Why You Need a VPN for Online Gaming
If you grew up in the 1980s or 1990s, you probably have fond memories of gaming until you fell asleep with game consoles like Super Nintendo and Sega, and indeed the original PlayStation. Back then, free of the internet and with your best friends, you could make everlasting memories. But with leaps and bounds in technology and the internet came the birth of online gaming. Today’s generation of consoles are built for online gaming, helping it to become a multi-billion dollar industry.
Unfortunately, with a higher profile comes unwanted attention – cyber thieves. While online gaming lets you game and compete with virtually anyone worldwide, your privacy and anonymity are ripe for the pickings for cyber crooks. Failure to take this seriously costs individuals and government agencies trillions of dollars annually. But with the right understanding and usage of VPNs, you play to win in relative obscurity.
What Exactly Is a VPN?
Simply put, a VPN links your PC or smart device to another computer, referred to as a server, situated elsewhere on the internet. By utilizing the internet connection of this server, you can browse the internet. If the server is located in a different country, your online presence will appear to originate from that country. This virtual location can potentially grant you access to content or resources that are typically inaccessible in virtual anonymity.
With the right VPN, you can also help to work around censorship, especially in strict countries like China and Indonesia. While we certainly do not recommend you do so, the fact is that pirate downloading costs companies, including online gaming companies, millions in lost revenue. Unfortunately, VPNs are integral to downloading while obscuring the true IP address and point of origin.
VPNs for Gaming
Employing a VPN for gaming helps you to effectively evade cheaters, overcome geoblocking limitations, gain early access to content, and occasionally enhance your network’s performance. However, it is essential to acknowledge that there also disadvantages associated with using a VPN for gaming. Furthermore, it is worth noting that many game developers, iGaming sites, and publishers actively discourage the use of VPNs and may temporarily freeze your account pending an investigation.
American online casinos especially frown upon VPNs to work around geo-restrictions because these sites governed by state control boards that administer their licenses. Only legal residents 21 and over, or those 21 and over; physically in legal states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, for example; can legally participate in real money wagers, including the blockbuster eSports and online gaming tournaments.
To utilize a VPN for online gaming, create an account; and provide any necessary payment details should you opt for a paid subscription. Once this step accomplished, download the VPN application and log in. If you have successfully followed these instructions; you will greeted with an interface that prompts you to select the desired ‘country to connect to.’
Conclusion:
This fundamental principle of a VPN revolves around the notion of assuming the appearance of being situated in the country of your choice. Therefore, whether you wish to access geo-blocked Netflix shows or gain early access to a game; you can select the country from which you want to ‘spoof your IP.’ After deciding on a country; simply connect to the corresponding server, and you are done.
