Online gambling is a growing industry. In just two short decades, the market has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business. However, as with any new industry, many people are apprehensive. And in some cases, they have reason to be.
There are plenty of online casinos that work without any sort of regulation. These websites are often unfairly stacked against the player. In some cases, they are outright scams. So, the importance of choosing a licensed and regulated casino cannot be understated.
When gambling on unsafe or unregulated platforms, you are putting your money and your private information at risk. So, in this article, we would like to help you better understand safe online casinos where you can wager using real money.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I determine if an online casino is safe and trusted?
There are several ways. One of the most common ways to do it is to look for a license.
- What licensing and regulatory bodies should I look for when evaluating online casinos?
Licensing commissions like the Malta Gaming Association, the GBGC, the Curacao Gaming License are all reputable. Others include auditors like eCOGRA, who is among the most reputable ones.
- What security measures should reputable online casinos have in place?
Common security measures include SSL encryption, payment data processing, and multi-layer security.
- How can I check the reputation of an online casino?
Customer reviews, professional review sites, and the company’s history are all great ways to ensure the website is reputable.
- What responsible gambling features should I expect from a trustworthy casino?
Daily, weekly, and monthly wagering limits are quite common. Many websites will also step into contact with a player if they suspect them of problem gambling. Finally, all trustworthy casinos must have some link to a responsible gambling website.
Licensing and Regulation
When looking for safe and reputable online casinos, a license is one of the first and most important things to look for. In case you aren’t aware, a license is a sort of seal of approval, issued to online casinos by review boards, often associated with a government. Most countries around the world have their own licensing laws concerning gambling. However, some commissions are more trustworthy than others. For example, some of the most reputable licenses come from the following countries:
- Malta: The Malta Gaming Association
- Great Britain: The Great Britain Gambling Commission
- Curacao: Curacao Gaming License
The presence of a license confirms that a casino is trustworthy or reliable. But, what exactly does it mean to be “reliable” and “trustworthy?”
Security Measures
In 2023, cybercrime is at an all-time high. Hackers are a lot more prolific than ever, and the FBI warns that there has been a 20-40% increase in cyber-related criminal activity. So, naturally, many websites need to take precaution in order to protect their customers. And online casinos are no different.
For this reason, most of the reliable and trustworthy casinos implement the latest in SSL encryption technology, in order to ensure that user data is kept safe and secure. Many will also incorporate the cream of the crop when it comes to payment processing technology, and you will often find multi-layered security when gambling online.
Fair Game Practices
When discussing fair game practices, we are talking about balanced odds and fair gameplay. It is quite difficult to replicate the randomness of a roulette spin online. However, thanks to the Random Number Generator software, it is now possible.
The random number generator basically ensures that each new spin at an online game of slots or roulette is entirely fair and randomized. Meaning, the casino games are not stacked against the player. Casino testing companies, like eCOGRA, play a huge role in ensuring that the RNG functions as intended. Their job is to make sure that the games are not unfairly stacked against players or broken to give the house a greater advantage.
Reputation and Player Feedback
Reputation is a huge part of any industry. Whether you are a gamer or a gambler, hearing someone talk about the best games is likely going to entice you to play them. Which is why many online casinos take reputation and player feedback incredibly seriously.
Websites with a better reputation are obviously going to rise to the top faster than those with a bad reputation, or no reputation at all. In order to keep their customers satisfied, online casinos implement numerous ways to improve their players’ experience. From promoting responsible gambling to excellent customer support and diverse payment methods.
Responsible Gambling Policies
Most online gambling websites attempt to promote responsible gambling to the best of their abilities. To do so, they impose daily, weekly, and monthly wagering limits on their customers. Often, they will link to a website that helps with problem gambling. Sometimes, they will even restrict access to players that they believe are at risk. The goal is to create a culture of responsible gamblers who know when enough is enough.
Customer Support Evaluation
Two things determine quality customer support: 1) how efficiently your problem has been addressed, and 2) the behavior of the customer support employee. If a customer support employee is rude, you will likely not pay attention to what they’ve said. Likewise, no matter how kind they are, if they’ve inefficiently addressed your problem, you’ve gotten nothing out of the interaction.
Payment Options
Finally, you will want a casino with diverse payment options. The most popular payment options in 2023 are credit and debit cards. However, many gamblers prefer to pay using cryptocurrency, direct bank transfers, or e-wallets. The more options available to them, the happier most customers will be.
Tips for Choosing Safe Online Casinos
In this final section, we would like to give you a list of tips for how to effectively and efficiently choose the best, safest, and most trustworthy online casinos. To do so, you need only take the following steps:
- Look for a License: a license is a must.
- Look for Diverse Payment Options: from crypto, to e-wallets, to credit and debit card deposits. The more options the better.
- Check the security policy: If a website does not let you view the security policy, think twice about using it.
