Compliance

Geo-blocking: access only from permitted countries

Geo-blocking (geo-restriction) is a block on access from countries where the operator has no licence or where gambling is banned. The country is checked by IP, payment method and ID document, and VPNs are detected separately. For example, an IP from an open country combined with a card from a restricted one is a reason for manual review.

Yevhen SychovOctober 2026

How it works

The list of restricted countries is set by the licence, each market's law and contracts with partners. It also includes regulated markets where the operator has no local licence. The country is checked using several signals:

  • IP: when the site is opened, at registration, at login and at deposit.
  • Payment method: the country of the bank or of the card issuer.
  • ID document and address: the country according to KYC data.
  • VPN and proxies: an IP from a data centre or a known VPN service, a device time zone and language that do not match the IP country.

If the signals conflict, for example an IP from an open country but a card from a restricted one, the account goes to manual review before any deposit or withdrawal. Device and network checks also help to find multi-accounts.

Games blocked by providers

This is the second layer. Providers block some games in certain countries, and sometimes their entire catalogue. The lobby hides such games based on the player's country, and CRM does not offer a game that is unavailable in the player's country.

Offer recipients = segment minus players from countries where the game is blockedFor example, a free spins campaign for a new game goes to 5,000 players, but the game is blocked in two countries that account for 800 of the recipients. Without a filter, 800 players get free spins that will not launch. With the filter, 4,200 get the offer, and the rest are sent a different game.

Common mistakes

  • Checking only at registration. The player registered from an open country but plays from a restricted one. The country is checked at every login and deposit.
  • Blocking silently. A player who is travelling sees a blank page and writes to support. A clear screen is needed: play is not available from this country, and the balance is safe.
  • Confusing the two lists. A country can be open under the licence but blocked by a particular provider. A country filter is needed both in the lobby and in every offer that features a specific game.
All glossary terms