VPN-Friendly Casinos: The Best VPN Online Casinos 2024
VPNs have become synonymous with the idea of enhanced privacy and safety online. However, many online casinos ban their use, and even those which haven't are pretty strict about players hailing from restricted countries using one. In this article, we list the best VPN-friendly casinos, how to identify a casino that doesn't allow VPNs, and more!
- What Are VPNs?
- The Top Online Casinos That Tolerate VPNs in 2024
- When Does It Make Sense To Use a VPN?
- The Pros of Using VPN-Friendly Casinos
- The Cons of Using VPN-Friendly Casinos
- What Makes a Good VPN Service?
- How To Choose the Best VPN Service
- Using a VPN for Online Gambling
- Is Using a VPN Service to Gamble at Online Casinos Legal?
- Other Methods To Ensure Data Security
- How To Identify a Casino That Doesn't Allow a VPN
- The Best VPN-Friendly Casinos
- How Casinos Detect VPN Use
- VPN & Proxy Detection Tools
- VPNs and Crypto Casinos: The Ultimate One-Two Punch!
- Countries That Don’t Allow VPNs
- Our Verdict on Using VPNs With Online Casinos
- VPN-Friendly Casinos FAQs
- Sources
What Are VPNs?
VPNs are Virtual Private Networks that allow users to disguise their IP address and in turn, completely change their geographic location. The need for such a tool came about due to websites having content that is only accessible to visitors from specific countries, hence blocking visitors from certain parts of the world altogether.
By masking their real IP, a VPN makes a user look like they are playing from a different location, allowing them the site's full range of content.
The Top Online Casinos That Tolerate VPNs in 2024
- Absolutely no restrictions on VPN use
- Super responsive live chat
- Slot tournaments
- Tolerates VPN
- Open since 2017
- Instant processing time for withdrawals
- VPN is allowed, with the exception of restricted countries
- Over 3,000 games
- Great software providers
When Does It Make Sense To Use a VPN?
There are several different reasons why online casinos and sports betting users might want to use a VPN. Here are some of them:
You might be able to access an online casino, but some of the games might be missing because of where you are playing from. Or, due to your location, you may find the site is blocked altogether, even if online gambling is legal in your country.
This is usually down to licensing rules in different regions, as licences from the likes of Curaçao Gaming only permit sites to operate in certain countries.
Some countries have outright banned online gambling with few or no exceptions, such as the UAE. In countries where players are banned, VPNs make it possible for you to still gamble online. This is not really recommended but, if you decide to go ahead with it anyway, please do check what the penalties are in your country, as it isn’t worth a huge fine or a stint in jail.
To gamble online for real money, you must nearly always deposit money first, and in order to claim your winnings later on, you’ll need to make a withdrawal. It’s always good practice using a VPN encryption to secure such actions, particularly if you tend to make bets on your phone using public WiFi.
VPNs can, at times, improve the connection speed of your internet. This might be down to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) throttling your own speed for whatever reason, but a VPN solves this problem by just getting rid of the throttling altogether.
If you gamble online often and are just leaving your country for a short time, then using a VPN is a solid option to keep playing.
However, remember that by doing this you could be putting any winnings you have at risk, and could even see your account shut down.
If you’re considering using a VPN at an online casino, be sure to assess the pros and cons before you go ahead, and know the risks associated.
Also, be careful to choose a good VPN provider that offers a stable and reliable connection.
The Pros of Using VPN-Friendly Casinos
Anonymity
Using a VPN allows players to remain anonymous when visiting online casinos by hiding their IP address or sensitive information.
Data Protection
VPNs make it harder for hackers to target and infiltrate your system because of the strong encryption features they utilise on your network.
The Cons of Using VPN-Friendly Casinos
Casino Restrictions
Some casinos use KYC (Know Your Customer) checks, which will verify your identity and your registration information. This could cause a problem if your IP address doesn’t match because you are using a VPN.
Online casinos are often not 100% on board with players using VPNs because it allows them to circumvent their terms and conditions.
Costs
The best VPNs come at a price, so you will have to pay around €20 to €80 for a solid VPN. There are free ones available, but they might not have as comprehensive an offering of regions to replicate access from as you’d like.
Risks
Most of the time, players using a VPN will not know the exact kind of encryption that is being used by the software and, sometimes, using a VPN may even slow your internet connection down.
Many countries have now banned VPNs, so there could be penalties for using them depending on where you are. Moreover, there are some online casinos that don’t tolerate VPN use, and could ban you for using one or freeze any winnings in your account.
What Makes a Good VPN Service?
There are so many VPN services to choose from and so many providers. So, what makes the right casino VPN for your needs?
Although the cost is an important factor, we should highlight that the best VPN is always the one that protects you from being compromised online. To achieve this goal, your VPN of choice should have the following features:
- Encryption of Protocols and IP address – Encryption is a process through which information is coded and, therefore, secured, in order to prevent unauthorised access. This information can be anything from e-mail addresses to credit card details. Likewise, a good VPN for online casino should encrypt all traces of your activity on the internet, such as search history or cookies. In addition, the most essential aspect is that your IP address remains hidden from your ISP and any third parties. Your activities should only be viewable and accessible to you and the VPN, no one else.
- Kill Switch – A kill switch is practically an emergency measure imposed by a VPN service to keep you protected in case the connection drops unexpectedly. Instead of re-routing you to the nearest internet service provider (and exposing your data and losing all the privacy benefits of a VPN in the process), the service will disconnect you from the internet altogether. So, if you play VPN slots and you lose connection, you will, at worst, lose the progress you’ve made in your gaming session, but your real location won’t get exposed!
- Two-Factor Authentication – Also known as ‘2FA’ for short, this is an extra layer of security predominantly used by financial institutions, but also VPN services. Its purpose is to secure your account further through more than just your login credentials (name, password, e-mail). Depending on the provider, you may be asked to insert a one-time SMS code, biometrics, and so on.
How To Choose the Best VPN Service
So, you’ve finally found a VPN casino that you like: it has great bonuses, features and games, and you’re dying to start out. But, not so fast – before you proceed any further, you should look into a few details first.
With a high-quality VPN service, only you and the provider should see what you’re doing on the internet. Naturally, that means you must find a VPN provider that you can trust. Information is power, so we advise you to always read unbiased VPN reviews on dedicated websites like TrustPilot.
Picking the Right Location For Your VPNThe location of the VPN service provider matters just as much. Some governments may not be able to gain access to your data, even if they have a warrant. This is because the VPNs servers may be outside of their jurisdiction. With this in mind, choose a VPN service based in a tax-free country and which is not part of the 14 Eyes Alliance for Sharing Intelligence¹. The countries which are part of the 14 eyes (and are, therefore, legally allowed to share online data with the other nations) are the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Spain.
Now, let’s look at the must-haves of a VPN for online casino:
The whole purpose of a VPN is to protect your privacy – it’s even written in the name! That means you should ensure that your VPN service of choice doesn’t keep logs or records of your past activity, and doesn’t actively track your current online activity. To get an answer to this, our advice is to read their privacy policy, which is typically available on the VPN service’s official website.
Ideally, your future online casino VPN should run OpenVPN. This is basically an open source VPN project. In plain English, the code and software are public and for all to verify. It’s also widely regarded as the best when it comes to security and privacy.
Depending on your internet usage and speed requirements, this aspect might affect you more. Some VPN services have bandwidth restrictions, while high-quality ones have unmetered bandwidth. It’s a known fact that certain VPN providers will slow down your internet speed during the encryption process, however, as a general rule, it should not be unbearably slow, so you can still play your VPN slots with no errors or delays.
Whether you set your VPN to Malta, Vietnam, or Romania, you should make sure that the remote server is located in that country. This will accurately communicate to all webpages you’re accessing from that particular location.
If you like to play at a VPN casino on the go, make sure your VPN service provider allows you to use it on multiple devices, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Best case scenario, you should be able to run VPNs on all of them simultaneously, as well.
If there are any errors or technical failures and the VPN connection drops, there should be a kill switch in place to safeguard you. If you’re in a public spot, you would be protected by any data leaks that may occur. This is especially important if you were to get re-routed automatically to the nearest internet connection, which may not be secured or password protected.
A casino VPN should not cost a fortune: in fact, you shouldn’t pay more than $4 per device/per month, not even for the very best on the market. Keep an eye out for any promotional offers: many VPN providers make significant discounts if you purchase a yearly subscription. And, of course, take full advantage of the free trial to see if you enjoy the features.
Nothing is more annoying than those pesky ads and pop-ups when you’re trying to browse the internet securely. This is commonly the case with free VPN services, which are notoriously unreliable and often have lax security procedures. If you go for a paid plan, ad blockers should be included by default.
Using a VPN for Online Gambling
The primary reason why you may be tempted to use a VPN for casino gambling is to get unrestricted access to free games, particularly those that may be unavailable in your region. Demo versions of popular games are commonplace on top casino sites, ranging from slots to roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.
However, as you may be aware, once you start to play with real money, win, and attempt to cash out, the online casino will run KYC (Know Your Customer) checks on you. Not only will you have to verify your identity, but also any payment methods used. As such, you won’t be able to pretend you’re in another region – withdrawals will also show up on your bank statement unless you’re using cryptocurrency, an e-wallet, and the likes.
That being said, using a VPN for online casino does come with quite a few perks, most notably:
Is Using a VPN Service to Gamble at Online Casinos Legal?
The legality of VPNs for online gambling is determined by each country’s regulations. For example, in the UK, there are no laws forbidding the use of VPNs for this purpose. However, do keep in mind that most licensed online casinos discourage players from using them.
Often times, in the terms and conditions, you’ll find an explicit mentions that you can only create one account per IP address and that VPN use is not allowed. You may also get blocked from accessing their website altogether, if they identify that you’re on a VPN connection.
Although crypto casinos are often VPN-friendly and could present a good alternative, they may come with other security risks to be aware of. For instance, many of them are either operated independently from offshore locations, or don’t have any licensing or government oversight whatsoever.
If you decide to play from a country where gambling is against the law, you may still run into legal issues, even if you use a VPN. We don’t recommend that you do this, particularly if the potential punishments are serious, such as fines or jail time.
You should make sure that VPN use for gambling purposes is legal in your home country, in the destination country, and anywhere in between, to stay out of any trouble. And, of course, find the right online casino that accepts VPN users.
Other Methods To Ensure Data Security
Casinos Licensed at Reputable Jurisdictions
Playing at online casinos that possess certification from reputable gambling jurisdictions ensures they are operating in accordance with local laws and have practices in place to protect your safety, as well as guarantee data and financial security.
If you see any of the following leading gambling jurisdictions providing licensing for an online casino you are playing at, it is safe to go ahead.
There are many more, especially smaller, regional commissions in the USA. However, for all players, the Malta Gaming Authority and Curaçao licenses are probably the best-established jurisdictions.
No Account Casinos
No account casinos are a popular new option in online gambling, allowing players to get straight into the action without having to register or sign up.
That means you can play real-money casino games without submitting any personal information and maintain your anonymity depending on your banking method.
How To Identify a Casino That Doesn't Allow a VPN
- T&C Check: Always check the terms and conditions of an online casino to see whether they mention their rules and regulations regarding VPNs for casinos. A lot won’t mention it though, so you may need to contact them directly.
- Ask Support: This can be done via their contact support options, with the best online casinos offering live chat 24/7. They sometimes have a contact form online and/or a phone number.
- Email: An email address is usually provided by all online casinos, and this is an easy way of finding out their stance on VPNs.
The Best VPN-Friendly Casinos
Whilst some online casinos have a prohibitive stance on VPN use, others not only allow it, but won’t restrict your access to any bonuses or site features, even if you use a VPN service. So, to help you locate your next online gambling destination easier, we’ve scoured the internet and found three of the best online casinos that allow the use of VPNs:
#1 Fortune Jack
Fortune Jack has no restrictions on VPNs explicitly stated in the terms & conditions. According to customer support, VPNs are neither recommended, nor restricted, so we can classify their stance on VPN use as neutral.
That means you can freely register and play, if you’re from an approved jurisdiction. As an added bonus, the site provides several great perks to get you through the door. For starters, you receive 100 free spins once you verify your account, which have absolutely no wagering requirements. And, if you’re ready to commit to the site long-term, you can unlock a welcome package of up to 6 BTC or 20% unlimited cashback on your first four deposits.
The platform hosts a myriad of Provably Fair games, including not only Plinko, dice, keno and video poker, but also regular casino classics like online slots or table games. It’s also a perfect choice for crypto fans, as it supports deposits and withdrawals in BTC, LTC, DOGE, ETH, and more.
Play at Fortune Jack Casino#2 BitStarz
Our next choice for you is BitStarz, which also has no restrictions on VPN use outlined anywhere in the terms & conditions. Furthermore, our conversation with customer support revealed a closer insight into the platform’s stance on VPNs.
Essentially, BitStarz has no explicit policies against the use of VPN services on their site. However, they can’t guarantee that you will have the same player experience with it, as you would without it. Ultimately, the decision is up to the player.
If you’ve made up your mind that this is the right casino for you, there are many benefits to going through with the registration process. Your first deposit also unlocks a great welcome bonus of 100% up to $400+ 180 Free Spins.
In addition, BitStarz led the way as one of the first Bitcoin casinos, and it’s still a super-friendly crypto platform to this day, with thousands of casino games available (video slots, table games, live casino etc.). Another strong suit of the brand is the responsive customer support, available 24/7. All of your queries get answered in a matter of seconds or minutes at the most.
Play at BitStarz Casino#3 Rocketpot
Rocketpot Casino also has a friendly approach towards VPNs, allowing the use of these services as long as you’re not from a restricted territory. The list of prohibited jurisdictions can be found in the terms & conditions, so you can easily find out if you should proceed with registration or not as a VPN user.
Once the formalities are out of the way, Rocketpot welcomes you with a generous library of 2,500+ titles, including Bitcoin games, live casino, blackjack, roulette and poker. The main highlight, however, are the Rocketpot Originals, which include popular titles on crypto platforms in general, such as Plinko or Crash.
Becoming a regular on Rocketpot is also worth it, as there are many VIP perks in store for the higher-tier players, such as a personal account manager assigned to you, exclusive bonuses, mystery gifts and an instant 5% cashback gift.
Play at Rocketpot CasinoHow Casinos Detect VPN Use
Online casinos have various means of detecting whether you are using a VPN. The most widely used tool is one that detects that the IP address a player is accessing the site through actually belongs to a VPN provider.
They may spot multiple connections from the same VPN server IP address and flag it, or detect multiple IP addresses connected to just one account.
VPN & Proxy Detection Tools
Some casinos use the KYC checks we mentioned earlier to verify the identity of players at their sites. This stops users from abusing welcome bonuses and allows them to see if your IP address has much digital footprint in the country you are accessing from.
Using a VPN at Non VPN-Friendly Casinos
Many online casinos don’t like players circumventing their terms and conditions through a VPN. For instance, most mobile casinos restrict players from using VPNs. Licensing agreements may also cause problems for online casinos regarding players using VPNs.
Using a casino VPN could also allow a player to abuse welcome bonuses that online casinos offer to new players. Online casinos may go as far as banning your account permanently and confiscating your funds.
VPNs and Crypto Casinos: The Ultimate One-Two Punch!
Because cryptocurrency gambling options also offer complete anonymity – both in terms of your identity and geographical location, playing at a VPN-friendly crypto casinos is the most secure option.
VPNs are well-suited to cryptocurrency casinos, which are more likely to accept players who use them as opposed to your usual online casinos. The games available at a crypto casino are likely to be the same for a casino accepting VPNs, too.
If you want to find such a casino, it often pays to look for the crypto gambling sites first as they will probably accept VPN users.
Countries That Don’t Allow VPNs
For your safety and peace of mind, we've gathered a list of various countries that don’t allow the use of VPNs to use as a reference.
China has blocked huge numbers of foreign websites and applications – such as Facebook and Google – from being accessed by people inside the country for years. Since using a VPN can allow users in China to get round this, the country has banned VPN usage except for sites the government has approved.
Known as the ‘Great Firewall of China’, this aggressive stance means it is difficult to find a reliable VPN service in the country because internet censorship is such an established practice.
Russia is a new federation born out of the ashes of the Soviet Union, but it continues to resemble socialism in lots of ways. Especially under President Vladimir Putin, who since his ascent in 1999 has tightly controlled almost all facets of life in Russia. In November 2017, in fact, he passed a law that banned use of VPNs across the country – just one of several moves aimed at increasing the government’s control over how its people access the internet.
Foreign VPN providers in Russia have been forced by the government to blacklist certain websites, which has caused some providers to pull out of operation within the country.
Belarus has a constitution that claims to block censorship, but several laws the country has passed do enforce it. Like a lot of these nations that try to block internet access for their people, they have used the rise of ‘fake news’ as the reason for doing so. In 2016, Belarus moved to block all internet anonymisers, which included VPNs and proxies.
North Korea is run almost completely as an authoritarian government, with Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un at its helm. In 2017, the annual Press Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders ranked the country in last place. Even so, privileged people in North Korea are said to be able to use VPNs to gain new skills.
This isn’t much of a surprise given that internet access and mobile phone service isn’t commonplace in the country, so perhaps not being able to use VPNs here isn’t as impactful as elsewhere.
No media outlets are permitted from outside Turkmenistan, as the government looks to tightly control everything its people are exposed to. Domestic media is highly regulated and, unsurprisingly, people are banned from using any kind of VPN service.
Uganda is slightly different from the other countries in that, in 2018, it decided to tax users who wanted to use social media sites. Despite the tax being low – only 200 Ugandan Shillings (around €0.05) – people in the country resorted to using VPNs to avoid paying it, which led to the government waging war on the VPN providers, as well as blocking their use.
A lack of resources meant Uganda has struggled to totally enforce this block of VPNs, and people still use them in the country.
As part of its defence strategy during their war with ISIS, Iraq banned and restricted many aspects of the internet to its people. This included VPN usage, and even though the war ended years ago and ISIS doesn’t hold the same threat as they once did, the restrictions are still in place.
However, with the state often having contradictory laws, it’s hard to tell whether VPN use is permitted in the country today – censorship is a controversial topic.
Turkey is known for a record of tight censorship, having banned and made illegal usage of VPNs back in 2018. This was part of a string of laws that aimed at restricting residents’ access to certain platforms and information.
The ruling elite has strengthened its control over media outlets and what its people could consume online over the past 14 years, with the remaining broadcast operations largely producing propaganda. Today, Turkey blocks thousands of websites and platforms across the channels of social media, cloud storage, and content networks.
The UAE has amended initial laws to make VPNs illegal, so it is now a crime to use them there. There is a minimum fine of 50,000 dirhams (approximately €125,000) for those who are caught using VPNs, making it a huge risk for almost anyone.
Oman has made it clear that they consider using any form of encryption in communications to be illegal. However, the law is almost impossible to enforce, as it would mean blocking or making access to all websites that use SSL. This, in turn, would make the majority of the internet inaccessible to locals.
Our Verdict on Using VPNs With Online Casinos
Given all the risks associated, you may decide that using a VPN when gambling online just isn’t worth the risk. Even so, some of the benefits are obvious, as a good VPN service allows you to access online casinos in locations where they are usually blocked. VPNs also allow you to play a more comprehensive list of games, as well as protect your sensitive information. You just need to be aware of the risks you are taking when using one.
VPN-Friendly Casinos FAQs
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VPN – a Virtual Private Network – allows your computer to access websites on the internet outside of where you are based and to bypass geotargeting. A VPN service disguises your real IP address, so when a site is accessed, your real location is not shown.
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We have listed 10 recommended VPN-friendly casinos, as well as the welcome offer and special features they come with. Three of the best VPN casinos online include Fortune Jack, Bitstarz, and Rocketpot.
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VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and allows you to access websites outside of where you are situated. They can work on everything from real-money gambling apps to bitcoin casinos.
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You can get a VPN on your iPhone to establish a secure connection between your device and the internet without any technical background. Your data will be redirected through an encrypted tunnel to keep your connection secure.
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Yes, but many online casinos don’t allow you to. They may restrict your access to any winnings or block your account, so if you are looking to use a VPN when visiting online casinos, be sure they permit you to do so first.
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There are lots of different VPN providers and they can be quite different, with the paid ones naturally providing the more comprehensive services. Some of the better VPN providers include NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, BitDefender, and IPVanish.
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If an online casino that bans usage of VPNs detects a player is using one when gambling at their site, they could suspend or terminate their account.
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Maybe. While some online casinos and betting sites aren’t bothered about their players using VPNs, others are. Some use detection measures to decipher whether users are connected to a VPN server when gambling at their sites, but some VPNs (such as those using superior cloaking technology) can actually bypass these detection measures.
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A VPN-friendly casino is an online casino that accepts real-money players who use a VPN when gambling online. Often, they will also be a cryptocurrency casino, as cryptocurrencies are great at keeping your identity and location hidden.
Sources
¹Wikipedia. (2023). UKUSA Agreement. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKUSA_Agreement#:~:text=The%20%22Fourteen%20Eyes%22%2C%20consisting [Accessed 24 Feb. 2023].
Iggy Fenech
