Anonymous Gambling: Is It Possible?

The first time you ever headed to a casino, you were likely…surprised…at the amount of regulation involved. In Europe, you might have had to show your passport at the door (depending on the country), while in America, you may have had to show an ID before you could buy chips or cash out. Either way, is there any way to gamble anonymously?

Even with the use of cryptocurrency casinos, it’s challenging to gamble totally anonymously. While there are things you can do to hide your identity while gaming, chances are, if someone really wanted to find out your gambling habits, they could. Read on to learn the best tips for gambling close to anonymously.

**Before we begin, we want to preface this article by saying if you are trying to hide your gambling because you have a problem, please seek help.

1. Gamble Online

Just as the internet introduces anonymity to social media, forums, and shopping, it also introduces some privacy to gambling.

Unlike casinos, you can use a pseudonym when gambling online—this means if someone comes across you at an online poker table, they won’t know it’s you. Additionally, there are no security cameras or security personnel monitoring.

2. Gamble With Cryptocurrency

Although gambling online places a screen between you and the casino employees, this doesn’t mean you can gamble without divulging your identity. Unfortunately, many online casinos require players to come in to pick up their cash winnings, or to submit an ID online that matches the banking information. This means it is difficult to hide your identity from the casino even when playing online.

That being said, blockchain-based casinos have added another layer of privacy for players. Because all transactions are processed on the blockchain, they don’t need banking information—nor will you ever be required to report in person to collect your winnings.

Don’t get too excited, however, as many online casinos do require identity verification (KYC and AML) before allowing you full access to their platform. This is typically required by law, and if the authorities subpoena one of these sites, they may have to report your information to remain in legal compliance.

3. Use Privacy Cryptocurrency to Gamble

Although there is no way to hide from government regulations, if you are trying to hide your gambling for a different reason, using blockchain is a good idea, but it isn’t enough on its own. Remember, cryptocurrency transactions are recorded in a public ledger, which someone could track if they had the time.

One of the best ways to add a layer of privacy to your gambling is to use a coin known for privacy features, like Monero, when you gamble at a cryptocurrency casino. While Monero still isn’t 100% private, it has more features than Bitcoin and will provide you with at least a little more anonymity.

4. Gamble Low Stakes

As we mentioned above, most online casinos, even cryptocurrency casinos, do require some form of identity verification to allow you full use of the platform. However, there are many casinos that will allow you to gamble small amounts without verifying your identification. This means if you just want to play $10, you can likely do so without providing any information.

Keep in mind, though, if you win big, you will likely have to verify your identity before you are allowed to cash out. But if you just want to try a new game or a new site, you can do so without having to divulge everything about yourself—plus if you use a VPN, you can further increase your privacy.

5. Gamble At House Games

Now, read carefully. We are not suggesting you join illegal gaming rings. These are dangerous, and you will not come out a winner. However, there are some legal ways to gamble with friends that can help you to remain anonymous, unless your friends talk, of course.

One of the major gambling loopholes in the USA is that private gambling is legal as long as the person hosting the game doesn’t make a profit. That means if your friend hosts a poker night, and everyone buys in for a flat amount (which is not allowed to be significant), then you exchange that for chips or other tokens, and divvy up the winnings at the end, you can legally gamble without breaking the law or divulging your identity (though we are sure your friends will know who you are!)

Of course, the rules do go a little deeper; for example, the game played must be one where all players have the same chance (like bingo or poker), and the prizes cannot exceed a certain monetary value. For example, in the UK, the restriction is 500 pounds. In America, it varies by state, though generally it is something around $500 unless the proceeds are donated to charity.

With home gaming, you can likely stay under the radar, however, if massive amounts of cash go missing from your accounts, people (including the US government) will start asking questions.

Is There Any Way to Gamble Secretly?

Honestly, there are a few websites where you can gamble without divulging any personal information. However, these casinos are not run legally and can be shut down and disappear at any time. If a casino where you game is suddenly shut down, you will be unlikely to receive any money remaining in your account.

What’s more, many of these “illegal” casinos are scams. This means that while you may play and win a few rounds, you will likely find yourself unable to cash out, or the casino will be gone when you try to visit a second time.

Overall, while there are ways to obscure your identity while gambling, there is no way to safely gamble 100% privately. Ultimately, it is up to you who knows about your gambling. If you are trying to hide from your family, a cryptocurrency casino may do the trick. If you are trying to hide from someone else, you might as well find a few home games to enjoy—just remember, there is no way to hide from your friends.