Online & Mobile Casino Geolocation

Online Mobile Casino Geolocation

Player location check is a legal requirement from an online and mobile casino. If you have seen the unable to verify your location message, there are some easy steps you can take to fix the problem.

There are a handful of states that have mobile and online casino gambling, but that is not the case in all states at this time. Proving you are in one of the legal states such as New Jersey is the job of geolocation software. This can pinpoint your location and confirm your exact whereabouts. 99% of the time, it works flawlessly, occasionally it will have you screaming at your mobile or laptop.

Geolocation services have been around since the internet was first launched, but these have evolved over the years as well. Most of the time, the geolocation works extremely well, but there are still some issues that pop up. So what do you do when you are in a legal state and trying to play on one of the legal US mobile casinos and get an error message, such as
Player Location Check Unable To Verify Location? We take a look at how you can identify and fix geolocation issues on a mobile casino and online casino.

Fixing casino geolocation problems

Fixing an error with geolocation can be as simple as turning on a feature on your phone, or it can be a more complex issue. First, we want to say that some operators offer a much better Geolocation service than others. For example, FanDuel casino has one of the worst geolocation problems we have come across. The FanDuel location error or restricted location is a common message we see when trying to play, and as such, we would suggest you play at one of these much better casinos:

Best mobile & online casinos using geolocation

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In our opinion, the 3 best mobile casinos that use geolocation are:

As online gambling continues to expand across the United States and beyond the physical casinos of Atlantic City, more people are coming across technology such as geolocation for the first time. It doesn’t matter whether you are using a casino site or the DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM sportsbook as a sports bettor, geolocation services will still be active. With that said, whenever you are participating in internet gambling, it is worth knowing what geolocation technology is.

If you are someone that has used an online sportsbook or sportsbook app in the US, then you have probably already had a geolocation issue. It is a similar process with online casinos. And you will need to take the same steps to ensure that it works properly. You may have come across problems like BetMGM location not working or DraftKings geolocation not working, these issues are becoming more common as more of us are wagering and playing games on our smartphones.

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It is highly probable that you will see an error message at some point from your online casino site. Some sites are more prone to error messages, while others seem to have better geolocation services in place. If you ever get an error message, then there are some steps you can take before reaching out to customer service. Be sure to try these steps, and hopefully, the issue can be solved in a timely manner:

  • Step 1: Make sure that you are physically in a state that offers legal online casino games.
  • Step 2: Ensure that your location services are turned on and that the app has permission to use your location.
  • Step 3: If your location services are enabled, try logging out of the site and then logging back in. Let the location check run again before moving to step 4.
  • Step 4: Restart your phone, and once again check your location services when starting it back up.
  • Step 5: If your location is still not verified by the site, try to reach out to customer service to get this issue resolved.

On a mobile phone, IP geolocation is done through the GPS receiver built into your phone. If you are playing on WiFi in your home, or bar for example, then your IP address can be used as well. If you are close to a state border, it may be the IP is actually listed in a neighboring state and this may cause issues. If you are using 3G,4G, or 5G, then cell towers can also be used to triangulate your location. To allow access to your location, you need to make sure location services are switched on.

If you have an iPhone that has been jailbroken, then these are notoriously bad at performing player location checks as the update will mess up all the geolocation settings on your iOS device. It’s not advisable to use an iPhone jailbreak if you are planning to play at a licensed US casino or sportsbook.

As of yet, there is no specific or in-house casino or sportsbook DraftKings geolocation plugin to download. Make sure your location settings are turned on like above. You can download the Geocomply plugin which can help.

How to Turn on Location Services

Turning on location services on your mobile device is extremely important, and it’s the first step in allowing these geolocation services to work. If your location is not turned on, it will be almost impossible for your location to be verified. This is the same process for all operators. There is no sports or casino BetMGM geolocation tricks or hacks to use.

Turning on location services is a bit different for an Android to an iOS device, but you will usually be prompted to turn on these services when installing the site and logging in for the first time. If you are not, here are the steps you need to take with each type of mobile device:

Android

  1. Click on settings
  2. Select Location
  3. App Permissions
  4. Find the online casino app
  5. Select “allow all the time” or “allow only while using the app”

iOS – iPhone, iPad & iPod

  1. Click on Settings
  2. Select Privacy
  3. Click Location services
  4. Access the correct app and click confirm

Failing to turn on these location settings will provide a number of headaches, and you will continue to see error messages. If these services are ever turned back off, simply follow the same process to share your location again.

If you keep getting the BetRivers geolocation failed message, try the steps above to make sure the app has access to your location. If you are in a moving vehicle, stop and try again. When you are going at speed, your phone can connect to different cell towers making it hard to pinpoint your location. Also, make sure you have updated the app to the latest version as well. You can read this guide to troubleshooting the BetRivers Casino app for more issues that may arise with the application.

DraftKings location settings Android

On a laptop or PC, your IP is used to determine where you are. If you are close to water, state borders, or have a weak WIFI signal, this can all cause player location problems. You can use a GeoComply plugin, or similar to help confirm your location. We cover this further in our guide below.

What is Geolocation or Geofencing?

Geolocation is a technology that was created to track a person’s location through a number of different avenues. This is a complex process, but it is also something that can be done rather quickly.

Online casinos will use geolocation (often called geofencing, or geo-fencing) services to track a player’s physical location, and that information will then be relayed back to the online casino. Once your location is verified, you will be able to access the casino and begin playing games.

Geolocation is also used for apps such as your GPS or when you go to “tag” a location on Facebook or “Check-In” somewhere. Online casinos don’t track your location itself, but it uses a service to do this for them.

Geolocation expired

Casinos and sportsbooks need to regularly confirm your location to make sure you are still where you say you are. You can’t for example load a casino app in NJ, confirm your location and then drive over to New York and expect to still be able to play. Your location is checked frequently. If you get the geolocation expired error, in a nutshell, you need to confirm your location again. Sign out of the app, close the app down, and re-load it. Grant access to your location and then try again. Sometimes, you will need to restart your device and clear the cache as well.

On a mobile casino, you can be forced out of a game if your geolocation expires. When betting on a sportsbook app, you can see the bet rejected geolocation expired error, which means your wager cant be placed. You will need to re-add your selections to the betslip and start again. Annoying isn’t it.

Geocomply plugin and app not working

Geocomply is one of the biggest names when it comes to location services. They have agreements in place with most of the legal US mobile casinos and sportsbooks to offer location tracking. They do this through a plugin (called GeoGuard – available in Google Play & iTunes) and also by technology in the apps. If your geocomply plugin isn’t working, there are a few things you can do to get back playing.

  • Uninstall the plugin and download the latest version
  • Clear your phone’s cache and memory
  • Restart your mobile
  • Make sure your location settings are turned on and active in settings
  • Force stop the app and reopen it

GeoComply app troubleshooting

Which online casinos will use these services?

In order to stay legal, all mobile and online casinos will be required to use geolocation services. These sites will continue to use geolocation until a better tracking service is created and launched.

As part of the operator’s legal obligations, they can only offer players online gaming inside the state where they are licensed, and where it is legal. You can not for example be in New York and try to play at an NJ mobile casino until you are physically inside the state. Spoofing location to gamble online or on your mobile is not recommended. Casino operators have software in place that can confirm your location, even if you are trying to use a VPN. Most patrons may think you can use a VPN to play online casino games, but this is not allowed.

Any new online casino that has recently launched in Michigan, including any MI mobile casino, will also use geolocation in the apps and online casino sites to confirm you are inside of state borders.

Mobile casino geolocation

Why do casinos use geolocation?

Online casinos use geolocation because it is a legal requirement in whatever state they are operating in. Some states will even mandate the geolocation service that must be used, but there are a number of these providers available.

The use of geolocation is necessary to ensure that online casinos are only accepting players from within that specific state. Online casino gambling is not legalized throughout the country, and it can only be offered in certain areas.

In Illinois, for example, anyone will be able to register for an online casino account, including those that live outside of the state. In order to actually access the online casino, though, users must be within the state borders where mobile and online casinos are legal, like PA, NJ, MI, or WV. You can play from literally anywhere within a legal state, you just first need to prove you are in a legal jurisdiction. Sports betting in IL is legal, but online casino gaming is not yet allowed in the state.

The only way that online casino sites can verify that you are actually in a legal state is by using geolocation services. This might seem like an invasion of your privacy, but you must allow this to happen if you wish to play at the site.

Sites such as BetRivers casino and FanDuel casino are expected to offer online casino gambling if it becomes available in other states, and these sites are familiar with these services. FanDuel is actually one of the sports betting operators that has the most issues with tracking player’s locations.

Online casinos must meet the requirements of the particular states’ Gaming Board to obtain a license, and using geolocation will be one of the first requirements on the list.

What is a Geocomply Plugin?

A geocomply plugin is normally found on a desktop computer, and it is just a plugin that will help with geolocation services. This plugin will need to be downloaded and installed on your computer before that site is able to verify your location. You can download the plugin for free from the site and use it with a range of browsers including Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Firefox. It’s available on PC, Mac, Macbooks, desktops, laptops, and netbooks.

A geocomply plugin uses the information from your IP address to verify that you are actually within a legalized state. Some computers or IP addresses will have a firewall in place to block the installation of this plugin, and that could prevent you from playing at the online casino.

A geocomply plugin is usually installed on your phone at the same time that the online casino app is installed. It’s the same way for online sportsbooks, and you might not even know that this has been done. There is also the option to download a geocomply app, or similar to GeoGuard which is available for Android & iOS.

This is a safe and secure plugin, and you should always allow it to be installed if you are prompted to do so. Failing to install a geocomply plugin will keep your account hidden, and it will keep online casinos in Illinois from giving your account access.

What is a Player Location Check?

Every time that you go to access your online casino account, one of the first messages that you will see is “checking for location.” This is the geolocation service as work, and you will need to wait for your location to be verified before moving into the online casino lobby. “Geolocate me” is a search you can run online and see where your location actually is.

Hopefully, this location check is quick, but some sites have a process that takes several minutes to complete. You also don’t want to see a message that says, “DraftKings location not found,” because this can lead to a number of other issues. Player location check geocomply plugins can really help to confirm your location if you experience problems with the service. The GeoComply player Location check not working is a common error and whilst annoying, is easily fixed.

There is no way to get around this location check, even if you just accessed the online casino a few minutes ago. Geolocation services will still need to run to ensure that your physical location has not changed.

Problems with Geolocation

There are a number of problems with geolocation, just as there are with any form of technology. A number of factors can mess up the function of the geolocation service, but these problems can usually be corrected in a timely manner as well. Geolocation plugins work well most of the time, but these are not flawless.

One of the biggest issues that online casino sites have is from players trying to get around this location check. This has become a lesser issue now that these services have improved, but it is still an issue that sites are fighting.

Trying to get around geolocation services is illegal. And it can be harmful for both the player and the online casino site. Having issues with location can be annoying at times, but it’s much better than trying to cheat the system.

Common geolocation error messages

Each online operator will have its own way of saying there is a player location error. This varies from casino to casino, but some of the most common are:

  • mobile casino geolocation failed
  • region fetch failed MGM
  • BetRivers geolocation failed
  • player location check unable to verify location
  • geocomply player location check
  • FanDuel geolocation failed
  • DraftKings location check not working

The online and mobile casino gambling industry in the United States continues to grow, although it has not been able to keep up with online sports betting. We hope this changes in the next few years so that mobile and online casinos can be used all over the US.

If I am using a VPN, will geolocation still work?

If you are using a virtual private network to try and play at a legal betting site, the geolocation tech will not be able to accurately pinpoint your location. In order to use a licensed gambling website, you must ensure any VPN or proxy software programs are not running. That is because the online sites must know where you are and verify your details before you start playing your favorite table game or slot.

Some people may try and get around the location issue by using a VPN, but the sites will instantly block any bettor as soon as they identify that a VPN is in use. Legal online casinos have some of the most advanced tech available, so it would be futile to try and get around their systems. They must know your exact location before you begin betting.

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