You can access online slots no matter where you go. This is true. However, there are some unwritten rules that you may be surprised in knowing. Most of these rules have something to do with security—the casinos have them in place to ensure that players are safe.
But what are these?
Let us take a look at some of the things you should know before playing online slots when you travel.
You May Not Be Able to Log in
As a slot player, your recorded IP is your IP address back home. If you go to another country, one problem you may face is that you may not be able to log-in.
Why?
Because the casino’s computer systems will be able to detect that the person trying to log in is from a different country. As such, the system would trigger a safety procedure telling you that you cannot log in. It thinks that you are a scammer trying to access someone else’s account.
Some casinos are even stricter. Even if you are logging in from the same country, but you are doing it from a different device, you may get blocked.
So, what is the workaround to this?
It really depends. Some casinos may completely block you, which means you cannot play at all.
If you take a look at other software, like Google PlayStore, you will begin to realise that security is now the number one priority of all companies that have online products. In Google, you may be randomly asked to verify your identity. The way they check this is they send you a message to your registered email.
If you could access that email, you will gain access to that account. Some software systems have a second level of authentication, which is via mobile. It is called 2-factor authentication. The system would send a text message to you with a code, and you need to input that code into the system.
Some casinos do this, so be prepared to access your SMS messages or your email.
The Currency May Change
If you are from Asia and you travelled to the UK, you may be surprised that the casino currency has changed to the pound sterling.
Some casinos work this way—they track your location through your current IP, and then they switch the currency in the game depending on where you are.
Why do they do this?
Well, studies have shown that people are likely to spend money if they see the process in their local currency. The problem is that the software has no way of knowing that you are originally from Asia, so the system automatically offers you pound sterling as a currency.
Now, you may or may not like the currency you see. If you are fine with playing in GBP, then there shouldn’t be any problem. However, if you do not like to play in GBP, you need to check the settings of your casino account if you could change your currency settings.
To do this, simply click:
- Settings
- Currency settings
- Choose the currency you want
Not all casinos allow you to do this. It really depends on how they have programmed their software to work. So, why is it that some casinos will not allow you to change, and some will?
Currency conversion is a complicated thing. Money is always involved when you switch from one currency to another. Many gamblers complain that when they move from one currency to another, it seems that the actual value of their money has become lesser than what they should be.
If you are lucky, your casino operator may maintain your Asian currency even if you went to Europe. In this case, then there really is nothing to worry about.
You May Not Be Able to Charge
Not all electrical systems of countries work under the same standards. Voltages differ, and you may be hard-pressed to find a suitable adapter. While hotels surely have a solution to this, you may find yourself in tight situations if you are outside the hotel.
The best solution to this is to have a battery pack where you can draw power. Better yet, you should have two of them. At the very least, you should buy batteries that have more than 20,000 mAh capacity—they have more power, and they are much more reliable out in the filed than ordinary battery packs.
Here are some of our recommendations:
- Romoss Sense 8+– this is a world-renowned power bank that has 30,000 mAh capacity. It costs about $35 per unit. It is capable of powering a Nintendo Switch 4 times. It can do four charges for iPads and mobile phones, too.
- KonFulon– like Romoss, this has a pocket-sized design. It has 10,000 mAh of power, but the product is sold in a set of three. The power bank allows you to charge no matter where you are. It has built-in LED indicators, and you can take this outside the hotel, and charge it again once you come back.
Power banks are important when travelling, especially if you like to play your favourite slot machines. As you know by now, games eat up a lot of power—they use a lot of computer memory because you have to launch the game via a browser or a casino app.
Not All Casinos Are Accessible
What does this even mean?
If you are registered in the UK, and you went to Asia, it is possible that you cannot access the casino no matter what you do. The reason behind this is licensing. All casinos have jurisdictions, or areas where they can offer their services. These areas are dependent on who granted them their license. For example, a license from the UK Gambling Commission may mean that the casino can only take players from the UK.
If you are from the UK, and your casino operator has no license to operate in Asia, then you may not be able to access the online casino while you are on vacation in Asia. The casino knows that you are currently in Asia because your internet connection says so.
You see, your IP address changes as you move from one location to another. This address gets sent to the casino operator, and its systems will tag you as someone who is not from the UK, even if you have an account with them.
The only possible workaround is to use a VPN—a device that can mask your IP address, which we will describe in detail below.
You May Need a VPN
The term VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It hides your real location and makes other computer systems believe that you are located somewhere else.
If you use a VPN, you can tell the VPN to show your location as the UK, even if you are in Asia. All you need to do is to tap some buttons to make this happen. A VPN is no free, but it does make perfect sense to use if you want to protect your identity from online scammers.
Here are some of the best VPNs:
- Express VPN– works on many platforms; you can use it on mobile, laptop, and even gaming consoles. It costs only $12.95 per month, but you will get a big discount if you pay it annually. If you pay for a whole year, the price is only $6.67 per month.
- SurfShark– this VPN allows you unlimited installations in multiple devices. It has positive feedback from its users, and many say that it is fast. The cost of this VPN is $11.95 per month, but you can buy it for as little as $1.99 per month if you pay or two years of service.
Do you really need a VPN? It depends. If you want to add security and privacy, you can use VPN so no one can identify you. This is great if you are accessing the Internet via WiFi hotspots where people can easily steal your password. A VPN protects sensitive information.
Also, you must use VPN if you really want to access your slot machines online if you are travelling. What happens is that if your IP indicates that you are currently in Asia, the VPN will tell the casino server that you are currently in the UK. As such, the casino will allow you to sign in and play your favourite slot, like the 9 Masks of Fire demo.
Summary
Slots are fun, and they are accessible no matter where you go. However, you should also understand that online games are vulnerable to hacking attacks. They are not like your typical slot cabinets in land-based casinos. As such, there are some safety precautions that you need to understand.
Some casinos may not allow you to log-in, and the only way you will find this out is if you are already travelling. It is rare for online casinos to advertise their security policies for online gaming as far as travelling is concerned.
This content is a joint venture between our publication and our partner. We do not endorse any product or service in the article.
