I do not think that there are any legitimate and regulated casinos which are VPN friendly. And as others in this thread have already written; any casino can change their TOS at any time and you would probably be caught unaware. It is a better idea to rather not use a VPN.
It has something to do with laws that the casinos have to follow. AML is a big one. Otherwise any casino could launder money from some anonymous people at any time. That would not work.
Casino sites have already made kyc very easy. Sites without kyc can gamble using a fixed amount. so I don't think there is any need to use vpn either. there is a fear of account blocking if you use vpn so it is better to use sites without using vpn. Since gambling is not officially legal in my country it is very difficult to access casino sites in my country but I can use the reputable casino sites on this forum without vpn. Some sites do not work with sim ip but through isp connection is running smoothly
In my experience, as well as in the experience of other veteran Bitcointalk gamblers over the years, KYC is never easy, as you claim, because of the sheer number of people that they have to check. It can take a long time to check them all. Doing KYC before depositing funds will save you a headache...
Sorry but I will have to also agree that in the current settings technologically, kyc have become much more easier, as even now, we have what is called or referred to as Ai kyc system, where the user submits his requested documents for kyc verification, and a trained Ai takes the document, scan through it and immediately, under a minute or two, verify your account after it has also scanned your face through your camera and match it with the face on your provided document, this is literally one of the fastest kyc system and one no longer have to submit document, and wait until a customer representative comes around to look at the document, look at your video recording or selfie before either marking your kyc as successful or not.
I do vouch the presence of such kyc system in all the online casinos at the moment, but let's believe that as time goes on, more and more casinos will implement the Ai kyc system for a faster, efficient and seamless customer kyc verification.
And I also agree with you on your last words, for even now, I would still suggest that gamblers do not wait until the casino ask them to verify their account, maybe in the middle of a pending withdrawal or so, looks like some casinos deliberately makes passing kyc at this stage more difficult, than when the player just decides on his or her own to submit his documents for account verification.