It can be a good way to gain access to stuff…but, it’s not always the best idea for real money gambling.

Good Sunday evening, everyone! I hope you had a good week (or are having a good start to your week, if you’re someone who considers Sunday to be the start of the week😝). As you can see from the title of this latest post of mine, I’m in the mood to cover the popularly searched for VPN casino topic.  

Wondering what I mean by VPN casino? Allow me to explain.

“VPN Casino” isn’t a type of casino. It is a commonly searched keyword by players who want to know how to access casino sites that are banned in their physical location. Using a VPN service can be an ideal way to access online casinos, or any other sites, services, and content that is blocked in your region, by masking your computer’s IP address.

Personally, I do subscribe to a VPN service, I do use it on occasion, and I have previously (and sometimes still do) use it to gain access to online casinos.

If you’re wondering why I use it, if you don’t know what a VPN is, if you don’t know how to use it, or if you’re wondering if it’s safe to use at an online casino – this VPN casino post is for you.

VPN Casino Info – The What, Why, How, and Should You Use It

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.

• Virtual – connection is fully digital.

• Private – encrypted connection where no one can see your data or browsing history, allowing for greater autonomy.

• Network – multiple devices (your computer and the VPN server) work together to maintain an established link.

Essentially, a VPN works by establishing a digital connection between your computer/mobile device and a remote server owned by a VPN provider. A point-to-point encrypted tunnel is created that hides your personal data, masks your IP (Internet Protocol) address, and allows you to bypass website firewalls and blocks on the internet. A VPN keeps your online experience private and protected, providing better security.   

Why players might use a VPN for online casino access

There are different reasons why people choose or prefer an online casino VPN option. Some of these include:

• Online gambling is not available or allowed in their jurisdiction.
• They want to play a game that is not available at a casino in their region.
• They want to play at a certain casino brand.
• They want to play anonymously.

For the most part, online casino players who use a VPN to play, do so to bypass geographic restrictions and firewalls and for improved privacy and security.

How to get a VPN

To get a VPN, you’ll first need to choose a VPN service provider. There are both free and paid services, and hundreds to choose from.

While using a free VPN service might sound like the most ideal option, these services tend to be less reliable than those you pay for, offer limited features (fewer locations, no rotating IP addresses, etc.), and not all of them are safe. Most free VPNs will provide you with only a small taste of the full service that’s locked behind a paywall. The best free VPNs will offer you the most basic level of protection. Still, no free service will provide you with the advantages a premium VPN service will.

For this reason, if you genuinely plan on using a VPN for online casino destinations regularly, it would likely be in your best interest to purchase a service to ensure you’re getting the best and most reliable services and protection.

When choosing a VPN, some factors to consider include:

• Device compatibility – Not all VPNs work with every operating system and some work better with some over others. Check to make sure that the VPN provider will work with the operating system you plan to use to access online casinos.
  
• Security features –Privacy and security are a must. Look for VPNs that offer high encryption protocols (e.g., AES-256), no-logs policy, and secure tunneling.

• Server locations – If you have VPN casino plans, select a provider with a variety of servers located all over the world. This will allow you to gain access to iGaming sites from a variety of regions.

• Connection speed – Select a VPN that offers high-speed connections. The last thing you want is a gaming experience that lags or the connection drops frequently.

• Customer support – Just like when playing at an online casino, customer support is important, especially if you pay for the VPN service. A premium product should come with premium customer service that can answer your questions and resolves issues promptly.

• Cost – If you plan to purchase a VPN service, find out precisely what you’re getting and make sure that you feel the value of what is being offered makes sense to the price you’re paying. It’s also a good idea (when possible) to pick a provider that offers a trial period and/or money-back guarantee.

• Reputation and user reviews – Investigate the company providing the VPN to see if its reputable and well liked by users. Researching reviews can go a long way in helping you to decide which provider might be best for online gambling and whatever else you might want to use the service for.

Examples of VPN services

Ther are hundreds of VPN providers. To give you an idea of what’s out there, here’s a list of 10 VPN service providers I commonly see mentioned in top lists:

• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ProtonVPN
• ExpressVPN
• Private Internet Access
• CyberGhost
• PureVPN
• PrivadoVPN
• Windscribe
• Mullvad

Personally, I use Private Internet Access* and I pay for it. I like what it offers, and I haven’t had issues with it. That said, if you’d like to know more about Private Internet Access or any of the other service providers I listed (plus others), as well as info about free ones, you can find awesome info and great reviews in TechRadar’s The best free VPN in 2024 article.

Whenever you’ve decided on a VPN provider, download the app, sign up (and pay if you’re going the premium route). Once you’ve verified your account and you’re logged in, you should be good to go.

How to use a VPN to sign up at an online casino

To sign up at an online casino using a VPN, you’ll need to complete the casino’s registration form as per usual to create a player account. The only major difference is that you’ll be logged into the VPN service you’re using when you do.  Here’s how to sign up at an online casino with a VPN, based on my own experience.

Once you’re signed up and verified, you should be able to make a deposit and begin playing. Just remember to keep the VPN connected for as long as you play.

Issues with using a VPN for Casinos

If you intend to engage in VPN casino activity to bypass geo-restrictions and gamble with real money, you should know that this does come with potential problems and risks.

• Verifying your identity – The biggest issue you’ll likely face is clearing identity verification.  Most online casinos – especially the reputable kind – have KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols in place. This means the casino will require you to prove that you are who you say you are, sometimes before you play or before making a withdrawal. They do this by requesting you upload personal documents and checking the info on these documents against the details you provided to create your account. If you entered fake credentials (e.g., address, name, etc.) to sign up, you won’t pass the verification and will likely be banned from the casino.

• Breach of terms – If you’re using a VPN to sidestep the casino’s blocks and firewalls, you’re most certainly in breach of its terms and conditions.  As such, if you claim bonuses and attempt to withdraw any winnings, should the casino discover you’re using a VPN, you’ll most likely be banned. If you’re super unlucky and caught playing at a restricted casino, you might even face fines, penalties, or criminal charges.

• Performance and connectivity issues – VPN’s route your internet connection through a remote server. Sometimes, this can slow down your overall connection speed, resulting in latency and an unstable connection. Experiencing delays, lags, or a drop in connection can make your iGaming experience far less enjoyable and frustrating.

• Losing disputes, especially to disreputable operators – If an issue arises when you play, such as not being able to withdraw winnings, not receiving your money, etc., you might be out of luck in getting the problem resolved or even getting your money, due to accessing the casino through a VPN. Although a VPN may offer you higher protection and security, this doesn’t mean that where you play offers you player protection and security.

Can online casinos detect VPNs?

Yes, some can. Depending on the security and tracking tools a gambling operator uses, they may be able to track and identify multiple connections from the same IP addresses.  

However, there are also online casinos that don’t care if their customers use VPNs. Usually, those casinos have low security, don’t run KYC checks, and aren’t big on player protection.

Is using a VPN to gamble at an online casino legal?

In general, it’s considered legal if gambling (and the specific type of gambling you’re using it for) is allowed in your country or region.

However, it’s considered to be unethical and illegal to use a VPN to access gambling sites that restrict your county\region of if gambling is not legal where you live.

VPN Casino Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Access to online casinos blocked in your location

✅ Play other games and access unique content

✅ Improved privacy and security

Cons

❌ Performance and/or connectivity problems

❌ Breach of online casino terms and conditions

❌ Possible legal issues

Should you use a VPN for online casino real money gambling?

I wouldn’t, but that’s entirely up to you.

While I do use a VPN on occasion to demo slot games I can’t play in Ontario, I don’t use it to play real money games.  For me, it’s just not worth the risk of getting banned, getting myself (and/or the operator) into legal trouble, or somehow winding up in a dispute that would result in me not getting money I’ve won or not having a deposit returned. Of course, I have the advantage of living in a location where online gambling is legal and regulated. Would I take the risk if I didn’t? I honestly don’t know. I suppose it all depends on how much I really wanted to try real money online gambling.

All in all, I’d say the wisest course of action would be to do your homework about online casino VPN options, including the best payment method to use and the reputation of the casino, and then weigh the pros and cons to determine if the risk is worth it to you.

Already had a VPN casino real money experience? What was it like and how did it go? Did you run into any issues?

Until next time, good luck and have fun.

Mia 👩‍💻

* I am not affiliated with Private Internet Access.

** All links and images in this post are for informational purposes only.