Does using a VPN help you gamble in a restricted jurisdiction?

March 13, 2018 by David Nugent

VPN software are getting a lot of traction for a number of reasons as more and more people and organizations across the globe start to use VPNs for their internet activity.

Do VPNs have a place in online gambling? If so, how can it be used and what are the advantages it offers?

Before we get to VPNs and online gambling, lets understand what VPN software are in essence and what exactly it is that they can do for you.

What is a VPN and how does it work?

The Internet for the most part is an unsecure network. What you need to know is that your internet service provider can track all of your online activity, your behaviors and trends online, and even sell this information to other companies who can then bombard you with targeted, niche advertisements for products that they think you might be interested in based on your online activity, searches, etc.

It does not take too much to realize that this is actually a gross violation of your privacy. Furthermore, depending on your location (IP address), your government can enforce your ISP to restrict you from visiting certain websites and so on. While there is a lot happening in terms of the net neutrality movement right now, this will basically continue to be how it is for at least the foreseeable near future. Unless, you use a VPN!

A VPN is a virtual proxy network which can essentially mask your network traffic and the data that you send or receive over the internet. A VPN achieves this by creating an impenetrable tunnel through which your data travels in an otherwise unsecure network. Furthermore, your data is also encrypted and encapsulated in such a way that was someone able to intercept it, it would quite simply be indecipherable gibberish without the right encryption keys. This way, you can keep your online activity private, secure and even safe from potential hackers and cyber criminals.

Furthermore, a lot of VPN software is also able to reroute your IP address from a different location. What this means is that when you make a request for a site xyz.com (which, for example, let’s say is banned/restricted in your country), the VPN can mask your IP address to make it look like the request came from a completely different location (a whole new country altogether) and this way, Voila! You can now access a website which is supposedly restricted or banned!

What are the advantages of using a VPN?

Apart from the fundamental and primary purposes that a VPN software serves, there are actually a lot more advantages to using a VPN. As mentioned, a VPN primarily secures your data, keeps it private and also helps you access websites and services which may be restricted based upon location and this is where it becomes especially handy for the online gambler.

However, other advantages to using a VPN includes, but is not limited to

  • Financial savings – Rids users of costs associated with leased lines, long distance phone calls and support costs.
  • Network scalability – While making an organization network vacuumed, isolated and secure may be manageable in terms of cost and maintenance at first, it can become exponentially more expensive and messy as the network grows. However, with a VPN, you can just completely eradicate the cost and maintenance problem altogether.

How VPN can help online gamblers?

Online gambling is restricted and outlawed in several countries across the world. However, in order to actually enforce the restriction, ISPs go ahead and block websites depending on your IP address/location. However, with right use of the right VPN, you can remotely access your favorite online casino or casinos without any restrictions through some random server somewhere else in the world wherein there is no restriction or ban in place.

Furthermore, another inherent advantage of using a VPN is that your activity and identity online will remain anonymous. Which of course is something most if not all online gamblers prefer.

How to choose a good VPN for your gambling needs

VPN GamblingBecause of the high demand for free VPN software from both small businesses and individuals, there is certainly no shortage of VPN software up for grabs. However, given that a lot many people are not sure how to screen VPNs and tell the good ones from the not so good ones or the downright useless ones, there do exist a lot of VPN software out there which are just complete duds and do nothing.

In fact, it is sad that some people actually even pay to download such software which does absolutely nothing for them apart from leaving them completely frustrated and unable to enjoy their favorite online casinos without interruption.

This is why it is important that online gamblers who are intending to use VPNs for online gambling know how to screen VPNs and assess what is best for their use.

Geo relocations – While many VPNs do offer secure casual browsing, they don’t, however, provide geo relocation. If you are trying to workaround the problem of accessing a restricted online casino in your jurisdiction then without geo relocation the VPN is pretty much useless for you. Therefore, it is vital that you check to ensure that the VPN you are about to download and configure offers geo relocation.

Anonymity – coming back to anonymity, if you are serious about protecting your online gambling activity and any other online activity and identity for that matter, then you should of course use a VPN. But the problem is that a lot of VPNs which promise anonymity doesn’t actually deliver on its promise. In fact, some VPN software themselves log everything you do online while connected through the VPN – Ironically!

Ergo, it is important to do your research and actually spend some time considering your options and choosing the best VPN for you and your online gambling. Some of the questions you need to consider while selecting a VPN are – What protocols does the VPN support? How many servers does the company have that you can use and where are these servers located? (it is always better to have a options all over the world). How many concurrent connections are allowed? (if you are someone who plays on online casinos on more than one device then you certainly want a VPN service which allows more than just one connection). Does it have a kill switch system? (If anonymity is important to you, then it is of course imperative that your VPN does not crash on you while you are in the middle of sensitive activity, maybe making a deposit to your casino, and dump all of your traffic and information out onto the unsecured network for any script kiddie to pick up).

All in all, investing a little time in terms of reading reviews of VPNs and investing money in terms of actually paying for a high-quality VPN software you will find is the most solid, fool proof approach and is actually worth it in the long run.

Now that you know how you can use a VPN and geo relocation to access restricted online casinos, go ahead and enjoy endless, uninterrupted online gaming!

David Nugent Editor

First off, I want to say hi and wish a warm welcome to all gambling aficionados out there! My name is David Nugent and I am editor-in-chief of LegitGambling.com. I have always enjoyed various sports, primarily soccer, as I am a die-hard Everton fan.

Over time, I learned more about sports betting and discovered the fascinating online gambling industry. Eventually,...

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Eric
Eric
4 years ago

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