Best PokerStars VPNs in 2026 to play securely anywhere
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On April 1st, 2026, PokerStars US was retired and replaced by PokerStars on FanDuel. The platform works in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Despite these changes, PokerStars is still banned in 47 US states.
The good news is that a reliable VPN can help you bypass these restrictions and access PokerStars from anywhere. Moreover, it adds an extra layer of security by hiding your online activity from your ISP and keeping your data safe on public Wi-Fi.
After testing 41 I found that NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and PureVPN are the best VPN for unlocking PokerStars in the US. They all offer excellent privacy, along with IP obfuscation features that will help you avoid anti-VPN detectors.
Best VPNs for PokerStars compared
| VPN for PokerStars | Rating | Best for: | Servers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NordVPN | All-around VPN use | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | $3.49/month | |
| 2. Surfshark | Playing PokerStars on a budget | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | $2.49/month price | |
| 3. IPVanish | Playing PokerStars on multiple devices | 3,400+ servers in 112 countries | $2.19/month | |
| 4. ExpressVPN | Privacy and security | Undisclosed number of servers in 105 countries | $2.49/month | |
| 5. PureVPN | Speed retention | 6,000+ servers in 65 countries | $2.15/month |
NordVPN is the best VPN for PokerStars, offering a 3-day free trial for Android users. You can test it risk-free and still be covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.
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.
Where is PokerStars legal
PokerStars is currently legal for real-money play in only three US states – Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This means that if you're in New York, Florida, California, Texas, or any of the 43 remaining states, you won't be able to access PokerStars.
Outside the US, PokerStars prohibits real-money play in over 100 countries. These are usually related to local gambling licensing and regulatory laws. Here's a breakdown of where you can't play PokerStars for real money:
| Region | PokerStars restricted countries |
| Americas | Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States (except for licensed states: NJ, PA, MI), the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Asia and Oceania | Afghanistan, American Samoa, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China (including Macau), East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, India (specific states) Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, Yemen. |
| Europe | Aland Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Holy See (Vatican City), Latvia, Luhansk (region), Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Svalbard and Jan Mayen. |
| Africa | Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
To play PokerStars in the US for real money, you must be physically located in Michigan, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania. You can also use a VPN to change your IP address to one in a state or country where PokerStars allows real-money play, but note that this is against PokerStars terms of service and may result in an account ban or freezing your funds.
How to play PokerStars in the USA with a VPN
- Subscribe to a reliable gambling VPN. During testing, NordVPN’s cheapest plan worked perfectly with PokerStars in the USA and is now 75% off.
- Download a VPN to your device.
- Connect to a server in PokerStars-legal states, like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Michigan.
- Open PokerStars and start playing with full access from the US.
Using VPNs to access platforms like PokerStars is not strictly illegal, but gambling laws and PokerStars terms of service still apply. These restrictions, such as the US Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Using a VPN to access PokerStars, may result in a ban or your funds being blocked.
The best PokerStars VPNs in 2026 – detailed list
In order to play PokerStars, you need a VPN that offers servers in the US, retains speed well, while maintaining excellent privacy and security options to ensure you’re safe while you play.
After testing 41 VPNs, we found that NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and PureVPN were the most reliable VPNs for PokerStars in the USA. They consistently bypassed geo-restrictions while maintaining stable, secure connections suitable for uninterrupted gameplay.
1. NordVPN – the overall best VPN for PokerStars
| Obfuscated servers: | ✅Yes |
| Servers/countries: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | ✅ Yes |
| Current deal: | Get NordVPN, now up to 75% 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. To test out NordVPN’s capabilities, I used its cheapest Basic plan. You can do the same risk-free with NordVPN’s 3-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Servers. To access PokerStars, you should connect to a server in a country where the site is permitted. NordVPN offers over 9,500 servers in 149 countries, including locations where PokerStars is available, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. During my tests, I managed to unblock PokerStars in the USA using servers in Trenton (New Jersey) and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), all of which provided seamless and reliable access.
Speed. PokerStars requires you to make decisions in real-time. NordVPN offers fast servers and low ping, ensuring you avoid lag or disconnects during games and tournaments. Its custom tunneling protocol, NordLynx, is based on the super-fast WireGuard, which retained an average of 90% initial connection speed during in-house tests.
Features. NordVPN provides several key security and privacy features. AES-256 encryption means that no one, including your internet service provider, will be able to see your internet activity. This helps avoid detection by PokerStars and other websites you may visit. Its no-logs policy will also ensure that even NordVPN won’t know the sites you visited. This combination of features makes NordVPN an excellent choice for playing PokerStars while retaining your privacy.
Price. NordVPN is an excellent VPN for PokerStars, which you can test risk-free thanks to its 3-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. Prices at $3.49/month on 10 devices simultaneously.
For more information about this provider, check out our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark – cheap PokerStars VPN for unlimited devices
| Obfuscated servers: | ✅ Yes, through Camouflage Mode |
| Servers/countries: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | ✅ Yes |
| Current deal: | Get 85% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE! |
Surfshark is the best budget VPN for PokerStars, with plans starting from just $2.49/month and a 7-day free trial for risk-free testing. It offers fast, stable connections and a large server network that makes it easy to access PokerStars from restricted regions. In my testing, Surfshark reliably unblocked PokerStars by connecting to Canadian servers, maintaining smooth gameplay without interruptions or repeated reconnections.
Servers. To access the main PokerStars casino platform from the US, Surfshark offers more than 4,500 servers in 100 countries, including PokerStars-friendly countries like Ireland or Canada. Surfshark also offers servers in Detroit, where I was able to access the PokerStars FanDuel.
Speed. In my tests, Surfshark retained around 93% of my initial connection speeds, delivering fast, lag-free performance suitable for playing on PokerStars. There was also no lag or drop in speed.
Features. Surfshark comes with Camouflage Mode, or traffic obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic from PokerStars. And because of the RAM-only servers, your data is in safe hands – it’s wiped out with each reboot, meaning even Surfshark won't know your activity. 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. Surfshark stands out as an affordable PokerStars VPN, starting at just $2.49/month, and you can test it risk-free thanks to a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. IPVanish – low-cost and fast VPN for PokerStars
| Obfuscated servers: | ✅ Yes, through a feature called Scrambl |
| Servers/countries: | 3,400+ servers in 112 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | ❌ No |
| Current deal: | Get 83% OFF IPVanish + 3 months FREE! |
IPVanish is a top PokerStars VPN due to its specialized balance of high-speed performance and critical features, such as traffic obfuscation that help bypass detection. I easily unblocked PokerStars in a restricted US state using servers in Canada, being able to play games without any issues.
Servers. IPVanish has over 3,200 servers in 113 countries, many of which allow playing PokerStars, such as Canada or the UK. After examining various servers from different locations, I found that this VPN unblocks the gambling site in Australia, Poland, Belgium, and Canada.
Speed. During our in-house IPVanish tests 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. IPVanish is a budget-friendly VPN for PokerStars that offers risk-free access through its 30-day money-back guarantee, with the Essential plan starting at just $2.19/month.
4. ExpressVPN – security-focused VPN to play PokerStars for real money
| Obfuscated servers: | ✅ Yes, on all of its servers |
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 105 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | ✅ Yes |
| Current deal: | Now up to 80% OFF ExpressVPN + 4 months FREE |
ExpressVPN is one of the best PokerStars VPNs thanks to its powerful security features, a global server fleet, and intuitive apps. This VPN unblocked PokerStars in the US using servers in New Jersey, Canada, and the UK, allowing smooth access almost instantly.
Servers. With plenty of servers in 105 countries, you can access PokerStars from any location if you connect to a server where PokerStars is legal. During my investigation, ExpressVPN unblocked PokerStars with servers in New Jersey, Italy, Canada,, and the UK.
Speed. ExpressVPN uses its proprietary Lightway protocol to ensure a stable connection to PokerStars. The final ExpressVPN speed test result was 77% average speed retention rate. This is more than enough to maintain a stable and efficient connection to PokerStars.
Features. With ExpressVPN, you get Stealth servers. They hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, so that PokerStars wouldn’t detect your VPN use. Plus, there’s a Threat Manager that ensures no third-party tracking.
Price. ExpressVPN is on the expensive side, starting at $2.49/month.
5. PureVPN – cost-effective PokerStars VPN with loads of IPs
| Obfuscated servers: | ✅ Yes |
| Servers/countries: | 6,000 servers in 65 countries |
| Cryptocurrency payments: | ✅ Yes |
| Current deal: | Now 83% OFF PureVPN + 3 FREE months |
PureVPN is a fast VPN for unblocking PokerStars. It has servers in New Jersey, Canada, the UK, and multiple other locations. Guaranteeing stable performance when playing your poker hands from anywhere.
Servers. PureVPN offers 6,000 servers in 65 countries. During our in-house PureVPN tests, it successfully unblocked PokerStars in Canada, Italy, the UK, and other countries.
Speed. I had no trouble accessing PokerStars and betting without interruption with PureVPN. It comes with the powerful WireGuard protocol that maintains 93% of the baseline download speed.
Features. PureVPN offers an obfuscation feature that is an excellent way to avoid VPN detection by PokerStars. It also uses domain fronting to further disguise your usage. To protect you while you're online, PureVPN also offers PureKeep – a password manager that will help keep your login credentials private.
Price. If you want to test whether PureVPN is the best VPN to unlock PokerStars, you can use its 7-day trial or 30-day money-back guarantee. Afterward, starting at $2.15/month, this VPN is an excellent choice for an enjoyable and safe PokerStars experience.
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. In the US, PokerStars is only legal in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and unavailable in other states. To access PokerStars outside these regions, a VPN is the only option. 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.
- Speed throttling. Your ISP might throttle, or slow down, your internet connection speed when certain activities are detected. In these rare cases, a VPN actually speeds things up, not vice versa.
How to play on PokerStars with a VPN
To play PokerStars in the US, you should use a reliable VPN like NordVPN. First, install the app, then connect to a server in a country or region where PokerStars is legal, such as Michigan, Canada, or the UK, then visit PokerStars, sign in, and start playing.
In this detailed guide, I show you exactly how to perform each of these steps so that you can get to playing PokerStars as soon as possible
Step 1: Get a reliable PokerStars VPN
Since PokerStars is illegal in 47 US states, you need a VPN with servers in states where PokerStars is legal (Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania) or countries like Canada or the UK.
In my testing, NordVPN proved to be the best VPN for PokerStars, consistently delivering the fastest and most stable access without interruptions. It reliably connected to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan servers, unblocking PokerStars instantly, while other VPNs often required multiple attempts or server changes.
Step 2: Install the VPN app on your device
After subscribing, download the VPN app directly from its official website or app store. Remember to always go to the official website, like www.nordvpn.com, and be wary of the first results in your search engine.
Step 3: Connect to a server where PokerStars is legal
PokerStars is legal in multiple countries, including Mexico, Canada, and the UK. It can also be accessed in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. To access PokerStars, pick a server in one of those locations to change your IP address and make it look as though you're accessing the platform from an unrestricted place.
Step 4: Open PokerStars and play real money games anywhere
Now you should be able to play PokerStars. Note that you should always ensure your VPN is on before launching. Using incognito mode in your browser and enabling server obfuscation may also help.
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 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 can 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. 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 it's usually enabled by default, some VPNs leave it to the user to decide. The feature prevents your real IP from being exposed if the VPN malfunctions.
- Use obfuscated servers. These kinds of servers 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 using a VPN 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 in 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?
There is no truly reliable free VPN for PokerStars because most free services lack the speed, server quality, and stability required to bypass strict geo-blocks. In my testing, even popular options like Proton VPN struggled with overloaded servers, slow performance, and limited country access, which quickly led to disconnections or blocked access on PokerStars.
On top of that, free VPNs often come with privacy risks such as data logging, weaker encryption, data leaks, and intrusive ads that can expose you to malware or tracking scripts.
Instead of using a free VPN for PokerStars, it’s much safer to choose a premium VPN like NordVPN, which offers a 3-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test full access risk-free.
Surfshark also provides a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you another reliable option with strong speeds and stable connections for PokerStars.These options let you test full-speed, secure access to PokerStars without risk, making them a far more reliable alternative to any free VPN.
Conclusion
PokerStars is a popular gambling site that isn’t available in lots of countries. Fortunately, users from certain US states, Australia, Germany, Serbia, or any other country where PokerStars isn’t available can use a VPN to access PokerStars.
My top recommendation for the best PokerStars VPN is NordVPN. Our 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. Surfshark is an excellent alternative if you're on a budget, while ExpressVPN is the best choice if you're very privacy-aware.
However, be wary of your country’s stance and laws 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 a headache.
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FAQ
Can you play PokerStars with a VPN?
Yes, you can use a VPN to play PokerStars in the US. Just keep in mind that if gambling is illegal in your country, using a VPN won’t make this activity legal.
Can PokerStars detect a VPN?
Yes, PokerStars scans IP addresses and looks at usage patterns to detect VPNs. If a VPN is detected, your account may be banned and your payouts put on hold.
Can I use a 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 three US states: Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 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.
Is PokerStars legal in Ohio?
No, PokerStars is not currently legal for real-money online poker in Ohio, as Ohio hasn’t legalized online poker yet. Players can only access PokerStars in states where it’s licensed, like Michigan or Pennsylvania. If you’re outside a PokerStars legal state, you can use a VPN to connect through a server in a supported location. A VPN changes your IP address and encrypts your connection, helping you appear as if you’re browsing from another state or country.
Is PokerStars legal in California?
No, PokerStars is not legally available for real-money play in California because the state does not regulate online poker. If you’re currently in California, the most effective way to access PokerStars from a restricted state is by using a reliable VPN, such as NordVPN. It offers 3,400+ US servers, including locations in PokerStars legal states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, plus fast NordLynx connections and obfuscated servers for improved privacy and stable gameplay.
Is PokerStars legal in Florida?
No, PokerStars is not legal in Florida for real-money play because the state has not regulated online poker yet. Currently, PokerStars only operates in a few approved US states, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. If you’re in Florida, you can use NordVPN to connect through servers in PokerStars legal states. In my tests, NordVPN made it easy to switch to US servers quickly, with stable connections and smooth performance on gaming traffic.
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.
