The world of online casino has moved from being a tight niche industry to being a vast domain with several games and bonuses for players that want to have an enjoyable gaming experience.
However, one of the top challenges players face in the online casino world is geographic restrictions. These limitations have a huge influence on the kind of choices players make and their experience with online casinos.
But what are these restrictions?
Why do they exist?
And is there a way around them?
In this article, we’ll be answering the questions above, to get a full grasp of certain restrictions on the online gaming world and how to navigate your way.
Why Do Geographic Restrictions Exist?
Geo-restrictions or geo-blocking is not only limited to the online casino industry, we have them in different Internet sectors.
However, some of the reasons for these restrictions in the in the online gambling world are:
- Legal Restrictions: Now, every nation has its rules and guidelines for each sector, which typically means the legal stance will vary from one country to another. This also means that there are areas where online casinos are a norm whole some countries have out rightly banned it.
- Licensing Agreements: The thing with having a license for online gambling doesn’t automatically mean that every online casino will be available in your region. In this industry, casinos are required to bet a license for each jurisdiction they want to operate in, and this is quite an expensive and tedious process.
- Fraud and Security: Some regions may have red flagged because of a bad history of online fraud. This means casinos will naturally want to block access in those regions.
- Economic Factors: Another reason for these restrictions can be high transaction fees or fluctuations in currency rates, which can deter casinos from some markets.
The Implications for Players
For players that live in areas that are restricted by online casinos, it can be quite a damper.
These are some of the ways they may be affected by the restrictions:
- Limited Access: This is the most obvious implication for players. They might not get access to the top games or the popular reputable casinos
- Violation Risks: For players that are adventurous and still hang up on playing, they might devise to use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to bypass the restrictions, which is a breach of the casino’s terms and conditions, and can lead to a permanent ban or inability to withdraw earnings.
- Varied Promotions: For players in restricted regions, they might not have complete access to different variety of games or bonuses because of their location.
- Payment Hurdles: Players in restricted areas may not have a preferred payment option that is available in their regions, or it might be limited because of the regulations.
Bypassing Online Casino Restrictions
It is not advisable to bypass online casino restrictions, especially with the disadvantages. But some players still look for a way around the barriers. Some of these ways include:
- Local Platforms: Since some international platforms may be restricted to players in some regions, players can look for local online casinos to play with. This is a great option because most of their rules are in tune with local regulations and payment preferences.
- VPN: It was mentioned earlier that some players use VPN to bypass these restrictions. This is because, with a VPN, you can change your virtual location, which allows you to have access to restricted casinos. But one thing to keep in mind is it is against online casino’s terms.
- Stay Updated: You can never go wrong with this. Always check the country list of your preferred online casino to know their accessibility status.
The Future of Geo-Restrictions in the Online Casino Industry
The only constant is change, and the online gambling industry is no exception. As it evolves:
- Tech Solutions: with the continuous advancement in technology, we’ll see the rise of advanced tools that’ll bring better ways for players to access online casinos or for online casinos to enforce their restrictions.
- Legal Shifts: The industry is growing at a fast rate, which means the country may want to review and update their online gambling laws (Roger relaxing or tightening them).
- Unified Licensing: There are chances that a globally acceptable license system will emerge and reduce the costly and tedious process of getting an online gambling license.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that geographic restriction is shaping the online gambling industry. While it can be very tiring for players that want to dive into the world of online casinos. However, it is important that they stay informed, comply with the local regulations and go for an online casino that is keen on customer satisfaction.
