Geoblocking is the practice of restricting access to a website or service based on the user's geographic location. Casinos use geoblocking to comply with varying gambling laws by preventing players in prohibited jurisdictions from accessing their platform. Detection is typically based on IP address, with some platforms also checking GPS location.
Geoblocking is a legal compliance necessity for online casinos. Different states and countries have different gambling regulations, and casinos must block access from jurisdictions where they are not authorized to operate. At sweepstakes casinos, this means blocking players from states like Washington, Idaho, and Nevada where the sweepstakes model is prohibited. Crypto casinos may block entire countries due to OFAC sanctions or licensing restrictions. The blocking is usually implemented at the IP level — if your IP address geolocates to a restricted area, you cannot access the site or create an account. Using VPNs to circumvent geoblocking violates virtually every casino's terms of service and can result in account termination and forfeiture of funds.
A player in Washington state tries to access a sweepstakes casino and sees a message: 'Sorry, this service is not available in your state.' Their IP address triggered the geoblock.
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