The process of bypassing geo-restrictions-commonly known as geo-dodging-is a highly contested issue and a legally gray area, as most laws are silent on the issue. The most-cited reason for geo-blocking is cross-border licensing and legality issues, but in reality it’s also because companies aren’t willing to invest in less developed markets such as Africa and Asia due to the huge capital outlay required, coupled with low returns. Online stores and e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and iTunes also use geo-restrictions to segment their markets. Popular video streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Australia’s ABC iView all employ geo-blocking to limit content to the U.S., U.K. The concept is the same today, only employed on the internet.

Hollywood film distributors employed geo-blocking to segment global markets and allow movie releases in a different market at different dates and prices.

It’s an old-age practice similar to the traditional DVD region codes that prevented region-locked DVD players from playing back DVDs encoded in markets outside of where they were sold. Geo-blocking is a system used to limit access to the internet based on geographical location.

Which Geo-Restriction Bypass Method Should I Choose?.

Geolocation for casino