Is it cheating? Online casinos and the VPN dilemma
Also known as virtual private networks, VPNs allow people to securely connect to the Internet. They use high-level encryption to effectively hide your IP address and create a private digital network tunnel that allows you to get online.
The advantages VPNs offer make them popular with Internet users all over the world. This is especially true for completing certain tasks online or getting involved with certain activities.
Playing casino games online is a classic example and something that using virtual private networks is linked to. But what benefits do these kinds of networks deliver, and should they be used for playing casino games online?
What benefits do VPNs offer to users?
The main benefit of VPNs is the extra privacy and security they offer. As they shield your IP address from online trackers, you’re able to surf the web with a better level of anonymity.
The high-level encryption VPNs offer makes spending time online a lot safer and delivers a much more secure digital experience. This is especially true when using public Wi-Fi networks, where the robust encryption VPNs use stop hackers on these networks from stealing your personal data.
Being able to bypass geo-restrictions is also a feature of these networks that makes them popular. This allows people to access online platforms that may not otherwise be available where they live. Connecting to online casinos with a VPN is one example of how this works and how restricted players can still access online casinos.
Are VPNs explicitly banned by iGaming regulators?
This will depend on the regulating body in question and the specific rules they have around VPN use. The Malta Gaming Authority, for example, dictates that the casinos they govern don’t accept players who use VPNs and only allow players from authorized territories to sign up.
The reason for this regulation is to ensure that players are actually playing from territories where online gambling is not explicitly prohibited, thereby ensuring their own safety which is why it’s not recommended to use a VPN to play at online casinos.
Many casinos don’t make their position on virtual private networks clear and hide their stance on them away in their T&C which leads to many customers unable to withdraw their winnings because they are unaware of the fact that they’re in breach of their T&Cs.
The good news is that reputable online casinos like Dunder are open with players on the subject of VPN use at their site.
Is it acceptable to use VPNs to play at online casinos?
As iGaming regulatory bodies and the casinos they license often outlaw the use of VPNs, it’s not advisable to use them for gaming online to shield your IP address.
This is especially important for people playing from a territory that is restricted by the casino or where online casino play is not legally allowed. Breaking the law where you are playing from is never a good idea and could land you in a lot of trouble. By the same token, accessing a casino that doesn’t accept players from your country via a VPN is a sure way to get yourself banned from the site in question if they find out!
Is it cheating to use a VPN when playing games online?
As noted above, using a VPN to play games online at casinos that don’t allow this, or from a country where iGaming is illegal, is not a smart move. But do these networks give people who do chance it an unfair advantage?
In terms of the games themselves, this isn’t the case when you look a bit closer. Playing via a virtual private network doesn’t give you any extra edge or advantage when playing actual games at iGaming sites. Your chances of winning are the same as playing without a VPN, and using this sort of network doesn’t give you any additional help in this regard.
What should you do if you can’t play without a VPN?
For players who live somewhere online casino play is illegal, or somewhere iGaming platforms class as restricted, this is a key question. Just what can you do when trying out casino games digitally when a VPN is a no-go?
Here are a few things to consider
- Try out games at sweepstakes or social casino sites that are legally allowed where you live.
- Travel to play casino games online in a location where it’s legally allowed and has no restrictions from iGaming sites. Players in the US, for example, might find that a short hop across the border to a different state solves their problem.
- Consider heading to somewhere online casino gaming is legally allowed on your next vacation and try them then.
- Think about putting online casino gaming on the backburner until you’re somewhere you can access iGaming sites from legitimately.
Will VPNs be accepted at online casinos more in the future?
It’s always hard to predict the future, and this is especially true for a fast-moving industry like iGaming. For now, though, it’s fair to say that the use of VPNs is not something online casinos or industry regulators look likely to ease up on.
This is only common sense when you think of the hot water casinos could get in legally if they allowed people to use these networks to game from a restricted territory. For industry regulators, allowing the use of virtual private networks for gaming makes it much harder for them to keep the sector in line with national laws. This kind of issue could lead to countries taking action against iGaming bodies that they feel don’t do enough to stop people playing from where it’s not legal.
Online casinos and VPNs
Virtual private networks have many benefits for users and offer a more secure way to connect to the Internet. Although this is handy for completing many tasks online, playing online casinos is not one of them. Many casinos and the bodies that license them actively outlaw the use of these networks, and using them to play from countries where iGaming is illegal is a bad idea. Although it might seem tempting to use networks like this to get access to casino games online, it’s just not worth the risk it comes with.
