Guide To The Pros And Cons Of Using A VPN To Log Onto Offshore Poker Accounts VPNs have seen growing popularity as more people have become concerned about privacy and personal security online. They can also be used to sidestep national restrictions and allow users to gain access to websites and information which they are normally unable to. Whichever advantage of VPNs they seek, poker players. With a poker VPN, you can sign up for poker services and online casinos like PokerStars, 888 Poker, or PartyPoker. In some countries, online gambling is illegal. Unfortunately, this also includes playing poker online. Luckily, a VPN can let you access restricted poker sites from anywhere in the world. Here are our top online poker VPN recommendations in a nutshell: ExpressVPN – Unrivalled range of server locations, incredible speeds, and rock-solid security NordVPN – Offers a “double VPN” tool for unbreakable encryption and anonymity Surfshark VPN – Impressive privacy and security at the lowest price point in its class.

By: Michael Gargiulo, CEO at VPN.com

Updated: 8:25 AM ET Thu, January 21st 2021

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Did you know your privacy and security may be at risk every time you play poker online?

The truth is, cyber thieves are everywhere, and playing poker may well leave your private data in plain sight. As a result, the use of a VPN for poker has become very popular in recent years. Considering that 4.1 billion records were exposed in the first half of 2019 as a result of data breaches, protecting your privacy online is more important now than ever.

But enhanced online privacy isn’t the only benefit of playing poker with a VPN. You can also access a wider range of online casinos, such as Tiger Gaming Poker. Not to mention that a VPN will allow you to keep your online activities away from the prying eyes of any third party, including your ISP.

However, before you go ahead and purchase a VPN service for online poker, there are a few factors to consider. Here’s everything you need to know.

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Let’s get one thing clear: the use of a VPN is legal in the US. There are no restrictions concerning the use of a VPN in any of the states either.

However, the US is part of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes international alliances. These alliances collectively gather and share surveillance data in mass. This means that if your VPN provider is headquartered in a member country, it can be legally compelled to grant government access to their connection logs. In other words, records of your online activity may still be disclosed to relevant authorities even with the use of a VPN. Moreover, intelligence agencies can monitor the VPN server’s incoming and outgoing traffic.

But there’s still a way to protect your data against exposure. It’s important to choose a VPN service with a no-log policy that’s located in a country without surveillance laws. This will ensure that the VPN provider won’t store any records of your online activity.

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However, it’s worth noting that online poker is, in itself, explicitly forbidden in certain US states. These include:

• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Missouri
• New York
• Utah
• Washington State

The states where online poker is legal are:

• Nevada
• Delaware
• New Jersey

If you’re located in a state not listed above, online poker is not considered a criminal offence as long as you’re not using a US bank account for money transfers. Of course, you’ll likely find it difficult to play poker online without a US bank account.

In light of this, many online poker players consider using a VPN to bypass these restrictions. However, what you should know is that online poker sites are actively monitoring users’ locations. They use a combination of geolocation software and cell phone triangulation to find where a player is located. Many times, you might not be able to bypass geo-blocked poker sites like Tiger Gaming Poker or PartyPoker with a VPN.

Some online casinos also require the use of a desktop application that can detect if your computer is using a VPN. If a VPN is detected, your account will be banned and any funds will be forfeited. That’s why a VPN with a kill switch is essential (I’ll cover this later on).

If you enjoy playing poker online, there are many reasons why you might consider using a VPN. Here are the most important factors to consider.

Play poker online from any location — Are you located in a state where online poker is prohibited? A VPN can help you access online casinos in states or other countries where online gambling is legal. A VPN will help to conceal your real location so that poker sites like PokerStars won’t know where you’re actually located.

Protect your personal information from cyberthieves — Did you know that the number of cyber-related crime complaints reported in 2018 was 300,000? Among the victims were poker players who were willing to compromise their security for online gambling. A VPN will encrypt your personal data so that it’s inaccessible by cyberthieves and hackers. They won’t be able to view any of your data. The beauty of a VPN is that, even if they’re able to intercept your data at any point, it will be unreadable.

Stay safe when using public WiFi — If you play poker while on public WiFi, then you’ll undoubtedly benefit from the added protection that a VPN provides. Public WiFi connections are unsecured and often targeted by cyber thieves. Taking steps to safeguard your personal information should be high on your priority list.

Avoid disclosure to government and surveillance agencies — If you’re planning to play poker online and don’t want any record of your online activity to be shared with government or other surveillance agencies, using a VPN will provide the level of anonymity you need. Remember that you’ll need to pick a poker VPN service with a no-log policy to make sure that no information about your online gambling activity is stored anywhere.

There’s no doubt that a VPN can substantially transform your online poker experience. Here are five benefits of using a VPN to play poker:

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One of the most attractive aspects of using a VPN is the ability to access a variety of poker sites from around the world. A VPN will allow you to sign up for online casinos such as PartyPoker, 888 Poker, and PokerStars. Whether you’re located in a US state where online gambling is banned or you simply want to play with poker enthusiasts from across the globe, a VPN will provide an effective and convenient solution.

Keep Your Private Information Secure At All Times

If you’re concerned about your privacy while accessing online casino websites, then using a VPN will help to address most of your security woes. You see, a VPN reroutes your device’s Internet connection through a private server instead of one owned by your ISP. As such, any data transmitted to the Internet will come from the VPN server and not from your own computer. A VPN essentially masks your location and identity. This means that the online casino(s), your ISP, or cyber thieves won’t be able to see any of your private information or real location.

There’s a lot more at stake when you’re gambling than when you’re simply browsing the Internet. Hackers purposefully target online casinos in search of their next victim. The possibility of accessing payment information makes gambling sites particularly attractive. By using a VPN, your sensitive information will be protected at all times.

Prevent Distributed Denial Of Service (DDoS) Attacks

In an online gambling setting, Distributed Denial of Service Attacks are typically perpetuated by other players at the same virtual poker table. DDoS attacks overload your computer’s network card with numerous requests at the same time. This causes your system to become unable to download any more data. As a result, your connection to the online casino drops out and makes you unable to bet. Ultimately, you might end up being kicked from the table while the other player wins all the chips.

Needless to say, the potential financial implications of a DDoS attack are undesirable. Fortunately, it’s possible to avoid them if you use a VPN. DDoS attacks rely on the attacker being able to identify the victim’s IP address, which is obviously impossible when a VPN is in use.

Improve Your Connection Speed

Having a fast and reliable Internet connection is critical when you’re playing poker online. Lags and glitches can take a toll on your performance, which means you’re at risk of losing money. Selecting the right VPN protocol can make your connection significantly faster and lag-free.

Avoid Data Collection By Your ISP

It’s a widely acknowledged fact that ISPs track and store records of your online activity. This can include the web pages you access to the activities you engage in — including online gambling. However, data collection is not the only concern that users have regarding their ISP. The same data may actually be accessed by outside organizations including police departments, government bodies, or surveillance agencies. Your ISP is legally required to hand over any data they hold about you in certain situations.

Because of the way a VPN works, your ISP won’t be able to record any of your online activity. In the end, they won’t be able to pass anything on to any third party. And if your VPN provider doesn’t store any logs either, your activity will be completely anonymous.

Using just any VPN won’t be enough to protect you while playing poker. This is why I always recommend exercising precaution to make sure your experience is as enjoyable as possible. Not every VPN service provides the same level of protection, so choosing your provider carefully should be a priority. These are the most important features of a VPN ideal for poker players:

Kill Switch

Unless you’ve got an exceptional Internet connection with high uptimes, there’s always a possibility that your connection will drop out at some point. When it does, both your ISP and the poker site(s) are likely to detect your actual location.

To avoid this, look for a VPN service that also provides a kill switch. A kill switch is a feature that blocks your computer from connecting to the Internet if the VPN connection drops. This will prevent IP address leaks, so you won’t run the risk of revealing your location or personal information.

No-Log Or Zero-Log Policy

I’ve already covered how your VPN provider might share your data with government or other surveillance agencies if required. But how do you make sure your personal information as well as your online activity stay private from third parties? The answer lies in your VPN provider’s policy about storing logs of your activity. To be more precise, it lies in their use of a no-log policy. With a no-log (also known as a zero-log) policy, none of your activity is tracked or stored. As such, nobody — not even your VPN provider — will be able to monitor you.

If you’re located in a state or country where online gambling is prohibited, then a no-log policy will allow you to play with minimal concerns.

Servers In Different Locations

A VPN that owns servers in many locations across the globe will give you the best chance of playing online poker without compromising either your privacy or the integrity of your account. Most online casino websites use technology capable of detecting VPNs. They’re actively compiling lists with IP addresses of known VPN providers to improve their detection efforts.

The more servers you can choose from, the better your chance of your VPN not being detected by these online casinos.

A VPN can make the difference between an enjoyable, secure poker experience and a risky one. It’s important to pay careful attention to the laws concerning online gambling in your particular area before you choose a VPN.

Most importantly, ensure your VPN comes with all the features outlined above to maintain the best level of privacy. Whether you want to play on 888 Poker, PokerStars, or PartyPoker, the right VPN will provide you a deep sense of security and enhance your gaming experience.

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Playing poker online or other casino games is a very popular pastime for many people, but government crackdowns in the United States and many other parts of the world have made Internet gambling illegal. A question we are often asked is, “Will a VPN allow me to gamble online?” The answer is a little complex, but we’ll strive to answer it in this article and show you why using a VPN is good policy when it comes to Internet gambling.

Using a VPN to play poker online

You might think that using a VPN to play poker online in the United States will solve all your problems. Unfortunately, this is not the case for United States residents. Whenever you register at an online poker site, your account is tied to the address you signed up with. In other words, you have to register an address in order to cash out your winnings and if you try to register an address in the United States you will be blocked.

People in the United States aren’t the only ones who play poker, though, and residents of the UK can do so legally. The thing is, when they travel to countries where Internet poker is not allowed they may encounter difficulties accessing the site. Some restrictions may be accomplished via IP address, so a poker player from the UK who is visiting the United States might find it best to use a VPN to change their IP to reflect that they are still in the UK.

Something else you should bear in mind is that playing poker online involves wagering real money. While all legitimate poker sites use encryption to process payments and safeguard your money, it is still a good idea to use a VPN whenever you are sending personal data online. Using a VPN when you play online poker is just an added level of security that will give you more peace of mind and help you to concentrate on winning those big hands!

Using a VPN in online casinos

Gambling at an online casino is subject to the same rules we discussed regarding online poker. If you live in a country where Internet gambling is prohibited, using a VPN alone will not give you access. But, if you live in the UK and want to maintain your casino account while you travel, a VPN can help you bypass any restrictions you encounter that are based on your IP address.

Also, you might want to consider that using a VPN in a country where Internet gambling is legal can still be useful if you find the need to be discreet about your Internet gambling activities. Not everyone is comfortable revealing their online activities for a variety of reasons, and why should anyone know that you like to visit online casinos unless you want them to?

Using a VPN to bet on horses

This is one area where using a VPN to gamble online can definitely benefit US players. In the United States, betting on horseracing is 100 % legal. So, why would you want to use a VPN when playing the ponies?

The main reason is your privacy. Some people cannot run the risk of having their gambling activities exposed. Here’s one great example. Let’s say a jockey wants to bet on a horse he is riding. If he tries to place that bet at the racetrack, which is completely legal, questions might be asked by other bettors who consider this a conflict of interest. Instead, the jockey can use a VPN to connect to his wagering account, make the bet, and no one is any wiser. Maybe someone going through a nasty divorce doesn’t want it revealed that they like to bet on horseracing. VPNaccouns.com can help them secure their access.

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Those might sound like nefarious reasons for using a VPN, and we aren’t encouraging anyone to use a VPN in these specific ways. We are only making the point that a VPN preserves your privacy and safeguards your online activities.

To recap, a VPN account will not allow you to register for a gambling site which is blocked in the United States. It will, however, allow individuals from countries where online gambling is legal to use their accounts while traveling.

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