DraftKings not working with VPN: 12 FIXES you need to try

Although DraftKings is one of the biggest fantasy sports sites, it’s locked in some countries. A VPN should let you bet abroad, but what if you get an error message? We reveal how to troubleshoot the problem.

If you’re locked out of DraftKings, you might find that your real location is being exposed online. Explore our list of fixes below and solve the problem.

We do not condone betting from countries where doing so is forbidden. Always consult your betting company's terms of service. We cannot be held responsible if your account is affected due to VPN use. Bet responsibly.

Which VPNs work with Draftkings?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Can I use DraftKings abroad?

You can, but you’ll need a reliable VPN at your side if you’re based in a country that isn’t officially supported by DraftKings. Other betting services such as Fanduel and Roobet function in the same way.

DraftKings is a region-locked betting website designed for people in specific countries. If the site identifies your IP address and sees that you’re not in a supported country, the website will lock up and you’ll get an error message.

In summary, common problems with DraftKings include:

• The betting site has blacklisted your go-to VPN server
• You have a bad internet connection that slows down your VPN when betting
• Cookies are sharing your true location
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address to DraftKings

DraftKings fixes

1. Check your VPN is up to date

If DraftKings fails to load up when you’re abroad, check you’re using the most recent version of your VPN.

To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. You should be able to find an Update option in there.

If you’re using Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile and then choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. From an iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Try using a different VPN server

VPN servers can die every so often – it’s normal. If the DraftKings site isn’t unlocking, the issue may lie with your VPN server, so swapping to an alternative could be the answer. Top VPNs provide numerous servers within each country.

3. Message Customer Support

The most popular VPNs employ teams to address technical issues. If you’re having trouble using DraftKings abroad, reach out to them for assistance.

Access your VPN provider’s website and head to the Support or Contact Us pages. Some VPNs even provide a 24/7 live chat service for their members, which is great if you’re reaching out late in the day.

4. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t wake up DraftKings, uninstall and reinstall your VPN.

5. Check your internet connection

Disconnect from your wi-fi and reconnect. Once you’re back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

You should also run a free internet speed tool and compare results alongside your ISP’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise. Contact your ISP if your connection is unstable outside of VPN use.

More DraftKings fixes:

If you’re on a phone, clear your cache and cookies. From an iPhone, you need to choose Settings > General > iPhone storage, then choose the DraftKings app. Select Offload app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > DraftKings > Storage > Clear cache.

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This implies your regular IP address and location can be seen by websites and apps, even when using a VPN. Test the effectiveness of your VPN using the IP Address Lookup tool – this way, you can check if your IP address changes when you activate your VPN and visit DraftKings. If there’s no change, it shows your VPN is not functioning properly.

If you’re using DraftKings on desktop, clear your cache and cookies. On Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Check the VPN servers are online. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage.

Check that your firewall allows VPN use. If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

Are you using the latest version of your web browser?

Your current web browser version might be incompatible with your browser-based VPN. If you’ve already updated your VPN, make sure you update your browser as well. On Chrome, you would go to Settings > About Chrome.

Are you tiring out your VPN?

When streaming, gaming and using social media at the same time, your VPN might struggle to keep up. We suggest you close a couple of apps to test if doing so has a noticeable impact.

For a printer-friendly overview of the tips we’ve discussed above, you can download our free VPN troubleshooting poster.

Best VPNs for DraftKings

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If the VPN you have at the moment isn’t letting you place bets, create a membership with ExpressVPN. Our own connection tests prove this is one of the best VPNs around, and it’s remarkably fast regardless of where you’re based. To bet on live events from anywhere, simply open up ExpressVPN, connect to one of the UK/US servers and then refresh the DraftKings website.

This popular VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, which means sites (including DraftKings) won’t know you’re viewing live streams from outside an officially-supported country. Every ExpressVPN member has access to more than 150 servers in over 90 countries around the world.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN lets you bet on live sports events from anywhere, which is ideal if your current VPN isn’t working with DraftKings. It hosts over 5,000 servers in more than 50 countries, and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. In just a couple of minutes, you can start placing bets on DraftKings.

NordVPN won’t keep tabs on how you’re using it, so privacy is guaranteed. We really enjoy the CyberSec add-on, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with malware.

To unlock the full DraftKings website, just connect to a NordVPN server based in the UK/US, or any other supported country. If you need help, you can contact NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat experts.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

If you’re based outside a country supported by DraftKings, we recommend Ivacy for placing bets. This trusted VPN is one of the most affordable options, and it supports 256-bit encryption which keeps cybercriminals away. Ivacy also offers public wi-fi security to protect devices against malware when connecting to public hotspots.

This betting-friendly VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to third parties. By downloading the software today for DraftKings, you get instant access to over 5,000 VPN servers in over 100 locations around the world. A single Ivacy subscription covers up to 10 different devices at once.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our favourites to recommend for those that want to enjoy betting on DraftKings. It’s easy to use, and members have access to optimised servers specifically designed to reduce load times.

With this VPN, data is encrypted and you’re completely anonymous while betting through DraftKings. There’s a 24-hour support team, so you can reach out if you have a question. PureVPN is a great VPN for sports fans that allows you to bypass geo-locked content without a fuss, even if you’re not currently based in a supported country. Take advantage of the brand’s 31-day money back guarantee if you’re not convinced.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use DraftKings with a VPN

DraftKings on Windows

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows, open ExpressVPN and select a server in a supported country.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the DraftKings website.
5. Log in to your DraftKings account.

Using DraftKings on Mac

1. Pick one of our chosen VPNs and create an account – ExpressVPN, for example.
2. After making an ExpressVPN account, sign in with your username and password.
3. From Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in a supported country.
4. When you’re connected, visit the DraftKings website.
5. Log in to your DraftKings account.

Use DraftKings on iPhone

1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the DraftKings app to your device – it’s on the Apple App Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in a supported country.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the DraftKings app and log in to your account.

Use DraftKings on Android

1. Head to the Google Play Store from your Android tablet or smartphone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the DraftKings app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in a supported country.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the DraftKings app and log in to your account.

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