Online casinos have reached an unprecedented level of popularity in the last five years. Some of that growth is natural expansion in countries with lax gambling laws, other growth has come from more countries changing how they regulate online gambling.
In the United States, for example, online casinos are still a young market with lots of potential, since so many state governments are still working on legalizing them. As new players start creating accounts and playing at online casinos, there are some common pitfalls and dangers that can put them at risk. Any time that money and the internet are combined, there are many ways that things can go wrong.
Continue reading to learn about the important ways you can ensure you stay safe at online casinos, no matter how frequently you play, where you’re based or how seriously you take the hobby.
Verify the license and security information before creating an account
The most important step you can take towards keeping safe at online casinos is to only play at secure and fully licensed sites. This might limit the number of casinos available. Just remember that many online sites are possibly unsafe, unsecured and unsavory.
In order to operate legally, online casinos need to hold the relevant licenses for the countries in which they operate. If an online casino operates internationally, they may need to hold multiple licenses. In the United States, each state has its own licensing body. The same is true in Canada. Other countries have only one regulator.
Some countries don’t have their own regulator, so they accept licenses from trusted international regulators. The most highly regarded and widely accepted of these are the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. Licenses from Curaçao and Gibraltar are also widely accepted.
Alongside having the right licenses, online casinos need to have appropriate security measures to keep players safe. The best way to do this is to have the entire site protected with SSL encryption. 128-bit and 256-bit SSL encryption are both acceptable. Players can confirm the presence of encryption software by looking for the lock icon in the address bar.
Use responsible gambling tools
Lately, responsible gambling feels like it’s just a buzz word being used in the gambling industry to reduce government concerns about the industry. In reality, responsible gambling tools are one of the most important innovations that have been introduced to the gambling industry in recent years. These tools are being talked about so much because they are a big deal.
Responsible gambling tools give players the ability to put controls and limits on how much they play and how much they spend. These tools acknowledge the reality that gambling is addictive and make it easier for players to stick to their limits. Responsible gambling tools keep players safe from themselves and from predatory online casino sites.
Like most casino guide sites, CasinoTopsOnline provides information on responsible gambling and the best responsible gambling tools for players. While some tools, such as deposit limits and reality checks, are helpful for all players, other tools will benefit some more than others. Some of the other useful responsible gambling tools players commonly find at online casinos are individual wager limits, daily wager limits, time limits and self-exclusion options.
Keep account information private
Keeping account information private is essential for staying safe online, not just at online casinos. Account details like user name, email and password are all things that need to be protected in order to safeguard your personal and financial information.
The easiest way to keep this information safe is to keep it private. Most cyber-attacks and security breaches don’t happen through direct hacks, they happen through phishing schemes. If you don’t respond to emails or calls from unfamiliar email addresses – even if they look legitimate – you’re better protected.
Players can always contact customer support if they receive an email that looks like it could be from a particular online casino and they’re unsure what to do about it.
Read the terms and conditions
It’s generally agreed that nobody ever reads the fine print on every product they buy or agreement they sign. This can have all sorts of negative complications, but for the most part, people take that risk because they want access to a product or service.
When it comes to online casinos, reading the terms and conditions is a must for staying safe and protecting your deposits. In the terms and conditions, players will find all of the important information regarding bonuses, wagering requirements, security and more.
Some of these will surprise new players. For example, many online casinos don’t allow more than one account from the same IP address. This is to prevent fraud. It also means, unfortunately, that if you encourage a partner or roommate to create an account at the casino you’re enjoying, you could both lose access to your accounts and forfeit the funds held in them.
Rules like these protect the casino and can feel unfair when players aren’t aware of them until it’s too late. Reading and understanding the terms and conditions keeps that from happening.
