Best VPNs for Pokerstars in 2024

PokerStars is one of the biggest online gambling and sports betting platforms. Unfortunately, it’s not available in many regions of the world, including some states in the US. Luckily, there are many VPNs available online you can use to unblock the site and play poker safely.

The ideal PokerStars VPN should have a large server count and provide fast speeds along with advanced security features, so you can gain access to the platform without having your data compromised or getting into trouble with the law.

In this article, we’ve curated a list of the top 5 VPNs for PokerStars you can use to finally be able to participate in a poker tournament.

Top 5 VPNs for PokerStars

With a VPN, you can change your IP address to make it look like you’re in a region where PokerStars is accessible. Here are the top 5 VPNs for PokerStars:

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for PokerStars in 2024
2. Private Internet Access – VPN with the most servers for accessing PokerStars
3. NordVPN – PokerStars VPN that provides robust security
4. Surfshark – Cheap VPN for unblocking PokerStars
5. IPVanish – Affordable VPN for playing online games

It’s difficult for people to dig through a long list of VPNs to see which ones work, which is why we’ve personally tested these VPNs and can vouch for them. Before we explain why the above-mentioned VPN services are the best candidates for unblocking PokerStars, let's take a look at the factors we considered when creating the list:

• Trustworthiness – How reliable a VPN is, usually gauged by customer reviews and the privacy policy of a VPN.
• Number of servers – With more servers, you have more chances of finding one that unblocks PokerStars.
• Fast connection speeds – Fast and stable speeds will allow you to play poker games without any disruption in your connection.
• Security features – A good VPN should have advanced security features you can use to protect your online traffic.
• Price – There’s no point in making a list for PokerStar VPNs if none of them are within your budget!

The best VPNs for PokerStars in 2024

Based on the criteria mentioned above, we tested some VPNs to see which ones perform best when unblocking PokerStars. Here are the top 7 VPNs for PokerStars in 2024:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Free trial on Android and iOS
• Lightway protocol gives fast speeds when using PokerStars
• Servers in 94 countries
• User-friendly UI

• Expensive

In terms of design consistency and fast speeds, ExpressVPN is the best VPN to use for unblocking PokerStars. It may have fewer servers than NordVPN (over 3000), but they’re spread out in 94 countries. ExpressVPN also has a no-log policy and it comes with features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch to ensure you can play PokerStars without having your IP address leaked.

Many people get ExpressVPN for its proprietary protocol called Lightway, which gives faster speeds and more security than other options. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands where it’s not obligated to give any data to legal authorities. 

All of its servers are RAM-based and it’s been audited independently multiple times. All of these things make ExpressVPN a great choice for those who want to use it to access PokerStars. 

You can get ExpressVPN’s yearly package for $6.67 per month. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can avail a free 7-day trial version on both Android and iOS.

If you want to use a ExpressVPN to access other online betting sites like DraftKings, check out our article on how to use a VPN to access DraftKings from anywhere.

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

1

9.4

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Dedicated IP for safely accessing PokerStars
• Over 10000 servers in 84 countries
• Free 7-day trial
• Accepts cryptocurrency as payment

• Doesn’t support RAM-only servers
• Located in the USA

Private Internet Access is a USA-based VPN service that does a great job of unblocking PokerStars. It gives fast and stable speeds so you can enjoy your poker games without any disruptions, and it masks your IP address so your actual location is never revealed. The VPN service has over 10000 servers in 84 countries.

Being located in the US shouldn’t dissuade you from using Private Internet Access, because it has a strict no-log policy that’s been confirmed through independent audits. It comes with a kill switch, split tunneling, ad and tracker blocker, and even a dedicated IP address (requires an additional fee). 

A dedicated IP address is better than a shared one for using PokerStars since it’s less likely to get blacklisted by a gambling site because it’s only coming from one location.

We recommend getting a dedicated IP address for unblocking PokerStars. (Source: top10vpn.com)

Private Internet Access’ yearly package is available for $3.33 per month. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee with it, but you can also try its free 7-day trial version.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• RAM-based servers give maximum security when playing poker
• Large number of PokerStars-friendly servers
• Advanced security features for extra protection when unblocking PokerStars
• Cryptocurrency as a payment method
• Strict no-log policy

• No free trials on desktop and iOS

NordVPN has over 5000 RAM-based servers in 59 countries that erase any data stored after you disconnect from the VPN. It also comes with adequate security features that you can utilize to hide your IP address and get the best speeds when playing PokerStars.

Based in Panama, a non-4/9/14 Eyes member country, NordVPN has a strict no-log policy, as indicated by some of the recent external audits it’s had. While signing up, you can choose to pay with cryptocurrency to avoid giving any billing information. 

One useful feature the VPN comes with is split tunneling. You can use it to exclude everything other than the PokerStars client from connecting to the VPN server. This will give you better speeds.

Use NordVPN’s split tunneling to get fast speeds. (Source: nordvpn.com)

NordVPN’s yearly package is available for $4.49 per month and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Surfshark

Surfshark

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Lots of servers to choose from for accessing PokerStars
• RAM-based servers 
• No-log policy
• Camouflage mode to avoid IP leaks when playing poker
• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• Based in a 14 Eyes alliance member country

Surfshark is more affordable than ExpressVPN and NordVPN, and it’s a great option for casual PokerStars players. You can use your Surfshark on an unlimited number of devices. It has over 3200 servers in 100 countries, so it’s safe to say it works quite well with PokerStars and other gambling sites.

Surfshark uses the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which gives speeds as fast as NordVPN's. It has obfuscated servers and a “Camouflage Mode” to make sure you stay anonymous while enjoying poker.

WireGuard will give faster speeds than other protocols. (Source: surfshark.com)

The only downside is that Surfshark is located in a 14 Eyes alliance member, but it has a no-log policy and its RAM-servers don’t retain any information. Just like NordVPN, Surfshark also has Multi-Hop routing, which means you can choose to have your data encrypted twice.

The VPN has a free 7-day trial version on Android, iOS, and macOS. You can get the yearly package for $3.99 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish

1

9.1

/10

Visit IPVanish

Pros & cons

• 2000 servers in 75 countries
• Scramble and WireGuard give extra protection when playing PokerStars
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• No-log policy

• Based in the USA
• No cryptocurrency support

IPVanish offers multiple ways to hide and protect your online presence when playing PokerStars. With tools like Scramble and WireGuard tunneling protocol, you get an additional layer of privacy and incredibly fast speeds, resulting in a VPN that’s perfect for unblocking PokerStars and other sports-betting platforms.

IPVanish has advanced security features such as Scramble and split tunneling to help you get the best speeds. (Source: amazon.com)

The VPN has over 2000 servers in 75 countries and unlike other VPN companies who lease their servers, IPVanish owns almost all of its data centers. It’s based in the USA, a member of the 4 Eyes alliance, but it has a no-log policy that’s been audited independently.

IPVanish has all the advanced security features you need to protect your IP address and online data when playing PokerStars. It comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, a kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection.

The only thing that might discourage people from using IPVanish is that it doesn’t let you pay with cryptocurrency.

The yearly plan costs $3.19 per month and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

6. CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN

1

9.3

/10

Visit CyberGhost VPN

Pros & cons

• Based in Romania
• Advanced features to mask your IP address when playing PokerStars
• 9000 RAM-based servers in 91 countries

• There’s no yearly package

With over 9000 RAM-based servers in 91 countries and a no-log policy that’s been audited by one of the Big Four firms Deloitte, CyberGhost has cemented itself as one of the best VPN services for unblocking PokerStars. It has military-grade AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and more to give you complete anonymity when you’re playing PokerStars.

CyberGhost is located in Romania, away from the grasp of the 4/9/14 Eyes alliances. Its RAM-only servers ensure no data is retained and you can pay with cryptocurrency to maintain complete anonymity.

The VPN comes with an ad blocker which protects your data from getting into the hands of advertisers and other third parties. Always keep DNS leak protection enabled to make sure your DNS requests aren’t leaked to your ISP.

CyberGhost VPN has a 2-year package that costs $2.03 per month and you get it with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

7. PureVPN

PureVPN

1

8.4

/10

Visit PureVPN

Pros & cons

• 6500 servers in 78 countries
• No-log policy
• WireGuard protocol to get fast speeds when playing PokerStars
• Always-On Audit
• Based in the British Virgin Islands

• Some servers may not work
• Not good for streaming content

PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, just like ExpressVPN, and has a variety of security features that allow you to access PokerStars without a hitch. It has over 6500 servers in 78 countries and a no-log policy that’s been externally audited. It uses WireGuard tunneling protocol to give you the best speeds while playing PokerStars.

You can buy a dedicated IP address for an additional fee to use PokerStars without worrying about the server getting banned. A single PureVPN account can be used on 10 devices at the same time.

One thing we like about PureVPN is that it has an “Always-On Audit,” which means any company can conduct a surprise audit, making it one of the most trustworthy VPNs of all time.

PureVPN’s yearly package can be purchased for $3.24 per month and you can get a 31-day money-back guarantee with it.

Comparison of best VPNs for PokerStars

We understand you might be short on time, so we’ve created a table that summarizes the differences between the best PokerStars VPNs. Here’s how they differ from each other:

Methodology: how we tested PokerStars VPNs

Here are some of the things we considered while testing VPNs for PokerStars:

1. Trustworthiness – We read customer reviews and the privacy policy of all the VPNs on this list to make sure that they can be trusted. All of the VPNs on this list have a no-log policy that’s been audited independently and they generally receive positive reviews by users.
2. Number of servers – PokerStars is banned in many different regions, which is why the number of servers was an important deciding factor in finalizing this list. The more servers a VPN has, the easier it’ll be for you to find one that lets you access PokerStars.
3. Fast connection speeds – We tested the speeds of our top PokerStars VPN and found that all of them give fast and stable speeds.
4. Security features – All of the VPNs on our list come with DNS leak protection and a kill switch to make sure your data never gets in the wrong hands.
5. Price – The VPNs we’ve selected for unblocking PokerStars come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and some even have a free 7-day trial version. They all have yearly/2-year packages that are affordable and provide good value for money.

How to play PokerStars in US

To play PokerStars in the US, you have to use a VPN that will spoof your IP address and encrypt your online data. Here’s how to set up a PokerStars VPN:

1. Pick a VPN that works best for you.
2. We recommend ExpressVPN or PIA VPN as they’re both good at hiding your IP address.
3. Subscribe and install your preferred VPN on your device.
4. Connect to a server where PokerStars isn’t illegal.

5. Start playing PokerStars without any worries.

Gain access to PokerStars in the US with NordVPN today!

Tips to remember when playing PokerStars with a VPN

PokerStars is currently banned in Switzerland, some states in the US, China, Colombia, Egypt, Turkey, and more. The entire list is quite big, so you’d have to check with your local laws to find out if it’s allowed in your region. With that being said, here are some tips you should keep in mind when playing PokerStars with a VPN:

• Using a dedicated IP address will prevent PokerStars from finding out you’re using a VPN and it won’t be able to blacklist the server you’re connected to.
• Make sure that you withdraw your gains regularly. Your PokerStars account could get banned if a VPN usage is detected by the site, so it’s best to cash out whenever you can.
• Always keep DNS leak protection enabled. Your DNS requests can get leaked to your ISP and while they may not know what you’re doing, they can still see that you’re visiting a site that’s illegal in your region.
• Use a kill switch to make sure your device is blocked from accessing the Internet if your VPN connection goes down.

Bottom line

In conclusion, PokerStars is restricted and illegal in many regions which is why you have to use a VPN to gain access to it. ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are our top choices for unblocking PokerStars as they provide fast speeds and advanced security features to hide your IP address and protect your online data.

A good PokerStars VPN should be trustworthy and have a strict no-log policy, so your data is never at risk of getting leaked or stolen. In case PokerStars detects you’re using a VPN, your account could be suspended and you could lose your money. To prevent that from happening, always enable DNS leak protection and use a dedicated IP address if you can.

Installing a VPN to play PokerStars is easy. All you have to do is subscribe to the service and download the VPN client. Some VPNs won’t even ask for your email and for many, you can choose to pay through cryptocurrency to remain anonymous.

If you feel reluctant to pay, you can use a free 7-day trial version or just try the VPN for a couple of days and then ask for a refund since all of them have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

After downloading the VPN, just find a server in a region where PokerStars isn’t illegal and start playing poker!