Anonymous Online Poker - Play Online Poker Without Leaving Traces

If you want to play online poker, you may run into some problems which may require you to stay anonymous and not to leave any traces. Here you find some examples, and suggestions how to solve those problems:

Problem # 1
You are unable to access the poker rooms server. The reason may be that your internet provider or network manager has blocked that server, or a port that the poker software uses. Some poker rooms do not allow you to register if your IP adress gives you away as coming from a specific country. In some countries, because online poker and online gambling is illegal there, it may even be the government ordering the internet providers not to allow access to gambling related websites and servers! For obvious reasons, we will not list those countries here.
But it is possible to solve those problems. For example, there are websites like www.K-Tunnel.com through which you can access blocked internet sites, but they are slow to load and they spam you with pop-ups and advertisements of all kind. Also, they cannot help you if you want to play poker with a downloadable client.

A better solution is a Virtual private Network or VPN. A VPN re-routes your internet connection through their own server, so that the website or server you are trying to access does not see your own IP adress, but the IP adress assigned to you by the VPN - you are now allowed to access the poker room website, and to run the poker client software and log on to your poker account!
There are tons of VPN providers out there, even free ones, but unfortunately, most of the pay versions and almost all of the free versions are slow and unreliable. As a free solution, the only one we can recommend after having tested quite a few, is Cyberghost.
To run Cyberghost, you have to install a free downloadable software, which is rather easy to do after you have created an account with them. To connect to the VPN, you have to start the software and log in to your account. The free version takes longer to set up the VPN connection, has a 10 GB monthly volume limit, comes with no speed guarantee and disconnects you after each 6 hours, after which you have to manually re-connect. Once connected, you have access to all those blocked websites and servers, and your privacy and anonymity is protected.
You can purchase a premium version for as little as 5,84 € (app. $7,00) per month, which comes with a 2000 kBit/sec speed guarantee, 40 GB volume, a fast connection procedure and a function that reconnects you automatically should the connection ever be broken. Cyberghost offers quick support and help with the installation (which is very easy anyway).

An even better alternative is VPNGates. VPNGates allows you to test the VPN first. Just register an account and send an email to them through the website, and they will set up a free test account for you.The setup is easy, all you need to do is add one network connection to your computer.
Here's the procedure for Win XP - this you will only do once:
Go to "Control Panel" and choose "Network Connections"
Click on "Create New Network Connection"
In the "New Connection Wizard", click "Next", then activate "Connect to the network at my workplace" and click "Next"
Choose "Virtual Private Network connection", the click "Next"
In the next screen activate the box "Do not dial the initial connection", then click "Next".
In the box, insert the IP adress that VPNGates has sent you in an email
In the next box, activate "Do not use my smart card" and click "Next"
In the last screen, click to create an icon for the VPN on your desktop.
Click on that icon for the first time, and you will be asked for the username and password sent to you in an email. Insert both, then activate the "Save Password" option and connect.
After the VPN is installed, you can start it by clicking the desktop icon, and you will be connected within seconds.
The monthly fee for this VPN is $10 if you subscribe for a year. This VPN provider is the best I have come across, so I use it since two years now, and I have never encountered a faster response from any internet service provider, take my word for it!

Problem #2
You do not want your poker room deposits to show up in your credit card statement? If your wife/husband reads your credit card statements, then there are several anonymous ways to deposit money. If you are a US citizen, you may not be able to deposit via a normal credit card anyway. Try to have a prepaid credit card issued to you by a non-US bank, or use Ewallets like Neteller, Moneybookers etc. - some of them allow US citizens to deposit money.

Or: Check whether you can buy Paysafecards in your area - if you can, you can pay cash money for one or more tickets with a code. Enter that code at the cashier section of your favourite poker room, and the money will be credited to your poker account immediately. If you can't buy them where you live, ask a friend who can, to buy them for you and email the code to you. You can bank wire the value of the ticket to him then. Withdrawals are not possible that way, but most poker rooms offer cashout by checque.