VPN for Online Casinos

While using online casinos and sportsbooks is increasingly common, the restrictions on who can wager are tighter than ever. Whether you're a Sunday slot spinner or bet the moneyline every week, a VPN, also known as a Virtual Private Network, can keep you in the game whether you're home or abroad. Plus, VPNs promote security on public wifi signals, which, to most internet users, is crucial, and make available websites that are otherwise inaccessible.

The takeaway, however, is that VPNs for casino gamblers and their sports-betting counterparts are one of the best ways to protect yourself—and your access—when wagering online. Below, our comprehensive guide to VPNs will answer basic questions like "What's a VPN?" and more complex queries on the use, legality, and accessibility of VPNs related to online betting. Now, let's get started.

What is a VPN? How Does it Relate to Online Gambling?

In the simplest terms, a VPN is like a tunnel between your device and the Internet: Your identity, location, and other online activities are "wrapped" in an impervious tube that connects you to the websites you often use, like your bank, and those you visit less frequently, like an online casino or sportsbook. VPNs serve several purposes, and using one keeps your data secure on the homefront and makes online betting more accessible everywhere. The point, of course, is that VPNs provide privacy. It's even in the name: Virtual Private Network. But how does it make online casinos and sportsbooks more accessible? Read on to learn more.

Before we delve into how VPNs improve accessibility for online gamblers, you need to understand why they're necessary, which means learning the basic rules of virtual betting. Typically, offshore casinos and sportsbooks, platforms like Bovada or Joe Fortune, make their entertainment available to players from specific locales—for instance, a casino welcoming Canadians and Americans may not welcome Australians. While they're popular, online casinos in Great Britain welcome few but their own. Simply put, your country matters when it comes to where it's legal to gamble. There's no getting around that—unless you use a VPN.

Understanding Why Gamblers Use VPNs

You're probably wondering why you would -want- to use a VPN for online casino gambling. After all, all online casinos are the same, right? Well, no, they're not. In fact, there are countless software providers, some legal in specific countries exclusively, available at some casinos, while others boast alternative entertainment. The same is true for the platform you're using. Players don't need to worry about registering or betting illegally at offshore casinos, as the software prohibits it unless they use a VPN to mask their location, a common practice among those who wager on the web.

Once you select a casino, sportsbook, or even a series of must-play games to experience, you'll need to determine whether playing from your location is legal. If it isn't, a VPN can solve the problem. This sounds completely illegal and immoral to some, but there are all sorts of legitimate reasons to use a VPN to wager. Travel, for instance, may restrict access to your favorite betting sites, but using a VPN to suggest you're connecting from your home country affords the opportunity to, quite literally, play from anywhere in the world. After all, what cold weather-enduring Canadian wouldn't want to spin the reels from a beach in Bali?

Alternative Uses For Standard VPNs

Gambling, entertainment in general, is one of the primary reasons casino and sportsbook users connect with VPNs. While gambling is a popular reason to use a VPN in your quest for the ultimate internet experience, some users may, for instance, rely on a VPN to "relocate" themselves temporarily, allowing them to watch otherwise inaccessible programming via a streaming service, access materials blocked in their countries, and in the case of some content producers, even work a side hustle. Suffice it to say there are countless entertainment opportunities available to VPN users that may not be accessible without one.

Security, which relates to gambling, media, and other online activities, is another reason to consider a VPN. Remember the tunnel we talked about earlier? The one that wraps you snugly in its safety, creating a direct connection to the website you're aiming for? That describes the security VPNs provide users: VPNs keep you safe by not permitting outside influences, like hackers, to compromise your personal and financial data.

Banking, purchases, and even moving money from one account to another are infinitely safer when using a VPN. Returning one last time to the "tunnel" theory, buying, banking, and moving money through the protective virtual tube ensures that your data remains secure. Beyond personal safety, protecting your financial details is one of the most crucial responsibilities of any reasonable adult. In short, VPNs can protect many aspects of your life, some vital to online safety.

Can Casinos Tell Where I'm At? Do They Even Care?

Yes, casinos know where and often through your habits, who you are, and how you play. And yes, casinos most definitely care where you are. There are several reasons, but legality is the most pressing reason casinos are interested in your location. After all, if a casino or sportsbook's licensure prohibits bettors from specific countries, the platform may be fined or have their license stripped in the event of illegal players—incidentally, playing legitimately at a licensed casino is the primary way to ensure you take home that cleverly obtained jackpot.

Geo-based restrictions on casino gaming are easy to circumvent using a VPN. However, it's essential to ensure that you live in a legal country for your casino, even if you connect abroad. Inexperienced online casino gamblers and VPN users alike may wonder how casinos know who and where they are and won't want to miss the details below.

How Do They Know? What Methods Do Casinos Use to Verify Identity?

Knowing who and where their players are is one of the most significant responsibilities of any casino, as it protects the platform from fraud and actively works against money laundering, underage gambling, and a host of other problems. There are three primary ways casinos verify the identity of their players, and these things are much harder to mask than you think. Below, learn how casinos verify your identity and location.

First, casinos use your IP address to determine where you are. Like a physical address, your IP tells the company where you're at, even down to the city, making it easy for platforms to keep out unwanted players. VPNs, used legally or otherwise, are the best way to wager at such casinos.
Know Your Customer, abbreviated to KYC, verification runs extra checks on players, ensuring they're real people in a legal location. VPNs are ineffective when attempting to connect to KYC casinos, as they use more than just your location to determine whether or not you can play.
Finally, circumventing casino location restrictions is often useless if you plan to withdraw funds from your account. Casinos require multiple items showing your name, address, and other details before releasing your cash. However, withdrawing after a win on vacation or as a temporary resident of another country often makes VPNs more effective.

Identity, Location, and VPNs: Connecting the Concepts for Gamblers

Before moving on to questions about paid versus unpaid VPNs, which ones to use, and what's best on a mobile platform, we should connect the concepts of identity, location, and VPN use. When you gamble online, whether poker, slots or a sportsbook, the betting platform determines your location before allowing you to play. If you live in a locale that the casino doesn't serve, a VPN may allow you to connect, but withdrawals will be much more difficult. However, vacationers, temporary residents, and sometimes even students may have more success using VPNs to gamble from a questionable location as legal residents of a casino-friendly country.

Are VPNs Versatile? Can I Use Them With My Mobile?

Today's VPNs are incredibly versatile, and you'll love using them from home, at work, and while traveling—especially while traveling. Rearranging your vacation to place a specific sportsbook bet, say on the Super Bowl, is a thing of the past with VPNs. Connect from anywhere, ensure your VPN is set to your home country, and bet easily. The bottom line, you're wondering? VPNs are perfect for vacation wagers, home internet security, and everything in between.

Yes, you can expect a VPN to work with your mobile phone and other devices, although some services limit how many devices you may connect. Yes, we said service: Many VPNs require you to purchase access, although, in our experience, it's worth it. However, you'll also find free options, as you'll learn in the coming paragraphs. Regardless of whether you choose a paid VPN or a free one, however, there are plenty of other factors to consider when making the decision. Below, learn more about the top seven things you should look for before making your pick.

Seven Things to Look for in Your First VPN

Now that you understand why you might want to use a VPN, it's time to consider which one will work best for your needs. The entries below are the seven must-haves when choosing a VPN, whether focusing on cost, servers, or something in between.

We're sure your most burning question is whether you can access VPNs for free or have to pay for the services. The answer is both. Seriously. Free VPNs limit usage time, though, and you won't find as many server options as you will when paying for the service.
- Assuming you choose a paid VPN, remember that the monthly subscription rate, often topping $15, is a ripoff when purchasing the service for one or three years at a time comes with a deep discount. If you take anything from this article, make it this advice: Don't pay monthly for VPN plans when annual or better options are available.
The number of locations available, also called servers, is a primary concern of casino goers, as you often need to choose a precise location to connect to your favorite casino. For instance, if you're an American who prefers Aussie casinos, you'll want to ensure that the VPN you choose does, in fact, connect to Australia. Typically, as you'll learn below, most paid VPNs have many servers in many countries, but often also within specific cities and states in those countries.
Your VPN should not limit bandwidth without additional payment. For instance, a VPN with such restrictions may only allow you to access a certain amount of information before requiring you to add funds. Don't fall for it—instead, choose a VPN subscription that charges periodically rather than for the amount of data you consume. Streaming, for example, can become difficult with a VPN that limits bandwidth. Read the fine print to ensure you know what your service provides.
Speed is of the utmost importance when selecting a VPN because the extra layer of security comes with a cost: It doesn't run as fast as your typical internet or 5G. Free VPNs often slow speeds by up to 30 percent, which is considerable, especially when uploading. If you're producing VPN-worthy content, you'll want to get it online before someone else does—make sure your VPN's speed is up to the job.
Ease of use and installation are additional considerations when choosing your paid VPN. Doing your research helps enormously, allowing you to dive into the service's features before you've spent your money. Most reliable VPNs use an app for computers and mobile devices, ensuring that software management is only a few clicks or taps away. Some, including one of the most widely known services, offer browser add-ons to make the transition seamless. Otherwise, users operate the VPN from the app.
Choose a VPN with a risk-free trial or a money-back guarantee. Companies that stand behind their product aren't afraid to promote their service because they're sure it's quality. Whether it works for you, however, is another story. Sometimes, a VPN doesn't meet your needs. Canceling and claiming your money back from a risk-free guarantee will allow you to find the best fit affordably.
Diving more deeply into how VPNs work, verify your service's protocol to ensure it meets your needs. Unsure of what we're talking about? There are three main protocols, or rulesets, surrounding how VPNs function, and each meets a specific need. Below, learn more about them all.
- When you see a service with OpenVPN listed as its protocol, you'll know you're looking at the most secure type of VPN. Virtually nothing can penetrate this impervious protection.
- If you notice that your VPN uses the IKEv2/IPSec protocol, grab your phone: This is the perfect option for mobile users. Do you enjoy betting on the go? This protocol's swift detection of network changes makes it easy to stay in the game.
- The WireGuard protocol is widely known for its accessibility and speed. Easy to use and functioning faster than you would imagine, this protocol is the go-to for users with basic VPN needs.

Do I Ever Need a VPN to Bet in My Own Country? Why?

Once again, we return to security as a determining factor when deciding whether or not to use a VPN in your own country. Early online casinos were sometimes shady, for lack of a better phrasing, but those days are mostly over. Outside threats are far more likely to end your online betting experience negatively than the casinos themselves, but protecting yourself is still a great idea.

VPNs, especially those reliable services that don't log user activity, are also excellent at concealing your betting habits should the need arise. While we always promote doing things honestly and legally, there may be times when you don't necessarily want a record of what you've been doing. Simply put, VPNs allow you to entertain yourself in questionable locations and make it easier to keep your betting preferences to yourself. If you value a high level of privacy, you'll want to use a VPN in your country.

VPN Use Among Gamblers Living in the United States

"Real" or government-regulated casinos with physical locations are popular among American bettors, but each state's right to set gambling laws means that not every U.S. citizen can play. To clarify, bettors in nearly all 50 states can legally play at offshore online casinos like Ignition, but gamblers who want to wager on platforms like BetMGM must live in a state with legalized online gambling. Sports betting and poker join online slots, blackjack, and roulette at such establishments to entertain residents of specific states. Still, it's crucial to note the difference between offshore and state-regulated casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms. While both may hold licenses, offshore betting is a wild west compared to the state's strictly regulated platforms. That said, it's both safe to play and smart to use a VPN at either type of casino.

Where can I Gamble Legally? Will I Need a VPN?

Since the U.S. has relatively complex gaming laws, we thought we'd touch on legality again and discuss the differences between offshore and domestic, state-regulated casinos. Standard online casinos, those that have been on the web for years, are considered offshore and may or may not welcome players from your country, in this case, the U.S. That said, all players in the U.S. who want to wager offshore can do so unless they live in Washington State; federal law doesn't prohibit the practice. The same cannot be said about casinos licensed by the state.

Online gambling at casinos operating within the U.S. is not nearly as accessible as its offshore counterpart, as bettors must live in the state where they plan to wager. Legal online gambling for Americans may only occur in Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut. If you're outside the borders of the state in which you're betting, a VPN may come in handy. The bottom line: If you're an American on the road who wishes to gamble like you're home, choose a VPN that allows you to select the state to which you connect rather than the country exclusively.

VPNs, Free Casino Chips, and Deposit Bonuses

Casino bonuses are often one of the reasons players first seek a VPN, but claiming promos is tricky if you're playing in a restricted country. Travelers and the like can easily use their VPN to claim the promos available at their favorite casinos. Those betting from a legal gray area should remember that the casino may not even accept the deposit, let alone award a deposit bonus to bettors in a restricted region. However, casinos featuring free no-deposit bonus chips may be another story; we've successfully used a VPN to claim that free cash—but the downside is that you can't complete a withdrawal even if you manage to hit the wagering requirements. Regardless of why you use a VPN, knowing how to use one is essential. Read on for details.

Selecting Your VPN Subscription

While you're now aware that VPNs provide a fantastic layer of extra security and can help you access websites otherwise blocked in your location, did you know there are countless paid services from which to choose? While we won't dive into them all here, we urge our readers to complete their research before starting. Information, including the details on this page, is your best friend when selecting a VPN.

Putting it Together: How to Bet Using a VPN

Now that you know more about VPNs than you ever imagined possible, you'll need to know what steps to take to secure your online experiences. Whether searching for a VPN to bet on the big game, connect to a poker room from another country, or spin the reels, gambling is among the best reasons to use such a service. Below, review our steps for getting started with your first VPN.

Choose your service, pay the subscription fee, and download the software. While free VPNs are fine for casual users, paid options are better for those who want to bet or even use the service continuously.
Find the server you wish to use for your online gaming experience. After installing the software, choose the country or state to which you must connect to play.
The last step is to enjoy your extra-secure gaming experience, taking advantage of all the perks of using a VPN to connect. Once you reach the casino, it's literally all fun and games. Experiencing problems? Try changing the server to a different location and revisit the casino.

VPNs: Keeping the Internet's Entertainment Accessible

Choosing to use a VPN to connect to an online casino, sportsbook, or even a streaming service when traveling abroad is an easy way to access the entertainment you crave the most. Not only are VPNs incredible for gaming, watching, and other amusing activities, but they're also fantastic for maintaining your online security. Whether you're betting, banking, or just being careful, VPNs make internet use infinitely safer. Install yours today.