The best gambling VPN: We give you 5 options!
Are you an avid gambler? A crypto aficionado? What about a fan of not having your data stolen?
If you’ve spent any time in crypto/casino communities, you probably know about VPNs. Maybe you’ve heard that using a VPN can help you access sites that aren’t licensed in your country. This can be handy for casinos, right?
Before you go ahead and start spoofing your location, hold on! We’re here to tell you why using a VPN to spoof your location may not be the best idea. But, we’re also here to help you understand the real benefits of VPNs in crypto gambling and show you the best and most reliable providers to trust.
Before we go on, here’s a sneak peek at our top picks:
| VPN | Best Feature |
| NordVPN | Double encryption |
| ExpressVPN | Speediness |
| CyberGhost | 11,900+ servers |
| PIA | Cheapest option |
| SurfShark | Multiple simultaneous connections policy |
Besides justifying our top picks, we’ll also take you through:
- What a VPN is and how it works
- The potential perks and drawbacks of using a VPN for crypto gambling
- Tips for staying safe and protecting your personal information while gambling online
Ready? Let’s go.
Why use a VPN for gambling?
We won’t start this with the negatives. Sure, there are reasons why you shouldn’t lie to crypto casinos about your location. But that’s not the only reason people use VPNs. In fact, as avid online gambling enthusiasts, our entire team uses a VPN to protect our anonymity. Here’s how that works, and why it’s so important:
Privacy ✅
Private gambling is safe gambling – we believe this so much that we made a full guide to the best VPN-friendly casinos to help you.
There’s no arguing VPNs can provide an extra level of privacy for your online activities. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel, meaning your browsing is hidden from prying eyes.
Your sensitive information and financial transactions are locked in a cryptic safe as they travel through the tunnel – so, even if a hacker intercepts them, they won’t be able to access your crypto wallet, personal data, or any other info.
This is especially important in public networks. Public Wi-Fi networks are notorious for being insecure, and Internet criminals can easily intercept your Internet traffic and steal your personal information.
Interception and data theft can happen to anyone, and it happens on a huge scale.
It cost $52 billion in losses and impacted 42 million adults in the US in just a year! And, yes, these are just the stats for the States, the scale is even larger when we look at worldwide data.
Finally, a big reason why we at Casinos Blockchain use VPNs is to maintain our anonymity. We don’t lie to casinos about our location. However, we don’t disclose our reviewer status whenever we’re testing out a casino.
On the contrary, we actually “hide” ourselves from the casinos to ensure we get the real casino experience, not some polished-up reviewer version. Of course, this doesn’t mean we don’t comply with KYC procedures when we get asked.
VPNs Can Actually Boost Your Internet Speed ✅
Yes, VPN rerouting can prevent ISPs from limiting your bandwidth for high-bandwidth activities like online casino games and live shows.
Some ISPs engage in what’s known as bandwidth throttling, which is the practice of limiting the amount of bandwidth available for certain types of traffic. This can result in slower speeds and a poorer gaming experience.
It’s also completely reprehensible – you are paying for that connection, and the ISP should work on scaling their systems, not sneakily cutting your traffic.
With a VPN, your traffic is encrypted, which means that your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re doing online and won’t be able to throttle your bandwidth.
Ultimately, VPNs are one of the best tools for enhancing your online security and ensuring you get the best possible gaming experience. By encrypting your traffic and hiding your online activity, VPNs provide a layer of privacy and protection that is essential for anyone who wants to gamble online safely.
The best VPNs for gambling
Okay, so we cleared up what VPNs are good for. Now, let’s get to the juicy part.
Choosing the right VPN is essential before you dive into the world of encrypted surfing.
And, before you ask, we do not recommend free VPNs for gambling. Did you know that 2/3 of free VPNs contain tracking software? And, even worse, a third of free VPNs contain malware – this even applies to top-rated ones where reviews rarely (if ever) notice the security issues.
Think about it:
Why would a VPN be free? Somebody has to pay for the servers, the technical support, and even the accountant on staff. If you’re not paying a fee, you are the product.
For most of these apps, the money comes from advertisers – hence, all the tracking. But, it could be much worse. You have a 1 in 3 chance of landing on malware if you use a free VPN. We do not like these odds, and neither will you.
So, without further ado, let’s look at some safe and reliable VPNs for your online gambling adventures.
NordVPN: Double encryption
NordVPN stands out in the crowded VPN market with its robust feature set, strong reputation, and competitive pricing.
The VPN is renowned for its strong security measures, including:
- Double encryption
- No-logs policy
- ‘NordLynx’, a proprietary protocol that enhances speed without compromising privacy
Pricing is flexible, with options that appeal to both short-term users and those committed to long-term security. The monthly rate is reasonable, but the real value comes with the annual plans, which significantly reduce the monthly cost.
In addition to its core VPN capabilities, NordVPN provides additional services like “CyberSec”, which blocks ads and potential threats.
Its large server network ensures users can always find a fast and reliable connection, which is crucial when you’re playing high-bandwidth games or betting on live sports.
Overall, NordVPN’s reputation for privacy and performance, coupled with its user-friendly interface and fair pricing, makes it a top choice if speed and budget are your priorities.
ExpressVPN: Speedy
ExpressVPN is highly regarded in the VPN community for its exceptional speed and easy-to-use features. Over the years, it has quickly become a favorite among players who prioritize performance and simplicity.
Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN has built a solid reputation on reliable security features, also including no-logs policies and strong encryption standards.
Now, when it comes to pricing, ExpressVPN is more expensive when compared to NordVPN, for example. Even so, the platform offers multiple profiles so you can share the cost among friends. This is one of the many reasons the Casinos Blockchain team uses ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN sets itself apart with a slightly different focus compared to NordVPN. It also emphasizes speed, yes, but focuses more on extensive server coverage (with servers in 100+ countries).
Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN also has a proprietary protocol, Lightway, which guarantees faster speeds and quicker switch times between networks.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is well-known for its affordability when you choose the long-term plan, which is as low as $2.19 per month on special. This is generally more budget-friendly compared to similar plans by NordVPN and ExpressVPN, especially if you want to commit to the two-year plan.
This VPN is also recognized for its substantial server network and strong stance on privacy. It commits to no logging and regularly publishes transparency reports.
However, unlike NordVPN, for example, CyberGhost has yet to perform a full-scale audit of its logging practices. In other words, if you’re tightly strung about absolute privacy and transparency, you may want to go for another option.
Back to servers: CyberGhost has 11,900+ servers in more than 100 countries, blowing NordVPN (6,000 servers) and ExpressVPN (3,000 servers) out of the water.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is another great option for online gambling with a VPN, thanks to its strong commitment to privacy and security.
Pricewise, PIA offers the cheapest monthly rate on this list. To be fair, it is the longest plan available (three years) but if you’re happy to commit, you’ll get the most bang for your buck with this VPN.
PIA supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android.
It also leaves the other VPNs on this list in the dust where server size is concerned, boasting over 30,000 servers globally.
This extensive network suggests good speeds and availability for all users.
Unlike CyberGhost, PIA has proven its no-log policy with evidence. So, sticklers for transparency will probably prefer this option.
Comparing PIA with other tools on this list, like NordVPN or Surfshark, you should know that while NordVPN and Surfshark may offer some additional features like ad-blocking and malware scanning, PIA emphasizes simplicity, strong technical performance, and user-friendliness.
PIA’s customizable settings for VPN configuration speak to that user-friendliness.
Surfshark
Surfshark VPN offers a competitive package that balances price and services well, making it a strong contender in the VPN market. However, the good pricing applies only to the long-term plans.
For one-month stints, you’ll pay more than you would with NordVPN or ExpressVPN, for example.
One of the unique selling points of Surfshark is its unlimited simultaneous connections policy, allowing users to connect multiple devices under one subscription. If you enjoy playing at multiple casinos simultaneously, then this is a major perk.
This stands out in a market where most competitors, like NordVPN and CyberGhost, offer a limited number of simultaneous connections (usually between six to seven devices).
In terms of services, Surfshark provides robust privacy features including AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch to protect data if the connection drops unexpectedly.
Additionally, Surfshark offers a feature called “CleanWeb”, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware (much like NordVPN’s “CyberSec”).
Though Surfshark’s performance is undoubtedly reliable, it might lag behind speed benchmarks set by ExpressVPN, for example. However, it compensates with a user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.
VPNs for geo restrictions
Though privacy and improved speed are why we recommend VPNs for crypto gambling, many players turn to VPNs for another reason entirely: faking their location.
It’s tempting, for sure, especially if you’re playing from a highly regulated country. But here’s what you need to keep in mind:
While VPNs can get you initial access to a licensed crypto casino, they won’t save you from KYC.
Most top casino brands have a long list of restricted countries. Switching on your VPN and playing from those countries will often allow you to play and deposit at the casino in question, but you’ll probably fail the Know-Your-Customer check when you’re trying to withdraw.
This is one of the main reasons Bitcoin casinos refuse to payout and they’re legally allowed to do so if you’ve faked your location.
But don’t worry, you can avoid this complication entirely by playing at KYC-free casinos. Most of those casinos are VPN-friendly, too, so you can have the best of both worlds. You can check out our list of anonymous BTC casinos for the best options.
How to use a VPN for gambling?
Now that we’ve cleared up why you should or shouldn’t use a VPN for gambling, let’s move on to the how. This is for you, VPN newbies! Fortunately, it’s really simple.
- Sign up at your chosen VPN (if you haven’t already).
- Select your current or ideal region.
- Hit the ‘on’ or ‘connect’ switch on your VPN’s interface.
- Head over to your favorite crypto casino and start playing.
That’s all there is to it.
Final thoughts
So, what did we learn today? First off, a VPN can provide added privacy, security, and even speed.
But, also, that the potential consequences of lying about your location are not worth it. As we’ve mentioned, you could get your account suspended or even lose your winnings altogether. Nope, not a good trade-off.
That said, we understand that online privacy is a concern for many players, as it is for us too. That’s why we’ve provided our top picks for VPNs that can help protect your online activity at licensed crypto casinos.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember to only play at licensed casinos to ensure a fair and secure gambling experience. The VPN is a second layer of security at an already reliable site, not a way around geo-restrictions.
