Everyone has a different approach towards playing poker online. Some believe it’s a fun way to relax and meet new people around the virtual game table. Others think it’s a way of life, and they play professionally, earning huge amounts of money in the process. And there are people who mark it as a dangerous activity, where your bank account is siphoned by “sharks”. Nevertheless, the popularity of online poker is increasing steadily, and with sites like Full Tilt and PokerStars, we could assume that more people are playing it online than in real life. There are some frustrating obstacles, however, which stop you from enjoying the thrill of the cards. One of them is the regional blocks. Luckily for you, VPNs are just made to solve this problem. But is it really worth it?
You might not believe this at first, but a poker site operates on a similar premise as a real casino would. They do anything in their power to keep the peace of mind of their members, averting suspicious individuals, scammers, or any unauthorized personnel. A site could deploy regional restrictions for several reasons. Sometimes your country’s laws forbid its citizens from gambling, so the site’s owners put you on the banned list to avoid conflict with the authority. In other cases, the country itself denies the connection from an infamous site, depriving them from potential users. The most frustrating is when they deem a country “financially unstable”, or “lacking internet support” , which means they are withdrawing playing right from people just because the site doesn’t get enough profit and ad revenue from the region in question.
Using a VPN is the ideal way to bypass petty restrictions. “Using a VPN” basically means that you route your connection through a server that is located in another country. Playing is also safer this way, as all your personal data are encrypted. When you wish to play poker online, and you have to resort to VPN to get in, you should put the following VPN features and options high on your wish list when choosing a provider.
First, you need fast, unlimited connection speed. Playing poker online is unbearable with high latency, as you have less time to plan your steps and analyze the situation. There is nothing worse than losing the perfect hand because your connection has dropped. Second, you need a VPN provider that offers a sizeable variety of server locations across the globe. You never know which country’s incognito may come in handy for you, not to mention the more servers to choose from, the better divided the VPN users will be, avoiding crowded servers and high latency. Lastly, you should consider getting a dedicated IP. Poker sites are good at recognizing players who deploy a VPN connection with shared IPs. Unless you get your own dedicated IP with your VPN provider, you may risk getting swooped out of the online poker room. You and only you can use the server with your dedicated IP, so the high speed will be guaranteed.
Accessing VPN is a convenient way to get back in game, and you don’t need extended tech-savviness to accomplish it. But there is a crux: disguising your IP enables you to play, but cashing out is a different story. Most poker sites ask for a proof that you are a citizen of the country you claim to be. This could be the copy of your ID, or they just check the bank account details. And these requirements could easily blow your cover, so tread carefully.
Numerous VPN providers are fit for use with your favored poker websites, with certain companies putting extra emphasis on unblocking these. We’ve tested some of the top VPN providers to see how well they pair with poker sites to give you our recommendations for smooth poker fun.
With an extensive server network spanning 105 countries, apps for all major platforms, and even extra security tools like an ad blocker, ExpressVPN delivers all you need for a private and secure online experience.
The software is easy to use across all devices, and the speed trumps many of its competitors, making it one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Android and iOS customers can make the most of a 7-day free trial with unlimited bandwidth and everyone can enjoy three months for free when opting for annual billing.
VyprVPN, provided by Swiss-based Golden Frog, is one of the longest standing VPN services in the world. They own and manage both their server and their client software under one roof, without outsourcing anything to third party companies. Thanks to this, they not only guarantee unlimited bandwidth and stellar server uptime, but it has also allowed Golden Frog to come up with a set of innovative features. VyprVPN users have access to a unique network protocol called Chameleon, which scrambles metadata allowing you to bypass restrictions. Those who regularly run into unwanted malware sites, could prevent malicious redirections with the built-in VyprDNS feature and you can even manage your own VPN network via VyprVPN Cloud. The fast and secure routing is made complete with a large group of possible server locations, counting more than 70 countries and 200,000 IP addresses. VyprVPN is available for every major home device, smartphone and operating system. The subscription cost starts from $5 per month, but you can give it a go for free thanks to the 3-day trial.
is a Texas-based VPN service with an impressive network of 2,400 servers worldwide. It’s one of the few VPN providers that manages all its infrastructure in-house, owning 100% of its servers and only using self-developed software for its service.
While being one of the fastest VPNs on the market, IPVanish also offers a vast range of features that not only provide faster speeds but also enhance stability and security. With a 7-day free trial and prices starting as low as $2.19 per month, users certainly get a lot for their money.
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