most modern devices come with tools for managing how children use them. With these tools, you can prevent minors from accessing online gambling sites.
- DNS filtering: This is another tool to manage access to specific sites. It’s available on most internet-enabled devices, including routers.
- Browser Extensions: Software like StayFocused and Block Site can block access to gambling sites. This can help you and others to browse the internet safely. You can find more details about privacy browser extensions in our thorough guide.
- Content filtering software: These programs let you create personalized filters to block specific types of websites. The filters can be handy to prevent your devices from accessing gambling and other online casino sites. However, you must install the software on your devices and network systems to use them.
- Mobile device restrictions: Most mobile devices have safety tools built into their operating systems. These allow you to manage access to certain websites, including gambling platforms. Conversely, they also have parental controls, which you can use with third-party blockers and browser extensions.
- Gambling Self-Exclusion programs: Licensed gambling platforms try to help users play responsibly. As such, you can use one of their self-exclusion programs to limit your platform access for a specific period. Sometimes, these programs automatically activate when you hit a specified number of hours or a predetermined amount.
However, relying on just one of these solutions might not be enough if you’re struggling with a gambling addiction. Instead, you should combine as many of these tips as possible and seek professional support or self-help tools.
Best VPNs to avoid gambling restrictions
Here are our top picks of gambling VPNs that can help you avoid online gambling restrictions:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN: A renowned VPN provider offfering 6,000 servers across 60+ countries. In addition, it provides high-speed, robust security, multiple simultaneous connections, and money back guarantee.
NordVPN is one of the most common names in the VPN space. It’s beloved by many for its no-logs policy, which extends to unlimited bandwidth, too. So, you can rest assured that your gambling activities aren’t tracked or stored by NordVPN or other data trackers.
The service features 256-bit AES encryption, an internet kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It also has automatic WiFi protection (for Android devices), ensuring online security and privacy. That’s not discounting the staggering collection of 6,000+ servers across 61 countries, which allows you to avoid geopolitical restrictions for all forms of entertainment, including gambling.
The service is compatible with most operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Best of all, a single subscription covers up to six devices at once.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN: The most popular VPN service, known for its fast speed servers across 105 countries. It also offers military-grade encryption, IP leak protection, and a money back guarantee.
Operating out of the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is located far from the prying eyes and reach of governments in Europe and North America. The VPN service provides DNS protection and 256-bit AES encryption. Additionally, it has an Internet kill switch to ensure maximum browsing security and anonymity.
It doesn’t require Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to use its service, nor does it keep logs. ExpressVPN lets you browse the internet anonymously without fearing for your privacy and security.
Furthermore, ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers across 105 countries. It is also compatible with Linux, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and WiFi routers.
Finally, you don’t have to worry about VPN slowing down your network. It improves internet speed, ensuring you have a fast, stable connection while gambling online.
3. ExtremeVPN
ExtremeVPN: An affordable and user-friendly VPN service, boasting over 6,500 servers across 78+ countries worldwide. The provider offers fast speeds servers for online gambling, and high-end security to avoid privacy breaches.
Like the other VPNs we recommend, ExtremeVPN doesn’t store browsing logs, uses AES-256 encryption, and has an internet kill switch. ExtremeVPN also features RAM-based servers and split tunneling protocols, which ensure a safe and private browsing experience.
It offers 6,500+ servers across 78 countries and 88 locations. You can also expect fast and stable internet connections without breaking the bank. Yes, ExtremeVPN offers a cheaper service than its competitors.
Of course, there are other alternatives if you want to try something different. You can find them in our guide on the most secure VPN providers for 2024.
Finding the best VPNs for sports betting and gambling
Deciding on a VPN service to use for your online gambling needs can be a chore. But, before selecting a gambling VPN, ensure it offers the following measures.
- Speed and reliability: Slow Internet speed is annoying on a good day. But it gets worse when gambling online. The recommended VPNs in this guide have been exhaustively tested on multiple sites, including DraftKings, Betfair, and Bet365, to ensure a smooth gambling experience.
- Ease of use: VPNs are better when you don’t need a technical background to use them. Look for a VPN provider that offers 24/7 customer support, task-specific servers, and other features that make your life easier.
- Devices and apps: We only recommend VPNs that are compatible with the most common devices and operating systems, like Linux, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and even Wi-Fi devices. This ensures that most users can access them from any device any time.
- Server locations: Certain countries and jurisdictions (like some US states) prohibit online gambling. Therefore, we selected VPN providers with massive server networks across gambling-friendly locations, particularly New York and Nevada.
- Privacy: The vital reason behind using a VPN is privacy. That’s why all our picks have stringent no-logs policies, 256-bit encryption, and an internet kill switch. They also provide DNS leak protection to ensure you get the best experience at all times, wherever you go.
- Good value for money: The recommended VPNs in this guide are affordable with money-back guarantees. Thus, you can try them risk-free to decide whether or not to continue with the provider. Plus, we’ve got some sweet VPN deals for you.
Can I use a free VPN to access gambling sites abroad?
VPNs come in both paid and free versions. If you can’t afford a subscription, you might want to try a free service to circumvent gambling restrictions. However, we do not advocate this for several reasons:
- Most casino sites track and prohibit VPN use, and your gambling experience may be disrupted. It worsens when using free VPNs because you don’t get the best features to avoid detection.
- Free VPNs are also needed to stay profitable. So, providers often set data and speed limits, which can severely affect your gambling experience.
- Like any other free service, free VPNs often have a catch. These providers may store browsing logs and sell your data to third-party brokers.
We strongly recommend a robust VPN like NordVPN or any of the other providers in this guide. NordVPN, in particular, is reliable, fast, and secure. It also offers a 30-day money back guarantee to new users to test the service and decide if it’s for them.
Is using a VPN to gamble illegal?
The answer is that there’s no harm done when using VPNs for online gambling, especially if you reside in areas where online gambling platforms operate legally. Contrarily, if you reside in areas that restrict online gambling, you should refer to the terms of use of your preferred online casino.
Conclusion
Remember that while VPNs can help you avoid geographical restrictions and access online gambling platforms, your activities may have consequences.
Adhering to the gambling platform’s terms of service is your best shot at an easy and smooth gambling experience. You should also obey gambling regulations in your country or state.
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About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
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