Our Ultimate Guide to Using a VPN at Online Casinos

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about using a VPN at online casinos! (Image from Petter Lagson on Unsplash.com)

As you know, most online casinos will restrict access and deny membership from players in certain countries. You only have to check the terms and conditions on most platforms to see a long list of countries that are restricted from using their services. Licensing laws and regulations set out by regulatory bodies ensure that online casinos only accept players they are legally allowed to.

However, for some, using a VPN has become an easy way to circumvent these restrictions. Players can sign up and play at an online casino while keeping their correct location anonymous. A virtual private network provider gives you access to an encrypted network of computers that you can use to mask your true IP address and instead use another located in another country.

So, is this a good idea? What are the legalities involved? Will the online casinos ever find out you’re using a VPN? We will answer these questions and many more in this comprehensive guide on using VPNs at online casinos. You will learn how VPNs work, how you can use them to play at casinos that restrict players from your casino, the pros and cons of using a VPN, and about some of the better VPN providers on the market.

In this guide, we will tell you all about VPNs, how you can theoretically use them to access casinos and games that are restricted in your country, and list the pros and cons of using a VPN for that purpose. Plus, we will give you our own recommendations on the best VPN providers currently available.

What is a VPN?

A VPN (a virtual private network) gives you an encrypted connection to a network of servers that you can use to surf the internet anonymously. Once connected, your surfing activity is completely private from your ISP, government agencies, and anyone else that wants to track what you’re doing. When connecting to these networks, you use an encrypted tunnel that protects all the data sent between it and your home computer or mobile device.

Once connected, you can choose one of hundreds or even thousands of servers to connect to and assume their identity. When you surf the internet, connect to online casinos, or use streaming sites, they only see the IP address of the server you’re connected to and not the device or computer you’re using. As you’re connecting from servers in other countries, this means that you can circumvent geo-restrictions used by certain sites. Online casinos use these geo-restrictions to block players from certain countries from using their services.

As an example, let’s say you’re based in Canada and you want to connect to an online casino in the UK that is licensed by the UKGC. When you try to do this using your IP address, a screen will probably greet you that tells you’re trying to connect from a restricted country. However, if you connect to your VPN and choose a UK server, and then try connecting to that casino, you bypass the restrictions as you’re now using a UK IP address.

VPNs are often used to get around geo-restrictions so that users can connect to Netflix, the BBCi Player, and other sites that only accept visitors from certain countries. They’re also used to hide online activity such as downloading torrents. Plus, the added security of a VPN makes them extremely useful when using unprotected public networks such as Wi-Fi hotspots.

How Does a Using a VPN at Online Casinos Work?

Using a VPN is an easy and cost-effective way to protect your online activity. As long as you use a reputable VPN provider, everything that you do online when using the VPN is completely anonymous. Even your internet service provider does not know about the websites you’re visiting. Instead of using your IP address, you’re taking control of another via a server located elsewhere.

This is possible because of the encrypted tunnel the VPN provides. Your computer sends and receives data via a tunnel that is encrypted. At the other end of that tunnel is the server you wish to connect to. Once you decide to surf the internet, you’re technically doing so via that server. Any websites you connect to will see the IP address of that server and not your own. So when you connect to an online casino using a VPN, it assumes you’re a user from the country your chosen server is located.

Most leading VPN providers also have features such as a kill switch. This stops your computer from automatically connecting to your default internet connection if your VPN connection drops. Without one, that connection might drop without your knowledge, and while you’re browsing and playing at the casino, it will change to your standard connection. Obviously, IP detection at the casino will see this activity and know that you were using a VPN. This could result in your account and funds being seized. A kill switch prevents this from happening. If you lose your VPN connection, your computer does not connect using any other connection until you tell it to.

As a VPN will obscure your location and encrypt your connection, it makes them a good tool if there is an online casino you want to play at that restricts access to people in your country. However, while using a VPN is a good way to get around the geo-restrictions, a casino may have in place, there are risks you need to be aware of. As we take you through this guide on using a VPN at an online casino, we will explain those risks to you.

Note: Using a VPN to connect and play at online casinos is not something that we condone or recommend if it could be deemed as illegal. Instead, use a VPN at an online casino when online gambling is legal in your country and when using it is not against any of the terms and conditions set out by the casino itself.

How Can a VPN Benefit Online Casino Players?

The initial benefits are obvious, as you could connect to a casino that you wouldn’t be able to in normal circumstances. You might want to claim a no deposit bonus that is not available in your region, for example. With a VPN, you essentially have free reign over the online casinos you can connect to. If you’re a player in New Zealand, and you want to connect to a casino that is restricted to New Zealand players, you can simply connect from a country that is not restricted.

The other advantage is the added security when making transactions, as even hackers will struggle to snoop the data packets sent between your device and the network. This adds an extra layer of protection on top of the top-notch security that online casinos and payment processors already use to protect your transactions.

In some cases, you may even experience improved speeds when using a VPN. This is not always the case, but sometimes the route that a VPN takes to reach your target website is better than the one set out by your ISP. This could ensure a more stable connection and, therefore, improved performance when playing your favourite slots, virtual table games, and live casino titles.

While using VPNs to circumvent geo-restrictions at online casinos opens up new opportunities for you, it is not something we advise you to do. Most of our readers will have plenty of online casinos they can access legally, so we strongly recommend sticking to those. You just need to read our casino reviews to establish the options you have at your disposal!

The Disadvantages of Using a VPN at Online Casinos

While the benefits of using a VPN at online casinos are obvious, you also have to consider some disadvantages too. For one, most online casinos prohibit the use of a VPN to connect to their services, so if you’re ever discovered, you’ll lose your account and any funds associated with it. While it is difficult to detect that somebody is using a VPN, it is still possible if the IP address of VPN servers become known to the casino. Online casinos commonly use VPN blocking software that can detect when you’re using a VPN to connect.

Another issue is that many online casinos will want you to verify your identity at some point. This might be before withdrawing or when you have reached a certain withdrawal milestone. While you can use a fake address when signing up, during verification processes, you will have to prove your identity and address.
Making deposits and withdrawals is also not always straightforward when using a VPN. If you’re connected to a VPN when using bank cards or some eWallets, your transactions might get blocked or your accounts suspended. A workable alternative is using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple, although not all online casinos accept cryptocurrencies.

If you’re going to use a VPN at an online casino, it is important to understand the risks you’re taking. While you can access casinos you normally cannot, it is not always plain sailing. VPN blockers could identify you while transacting with the casinos will present additional obstacles.

Our Recommendations of the Best VPN Providers

Similar to online casinos, not all VPN providers are the same. There are dozens of them to choose from, but not all of them are as reputable or trustworthy as others. Therefore, we have put together a list of four of the best known top-rated VPN providers that will give you the anonymity that you seek when going online.

NordVPN

NordVPN is widely regarded as the top dog in the VPN industry. It has been in operation since 2005 and provides you with a choice of other 5,000 servers scattered around over 60 countries. This provider is also recognised as offering some of the fastest connection speeds in the industry and numerous handy features, including a kill switch, double encryption, and DNS leak protection.

While this is one of the more expensive options (though it gets cheaper over longer subscriptions) at your disposal, you’re paying for total anonymity. The VPN does not keep logs of your activity, so even if forced to share data with a governmental agency, it cannot, as it keeps no records at all. This is probably your best option, especially if you plan to use the VPN for other tasks, such as streaming Netflix movies from other regions.

The best price for NordVPN is for a 2-year subscription paid upfront. It works out as:

• The UK: £2.44 per month
• Ireland: €2.92 per month
• Everywhere else: $3.29 per month

While NordVPN does not offer a free trial like some other providers, it does at least give you a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is a great way to test the VPN for a month before deciding. This is a no-questions asked guarantee, so whatever plan you signed up for, you will get your money back no matter what the reason is.

ExpressVPN

While NordVPN is considered the best, ExpressVPN is not too far behind. It is another name that is well-established in the industry and one that we have no problem recommending. You can connect to over 3,000 servers in 96 countries, meaning you’ll never have issues connecting to the best online casinos.

This is one of the most user-friendly options at your disposal and thanks to its high success rate at beating geo-restrictions, this is perfect for those that also want to use the VPN for other activities, such as watching popular streaming services. As for the security offered at ExpressVPN, it is second to none. The provider does not keep any activity logs and offers features such as split tunnelling, a kill switch, and private encrypted DNS on every server.

The best price for ExpressVPN is for a 15-month (+3 months free) subscription paid upfront. It works out as:

• The UK: £6.48 per month
• Ireland: €7.59 per month
• Everywhere else: $8.32 per month

Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, as you can from comparing the prices of the two, even on the cheapest subscription, ExpressVPN is over double the monthly price and for fewer months.

CyberGhost

A popular choice for many is CyberGhost, a VPN provider that offers a lot of bang for back. For some of the cheapest prices you’ll find on this list, you get access to an eye-watering 7,000+ servers spread across 91 countries. If you sign up for a longer subscription, you could get prices that work out as low as €/£/$ 2 per month.

Another positive is a 45-day money-back guarantee that lets you try the VPN for a month and a half with the option of getting your money back with no questions asked. It might not have as many security features as some other leading VPN providers, but CyberGhost is excellent value for money nonetheless.

The best price for CyberGhost is for a 3-year subscription paid upfront. It works out as:

• The UK: £1.59 per month
• Ireland: €1.89 per month
• Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa: $2.15 per month
• Australia: AU$2.95 per month
• India: ₹159 per month

CyberGhost also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee that is longer than that of the two previously mentioned VPNs. It is also the cheapest of them all on this page. Additionally, it offers you a free trial of 24 hours for a desktop device and 48 hours for mobile devices.

SurfShark

Like CyberGhost, SurfShark is another that offers very competitive pricing. If you sign up for a two-year subscription, you’re not going to pay much more than €/£/$ 2 per month. That is great value when you consider you will have to pay 5 or 6 times that if you purchase it on a month by month basis.

This VPN provider offers 3,200 servers in 65 countries, which is the lowest on this list. However, that is probably more than enough for most of you. Plus, you get many of the standard security features such as the option of using various encryption protocols and a kill switch that cuts your connection whenever your internet drops. Probably one of the biggest standouts is that it lets you connect from an unlimited number of devices, which is great if you have a large family. There is no free trial offered by SurfShark but you can test it out via a 30-day money-back guarantee which is essentially the same thing.

The best price for SurfShark is for a 2-year subscription (+3 months free) paid upfront. It works out as:

• The UK: £1.68 per month
• Ireland: €1.96 per month
• Canada: C$2.81 per month
• New Zealand: NZ$3.26 per month
• South Africa: $2.21 per month
• Australia: AU$3.10 per month
• India: ₹167.32 per month

SurfShark’s prices are comparable to CyberGhost, which makes it a great option if you’re after bang for buck. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test out its speed, features, and reliability.