Best PokerStars VPNs in 2024 to Play Securely Anywhere
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PokerStars is an extremely popular gambling platform that offers online poker, casino games, and sports betting. Unfortunately, it is blocked in a huge number of regions, such as Australia, Bulgaria, Poland, and some US states, which might include your own. Currently, PokerStars for real money is available in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Luckily, you can unblock and play PokerStars with the help of a VPN. Not only that – a good VPN will also make your online activity much more secure, hiding your search history from your ISP and protecting your traffic when you use public Wi-Fi.
To help you make an informed decision, our research team tested 41 providers and I hand-picked the best VPNs for PokerStars that allow you to access the platform from the US or any other region where it’s unavailable.
Best VPNs for PokerStars in 2024
- NordVPN – the overall best PokerStars VPN in 2024
- Surfshark – secure VPN to play PokerStars anywhere on unlimited devices
- IPVanish – affordable VPN for PokerStars online casino
- ExpressVPN – security-focused PokerStars VPN
- CyberGhost – reliable VPN to play PokerStars for real money
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
How to play PokerStars with a VPN
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN that unblocks PokerStars, like NordVPN, now 74% OFF
- Download a VPN to your device and log in
- Connect to a country or state where PokerStars for real money is legal
- Sign in to your account
- Start playing online poker from anywhere!
The Best PokerStars VPNs detailed list
To gather a list of the best PokerStars VPNs, 41 providers were tested to help identify which reputable VPNs have the biggest server fleets, demonstrate best speeds, offer top security features, and more.
1. NordVPN – the overall best VPN for PokerStars in 2024
| Based in: | Panama |
| Servers/countries: | 6900+ servers in 113 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Get NordVPN, now up to 74% OFF + 3 months FREE! |
NordVPN is the best PokerStars VPN due to its effortless unblocking capabilities and a vast server network, including locations like Michigan and New Jersey, where you can freely play PokerStars online poker.
Servers. NordVPN offers excellent connectivity with a wide range of servers to unblock PokerStars – over 6900 in 113 countries. During our examination, I managed to unblock PokerStars using servers in New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles, all of which provided seamless and reliable access.
Speed. Its custom tunnelling protocol, NordLynx, is based on the super-fast WireGuard, which retained an average of 90% initial connection speed during in-house tests.
Features. NordVPN includes plenty of useful features like server obfuscation to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. When I tried out the kill switch, it also worked as intended, disconnecting from the internet until the VPN connection was restored. For ultimate security and control, you can even get a dedicated IP address for $70/year.
Price. All of this won’t cost a fortune – for only $2.99 a month, you’ll get to use the service on 10 devices simultaneously. And the best thing – there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can use to try the service out.
Read more in our NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark – cheap PokerStars VPN for unlimited devices
| Based in: | The Netherlands |
| Servers/countries: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Get 87% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE! |
Surfshark is a leading VPN for PokerStars that, unlike NordVPN, permits unlimited simultaneous connections and offers a massive network of servers. Surfshark effectively unblocks PokerStars from US states where access might be restricted, as well as from Australia, providing players with reliable and secure connections regardless of their location. This makes Surfshark an excellent choice for poker enthusiasts looking for a robust and versatile VPN.
Servers. Surfshark has more than 3200 servers distributed in 100 countries. When tested with PokerStars, this VPN managed to unblock the platform using servers in New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. For users looking for a PrizePicks VPN, Surfshark's extensive server network in countries such as the UK, and Germany makes it an excellent choice for poker enthusiasts and bettors looking for a robust and versatile VPN solution.
Speed. This VPN comes with the WireGuard protocol, ensuring fast performance. In-house test results show that on average, it managed to retain 86% of initial connection speeds. During in-house test, there was no lag or drop in speed.
Features. Surfshark comes with Camouflage Mode, or traffic obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic. And because of the RAM-only servers, your data is in safe hands – it’s wiped out with each reboot. This regular wiping of data ensures that no sensitive information is stored on the servers for an extended period, enhancing security and effectively protecting user privacy.
Price. You can get Surfshark’s excellent VPN service for only $1.99/month and test it without worry using the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Still can’t decide? Check out the Surfshark VPN review or compare Surfshark vs NordVPN to find the perfect fit.
3. IPVanish – low-cost and fast VPN for PokerStars
| Based in: | United States |
| Servers/countries: | 2400+ servers in 100 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | No |
| Current deal: | Get 83% OFF IPVanish + 3 months FREE! |
IPVanish offers a robust and affordable solution for accessing PokerStars if it’s blocked in your country, thanks to a huge server selection scattered throughout the globe. You’ll be able to play securely and enjoy fast connection speeds, benefiting from advanced security and privacy features.
Servers. IPVanish has servers in 2400 countries, many of which allow playing PokerStars. After examining various servers from different locations, I found that this VPN unblocks the gambling site in Australia, Poland, Belgium, and Canada.
Speed. With the WireGuard protocol, IPVanish retained 80% of initial connection speeds on average. So, while playing PokerStars, I noticed no buffering.
Features. IPVanish makes it difficult to detect VPN usage thanks to the Scramble OpenVPN obfuscation feature. You can even use the On Demand feature so that the VPN would automatically connect whenever you turn on PokerStars.
Price. The cheapest IPVanish plan is the 2-year option – coming at $2.19/month. If you’re on a budget, take a look at Surfshark as it’s cheaper than IPVanish. A standard 30-day money-back guarantee is also applicable.
To learn more, read our IPVanish review.
4. ExpressVPN – security-focused VPN to play PokerStars for real money
| Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 105 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Get ExpressVPN, now 61% OFF + 3 months FREE! |
ExpressVPN is one of the best PokerStars VPNs due to its powerful security features as well as a big server fleet and intuitive apps. Plus, this VPN accessed PokerStars almost instantly.
Servers. With plenty of servers in 105 countries, you can access PokerStars from many different locations. During my investigation, the VPN unblocked PokerStars with servers in Italy, Canada, Poland, and the UK.
Speed. ExpressVPN uses its proprietary Lightway protocol to ensure swift and secure connections for its customers. The final speed test result was 77% average speed retention rate, which isn’t ideal but still stable. So if you need a faster provider, I recommend taking a look at Surfshark or NordVPN instead.
Features. With ExpressVPN, you get Stealth servers, or obfuscated servers. They hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, so that PokerStars wouldn’t detect your activities. Plus, there’s a Threat Manager for ensuring no third-party tracking.
Price. ExpressVPN is on the expensive side, starting at $4.99/month. If you want a cheaper VPN, opt for NordVPN. Fortunately, ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Gain insights from our Express VPN review or make a well-informed choice by comparing NordVPN vs ExpressVPN.
5. CyberGhost – cost-effective PokerStars VPN with loads of IPs
| Based in: | Romania |
| Servers/countries: | 11500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Get CyberGhost VPN, now 83%% + 2 months FREE! |
CyberGhost is the most budget-friendly VPN for unblocking PokerStars abroad. It has servers in several states of the US, including New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, as well as in Canada, the UK, Australia, and in several states in India. CyberGhost ensures excellent performance, making it an ideal choice for playing poker anywhere.
Servers. CyberGhost offers 11500+ servers in 100 countries. During my inspection, it successfully unblocked PokerStars in Canada, Italy, the UK, and more.
Speed. I had no trouble accessing PokerStars and gaming without interruptions with CyberGhost. It comes with the powerful WireGuard protocol that retains 86% of the baseline speed according to our tests.
Features. With CyberGhost, you can get a dedicated IP to ensure you get all the security there is (from $2.50/month to $5.00/month). However, one thing it lacks is the traffic obfuscation feature. If you find it a deal-breaker and want to hide your VPN connection, ExpressVPN or IPVanish would be a better choice.
Price. For $2.19/month, this VPN is an excellent choice for an enjoyable and safe PokerStars experience. With a 45-day money-back guarantee included.
To find out more, visit our CyberGhost review.
Best VPNs for PokerStars compared
| VPN | Rating | Unblocks Pokerstars | Crypto payments | Servers | Security features | Price |
| NordVPN | Yes | ✅ Yes | 6900 servers in 113 locations | Colocated servers, Kill switch, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, Meshnet, AES-256 encryption | From $2.99/month | |
| Surfshark | Yes | ✅ Yes | 3200 servers in 100 locations | CleanWeb, IP rotator, Dedicated IP, Alternative ID, AES-256 encryption | From $1.99/month | |
| IPVanish | Yes | ❌ No | 2400 servers in 100 locations | Kill switch, Forward secrecy for account authentication, WireGuard , Obfuscated servers, AES-256 encryption | From $2.19/month | |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | ✅ Yes | Servers in 105 locations | AES-256-GCM encryption, IP & DNS leak protection, Malware protection | From $4.99/month | |
| CyberGhost | Yes | ✅ Yes | 11500 servers in 100 locations | WireGuard tunneling protocol, Advanced AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, Ad blocker | From $2.19/month |
How we selected and tested PokerStars VPNs
Our team of experts tested 41 reputable providers using Virtualbox VM with Windows 11 Pro installed on Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 device with AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD. Our rankings vastly depended on whether (and how well) the gambling VPNs unblocked PokerStars. Other criteria, however, such as speed and security features, were taken into consideration as well.
Here’s exactly how we selected and tested these VPNs:
- PokerStars unblocking capabilities. First and foremost, we tested which VPNs can unblock PokerStars and let you play uninterrupted.
- Server network. We looked at providers with the largest server fleets, so you’d be able to find locations to connect to where PokerStars is available. This includes servers in Canada, the Czech Republic, Australia, and other regions.
- Speed. We used the fastest protocols, such as WireGuard and its modern variations, to test each provider's performance. Our list only includes fast VPNs that retain at least 77% of baseline download speed and ensure a lag-free PokerStars experience.
- Security. When you use a VPN to play PokerStars, it’s extremely important that the VPN is secure enough to not reveal you. This means it should include the AES or XChaCha20 encryption and a strict no-logs policy.
- Features. Some VPN features can be of great help when playing at PokerStars. For example, obfuscated servers will make sure your VPN is virtually undetectable. Meanwhile, split tunneling will allow you to decide which apps or websites use the VPN traffic.
- Price. Even cheap VPNs can provide you with just as good of security levels as more expensive ones. That’s why we evaluated what each provider offers for the money you have to pay and provided options for every budget.
Why do I need a VPN for PokerStars?
There are a lot of benefits to using a VPN to play PokerStars and other poker services. Naturally, the primary perk is circumventing the error message displayed below.
Let’s take a look at those benefits in more detail:
- Site access. PokerStars is accessible in the US, but only for play money and limited to Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. To access PokerStars outside these regions, a VPN is the only way to play. Moreover, playing PokerStars for real money is illegal in many countries due to local regulations and licensing restrictions.
- Security. It’s good to use a VPN for PokerStars if you simply want your connection to be secured, especially if you use public Wi-Fi for that. Also, it can be a good idea to simply hide your activity from your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
- Speed throttling. Your ISP might throttle, or slow down, your internet connection speed when certain activities are detected. In these rare cases, a VPN will actually speed things up, not vice versa.
When selecting a VPN for online gambling, security and reliability are top priorities. Even a small flaw could lead to serious consequences, especially in restricted regions. That's why it's crucial to choose a VPN with a strong kill switch, robust encryption, and flawless DNS leak protection to safeguard your information.
For added security, I recommend using features like Double VPN or Obfuscated servers.
For instance, NordVPN offers Double NAT technology, providing each user with a unique IP address, making it harder for betting sites to detect VPN usage. This extra layer of security ensures that your online activities remain private and secure.
Where is PokerStars restricted?
There are many countries where you won’t be able to play PokerStars unless you use a VPN to bypass the geo-restrictions. Here are some of the countries where PokerStars is blocked:
| Continent | State or country |
| Europe | North Macedonia, Serbia, Vatican City, Cyprus, Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine |
| Americas | Colombia, USA (with the exception of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Michigan) |
| Africa | Egypt, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya |
| Asia and Oceania | Australia, Bangladesh, China, French Polynesia, Jordan, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India |
However, keep in mind that this is just a small part of the countries where you won’t be able to access PokerStars. You can check out the full list on the official website of this online poker giant.
Certain locations might punish gambling by a fine or even imprisonment, so stay vigilant about your actions.
What countries is PokerStars legal in
PokerStars now officially operates in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan in the United States. Additionally, you can play PokerStars for real money in dozens of countries around the world, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Sweden, and many others.
How to play on PokerStars in the US
PokerStars is currently available to play in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. That means the majority of American players will need to enable a VPN to play PokerStars without limits. Here’s how to do that.
- Purchase a reliable VPN for PokerStars. I recommend NordVPN as it has servers in all PokerStars legal states.
- Install the VPN app on your device
- Connect to a nearby country where PokerStars is available, such as Michigan or New Jersey
- Open PokerStars and play real money games anywhere
How to play PokerStars in Australia
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill released in 2023 by the Australian government makes it practically impossible to play PokerStars with real money in the country. As such, you’ll have to follow this simple guide if you want to enjoy PokerStars in Australia.
- Choose a VPN with great unblocking capabilities. My top choice is NordVPN with its worldwide server fleet
- Download the VPN to your device
- Connect to a country that permits PokerStars, such as New Zealand
- Open the PokerStars app and play real money games without limits
Safety tips for playing PokerStars with a VPN
Nobody wants their PokerStars account frozen or downright banned for using a VPN. Luckily, there are a few tips that will help you to minimize your chances of being detected or losing your funds:
- Turn on the VPN on time. It’s really important that you connect to the desired VPN server before you open your PokerStars client. In this way, the service won’t detect an IP change.
- Withdraw your winnings often. As there’s always a chance to get your account frozen, don’t let your winnings accumulate. Withdraw your money as often as possible. This also helps to not trigger KYC (your identity verification), which would expose your real location.
- Enable the kill switch. Before playing, check whether the VPN’s kill switch is turned on. Even though usually it’s enabled by default, some VPNs leave it to the user to decide. The feature will prevent your real IP from being exposed if the VPN malfunctions.
- Use obfuscated servers. These kinds of servers will hide your VPN traffic as regular traffic, making it harder for PokerStars to detect that you’re tricking them. You can find server obfuscation on such VPNs as NordVPN and Surfshark.
In case your VPN can’t seemingly unblock PokerStars, try changing the tunneling protocol first, as the poker client might only block a certain protocol. Also, try your luck with different countries and servers.
Is it legal to use a VPN with PokerStars
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN to play at PokerStars if online poker is allowed in your country. However, keep in mind that VPN usage doesn’t make an illegal activity into a legal one. So, if you live in a region where gambling is extremely frowned upon, you might still get into trouble.
Also, PokerStars might freeze or ban your account if it catches you using a VPN, especially if it decides to ask for documents to confirm your identity.
Can I use a free VPN for PokerStars
Yes, it’s possible to play at PokerStars with a free VPN, but you should be careful about it. If you simply pick a random free VPN, you might get your personal information stolen and sold to third parties. Also, your browser might start getting annoying and dangerous ads that contain malware and viruses.
Luckily, there are a few trustworthy freemium VPNs. But not all of them are suitable for PokerStars specifically. For example, even though Proton VPN has a great free version with an unlimited amount of data, none of its servers unblock PokerStars.
On a similar note, the free version of Windscribe might bypass the geo-restrictions of this poker site, but it has a monthly limit of 10MB, which isn’t that much.
That’s why your best bet to unblock PokerStars would be using a VPN with a free trial and a money-back guarantee on top of it.
- NordVPN – enjoy PokerStars without interruptions using the 7-day free trial for Android devices (can be used on other devices after setup) on top of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark – make use of the 7-day free trial for macOS, iOS, and Android devices as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee to effortlessly get into PokerStars.
Conclusion
PokerStars is a popular gambling site that isn’t available in lots of countries. Users from certain US states, Australia, Germany, Serbia, or any other country where PokerStars isn’t available will have to use a VPN to access the site.
My top recommendation for the best PokerStars VPN is NordVPN. In-house tests demonstrated that it effortlessly unblocks the platform in numerous countries using servers in Canada, Italy, the UK, and more. Additionally, it maintains high speeds, ensuring a buffer-free gambling experience. NordVPN is the best VPN for PokerStars due to its reliable performance and vast server network. Moreover, you can play PrizePicks safely with NordVPN by masking your IP address and encrypting your internet connection, protecting your data from any potential threats
However, be wary of your country’s stance on gambling. Try to access PokerStars only if there are no heavy penalties for doing so, as online poker should be a fun and lighthearted activity, not a cause of headache.
FAQ
Can I use VPN for PokerStars?
Yes, you can use a VPN to unblock PokerStars. Just keep in mind that if gambling is illegal in your country, using a VPN won’t make this activity legal.
Can PokerStars detect I am using a VPN?
Yes, there’s a slight chance that PokerStars will detect your VPN activity. In this case, your account might get frozen or banned.
Can I use VPN to play poker in Australia?
Yes, you can use a VPN for accessing PokerStars in Australia. However, keep in mind that Australian laws don’t allow playing with real money, only play money.
Can I play PokerStars in the USA?
Yes, you can play PokerStars in a few US states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. If you want to play in other states, you can use a VPN that’s fast and capable of bypassing geo-restrictions, such as NordVPN.
Can I play PokerStars from another country?
Yes, you can play PokerStars from any country you want if you have a reliable VPN with thousands of worldwide servers. It allows you to redirect your traffic through countries where PokerStars isn’t restricted, thus granting access to the gambling site anywhere.
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