PASPA was struck down in 2018, leaving the metaphorical balls of sports betting legalization in the courts of individual states. Now, more than 30 states allow some form of online sports betting, each with unique rules and regulations.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Sportsbooks in these jurisdictions must ensure that every player’s bet is placed within the state’s exact borders. The same rule applies to states that limit sports betting to specific locations, such as physical casinos – every single bet must be placed within the perimeters of the licensed area, or the sportsbook could lose its license.
This raises an important dilemma. How do sportsbooks correctly figure out a player’s exact location while keeping up with all the intricate regulations that vary from one state to the next? The answer is Geolocation!
In this article, I will be sharing all you need to know about this technology together with solutions to common issues that players experience with it.
Sportsbook Geolocation Explained
Geolocation is a tool that uncovers your precise location to ensure that when you place a sports bet online, you’re doing it from a state where it’s legal. For example, you can create a FanDuel or DraftKings account in a state like Arizona and wager on your favorite sports, anytime any day. But travel to a state like Texas, and you will find yourself unable to place any bets because the state does not permit sports betting. Geolocation is the technology behind sportsbooks’ ability to decipher your exact location and block access to their services when you’re in a restricted area.
Companies like GeoComply use various techniques to accurately determine your location. They check your IP address, analyze Bluetooth data, use GPS signals, and even triangulate your position through nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi networks. These multiple layers of verification make it nearly impossible to trick the system with the sneakiest of VPNs.
Why is Geolocation Important in Sportsbooks?
Since sports betting isn’t legal everywhere, geolocation technology becomes a crucial tool to ensure that players outside the borders of legalized states don’t have access to these services. States are pretty strict about this too and won’t hesitate to slap hefty fines on betting platforms or even withdraw their licenses if they catch as much as a whiff of funny business.
The importance of geolocation becomes even more apparent when you consider specific situations like being right on the border between one state that has legalized sports betting and another that’s yet to hop on the ride. Imagine driving down I-65 from betting-friendly Tennessee to Alabama, where sports betting is still illegal. Cross that state line, and geolocation swoops in to block any bets that would land you (and the sportsbook) in hot water.
Some states take it further with even quirkier rules that limit betting to specific locations. Mississippi, for example, only allows app-based sports bets if you’re physically at a licensed casino. In Montana, players can only place online bets on an app that works only in authorized Sports Bet Montana locations. Geolocation builds a digital fence around these spots to ensure compliance with the laid-down rules.
Beyond keeping sportsbooks compliant with the laws, geolocation is also a superhero in the fight against fraud. Here’s how:
- Preventing Bonus Misuse: Ever noticed that sportsbooks often limit bonuses to one per household? That’s to stop dishonest players from creating multiple accounts to snag the same bonus repeatedly. Geolocation can detect if different accounts are trying to claim promotions from the same location, even if they’re registered under different addresses, and flag them for misuse.
- Identifying Fraudsters: If your profile and payment method are linked to a specific address, any sketchy attempts to authorize payments or place bets elsewhere will raise red flags. Think of geolocation as your personal security guard!
- Fighting False Identity Theft Claims: Some players try to outsmart sportsbook operators by claiming they’re victims of identity theft after a bad betting streak. Geolocation data allows sportsbooks to counter these claims by showing that the betting activity happened right from the player’s registered address.
- Prevents Money Laundering: Online poker sites have been known to use geolocation tools to combat collusion. For instance, if a poker site pinpoints two players in the same location, it can prevent them from playing. This puts a stop to any attempt of collusion and money laundering.
Sportsbook Geolocation Issues & Troubleshooting Tips
Geolocation issues can put a damper on your sports betting experience, and you shouldn’t have to go through that. If you keep getting hit with the “we can’t locate you” error message when trying to place your bets, don’t worry, here are some tried-and-true steps you can take to get things back on track:
Ensure You’re in a Legal Sports Betting State
First things first: double-check that you’re physically located in a state where online sports betting is legal. Geolocation software exists to keep those outside these states from placing bets, so if you’re trying to bypass the system, you’re bound to hit some snags.
And trust me, using a VPN is not the way to go. Not only do they not work because most sportsbooks have built-in features that can smell VPNs from a mile away, but I’ve also seen players get their accounts banned for it with their winnings confiscated. Talk about a lose-lose!
Turn on Location Services
For the geolocation feature to do its job, the sportsbook app needs access to your location. Head to your device’s settings, find the app and grant location access. And if you’re on the move, like driving, geolocation might struggle, so it’s best to pull over (if possible) and try again.
Refresh the Web Page
Sometimes, the fix is as simple as refreshing the web page. The few times I’ve run into geolocation hiccups, I found that a quick refresh often did the trick! One of our experts at Betting Tools mentioned that closing and reopening the app on his mobile device solved the issue for him too. I reckon it’s worth a shot.
Check the Geocomply Plug-in
Although this rarely happens, your laptop’s Geocomply plug-in might be malfunctioning. Try toggling it on and off, or look for updates. Also, make sure you’re not running any interfering plugins, like a VPN.
Check Your Internet Connection
An unstable internet connection can be the cause of your geolocation problems. If you use any network devices, such as a wifi, modem, or router, confirm that they are plugged in and working fine. You can also check your download and upload speeds using sites like Speedtest or Google Internet Speed to ensure your connection isn’t the issue.
Clear Cache
Accumulation of your betting app’s cached data takes up storage space, which sometimes slows down its performance and can lead to location verification issues. The solution? Head to your device’s settings, locate the Sportsbook app, and hit “Clear cache.”
Update the App
If you’re using an older version of the sportsbook app, it might be time for an update. To ensure that my sportsbook app is always on the latest version, I keep my apps set to auto-update, but you can also manually check the app store for updates. If updating doesn’t help, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Contact the Sportsbook’s Customer Support Team
If all else fails, contact the sportsbook’s customer support for assistance. They can identify the problem and provide tailored solutions to get you back in the game.
Use an alternative app
It’s all well and good being loyal to a sportsbook, but if the location services are down and you want to get that bet on, it’s good to have a backup. We recommend having accounts set up with all the major books so that if one is down, you have another option available. Create accounts on any of the books below and claim the welcome bonus bet as well.
Restart Your Device
If you have gone through all of the steps listed above, try restarting your device. Simply rebooting your app can often fix the issues and glitches that affect the app’s ability to locate where you are.
Conclusion
Geolocation is a can’t-do-without in the US online sports betting industry. In addition to keeping both players and sportsbooks on the right side of the law, it also plays a key role in combating fraud and shielding you from fraudsters.
As with all technology, geolocation is not perfect and can sometimes act up even when you’re not breaking any rules. Following the troubleshooting steps in this article should resolve any issue you experience in no time, allowing you to return to making your sports picks.
