Guide · 7 min read
Betting with a VPN: what the terms say and what you risk
A VPN makes it look as if you are somewhere else. For betting that matters, because a bookmaker's licence and terms depend on where you are. Here is why people try it, what the terms say, the legal position in Austria and Slovakia, and why the real risk is losing the winnings, and sometimes the balance.
Updated 22 October 2026
Contents
This page describes the general position as of October 2026. Bookmaker terms and national rules change; check the current terms of the bookmaker you use.
Why people use a VPN for betting
The reasons are usually understandable, which is why the problem is so common:
- The site is blocked. In Slovakia, for example, websites of operators without a Slovak licence are put on the regulator's blacklist and blocked by internet providers.
- The bookmaker doesn't serve the country. Some well-known books don't accept customers from Austria or Slovakia at all; Pinnacle, for example, closed its Austrian accounts in 2021.
- Different offers. Bonuses, prices or markets in another country's version of a site look better.
- Travel. On holiday the bookmaker's app suddenly says "not available in your location".
- Privacy. Some people simply have a VPN switched on all the time.
Only the last one is harmless, and even that can cause trouble, as explained below.
Location rules in bookmaker terms
A bookmaker may only offer its service where its licence allows it. Its terms therefore contain a list of restricted countries and rules such as these:
- You may only open and use the account from a country the bookmaker accepts, and often only from the country of registration.
- Using a VPN, proxy or other tool to hide or change your location is prohibited.
- If you place bets from a restricted country, the bookmaker may void them, withhold the winnings and close the account. Some terms also allow it to keep the remaining balance or return only the deposits.
Bookmakers detect VPNs reliably: the IP addresses of commercial VPN services are known, and the location of the payment method, the phone, the time zone and the registered address all have to fit together. Licensed operators also have to verify where their customers are. The clauses worth reading before you bet are collected in bookmaker terms to check.
The legal position in Austria and Slovakia
- Austria. There is no rule that forbids players from using a VPN. Sports betting is regulated by the federal states; bookmakers operate with a Land permit or on the basis of an EU licence, for example from Malta. A VPN doesn't make a bet unlawful for the player, but it breaches the terms. A reform of the federal gambling act, which targets unlicensed online casino offers with blocking measures from 2027, was still in Parliament in October 2026.
- Slovakia. Under Act 30/2019, only operators licensed by ÚRHH may offer online betting to Slovak residents. ÚRHH keeps a blacklist of unlicensed offers that internet providers must block, and it can order payment blocking. The law sanctions the operators, not the players. But anyone who reaches a blacklisted bookmaker via a VPN has no Slovak supervision on their side if there is a problem, and payments to and from such sites can be blocked.
Whether a bet is lawful for you is one question. Whether you will get your money is another, and that one is decided by the terms. More on licences in Austria and Slovakia is in tax and legality.
Why winnings can be withheld
The bookmaker accepts your deposit and your bets, but location checks often happen only at the first withdrawal, together with identity verification. That's when the VPN use comes to light, and the bookmaker refers to the terms. You may get the deposit back, or nothing at all. With a bookmaker outside the EU there is usually no regulator or dispute body that will help (see bookmaker won't pay out).
A sure bet: €485 at Bookmaker A at 2.12 (reached via VPN) and €515 at Bookmaker B at 2.00. A pays €485 × 2.12 = €1,028.20, B pays €515 × 2.00 = €1,030.00. Planned: about €28 to €30 more than the €1,000 you staked.
A's side wins. The €515 at B is lost, as planned. At the withdrawal A notices the VPN and keeps the winnings and the stake under its terms. Result: −€1,000 instead of about +€28. If B's side had won, you would have received €1,030 from B, but the €485 deposit at A could still be frozen.
The asymmetry is the problem: you carry the full downside on every bet at such a bookmaker, while the upside depends on it choosing to pay.
Travelling and privacy VPNs
- On holiday. What counts is where you physically are when you bet, not where you live. If the bookmaker doesn't accept bets from the country you are visiting, don't bet with it there, and don't use a VPN to "be at home". Some terms also restrict betting while abroad even in allowed countries; check them.
- A privacy VPN at home. Even if you are in an allowed country, a VPN exit server in another country looks like a breach. Switch it off before you open the bookmaker's site or app.
- Mobile data. Roaming usually shows your real location, so it is not a problem in itself; the rule about where you are physically still applies.
What to do instead
Use bookmakers that accept customers from your country, and check their licence. ArbVantage shows a neutral flag for every bookmaker (for example "Not licensed in Slovakia"), so you can see the status and decide for yourself; nothing is hidden. In Slovakia, the books licensed by ÚRHH are the obvious choice. In Austria, books with a Land permit and established EU-licensed operators that accept Austrian customers give you a regulator or dispute body to turn to. Fewer bookmakers means fewer sure bets, but every sure bet you find there is one you can actually get paid for.
Frequently asked questions
Is using a VPN for betting illegal?
For players in Austria and Slovakia, using a VPN is not a criminal offence in itself. But practically every bookmaker's terms forbid hiding your location, and a breach can lead to voided bets, withheld winnings and a closed account.
Can I lose my money if I bet with a VPN?
Yes. Bookmakers often check location at the first withdrawal. If they find VPN use, their terms usually allow them to void bets and withhold winnings, sometimes the whole balance. With operators outside the EU there is rarely anyone to complain to.
Can I bet while travelling abroad?
Only if the bookmaker accepts bets from the country you are in at the time. Check its list of restricted countries. Using a VPN to appear to be at home breaches the terms.
Is a VPN a problem if I am in an allowed country?
It can be. A VPN exit server in another country makes it look as if you are betting from there. Switch the VPN off before you use a bookmaker's site or app.
Sources
- Slov-Lex: Slovak Gambling Act (Act 30/2019) (in Slovak)
- ÚRHH: list of prohibited offers (blacklist) (in Slovak)
- ÚRHH: licensed online operators (in Slovak)
- Land Salzburg: sports betting as a matter for the federal states (in German)
- Malta Gaming Authority: player complaints and ADR
As of October 2026, checked against the linked sources. Not legal, tax or betting advice.
Betting involves risk, even with sure bets: prices move, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only use money you can do without. Our responsible gambling page lists free help.
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