Banned Countries and Geo-Restrictions: What Players Should Know

Governments worldwide take dramatically different moral and practical approaches to gambling. On the whole it is recognized that there are many ills to contend with. Despite this, many countries try to manage those risks and seize all of the wonderful tax dollars gambling provides, while keeping it under strict control. It is the lengths that governments go to prevent money laundering, terrorism, and theft that players should be aware of.

Though players have a notoriously easy time playing in offshore online casinos, it’s important to be aware of what the regulations are in your country, what you will and won’t be able to play, and what the repercussions are for breaking the laws.

Why Countries Get Banned

Online casinos don’t arbitrarily block countries — there are specific legal, financial, and regulatory reasons behind each ban or restriction. These decisions are influenced by both the casino’s licensing requirements and the laws of the country where the player resides. Here are the most common reasons why certain countries are banned from accessing online casino platforms:

1. National gambling laws: this is an obvious one. A lot of countries in the world have banned gambling online. In fact, more of them have than have not. Casinos have to comply or face civil action or licensing repercussions.
2. Fragmented regulations: Many jurisdictions have established very vague requirements for maintaining compliance. Operators get very frustrated with this and don’t want to risk being penalized. For that reason, they may simply ban certain states. Examples of such countries are India, USA, and Argentina.
3. Licensing restrictions: A lot of the licenses that gambling operators use are specific to a certain country, especially if it is just starting out. Larger ones tend to use licenses accepted as the basis to permit gambling in certain countries. This doesn’t cover all countries however, so whatever countries a gambling operator hasn’t gotten around to getting licensed in yet, or whatever countries might not be worth the hassle, have to be banned by the casino.
4. Sanctions: Some countries are subject to economic or political sanctions, which can make it illegal or extremely risky for companies – including online casinos – to do business with residents from those nations. For example, U.S. and European sanctions often prohibit financial transactions with countries like Iran, Syria, or North Korea, making it impossible for players from those locations to legally deposit or withdraw funds. As a result, online casinos preemptively ban access to avoid breaching international sanctions.
5. High-risk: Countries that are considered high-risk for financial crimes or corruption may be blacklisted by casinos or by the payment processors they rely on.

Platforms like Odds96 Review normally list the countries they service on their website.

Government Prohibitions

Here are where gambling has to be banned due to the local governments’ regulations

United States

Though gambling is available in limited areas in the majority of US states, online gambling is banned everywhere except the following states:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• New Jersey
• West Virginia
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island

MENA Region

Formally, online gambling is banned almost everywhere in this region, except Morocco, as Islam forbids it. The exceptions are mainly specific resorts where only foreigners are allowed to gamble. Then, in North Africa, though the laws are on the books, they tend not to be enforced. The UAE has recently announced plans that it intends to be a world leader in iGaming.

Asia

Buddhism forbids gambling as well, and though governments do a poor job of stopping them, gambling in offshore casinos is huge. Like the previous region, exceptions are generally made for foreigners to be able to gamble, to engulf the resulting money. A notable example is Macau. The Philippines and Mongolia permit it though as do certain states in India.

Europe

This is the most permissive region in the world but the heaviest-regulating on this subject. The majority of Western Europe permits it. Netherlands and Germany very recently legalized it on a national level. Most Eastern European countries prohibit it, except for Ukraine.

Latin America

There is currently an explosion of countries permitting online gambling for the first time. The most notable among these are 

• Colombia
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Peru

How Casinos Enforce Geo Restrictions

Online casinos take geo-restrictions seriously – not just to comply with laws, but also to protect their licenses and reduce legal risk. To enforce these restrictions, gambling platforms use a mix of technology, verification processes, and payment controls to block users from banned countries. Here’s a closer look at how they do it.

• IP address tracking: Every internet connection has an IP address that reveals the user’s approximate location. If a user logs in from a restricted country, the system will detect the IP address and automatically deny access or block them from starting up an account.
• GPS: Apps sometimes refuse to open or allow bets unless GPS confirms the user is in an approved location.
• KYC verification: This process requires players to submit government-issued ID, proof of address, and sometimes a selfie. If documents show they reside in a restricted area region, the casino may deny the account or restrict withdrawals, even if the user was able to initially register.
• Payment method restrictions: casinos may disable certain credit card types, e-wallets, or bank transfers for specific countries to avoid breaching international laws or risking chargebacks.
• Browser and device fingerprinting: to collect unique information about a user’s device – such as screen size, browser version, operating system, language settings, and even timezone. This data helps casinos verify whether a user’s location matches their claimed country. If inconsistencies are found – such as a user claiming to be in Canada but using a Russian-language browser with a Nigerian timezone – the casino may suspend the account or demand further proof.
• VPN detection: These tools scan for known proxy server IPs and flag suspicious traffic patterns.

Risks When Gamblers Attempt to Bypass Geo-Restrictions

Breaking the laws brings with it a variety of negative repercussions. Here’s what could happen if one is caught breaking their national iGaming laws or playing at a casino in a banned territory.

Permanent Account Suspension

If the system detects that you’re accessing the platform from a restricted country. Even if you used a VPN to get around it, your account may be suspended or permanently banned. In most cases, casinos don’t provide a second chance. If you violate their terms of service, especially clauses related to jurisdiction or fraud, they can immediately terminate your account with no refund provided.

Forfeiture of Winnings and Deposits

Even if you manage to play successfully and win money while using a VPN or false location, those winnings are not secure. Once the casino begins the KYC process – typically before your first withdrawal – they’ll request identity documents and proof of address. If these documents reveal that you reside in a restricted country, they can legally deny your withdrawal and confiscate your balance.

This isn’t some isolated, rare case, it’s a common clause in most casino terms: if you lie about your location, the casino has the right to void all activity and retain any funds.

Legal Repercussions in Some Jurisdictions

In many countries where gambling is restricted or banned, trying to access foreign casinos – even via VPN – can be considered illegal activity. Depending on local laws, players may face serious fines, prosecution, or even jail time, particularly in authoritarian countries with strict internet regulations like Iran, North Korea, or the UAE. In Estonia, the penalty is detention or up to 200 fine units. In China, the punishment is up to 3 years of imprisonment.

Using payment systems linked to gambling may also draw attention from local financial authorities, especially if foreign transactions are monitored or blocked.

Payment and Banking Issues

Using a VPN or false identity can lead to problems with deposits and withdrawals. Even if the casino accepts your deposit, your bank or e-wallet provider might block or reverse the transaction once they realize it’s connected to gambling from a restricted jurisdiction. This can result in frozen funds, payment disputes, or even banned bank accounts.