How to bypass gambling blocks?

There are plenty of different online casinos around the world, each with its own particular advantages. That said, some online casinos aren’t accessible from certain locations. South Africa currently follows a policy requiring South Africans to only play at South African-licensed companies. Even so, plenty of players want to play abroad because of things like crypto payments and bonuses. Despite the restrictions, there are quite a few ways to get around the gambling blocks. We’ll cover these in more detail in this article.

Most popular ways to bypass gambling blocks

There are several popular methods that allow players to bypass gambling blocks. Players can choose from options such as using VPN, changing DNS servers, or bypassing using Proxy Servers. We’ll discuss all these methods.

VPN usage

Using a VPN to get around gambling blocks is probably the most popular method, since plenty of people already use a VPN for their everyday needs. How a VPN works is very simple. You just need to install a particular provider’s VPN app, and it lets you change your IP address. For example, while in South Africa, you could choose a German IP address, and in that case you’d be able to access online casinos that are available in Germany but not in South Africa. Players often wonder whether using a VPN is legal, so we can give a clear answer. Yes, using a VPN is completely legal, and a VPN even guarantees greater safety and anonymity online, which should matter to every user nowadays.

Changing DNS servers

Changing the DNS server is still one of the most effective ways that allows you to bypass gambling blocks. In this method, the player needs to change the default Internet Service Provider (ISP) DNS servers to alternative ones, thus creating conditions to not block websites. DNS stands for Domain Name System and works as the Internet’s address book. The DNS system converts website addresses entered by the player into IP addresses. Internet providers often restrict access to portals using DNS servers, but by changing servers to alternative ones, such as Google DNS to 8.8.8.9, 8.8.4.4 or Cloudflare DNS to 1.1.1.1, you can easily bypass these restrictions. It should be noted that DNS change is a completely legal and safe way that allows you to access blocked websites. Unlike the VPN case, DNS does not change your IP address, but creates the ability to avoid restrictions set by the provider. Moreover, changing the DNS server does not affect Internet speed, whereas using a VPN usually slows down the Internet somewhat.

Proxy servers

Another alternative that makes it possible to bypass gambling restrictions is Proxy servers. These servers act as intermediaries between the user’s device and the Internet. Proxy servers send requests to another server, which may be in another country. Proxy servers allow you to hide the user’s real IP address, so players can access blocked websites because, with the help of Proxy servers, they connect from a different location. Proxy servers are free and paid. Free Proxy servers are available publicly, but are usually quite slow and pose some security risk. Meanwhile, paid Proxy servers are considered much safer, faster, and guarantee a much more stable connection without any glitches.

Alternative ways to access gambling sites

We’ve discussed the main methods for bypassing gambling blocks, but there are more approaches that can serve as additional alternatives to avoid restrictions. We present several main alternative methods.

Mirror site addresses

One of the simplest ways to get around gambling blocks is mirror site addresses. These are clones of websites, accessible via different addresses – domains. For example, plenty of foreign gambling companies are blocked in South Africa, but companies that still want to operate in South Africa often have more than one mirror address. This method is very simple, since all you need to do is find an alternative site address, and you’ll be able to successfully use the online casino’s services. It’s realistic that the mirror address you’re using will stop working after a while, but then you’ll just need to find another mirror address, and you’ll be able to use the online casino’s services as usual. Mirror servers themselves aren’t illegal, so there’s no need to worry about that. The most important thing is simply to choose a safe gambling company with a good reputation.

Mobile applications

Another alternative to reach the desired online casino and overcome gambling restrictions is mobile applications. Many online casinos have their own applications, so you just need to find and download them. True, you often won’t find applications in the App Store or Google Play, but you can find information about them on the gambling websites themselves, forums and the like. After downloading the online casino application, you can enjoy the experience without any glitches, since blocking the application itself is technically very difficult. Moreover, the application itself guarantees faster performance than the website, and is also usually a more convenient alternative, so this can be a solution that not only helps overcome gambling restrictions but also improves the gambling experience itself.

Why are gambling companies blocked?

Gambling companies are blocked due to legal restrictions. Countries want players to gamble only within that country’s jurisdiction and follow that specific country’s laws, and this is also meant to control the taxes states collect from gambling. Only companies holding a South African licence are allowed to operate in South Africa, and the main reason given is the goal of protecting consumers. That said, this kind of blocking policy receives plenty of criticism both in South Africa and abroad, since it reduces players’ freedom of choice and takes away their ability to use certain services at their own personal risk. For example, bonuses are prohibited in South Africa for both casino and sports betting, while at most foreign companies bonuses are completely legal. By building bonuses into their gaming strategy, a player has considerably higher chances of winning, but that alternative currently isn’t available in South Africa.

Do gambling blocks work?

Gambling blocks work partially, and partially not. According to official statistics, approximately 25 per cent of South African gamblers play at foreign online casinos. Unofficially, it is estimated that this figure could be even higher. If gambling blocks did not exist at all, foreign companies would have even more influence. On the other hand, the fact that many players ignore restrictions and still look for ways to play on foreign websites shows that consumers are not satisfied with the conditions offered in the domestic market, which forces them to look for alternatives.

Summary

Gambling restrictions are implemented in many countries around the world, including South Africa. Despite gambling restrictions, there are still many ways to easily play at foreign companies that accept players from South Africa. The most popular ways to bypass gambling restrictions are these - VPN usage, DNS server changes and Proxy servers. However, there are also more alternative ways that are also very simple and popular. Most websites have Mirror addresses, which make it easy to access the desired online casino, and also on blocked websites you can play using their mobile applications. Gambling companies are blocked on the grounds that this is intended to protect players, but usually the players themselves suffer from such a situation, as it reduces their freedom of choice. Statistics show that despite gambling restrictions, many players still choose to play abroad, which shows that foreign companies are able to offer more competitive gambling conditions.