iGaming is becoming more popular around the world with each passing year. For those who are new to the term, iGaming involves any form of online game that includes gambling. Sports betting, online casinos, online poker, and betting on eSports are all forms of iGaming. However, there are still many regions around the world where iGaming is not easily accessible.
One of the options for those who want to participate in iGaming but find they are restricted due to their location is the use of VPNs. The question is, do VPNs really work for iGaming?
What is a VPN?
VPN is an acronym for virtual private network and can be used to access the internet via a private and secure connection.
The benefit of using a VPN is that it can hide your IP address and keep your personal details safe. An internet protocol or IP address is what identifies a specific device when it is using the internet. An IP address contains location information and shows from where you are accessing the internet. A VPN works by hiding your IP address and instead, you access the internet using an IP address provided by the VPN.
So, instead of your browsing details, including which websites you are visiting, being accessible to your internet service provider, this information is blocked and no one will be able to determine where you are using the internet.
Why a VPN Could Be Useful for iGaming
Having understood how VPNs work, it soon becomes clear how they could be used for iGaming. If you live in an American state where you have no access to online casinos or sportsbooks, you could try using a VPN.
If you set a VPN host for a state where iGaming is regulated or for a different country where online gambling is available, you could access iGaming websites that are usually blocked. Online gambling companies can only offer their services where it is legal to do so and that means obtaining a license from the regulator of that state or country. It should be understood, you must never break the law when iGaming and you should fully understand the regulations when deciding if you are going to use a VPN to access a gambling website.
One of the many benefits of using a VPN for iGaming is you can access games from other countries that may not be readily available in your own. In addition, if you are based in the US and travel to a different country, you could use a VPN to access an online casino or sportsbook from your state while you are away. As highlighted in the section above, VPNs are also great for protecting personal information and if you want to gamble online but not give up any of your own information, using a VPN is an option.
Will Using a VPN for iGaming Always Work?
In Principle, using a VPN for iGaming has many benefits, including masking your location and keeping your personal information private. However, many online sportsbooks and casinos have taken steps to prevent people from accessing their services using a VPN. FanDuel sportsbooks for example is only available in a handful of US states and is not accessible with a VPN. FanDuel is expected to go live in new states throughout 2023 and beyond but at the time of writing, if you reside in a state where FanDuel is not legal, even using a VPN is not going to help.
However, when iGaming with a VPN, you will receive all the regular features and benefits of using a VPN. The benefits include a hidden IP address and encrypted internet security. A VPN will not speed up the iGaming experience or improve your internet connection. You must ensure VPNs are legal to use in your country and iGaming providers will not ban you should it become apparent you are using a VPN to access their services.
