Online gaming and geolocation compliance FAQs

It isn’t easy to navigate geolocation compliance as an online gaming company, especially with varying regulations and rapidly evolving technology—not to mention your end users’ expectations for a smooth gaming experience. To clear up some common questions we hear from online gaming leaders looking to solve their geolocation compliance needs, we put together a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs):

Q: Why do online gaming platforms need geolocation compliance?

A: Geolocation compliance is critical for online gaming platforms to make sure that they’re operating legally and responsibly. This is especially important in highly regulated markets like the U.S. and Canada, where state or provincial laws govern activities like sports betting and online casinos. For example, in the U.S. only a handful of states currently allow online casinos, while more than half allow sports betting​.

Q: Are geolocation services certified for my region?

A: While a geolocation provider may be used by other operators already certified in certain jurisdictions, your specific application will still require testing and certification to meet local requirements. There’s no getting around this; Compliance regulators demand end-to-end testing of your unique gaming application—not just the underlying geolocation platform. This means that every application needs to undergo its own certification process wherever required to ensure full compliance with local standards​.

Q: How does geolocation compliance impact the end user experience?

A: Your end user’s experience will vary depending on the geolocation platform you use. Ideally, the process is seamless and works like this:

• No additional downloads or plugins required.
• Compatible with multiple devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, desktops).
• Support for mobile and Wi-Fi-based gameplay.

Geolocation services like Locance prioritize user-friendly designs to minimize hurdles, which helps make compliance as transparent as using everyday location-enabled services like Google Maps​.

Q: What technologies do you use to verify a user’s location?

A: Locance’s geolocation platform uses a multi-factor approach that combines:

• IP, GPS, device-based, cellular, and Wi-Fi location.
• Device profiling and behavioral biometrics.
• Anti-spoofing measures like VPN, proxy, and remote-access detection.

This layered approach ensures high accuracy while identifying potential fraud attempts. It’s also ideal for users that are on the go or located in remote or rural locations.

Q: What does implementation of your geolocation compliance solution involve?

A: We’ve designed the integration of Locance’s solution to be as straightforward as possible, involving:

• Restful APIs that provide JSON responses.
• JavaScript integration for browser-based applications.
• SDKs for iOS and Android apps.

We also provide comprehensive documentation and implementation guides so that your business can set up its systems quickly—sometimes as fast as 2-3 days.

Q: Do I retain control over my end users’ data?

A: Yes, as a customer using Locance’s services, you maintain full control over your end users’ data, as covered in our Privacy Policy. We treat location data like your property—not something that we, as the provider, take ownership of. This approach ensures:

• Your gaming platform decides when data is sent and retrieved, and how it is used.
• Unlike other providers, Locance does not grant third-party access to sensitive user information or location data without your knowledge and consent.
• Locance does not sell location data.

Q: What kind of support can I expect from Locance as a geolocation compliance provider?

A: While support levels vary widely among geolocation service providers, at Locance we take a “customer success” approach that includes:

• A dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM) for ongoing support.
• On-demand, expert assistance during implementation, including API demos.
• Continued partnership to optimize user flows and rule sets post-integration and throughout your use of the platform, with direct access to your CSM anytime.

In our experience, offering this white-glove level of support helps give our customers a smooth onboarding experience as well as fostering their sustained success on our platform​.

Q: How scalable are geolocation platforms?

A: Scalability is critical for gaming platforms, especially during mega industry events like the Super Bowl, which can demand a 10x or higher increase in capacity. Locance’s cloud-based infrastructure provides virtually unlimited scalability and reliable performance, enabling your service use to scale up quickly during surges in demand. This also means that our platform will continue to meet your geolocation compliance needs as you grow.

Q: How customizable are compliance rules?

A: Flexibility is another must-have when it comes to geolocation compliance. Locance works with each customer to adjust compliance rule sets to fit their specific needs. For example, an iGaming provider may need to exclude certain areas within their jurisdiction. Locance’s customizable approach enables gaming operators to strike the right balance between security and user accessibility while maintaining full control over their end user experience​.

Don’t navigate geolocation compliance on your own

As a gaming company, complying with geolocation regulations might seem daunting, but the right geolocation platform greatly simplifies the process—reducing the stress of compliance and enabling your team to focus on their core responsibilities. For a deeper dive into evaluating geolocation solutions, check out our guide.