Ever since we entered the digital age and the internet has become something we cannot even begin to imagine our lives without, certain activities involving the web have become a daily routine for many of us. Gambling on online casinos is definitely one of them as it provides an easily accessible and popular alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. However, the landscape of online gambling has its controversies, one of the most contentious being accessing casinos that allow VPN from restricted jurisdictions.
As with everything else in life, the use of VPN has its pros and cons. Before we start analyzing them, let’s first understand what a VPN is and what it does. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection between an internet user and the internet. In the case of online casinos, a VPN will allow players to mask their true location, ensuring that they can enjoy casino games and services even if they are in regions with strict online gambling regulations. At the same time, it will also provide the players with an extra layer of privacy.
By encrypting internet traffic and masking IP addresses, a VPN will safeguard users from potential cyber threats such as hacking, identity theft and surveillance. It can even protect them against advertising and malware, as quite a few VPN services include dedicated antivirus tools. Hence, the user is able to hide his internet activity and freely browse the internet safely and anonymously without constraints. No wonder punters are looking for the best casino VPN that will provide a secure environment for online gambling, offering peace of mind while indulging in their favorite games.
However, the reality is that the VPN does not make anyone invisible online while the anonymity it offers makes it difficult for online casinos to verify the identity and location of their players, opening the door to fraud, money laundering, and other illicit activities. Moreover, it is evident that the use of a VPN to circumvent certain geo-restrictions is a violation of the terms of service of the online casino accessed. This is why most websites constantly struggle to maintain and update lists of known IP’s that VPN providers use, so that they can block them and avoid flouting the laws of their respective jurisdictions.
Another disadvantage of the VPN use is that it definitely reduces the connection speed while increasing the data consumption. This is due to the fact that the VPN routes the data through several different servers in order to encrypt it. This might become a serious problem if the user’s internet service provider has data caps.
Although there are lots of free VPN services to be found on the web, using them might not be the best of ideas. It is a known fact that some free VPN’s log the users’ data and later use that information to make money by selling it to advertisers. And, of course, there is always the chance that the data logs of a player’s activity might end up in the hands of cybercriminals with unpredictable consequences. The bottom line is that in order to use a quality VPN, a player has to spend money, and this is another con in the use of VPN. Only by purchasing a respectable and well-known service can a player be sure that using it will not have unpleasant implications.
All these being said, nobody can doubt that VPN has proven to be a useful and popular tool in the hands of everyday internet users. The VPN industry is a fast growing one as the significant upsurge in the number of cyberattacks along with the rise in demand for cloud-based security solutions continue to drive the demand for virtual private networks. The global virtual private network market is a profitable business expected to touch around USD 137.7 billion by 2030. The way it is used and the possible repercussions remain in the discretion of the individual user.