5 Best VPNs for PokerStars (How to Play it With VPN)
PokerStars, along with 888Poker, is currently one of the best online poker sites, although it is not available everywhere. To access the website outside of the United States, or even in some states, you must use a VPN. To ensure a smooth game, you should be aware of PokerStars’ policies as well as some risks associated with using a VPN to play poker online.
What is the PokerStars VPN policy?
First, let’s see if PokerStars (and many other poker sites) actually allow you to use a VPN with their service. Using a VPN to play PokerStars is not prohibited until you play for free, but they advise against it because certain website features, such as the game itself, can become unavailable (which is rarely the case).
When it comes to playing for real money from a prohibited jurisdiction, the PokerStars VPN policy notes that “customers who attempt real money gaming operation from within a prohibited jurisdiction with the help of VPNs or other technological workarounds will lose their privileges and/or funds in their account will lose their privileges and/or funds in their account.”
In other words, if you want to play for real money, you risk being disqualified and losing all of your funds if they catch you using a VPN. Is it, however, capable of detecting it?
Can PokerStars detect a VPN
Although using a VPN to play PokerStars carries some risk, many people do it anyway. A VPN link can be detected not only by PokerStars but also by other online poker sites. When you use a VPN to play poker, there are a few ways to be detected:
- The website may be aware that the IP address belongs to a VPN provider.
Multiple connections appearing to originate from the same VPN server IP address
To link to your account, several different IP addresses are used (switching servers). - PokerStars may have a monitoring system that identifies the IP addresses used to connect to the website. They will determine your true location by looking at your IP address, and therefore block your access to the website.
- When you use a VPN to play poker, your IP is hidden, making you appear to be from a location where it is legal to do so. Any VPN provider IPs, on the other hand, could be blacklisted.
- The website may be aware that the IP address belongs to a VPN provider.
When you use a VPN to link to PokerStars, there’s a possibility that other users are using the same server as you. It raises a red flag since several connections from the same IP address to log in to various accounts seem suspicious, indicating that a VPN is being used.
Many websites monitor and log the IP addresses from which you access your account to prevent fraud or the theft of your information. – time you connect to a VPN server, you’re connecting from a different IP address. If your IP address changes often, it’s possible you’re using a VPN.
Let’s take a look at some strategies for getting around these detection algorithms and avoiding being banned.
Tips on playing online poker with VPN
Even though using a VPN to access PokerStars is not permitted, it is possible to do so. Here are a few tips on how to play poker with a VPN to reduce the chance of losing all your money and having your account banned:
Use a VPN with a Dedicated IP
A dedicated IP is used in many situations where it is necessary to mask a VPN connection. Using a static IP address ensures that you are the only one who visits the website from the same IP address all of the time.
When using a standard VPN server, having a residential IP mask irregular traffic that most websites identify. This form of IP will make you appear to be located in the country to which you are linked and will prevent poker websites from detecting the use of a VPN. The websites have no idea that a VPN is being used because of this kind of IP address.
There are some excellent VPNs, such as NordVPN, that provide dedicated IP addresses and can assist you in masking your location.
Deposit only the amount you need
Since there’s a chance your account will be canceled, it’s best to just deposit the sum you want to use. You can also use an international payment service like PayPal, which will not reveal your real bank’s location. Some websites also accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
Cash-out as often as you can
Because of the possibility of your account being canceled, it is best to withdraw as much as possible. You never know when PokerStars will detect the use of a VPN and prevent you from not only playing but also withdrawing your funds.
Consider playing CryptoPoker
As previously mentioned, some websites, such as Coinpoker, allow for cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals. Of course, playing crypto poker entails a variety of risks related to cryptocurrency instability. When it comes to playing, however, there are normally no limitations on using a VPN, and depositing and withdrawing funds usually do not require any identity verification.
Use a VPN that disables IPv6
Many poker players are unaware that, even when using a VPN, your link has an IPv6 address. This form of IPv6 address, like your standard IPv4, will reveal you’re true location to websites. It’s important to use a VPN that also manages IPv6 addresses and stops them from being leaked.
Use a VPN with a kill switch
When it comes to IP leaks, a VPN kill switch is a must-have feature when playing online poker. Any sudden disconnect from a VPN server will expose your true IP address and location. Your account can be locked as a result of these unplanned disconnects. If you detach from the VPN server, a VPN kill switch can shield you from any unwanted location and IP address leaks.
The Best VPNs for PokerStars
Here are a few VPNs to choose from if you want to play PokerStars or other online games. Many of them have a dedicated IP address, IP leak protection, and a VPN kill switch. Here are the top 5 online poker sites:
NordVPN
NordVPN will unblock any website, regardless of how restrictive it is. With that in mind, it has no trouble connecting to PokerStars servers whenever you need it. CyberSec, next-generation encryption, and the in-house NordLynx protocol help it achieve this. NordVPN also uses obfuscation technology to obfuscate all VPN traffic.
Apart from its results, NordVPN does an excellent job of keeping you safe and private while playing on PokerStars. Its servers are all RAM-based. Furthermore, independent audits have found the service to be secure and reliable, as it does not record any user activity data.
It’s backed up by a really low-cost subscription that starts at just a few dollars per month. NordVPN isn’t just the best service available; it’s also the best value for money. Furthermore, there is no risk when using NordVPN. They deliver a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee to all of their customers.
- 5200+ global servers in 59+ countries
- CyberSec malware and ad-blocking protection
- Next-generation encryption with double VPN servers
- Obfuscation technology that masks VPN traffic
- Strict no-logs policy
- Works with Netflix and good for streaming
- Lightning-fast with P2P support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark
Surfshark is one of the most dependable and efficient VPNs for PokerStars that you can use. It has simple apps that allow you to set up a VPN on any platform you want to play PokerStars on. It has above-average and extremely reliable network speeds, as well as excellent in-app functionality. Multi-hop, kill-switch, and camouflage mode are among them. The latter is especially significant because it represents Surfshark’s approach to VPN obfuscation. It enables you to disguise VPN traffic as normal traffic.
Surprisingly, Surfshark’s patented NoBorders Mode stands out among all of these features. This feature helps you to circumvent strict network restrictions and reduces the risk of being banned from using a VPN. On sites like PokerStars, NoBorders is a fantastic tool to have. Surfshark’s Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS software support it.
- 3200+ global servers in 60+ countries
- CleanWeb ad-blocking feature
- Secure and strong encryption with OpenVPN
- Whitelist, Multi-hop VPN, and kill switch
- No-logs policy
- Works with Netflix and good for streaming
- Great speeds
- 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has an established track record as one of the best VPN services available. It excels at gaining access to all of the big gaming sites, and PokerStars is no exception. This VPN service has a top-notch VPN network of RAM-based servers that is well-distributed.
ExpressVPN, like other top-rated VPNs, has created its own proprietary protocol called Lightway. This ultra-light protocol has just a few thousand lines of code, making it both lightweight and highly functional.
All of these features make ExpressVPN an excellent alternative for a wide range of online activities, not just poker. ExpressVPN is also a great VPN for downloading, torrenting and unblocking geo-restricted content. As a result, even though you want a longer subscription contract, it is one of the most costly services.
- 160+ locations and 3000+ servers
- Strict No-Log policy
- Unlimited streaming (Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)
- Strong military-grade AES 256-bit key encryption
- Kill Switch, Split tunneling, and RAM-disk servers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux support
- Fast speeds and reliable connections
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access offers a secure connection regardless of your location, thanks to its network of over 35,000 servers. However, Private Internet Access can have more than just a large number of servers.
It’s also one of the industry’s most sophisticated and feature-rich services. PIA applications provide features such as dedicated IP settings, a kill switch, port forwarding, split tunneling, and more.
PIA supports OpenVPN and WireGuard, two of the most common industry protocols. Overall, Private Internet Access is a great VPN to use when you don’t want to play with your buddies on PokerStars. It offers unrestricted bandwidth and up to ten concurrent connections.
- Block ads, trackers, and malware
- Can be used with 10 devices simultaneously
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 3200+ Servers in 29 Countries
- No Traffic or Request logs
- 7-day money-back guarantee
PureVPN
PureVPN is a great VPN for casual and inexperienced VPN users. It doesn’t have quite as many features as some of the other VPNs on this list. It does, however, provide you with all you’ll need to navigate PokerStars efficiently and regularly. The service is available in over 180 locations and 140 countries around the world, with over 6,500 servers.
PureVPN has a few simple security features, such as a kill switch and IP leak protection. It has a very user-friendly privacy policy and is audited by independent authorities regularly. However, you’ll have to pay extra if you want extra features like DDoS security or port forwarding.
- 140+ countries and 2000+ servers
- 31-day money-back guarantee
- Hides internet traffic and easily unblocks geo-restricted content
- Internet Kill Switch and IP leak protection
- Offers the cheapest Dedicated IP addresses
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and router support
- Perfect for streaming Netflix, Hulu, BBC
- Strict and audited no-log policy
Conclusion
It is simple to play online poker with a VPN, but bear in mind that some of the best poker sites, such as PokerStars or 888Poker, do not allow it. If a VPN is found, this could result in an account ban and the loss of all your funds. However, if you want to mask the fact that you’re using a VPN, choose one that also offers a Dedicated IP service. Not only that, but a VPN with a stable link and advanced features like Kill Switch is essential for keeping your position secret at all times.
