The majority of online casinos are fair, honest, and pay out when you win. But, as with everything, there are always going to be some bad apples in the mix. When gambling online, it’s important to be as clued up as possible, which is why we’ve put some tips together to help you stay safe while you play.
1. Always Check For Licenses
Undoubtedly, one of the most important things to check when assessing an online casino that you intend to play at is the license it holds.
Authentic casinos will want to boast an operating license with a jurisdiction. The Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission are examples of such bodies to look out for.
If an online gambling site fails to have any proof that it is licensed by a governing body, then it rings the alarm bells. Have they applied for a license and been refused? Have they even applied for a license in the first place? An online casino without an operating license lacks credibility and is not regulated.
2. Read The Reviews
We live in a world where everyone has an opinion and everyone loves to voice that opinion, so use this to your advantage.
Word of mouth online is key when it comes to busting those fraudulent operators. If fake casinos are operating then you’ll never find positive reviews online. Issues such as non-payment of winnings are always flagged quickly by users.
Do your research and see what people say about a casino online before you look to sign up. Alternatively, use an independent review site like ours to do the homework for you.
3. Find The Testing Certification
The issue of staying safe when gambling online involves covering a number of areas and one of the most important ones is finding evidence that the casino holds a testing certificate. These certificates are basically proof that the online casino is operating in a fair and safe manner. You should immediately start asking questions if such a test certificate is not evident somewhere on the casino’s homepage.
Examples of companies that offer these test certificates include eCogra and iGaming Labs. You will often see their logo splashed along the bottom of an online casino’s frontpage just above the copyright if they’re a legitimate operator. If not, then you might find them hard to come by. A lack of a testing certificate is a big give away as to whether a casino online is fake or not.
4. Analyze The Banking Methods
Gambling is all about money, so it goes without saying that you should always scan over the stated banking methods available at the online casino you’re considering.
A lack of deposit options can be a disconcerting sign. If the casino offers a wide range of deposit methods including mainstream e-wallets such as Paypal or Neteller and at least one credit or debit card option then you’re onto a good thing. If the only one option is available then you might want to think twice.
5. Be Wary Of Customer Support Web Forms
In an age when customer service is everything, it always becomes a concern when companies don’t seem keen on letting you know how to contact them directly. If you look at the big brand online casinos, they will have an array of customer support options including phone numbers, email addresses, live chat, and snail mail addresses.
Fake online casinos won’t want you to be able to contact them directly, so they will often hide behind a web form. Got a question about the site? Fill in this web form. Don’t understand the games available? Fill in this web form. Want to know where all the money you deposited in your account on the site has now vanished to? Fill in this web form.
The most dangerous operators online are the ones that don’t want to be contacted.
Ultimately, you need to pick the best option for you. Take our advice above but do as much research as possible. Don’t stray too far from the big brands, read our trusted online casino reviews, and you’ll be on to a solid start.
