Foreword|Money88
If there is one thing players must do to be successful in the rapidly expanding world of online gambling, it is to stay safe while gambling. Currently, thanks to the internet and mobile technology, online casinos are popping up all over the place. But not all of them are legitimate online casinos.
As such, this guide provides everything you need to stay safe and informed as you make your fortune gambling online.
1. Unregistered Online Casinos|Money88
One of the reasons most countries have national gambling regulators is to protect gamers from online fraud. Therefore, it is vital to check that a casino is licensed before entrusting your hard-earned money to it. Usually, legitimate online casinos will clearly indicate the regulator at the bottom of the home page. Click on the name of the regulatory agency and view the license certificate.
2.SSL encryption is a must|Money88
Just because a casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority does not mean it has a health certificate. This is because casinos must ensure that all your data and activities on the platform are secure by using SSL encryption. To confirm this information, check for a “padlock” next to the casino URL. If you can’t see the sign, skip the casino entirely.
3. Read the terms and conditions page first|Money88
In most cases, the terms and conditions page is where the rubber meets the road. It is here that legitimate online casinos include shady terms regarding player bonuses. Sometimes casinos may include questionable terms to deny you winnings if you hit a jackpot. A case in point is Mr Green’s bitter legal battle with one of the UK’s largest bookmakers. In conclusion, read the terms and conditions page carefully and understand it.
4. Payment Fraud|Money88
An online casino can tick all the boxes above and still fail in one department – completing payments. Usually, the best online casinos pay out players’ winnings as quickly as possible. However, it may even take months for others to announce your winnings. But luckily, you can research other players online. If the casino takes more than a month to pay out, avoid it.
5. Unfair game|Money88
You don’t want to withdraw money while playing unfair online casino games, do you? The best online casinos should be happy with the house edge percentage they get from each bet.
Casinos should use a RNG (Random Number Generator) to generate random results. In other words, watch out for casino games that have a specific pattern of outcomes. If possible, play the demo version before committing real money.
6. Special bonus promotions|Money88
If you come across an online casino bonus that you can’t resist, then be sure to know that there are pitfalls. Be extra careful with these signup bonuses if you are a beginner. Often, casinos will lure you into signing up with huge bonuses and then hit you with unreasonable wagering requirements. For example, when the clearance requirement is 50x, there is no commercial point claim for 100% of the maximum $200 bonus.
7. Customer service system|Money88
If you’ve dealt with shady casinos before, you know that it’s not over until the fat lady sings. The casino you choose should offer several avenues of contact to discuss payment delays, game assistance, and more.
This should happen via live chat, email, phone or even Twitter. Almost all legitimate online casinos these days allow players to quickly speak to support staff via live chat.
Conclusion|Money88
There is absolutely no guarantee of safety when gambling online. Just make sure the casino is licensed and regulated, then read on for online reviews about it. If you do this, most of the other things on the list above will fall into place automatically. But don’t kid yourself, do the casinos a favor.
Want to learn more about online gaming protections, or what are the responsibilities of online casinos? Check out our industry news, filled with helpful tips.