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Our experts have reviewed 53 VPN providers, which were put through extensive rounds of testing. To learn more about that process, here’s how we review VPNs, where we explain our criteria and our policy of being fully transparent.
Bovada is a Costa Rica-based betting/gambling platform offering a sportsbook (NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA, and more), racebook (horse betting on 20+ racetracks), and casino (slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette, and more). It's available in 45 out of 50 US states, focusing on the US market primarily.
In other words, Bovada isn't available outside the US. Luckily, you can bypass these restrictions using a VPN, which spoofs your location and encrypts your connection, tricking the platform into thinking you’re located where it’s allowed to operate. Plus, a VPN will help you use Bovada while traveling outside the United States. Also, you can use it to access casino games available in select US states only.
In this article, we'll talk about the best VPN for Bovada. You'll also learn how to play Bovada using a VPN and what to do if the platform doesn't work with your VPN. We'll also list the legal and illegal states where Bovada is allowed to operate, provide some FAQs, and more.
The process of using Bovada with a VPN is quite simple and takes only a few minutes. You need to sign up for a VPN, download its app, and then connect to a VPN server. Just follow these steps:
When looking for a VPN server location for Bovada, we recommend you prioritize Florida or California. However, any other state except Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, or New York should work, as Bovada isn't available in those specific US states.
As discussed in our guide to best gambling-friendly VPNs, you'll want a VPN provider that can safeguard your privacy, unblock gambling apps, and ensure you can't be tracked online.
The first thing you should look for in a VPN is the ability to unblock Bovada and other gambling sites. It should also have a large server network with servers in regions where Bovada is available so that it can offer fast speeds and reliable performance while accessing the service.
Picking a service with solid protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, etc.) and advanced encryption is always a good idea. On top of that, ensure that the provider you choose has a kill switch, data leak protection, obfuscated servers, and, most importantly, a no-logs policy.
Also, make sure your VPN is compatible with many different types of devices and supports multiple simultaneous connections. Lastly, your chosen VPN for Bovada should offer a fair price, plenty of value for your money, a generous money-back policy, as well as 24/7 customer support.
Following the criteria mentioned above, here are the 5 best VPNs for playing Bovada in 2025:
NordVPN is the best Bovada VPN on the market and checks all the right boxes while elegantly bypassing the geo-restrictions of online betting sites. It can easily unblock Bovada with its 1,970+ servers in the US, which include states like Illinois, Washington, Arizona, and California.
In total, NordVPN has 7,000+ servers in 118 countries. We witnessed commendable consistency in its performance and high connection speeds, especially when testing its numerous US servers.
NordVPN offers some of the best security and privacy features on the market, including a kill switch, Double VPN, data leak protection, a no-logs policy, and AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption. It supports all major security protocols, including NordLynx, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN. In addition, you can get a dedicated IP address.
Data obfuscation is also present in the form of specialized VPN servers. When using OpenVPN, one of the most secure protocols in the VPN industry, you'll get a range of US-based servers that let you obfuscate your data. Using those servers, you'll be able to play Bovada no matter where you're located.
The provider allows you to have 10 simultaneous connections, and it's compatible with multiple devices, including phones, PCs, tablets, routers, and more.
You can start using NordVPN for only $2.99 per month if you opt for its 24 months, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. In terms of customer support, 24/7 live chat is available, in addition to plenty of other support resources.
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Surfshark is another excellent VPN because it allows you to unblock Bovada without issues and play restriction-free. You can use one of its US-based servers, including those in California, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. In total, the provider has 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.
With one Surfshark subscription, you'll get all the privacy and security features you need to use Bovada safely. Some of those features include obfuscated servers, a no-logs policy, data leak protection, highly secure VPN protocols (WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN), AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, and a kill switch.
Using its MultiHop feature, you can get a dedicated IP and route your Internet traffic through 2 VPN servers for extra protection.
Another perk of this VPN for the Bovada Sportsbook app is that you get unlimited simultaneous connections. Theoretically, you could all live on one subscription plan, no matter how many devices or friends you have. The provider is compatible with a plethora of different devices, too.
Let's also mention that Surfshark is among the fastest VPNs available today. Even if you don't optimize it (by going to its settings), you can count on reaching fast speeds when using nearby and remote servers. You'll get reliable and stable performance from this provider.
Finally, Surfshark comes priced at $1.99 per month for its 24 months. You can also count on this VPN's 30-day money-back guarantee, so there are no risks involved. Lastly, Surfshark offers reliable customer support, with 24/7 live chat on board as well.
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ExpressVPN can unblock Bovada easily from anywhere in the world while providing you with a smooth and reliable gambling experience. It has servers in 15 US states, including California, Illinois, Arizona, and Washington, where all of Bovada's services and features are available. Furthermore, ExpressVPN has an undisclosed number of servers in 105 countries.
Since it's based in the British Virgin Islands, this VPN is not held back by data retention laws. Add ExpressVPN's use of RAM-only servers and their strict no-logs policy, and you might begin to picture a service striving to become a VPN with truly zero logging.
It also offers obfuscated servers, which allow you to hide the fact that you're using a VPN. Also, there's military-grade AES-256 and ChaCha20/Poly1305 encryption, data leak protection, and a kill switch. On top of that, you get multiple VPN protocols, which allow you to optimize your connection's performance further.
All its privacy features are impressive, but what puts this VPN ahead of the competition is its stellar performance. During our testing, the VPN showed no reluctance to unblock many casino platforms while maintaining incredible speeds. Furthermore, ExpressVPN is compatible with multiple devices, and it supports 8 simultaneous connections.
Lastly, ExpressVPN's 24 months is priced at $4.99 per month, and like the rest of its plans, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Without any surprise, 24/7 live chat support is also available.
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CyberGhost has more than 2,100 servers in the United States, meaning that it can easily unblock Bovada. This VPN offers servers in 10+ states, including Illinois, Arizona, Washington, and California. In total, this capable VPN offers an undisclosed number of servers in 100 countries.
When we put CyberGhost VPN to the test, it surely was impressive how quickly it could switch between its high-speed servers and access censored content abroad. So, we can definitely confirm that this provider offers reliable performance that is excellent for online gambling.
Sadly, CyberGhost VPN doesn't offer obfuscation. However, that's not a problem for this VPN for Bovada, as it unblocks the platform just fine. On the plus side, you get 7 simultaneous connections. It's compatible with many devices, including phones, laptops, routers, consoles, and more.
CyberGhost VPN isn't messing around with its privacy and security. Its excellently valued subscription includes speedy OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, an automatic kill switch, strong data leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. It also blocks website trackers and ads for anyone concerned about data harvesters.
Everything listed above is available at $2.03 per month if you pick CyberGhost's 24 months. Also, thanks to its 45-day money-back guarantee, you can try out the provider's services risk-free. You'll also get 24/7 customer support via live chat.
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Private Internet Access (PIA) is an excellent option for unblocking Bovada and many other US-based gambling sites. It has servers in all 50 US states, including Illinois, California, Arizona, and Washington. And most of its servers are obfuscated, so they can help you hide that you're using a VPN to play Bovada.
PIA is not as fast as the other top VPNs on the list, and we don't expect that from it. The most incredible thing about PIA is its server count: according to the latest reviews, it has one of the biggest server fleets available on the market, with an undisclosed number of servers in 91 countries.
Sure, the number of servers puts it ahead of its competitors, but they don't matter much without the matching high performance, which PIA luckily does have.
We found that the service is a healthy mix of privacy-focused features and security protocols. It offers unlimited simultaneous connections. We tested all its options on different devices and found them reliable and consistent enough to use on casino platforms.
Apart from that, the service has everything you may expect from a top VPN, which includes an excellent kill switch, a no-logs policy, dedicated IPs, strong AES-128-GCM, AES-256-GCM, AES-128-CBC, AES-256-CBC, and ChaCha20 encryption, support for multiple protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPsec (IKEv2)), and plenty more.
PIA comes at an unbeatable price - $2.03 per month for its 24 months. Like other reputable VPNs, it's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means there are no risks involved. And, if you ever need help, you can turn to PIA's 24/7 live chat support.
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Our approach to testing Bovada VPNs focuses only on top-rated VPNs. More precisely, we concentrate on testing VPNs with a score of 9+ out of 10, as reviewed by our team. Also, our tests are done on a MacBook running the latest macOS version and an iPhone 15 running the latest version of iOS, meaning that we cover desktop and mobile platforms.
First, we ensure that each of our recommendations can unblock Bovada's geo-blocks while paying attention to overall network stability. In other words, our assessments are done hands-on and using live Bovada sessions. Next, we focus on measuring speed and latency using SpeedTest and testing for IP and DNS data leaks using IPLeak and DNSLeakTest.
Aside from bypassing geo-blocks, you'll want a VPN that avoids being detected in the long term, which we check using multiple servers and protocols. At the same time, we evaluate the availability and size of each VPN's server network. That is followed by inspecting payment and withdrawal procedures and reviewing logging policies, security features, and customer support quality.
There are many reasons why a VPN is essential when playing Bovada, but the most important one is related to the platform's geo-blocks and limited availability. More precisely, Bovada is available in select US states, so a VPN is your only option if you live or travel outside the US.
As you can expect, this gambling/betting platform is quick to detect your location. So, if you try to open Bovada without a VPN in an unsupported region, you'll get the following message: "We currently don't offer services in your area." Or, it will simply say: "Not Available."
Not only will a VPN help you bypass the geo-blocks that Bovada has in place, but it will also provide you with plenty of other benefits, including the following:
A VPN suitable for unblocking Bovada should come with strong content-unblocking capabilities, plenty of servers in the US and abroad, and fast performance. Here's everything you need to keep in mind:
Bovada lets you play casino games (slots, table games, poker, etc.), and you can also bet on various types of sports. Here's a brief overview of what to expect:
Bovada is legal in 45 out of 50 states in the US. Also, you can't play Bovada outside the US, as the platform is restricted to that country only.
Below, you'll find the full list of the Bovada legal states:
There's only a handful of Bovada illegal states, as the gambling/betting platform is very quick to expand to new markets. More precisely, there are 5 Bovada-restricted states, and those are:
If you're not in one of the Bovada legal states, you can still access the platform by getting a Bovada IP address from a US state where the platform works. Doing so will help you access Bovada in the US as well as outside the country.
A robust VPN shouldn't have a hard time unblocking Bovada. However, temporary issues may occur. This is when you'll want to check your baseline connection, switch to another server, or try using a different VPN protocol. Let's walk you through all of the possible solutions:
Using a free VPN for Bovada might sound like an exciting idea, but there are many reasons why we don't recommend free VPNs. Yes, they're free, which makes them quite enticing, but free VPNs have many downsides that heavily outweigh the benefits.
They come with many restrictions, such as limited content-unblocking capabilities. So, even if a free VPN provider offers servers in places where Bovada is available, such as Proton VPN or Windscribe, it'll probably fail to pass long-term VPN-detection measures.
With a free VPN, you'll also get low bandwidth caps and slow connection speeds. Also, some free VPNs log and store user information. They do so in order to sell it to third parties.
If you want to access the Bovada casino app safely and play freely, you'll need a premium VPN. To get started, you can go for a free VPN trial, giving you access to premium features for a limited time.
We'll end by saying that we recommend the NordVPN trial, available on Android for 7 days. Also, you'll be covered by NordVPN's 30-day money-back policy on any other device or platform.
Bovada imposes strict geo-blocks and is only available to US players in certain states. The only way to play it outside those locations is to use a Bovada VPN, which will also ensure the privacy of your personal and financial data. With a capable VPN, you'll unblock Bovada, use it while traveling, and gain access to casino games available in specific US states only.
That said, remember that gambling platforms, such as Bovada, employ strong cyber-security systems to prevent VPNs from working. So, you don't have many options, especially if you're after high-end, long-term unblocking without losing your connection's speed and performance.
NordVPN is your best option because of its content-unblocking abilities, robust privacy features, and incredible speeds. With NordVPN, you can easily access Bovada thanks to its US-based servers that provide a seamless gambling experience, ensuring no one else knows what you do online.
This is where we end our guide. If you have any questions about getting started or using a VPN app, let us know in the comments section below.