You can. However if you get caught trying to do so, you might be getting yourself into a world of trouble. In some jurisdictions, if you are using a VPN to try and access NJ gambling websites (sportsbooks and online casinos) while situated in a region where betting is prohibited, you may in fact be breaking state law.
The use of the VPN service itself is not an illegal act. It’s the use of it to try and gamble in a state where gambling is against the law that is going to get you in hot water.
VPN for Online Gambling in the US: Risks and Consequences Explained
In every US state in which online gambling is legal and regulated, there are strict stipulations regarding usage of these gambling sites. For instance, if you live in New Jersey and want to do some online gambling at a New Jersey online casino or sportsbook, you must be physically located within state lines in order to do so.
When you sign up for an account with any online sportsbook apps such as betMGM NJ, one of the terms and conditions for doing so is permitting geolocation software to be utilized to determine your physical location when attempting to login to your account.
Certainly it is possible for you to try and use a VPN in order to login to your online gambling account. Just know that if you are caught doing so, at the very minimum your account with that gambling site is likely to be suspended. Bypassing their geolocation software would be considered a violation of their terms and conditions. At the worst, if you are caught doing so from a state in which gambling is illegal, you could wind up facing criminal charges.
It could also make it more difficult to access any winnings you might garner while gambling at the site. If the site operators detect unusual activity on your account, it could get flagged as suspicious and any payments put on hold until a further investigation is undertaken.
Some online gambling sites are making it easier for you to play when you are away from your home state. For instance, Bally Bet offers a traveling wallet function with which you can place bets in any state with a Bally Bet sportsbook, so long as you are physically present in that state.
How Does Geolocation Technology Work In Online Casinos To Comply With Legal Regulations?
When the US Supreme Court was clearing the way for widespread legal and regulated online gambling across the country in 2018, one of the restrictions that was put into place designed to keep the reins of the gambling explosion in check was to declare that online players must be physically present within state lines to gamble online in that state.
This was a necessary move to maintain the legality of the US gambling environment. The US Wire Act prohibits gambling from taking place across state lines.
This is also why geolocation software became such a vital part of the US online gambling landscape. The online casinos would require a foolproof method for determining the precise location of all of their players. Geolocation software makes this possible.
In short, geolocation software provides online casinos with the ability to track the location – both latitude and longitude – of an internet-connected device such as a computer, tablet, or cell phone. The fact of the matter is that this is nothing new in the world of internet technology. If you’ve ever used your mobile device to locate an address, or GPS to map out a destination, it’s geolocation software that makes such a search possible.
Geolocation is tracking your IP address, then triangulating it with your W-iFi signal to determine your exact location. It can pinpoint where you are located to within 2-3 feet of where you actually are. It can also utilize cell phone towers, bluetooth beacons and Wi-Fi signals to determine your positioning.
It’s absolutely vital that online casinos are able to enact geolocation software to track their customers. State regulators won’t permit online gambling to be taking place across state lines, so they must be able to ensure that when you are playing, you are situated within jurisdictional boundaries. That’s why you’ll be required to give an online casino operator permission to use geolocation software to check your location. You will be geo-fenced within state lines by this software.
So if you were playing in New Jersey and crossed over to New York, you won’t be able to play again until you physically return to the Garden State. Online casino operators are legally bound to comply with these geolocation rules. Failure to do so will result in severe punishment from state regulators. It could lead to harsh fines and other penalties, including the loss of their online casino license.
