When you want to sign up for an online casino, you may be disappointed if you are unable to do so due to the country or geographical region you reside in. Casino sites, like many other online service providers, apply geo-blocks for certain regions. Technically, it is possible to bypass these blocks, as you can virtually change your location to appear as if you are in any desired location.
So, how can you do this? But more importantly, is it a good idea to do so? If you are experiencing issues with geo-blocks while trying to complete the ICE Casino login, for example, this article may be helpful as it answers these questions.
Why Do Online Casinos Apply Geo-Blocks?
Casino sites are required to obtain a license in order to operate legally. This license is issued by specific authorities and only covers certain geographical regions. For example, the authority for the United Kingdom is the Gambling Commission. This commission’s license is only valid for UK players and does not cover other countries. Therefore, a casino licensed by the Gambling Commission can only accept members from the UK; if you reside in a different country, you cannot register.
Changing Your Location Virtually
There are many different ways to change your location virtually. All of them make all websites, including casinos, see you as if you were in a different location, but they differ in terms of features and ease of use. Let’s take a closer look at them:
- VPN: This is likely the most common option. When you use a VPN service, you connect to the VPN server before visiting any website. This means your internet traffic is routed through that server. As a result, you appear to be in the same country as the server. Using a VPN is relatively easy and also provides additional security and privacy by encrypting your traffic. However, you must use a paid service for it to be reliable.
- Proxy server: Proxy servers do not encrypt your traffic, so they do not offer the same level of security as VPNs. However, they still redirect your traffic, mask your IP address, and allow you to virtually change your location. They are quite practical and much cheaper, as they are typically used through browser extensions. They can be considered the best option for users who only want to change their location.
- Smart DNS: Smart DNS services are the best in terms of practicality and ease of use. All you need to do is change your DNS address; no extension or program installation is required. Technically, they work like a proxy server, but they are even cheaper and can be easily used by those without technical knowledge.
There are other options for virtual location changes, but these are the most common ones. However, the real question here is: should you use one of these to play at a casino?
Using a Virtual Location on Casino Sites Is Not a Good Idea
Unless it is explicitly permitted, using a VPN or similar service to sign up for online casinos is not a good idea. A significant portion of casinos consider users changing their locations virtually to be a violation of their terms of use, and when this is detected, they close the account. The reason for this is concern about violating licensing conditions and a desire to prevent misuse of their services. Many casino services are designed to be used only once per IP address, and services like VPNs can abuse this.
Even if you manage to sign up for a casino using a virtual location change despite all these risks, the situation will eventually come to light because:
- You must add a payment method to your account. If you have virtually set your location to the United Kingdom but the credit card or bank account you added belongs to another country, your location change will be easily detected.
- Casinos are legally required to verify the identities of customers who wish to withdraw money. For this purpose, they request members to submit copies of their identification documents and utility bills. Since you cannot provide documentation verifying your virtual location, you will not be able to withdraw the money you have won.
In short, while technically possible, do not change your location virtually using a VPN or similar services to register with online casinos: your account will eventually be closed. Instead, it would be a much better option to try to find an online casino whose licence covers the region where you reside.
