🏆 The 2-Minute DraftKings Restricted Location Fix
So, you’re looking at a “RESTRICTED LOCATION” error. Panic is setting in because kickoff is in 20 minutes. I get it.
If you’re in a blocked state like Texas or California, your phone’s GPS is identifying you instantly. You can’t spoof that easily.
The only consistent workaround is using a computer.
1. Grab IPVanish (83% OFF Deal).
2. Connect your laptop to a server in New Jersey.
3. Log in to DraftKings via Chrome (incognito). It actually works.
You have the money ready. You built the perfect parlay. But then, you get the red banner:
“We are unable to verify your location. You must be in a permitted jurisdiction to place a bet.”
It’s the most annoying thing in sports betting.
Basically, you’re hitting a wall for one of two causes:
1. The “Fun Police”: You are physically standing in a state where online betting is illegal (looking at you, Texas, California, and Georgia).
2. The Glitch: You ARE in a legal state, but the geolocation software (GeoComply) is having a meltdown and can’t find you.
If you want to get a slip in for Super Bowl LX, you have to understand how they track you—and more importantly, how to get around it.
My “Austin Case Study”: Why Mobile Fails
Let me save you some time. Last week, I was in Austin, Texas. I tried to place a bet using my iPhone 15.
Attempt 1: Mobile Data + VPN
I killed the Wi-Fi. I fired up IPVanish (connected to New York). I opened the DraftKings app.
Result: Blocked instantly.
Why? Because the app pinged my phone’s GPS chip. My VPN said “New York”, but the hardware GPS said “Austin”. The app always trusts the hardware.
Attempt 2: The Laptop Method
I put the phone away. I grabbed my Windows laptop. Connect to IPVanish (New Jersey). Cleared Chrome cache. Logged in.
Result: Bet Placed.
The Lesson: Your computer is “dumb”. It doesn’t have a GPS chip. It relies on your IP address and Wi-Fi signals to guess where you are. And we can manipulate both.
The Workflow That Actually Works
Follow this order. If you skip the “Cache” part, the cookie will catch you.
1. Get on a Computer
Put the phone away. Seriously. Unless you have a jailbroken Android with root access, you aren’t spoofing the GPS.
2. Clear the Evidence
If you visited DraftKings.com five minutes ago without a VPN, they tagged you as “User in Texas”.
You need to wipe that slate clean. In Chrome, hit Ctrl+Shift+Delete and clear “Images and Files” for the last 24 hours.
3. Connect to a Safe Spot
Launch IPVanish. Don’t hit “Quick Connect”.
Manually search for New Jersey. Connect there.
I swear by New Jersey servers because the infrastructure there is built for betting. It’s stable.
4. The “GeoComply” Plugin
When you log in on a desktop browser, DraftKings will demand you install the “Player Location Check” plugin.
Install it.
Since IPVanish encrypts everything at the system level, the plugin sees the VPN’s IP address.
The “Kill Shot”: If you can, turn off your laptop’s Wi-Fi and plug in an Ethernet cable. If the plugin scans for nearby Wi-Fi networks and finds NOTHING, it has to rely 100% on your IP address. Which is now safe in New Jersey.
Where Should You Connect?
You can’t just pick any state. Connecting to “Las Vegas” usually fails because Nevada has weird rules requiring you to be on-site.
Here are my “Green Light” favorites:
| State | Best Server City | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Newark / Secaucus | Highest success rate. |
| Pennsylvania | Ashburn (Routing) | Very stable. |
| New York | NYC | Crowded but works. |
| Michigan | Detroit | Good for Midwest users. |
| Arizona | Phoenix | Best latency for California users. |
If IPVanish shows a server in one of these lists, grab it.
Pro Tip: If the New York server feels slow due to congestion, switch to Pennsylvania. It’s physically close but often less crowded.
Technically Speaking: How They Hunt You
The software is called GeoComply. It’s aggressive.
It hunts for “Red Flags”:
- Inconsistent DNS: IP says NY, DNS says TX. (IPVanish fixes this).
- Remote Desktop: If you have TeamViewer running, close it. They assume you’re letting someone else bet for you.
- Virtual Machines: Don’t try this in VMWare. It won’t work.
Also, make sure the Kill Switch in IPVanish is ON. If your internet flickers for a second, you don’t want your real IP leaking out.
Getting Your Money Out (Withdrawals)
So you won. Congrats. Now you have $5,000 sitting there.
Don’t be stupid.
If you bet from “New Jersey” at 10 PM and then withdraw from a “Texas” IP at 10:15 PM, you just flagged yourself for “Impossible Travel”.
My Protocol:
- Wait a day. Cool off.
- Disconnect the VPN.
- Log in from your real home location.
- Withdraw.
Withdrawals are generally allowed from restricted states. Placing bets is the hard part. It’s perfectly legal to “travel” to a legal state to bet, and then return home to cash out.
Is It Legal?
You aren’t robbing a bank. You are violating Terms of Service. Worst case? Account restriction. Best case? You win big. Just keep the VPN on and use common sense.
Bonus Tip: What About Watching the Game?
You placed the bet. Now you want to watch the game. If you are traveling abroad or stuck with a blackout, you can use the same VPN.
Since you already have IPVanish, install it on your FireStick. It works seamlessly for unblocking streams like ITVX or Peacock.
FAQ: Common Questions
Q: Can I use ExpressVPN or NordVPN?
A: You can, but I prefer IPVanish for this because they own their own infrastructure. It seems to trip fewer “Data Center” flags with GeoComply.
Q: Why does it say “Location Verification Failed” even with VPN?
A: Check your Wi-Fi. If your laptop sees “Austin_Coffee_Shop” nearby, GeoComply knows you’re lying. Turn off Wi-Fi and use Ethernet if possible.
Q: Will this work for FanDuel or BetMGM?
A: Yes. All major US sportsbooks use GeoComply. The method (Laptop + VPN + Clean Cache) is identical for all of them.
