DraftKings started as an American daily fantasy sports company. However, it now allows users to enter daily and weekly fantasy sports-related contests and win money based on individual player and team performances in five major American sports (MLB, the NHL, the NFL, the NBA, and the PGA), as well as others. In some states, the company also operates a sportsbook. While you can access it from any state, you can only use the sportsbook portion from some states. If you are going to bet or participate in fantasy sports on the DraftKings website, you may need to use a VPN. We will tell you more about that in a moment. Before we do, though, please have a look at the best VPNs for DraftKings.
Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9.8 | 160 | ||
2 | 9.4 | 87 | ||
3 | 9.2 | 95 | ||
4 | 9.0 | 110 | ||
5 | 8.8 | 73 |
The best reason to connect to a VPN with DraftKings is to get around censorship or geo-restrictions. Several countries and even some states in the US do not allow fantasy sports, betting, or other forms of gambling. While there are a number of different arguments for, there are also some against. If you are in one of those locations, you will certainly run into issues. For this case, you want to connect to a VPN in another area, whether it is another state or country. When you do, you’ll fool the blocking software into thinking you are located someplace else. From that point, you should be able to play all of the fantasy sports you want to play.
Here is a list of US states that allow legal sports betting and DraftKings is live in:
- Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
How to Use a VPN to Play DraftKings Sportsbook
You can bet using Draftkings, providing you follow these steps:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee)
- Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device
- Connect to a VPN server in the United States. Specifically a server location that DraftKings is live in. Some recommendations include New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, and Denver.
- Next, Go to DraftKings.com and sign up for an account.
- Play DraftKings and bet on your favorite sporting events.
- If you have any questions getting started, the ExpressVPN support team is available 24/7 to help.
What is the Best VPN for DraftKings?
The most important factor, in this case, has to do with access. After looking at them, we can tell you what the best VPN for DraftKings is.
- Ability to get around geo-restrictions and government blockages
- High-Speed servers that will allow you to get trades and make bets
- Multi-platform mobile app support including Amazon Firestick
- Providers with strict no-logs policies
- Strong military-grade encryption to help protect your privacy
- Large and stable networks to avoid dropped connections
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the best VPNs to use with DraftKings.
1. Best VPNs for DraftKings Sportsbook: ExpressVPN
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Even though there was a short time where sports were not available, many still love them. However, some do not care what the sports are anymore. If you are a sports fan, there are some excellent reasons why connecting to a VPN server with ExpressVPN would be a good idea. No matter what you want to watch or where you live, you will gain access to the various streaming services by connecting to one. Simply select the area of the sport or the specific coverage you want to see, and you can watch as you wish to.
ExpressVPN offers browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers in addition to its list of VPN apps. The custom apps support Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. They also offer a MediaStreamer feature. That is relatively rare in the community, but it can be beneficial, depending on your online activities. Coupled with their split tunneling feature, you can easily choose the apps or browsers you want to filter through your VPN connection. Split tunneling is a feature that many providers do not offer, but it can really be helpful.
ExpressVPN is our top-rated VPN service of 2023. Regardless of your goals for using a VPN, ExpressVPN combines a robust network with privacy features to keep you protected. We commonly use it to protect our privacy while traveling and to access our favorite streaming services back home. While you can sign up for monthly access, we recommend you take advantage of this exclusive deal that gives you 3 extra months free when you sign up for a year. You can also get a full refund within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied, so you can test their network with ExpressVPN’s money-back-guarantee.
2. Best VPNs for DraftKings Sportsbook: NordVPN
While all providers promise security, some may not be protecting your privacy when using their service. However, NordVPN does an excellent job of doing that. You can quickly test their DNS security by using the leak test on their website or checking an independent site. By doing so, you will see if others can detect your location. If they can’t, though, you won’t have to worry about groups or organizations tracking you if you are connecting to a VPN. DNS leak protection is a must-have for VPN users.
One of the big reasons that users connect to a VPN is to help them stream content from other regions or countries. Using NordVPN will help you do that. Whether you want to watch shows from some of the top US streaming services, check out BBC iPlayer, or perhaps even a service like Stan from Australia, you should not have to miss out on them because of where you are currently. However, you can enjoy the ones we mentioned and more with NordVPN.
3. Best VPNs for DraftKings Sportsbook: PIA
One of the ways that connecting to a VPN with Private Internet Access will help is by granting you access to different parts of the world. As big as gaming is these days, you probably realize that developers release games in many different countries. However, that also means that you can get early access to some games if you are in the right place. With Private Internet Access, you only have to connect to the right area and you will be able to get access to your game as soon as it comes out.
Private Internet Access offers apps for a whole host of custom apps that you can install, depending on which device or operating system you have. Those include Windows 32 and 64 bit, macOS (64-bit), Linux (64-bit), Android, and iOS. Additionally, they have extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and the Opera browser. If there is not an app for it, they have quite a few setup guides to help you configure several different types of routers like PfSense, Tomato, DD-WRT, and more.
4. Best VPN for DraftKings Sportsbook: CyberGhost
If you are familiar with the Amazon Firestick, Roku, or other streaming devices that you plug into your TV, you know they are great. What you may not know, however, is that a vast amount of the content is only available in the US. If you are traveling abroad or outside the country, connecting to a CyberGhost VPN server located in the US is crucial. When you do so, you will be able to gain access to your favorite shows and movies, all at your fingers.
As the world moves more towards mobile phones and computing, some mobile carriers allow their users to watch sports on their favorite devices without it counting against their data usage. If you plan on taking an overseas trip, however, connecting to a VPN server from CyberGhost is a good idea. Unfortunately, media companies often limit sports viewing to specific areas. By making a connection to your home region, the blocking software will think you are there. Then, you should be able to enjoy everything as usual.
5. Best VPN for DraftKings Sportsbook: IPVanish
If you are a gamer that likes to play online, you probably know that while popular games eventually become available in all regions, it is not always at the same time. The trick to that is to connect to a VPN server from IPVanish located in one of the early access countries. Australia is a popular choice. By doing so, you will make the software think you are there. That way, you can enjoy the game and play it earlier than others in your area.
No matter where you are in the world, sports leagues like the English Premier League are well known. If you are a fan of any of the teams in the league like Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or others, you know that trying to watch them outside the UK can be difficult. The way to be able to view your favorite team is to connect to a VPN server located in the UK from IPVanish. After you connect, log on to your viewing app with your credentials, and you will be all set.