Gambling Geolocation: Player Location Check in the US

Why Won't the Casino Verify My Location?

If you're in a state where online gaming is legal and the casino and/or sportsbook can't verify your location, it could be down to a few factors.

What Is the Single Fastest Thing to Try First?

One of the primary factors is that you are using a VPN and therefore the casino geolocation is not working properly. First off, we would recommend you avoid using a VPN to refrain from getting any 'location check failed' notifications and make sure you check where you're connecting from so when a casino or sportsbook goes to do a player location check, you pop up in a legal region.

Fastest Fixes for a Failed Location Check

In order to pass the location check you will need to be in a state that permits online gambling and a state that also legislates the sportsbook or casino you're trying to wager on.

For example, if you're in New Jersey (a legal online casino state) but you're trying to access operators that aren't available in NJ, then you might fail on the geolocation. Likewise, if you're in the right state but have a VPN on, you may be appearing in an unregulated state, which is why your geolocation is not working and the location check failed.

• Turn device on and off
• Check Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connection
• Make sure you're not connected to a VPN or hotspot
• Make sure you're not trying to connect through a private browser
• Check your signal
• Check that you're in a legal state that permits/regulates online casinos and/or sportsbooks

Which One Fix Resolves Most Geolocation Failures?

If you can't verify your geolocation, the one fix that resolves most of these failures is enabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning on your device. Activating these two technologies should be able to make determining your location much easier.

Why Your Location Check Failed

If you're wondering 'why won't the casino verify my location?' it is most likely one of the pointers mentioned above, with the most common often being that you have a VPN on or your Wi-Fi is turned off. When a website shows 'location not detected' it means your location accuracy is low, so try all of the pointers above and if those don't work it could be a geolocation error on the casino's/sportsbook's side.

You can tell which geolocation issue applies to you by troubleshooting. Try the below points out and that should hopefully shoot your trouble!

• Ensure location services are enabled on your device
• Check app permissions (if using a casino/sportsbook app)
• Disable VPN
• Use an IP location finder

If all of these points above appear true and without issues, then the problem might not be on your side and it could be a temporary issue with the app or with the casino/sportsbook you're trying to access.

Fix Geolocation on iPhone and Android

As listed above, checking your app permissions should always be a fundamental step if your geolocation isn't working. When downloading a new app it will commonly list a bunch of T&Cs alongside permissions. Therefore, when you get the permissions pop-up you need to turn on location services for the casino app and make sure that it doesn't indicate that you have turned your precise location off.

If you have your precise location turned off, or have disabled 'location tracking', then the likelihood is that's the reason you can't sign up.

iPhone (iOS): Location Services and Precise Location

In order to enable location services on an iPhone casino app, you will need to access your precise location on iOS by going to your settings and enabling 'Location Services', then select 'Precise Location' and toggle accordingly for the specific apps you wish to share your location with.

1. Open your settings
2. Tap privacy & security
3. Select location services and ensure it is turned on
4. Scroll down and tap the specific app you want to allow location access to
5. Make sure your location access is set to while using the app or always
6. Finally, turn on the precise location toggle

If the above steps aren't working, it could be because you have a jailbroken iPhone. In this instance you won't be able to adjust any of your location settings. Jailbreaking modifies deep system files, so if the location files have been impacted, you won't be able to get it to work.

Android: Allow Location and Turn On Precise Location

For those who use an Android device, you will need to activate your precise location on Android by opening your settings, going to the 'Location' section and ensuring that 'Use location' is turned on. After this you will need to select 'Location services', then 'Location accuracy' and select 'Improve location accuracy'. Once you have completed this, you will then grant the individual apps access to your location.

1. Go to settings
2. Click on the location setting
3. Ensure use location is turned on
4. Select location services
5. Select location accuracy
6. Choose Improve location accuracy
7. Finally, select the apps you wish to have access to your exact location

Be aware, though — if you stop at an earlier stage and your Android location services aren't set to your exact location, it will flag an 'approximate' location, which could result in a failed geolocation check by the casino. Therefore, make sure you're completing all of the above steps.

Fix Geolocation on Desktop (Windows and Mac)

If you're wondering why your geolocation is not working on a PC, it's often because a computer can't grab your precise location as easily as a phone can. This is even more true if you have a PC without a GPS chip in it.

Computers usually estimate your location using things like your public IP address (Wi-Fi), which leads them to use a 'network-based location' instead of your exact location. Casino geolocation on desktop is often accepted wherever your Wi-Fi is located, so if you don't have a built-in GPS make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection and you should be good to go.

Turn Wi-Fi On, Even on a Wired Connection

If your computer doesn't have a GPS and you don't have Wi-Fi for geolocation, what signals are going to be picked up to identify your location? Not many is the answer. Therefore, when accessing an online casino or sportsbook it's imperative that you have a Wi-Fi connection in order for your geolocation to work. If you don't have a wireless internet connection then geolocation via a wired connection also works.

Allow Location in Your Browser

For Chrome, Edge, and Safari, you need to allow browser location permission globally and permit pop-ups for your specific website (GeoComply). No matter the browser, these steps below should get you sorted:

1. Open your preferred browser
2. Go to your settings
3. Find the setting that refers to your location
4. Switch it on or allow access
5. Permit pop-ups
6. When the GeoComply pop-up appears, select allow

GeoComply Plugin: Install, Reinstall, and Plugin Errors

If your GeoComply plugin is not installed and you would like to install or reinstall it, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your online casino/sportsbook account and once asked to confirm your location, click the download button
2. Find the download and open it
3. Accept the T&Cs and click finish to complete the install
4. Return to the app, click refresh and click allow when the location permission appears

What to Do When 'Not Detected' Appears

Another problem you could encounter is 'not detected' appearing because the GeoComply plugin isn't being detected. This is often down to privacy settings or active software running in the background. Fear not, though — you can install a location plugin to override this issue.

First off, you will need to ensure your device location services and Wi-Fi are turned on and all VPNs and proxies are turned off. You must also disable or uninstall any remote desktop apps or ad-blocking software. This is required to enable pop-ups so you can give GeoComply access, or else you won't be able to.

VPNs, Proxies, and Remote-Desktop Software

If you have a VPN turned on to try and gamble out of state, you may alert the casino that you're attempting to bypass geographic restrictions, so you won't be allowed to access the casino or sportsbook — and if you do, your account will likely get blocked. This happens because casinos and sportsbooks face huge fines for facilitating unregulated gambling, so it is not worth the risk to them.

Therefore, if you're wondering 'can I use a VPN to gamble?' — the answer is no. You will have to turn off your VPN to bet.

Further, apps like Zoom, TeamViewer, or screen-sharing software can break the location check by triggering anti-fraud security protocols and can cause issues with browser-based geolocation.

State Borders, Traveling, and Public Wi-Fi

If you're on the move — like in a moving vehicle, on public Wi-Fi, or near a state line — you may find that your geolocation check fails. This is because your device's movement causes your reported IP address and your physical GPS coordinates to contradict each other, leaving an unclear 'exact location'. Therefore, if your geolocation near a state border isn't working properly, try to remain static until you've established your connection.

If your ISP's IP places you in the wrong state, you should turn off any VPNs and try resetting your router by unplugging it for 10–20 minutes. Additionally, you can update your device's location by going into your internet browser settings and following the steps mentioned earlier.

Common Geolocation Error Messages Explained

When using a restricted location casino and trying to fix your geolocation issues, there are some common error messages you may run into:

• Restricted location: This means the website you're trying to access has geographical restrictions and your location is not on the access list. You can fix this — if it is a mistake — by disconnecting your VPN and allowing access to location services on your device/network.
• GeoComply no token: This means that GeoComply is missing the required authentication key (token) to authorize your session. This happens if the token expired, is missing, or was entered incorrectly. You can fix this by re-entering your credentials, trying a different browser, and checking your configuration files.
• Plugin not detected: This means that your device cannot find, load, or execute the required plugin. You can fix this by verifying the plugin was fully installed, checking that your antivirus software isn't blocking the plugin, and trying to update or reinstall it.

How Online Gambling Geolocation Works

If you're wondering how casino geolocation works, or what a player location check is, then you're in the right place. Casino geolocation and player location checks make sure that players are in a regulated state, meaning their funds and data are safe and secure. These checks also make sure that casinos aren't breaching any rules or laws regarding unregulated players, and therefore won't receive hefty fines from regulators.

Each state has different laws and regulations when it comes to online gambling, so operators must follow the rules accordingly to avoid receiving any penalties.

GeoComply and the Detection Methods

When it comes to geolocation detection methods, the combination of GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation, IP, and cell-tower data (called sensor fusion) confirms your location to GeoComply by blending data from all of the above to give you a fast and incredibly accurate location.

GeoComply is a geolocation authenticator which operates specifically in the gambling industry and has multiple operations across the world. Many renowned operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, Bally's, Hard Rock Casino, BetMGM and more use this service.

The company also operates across other markets such as finance, media, and technology, where it also handles anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) operations.

Residency vs. Physical Presence

One common geolocation question is: do I need to be in the state to bet? When it comes to residency vs. physical presence, being physically present in the state is what counts. For example, if you're from New Jersey and visiting Texas you won't be able to access any online casinos or sportsbooks in Texas. Your physical presence is what counts — the regulations aren't based on your at-home residency but on wherever you currently are.

If you're wondering what happens if you have an active wager and then enter an unregulated state/country — not much changes, except you won't be able to access your account until you're back in the regulated state. You will still be able to cash out your winnings (if you won) once you return to the regulated state.

Geolocation at Sweepstakes and Social Casinos

Free-to-play sweepstakes casino geolocation is also monitored — like real-money online casinos — because some states have banned sweepstakes casinos or classified them as 'gambling', subjecting them to state gambling laws. A social casino location check is important as operators are still liable if someone from a banned state is able to play on their website.

Currently, California, Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Maine, Indiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have complete bans on sweepstakes casinos, with other states undergoing regulatory protocols to group them with 'gambling' and regulate them accordingly.

Last updated: 07/09/2026