The best online poker VPN: Grinders’ guide
Using a VPN when playing online poker is a simple, cost-effective way of keeping yourself well protected while grinding—and it comes with a myriad of other benefits that are +EV to your online life.
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Use the best VPN for online poker in 3 easy steps
Step 2
Connect to a VPN server location.
Step 3
Play poker online with privacy and security.
How a VPN encrypts your poker sessions
As an online poker player, you’re constantly sending your bankroll and personal information across the internet. Safeguarding your funds and identity is critical. A VPN offers security, serving as an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the internet.
Anyone who regularly uses a computer on an unsecured Wi-Fi network—for example, while traveling the live poker tournament circuit—could be a victim of hackers who can use programs such as packet sniffers to intercept data en masse.
VPNs provide an extra layer of security by tunneling all of the internet traffic flowing between online poker sites and your computer through a private and secure connection.
ExpressVPN also doesn’t keep any logs of your internet data, so you can play and grind with added anonymity from anywhere in the world.
The importance of security for online poker players
In the past, hackers have targeted popular poker forums, using leaked passwords to access high-profile accounts and defraud others.
One slip of a login password to an inquisitive hacker may be the death knell for your poker reputation. This is important because reputation dictates who will send money first in a trade, determines a player’s ability to join communities of high-stakes grinders, and influences the decisions of potential stakers when games are above the player’s bankroll.
Don’t make the mistake of exposing yourself to this enormous risk.
FAQ: Playing online poker with a VPN
Do poker sites allow VPN use?
Terms and conditions of poker sites disallow the use of VPNs for the purpose of grinding while in a restricted country, but the sites have no issues with regular grinders taking advantage of the vital security benefit provided by another layer of encryption.
What are the advantages of a VPN for online poker players?
Besides the security benefits, VPNs offer a selection of server locations to connect to, making it easy to change location with the click of a button. Location spoofing gives players added anonymity and security.
Some players use a VPN to access poker sites restricted by location. For example, prominent poker sites such as PokerStars, 888 Poker, Party Poker, and iPoker do not allow play from within the U.S., while U.S. sites like Bovada and Ignition Casino prohibit play outside of the U.S. Some users might try to gain an edge by joining games that are, for regulatory reasons, limited to players from a specific country; these games often have weaker players.
However, ExpressVPN is not intended to be used as a means of accessing poker sites in banned countries or gaining an advantage on the table, as it is against the rules of most poker sites.
How does a VPN help poker players when they’re traveling?
When a player is in a new location, even if it’s not a banned country, poker sites may temporarily freeze your account and request an ID scan or phone call to verify it’s you operating your account. A secure VPN takes away the need to inform poker sites in advance that you’ll be traveling, preventing the inconvenience of losing time at the tables.
Can I play poker with a VPN?
VPNs are compatible with poker sites. Simply turn on your VPN and start playing for greater security and privacy.
Should I use a VPN for poker?
With large sums of money and player reputation at stake, it’s always a good idea to protect your online poker account with a VPN-encrypted internet connection for higher security.
How do you play PokerStars with a VPN?
To play PokerStars securely with a VPN, simply:
Sign up for ExpressVPN and its blazing-fast and ultra-secure service
Connect to a server in a location where PokerStars is legally available to play
Securely play PokerStars!
Is offshore online poker legal?
The legality of accessing offshore online poker websites will vary across countries and territories. In some places, it might be entirely legal, regulated, or illegal. Always look into any relevant laws that govern your particular region before engaging in offshore online poker.
Having said that, ExpressVPN is not intended to be used as a means of accessing poker sites where they are banned, and any illegal online activity remains illegal whether you are using a VPN or not.
What else can I do with ExpressVPN?
With ExpressVPN, you can bypass censorship in certain countries that block access to sites like YouTube, Twitter, and Google. You can also browse the web privately and securely, including services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max/Go, and enhance your online gaming experience.
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If you’re not satisfied playing online poker with ExpressVPN for any reason, you can cancel anytime. Contact Support within 30 days and get a full refund.