While the popularity of online casinos has increased, so have the risks, with more and more cyber threats and people trying to scam you out of your money or steal your card details. Compared to a land-based casino, players from online casinos need to practice extra precautions to protect themselves. One wrong move and you will experience total defeat, not from casino games but from fraud.
So, do not let your guard down in gambling online. The following are a few tips you can use to stay safe when you’re gambling online. Follow these online casino safety tips to protect yourself.
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Understand the Terms and Conditions
One of the biggest mistakes that many players commit is by ignoring or taking the casino sites’ terms and conditions as a joke. The joke will be on you when you can’t withdraw your winnings or your account is removed because you unintentionally broke their rules.
Never skip reading the sites’ terms and conditions no matter how long the paragraphs are, prior to playing or signing up for an account. The terms and conditions hold important information on how to use their site and its services. It sets the rules that players must agree to in order to use your website.
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Look for the license
You will be surprised by the number of casinos operating online without a license. Avoids these types of casinos. Chances are these casinos don’t have that much revenue to purchase a license, or there is something fishy going on in their operations.
If a casino doesn’t have enough revenue, there’s a good chance that you won’t able to withdraw when you won a huge amount. The reputation of their games and services will also be questionable.
An online casino that acquires a license means that the casino is being supervised by the government or assigned regulator. These types of casinos are legitimate. They are being monitored for fair play and fraud.
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Look for RNG Certificate of compliance
The Random number generators (RNGs) are the heart of a secure and fair online casino. The RNG protects not only the players but also the online casino. How?
The RNG is installed inside the casino game. It ensures that the deal of the card or the spin of the slot is truly based on chance. This way, players cannot predict when the winning spin will happen.
Casinos that are taking the security seriously employ third party companies that will test and verify their RNG. When these companies find out that their games are not rigged, they will issue an RNG Certificate of compliance.
The RNG certificate of compliance is proof that the casino has a fair gaming environment. Some of the well-known companies that you may come across include Gaming Laboratory International (GLI), Price Waterhouse Coopers, Technical Systems Testing, eCOGRA and others, which are authorized to issue such certificates.
Operators are not allowed to publish their RNG certificate. But you can find the seal of the company at the bottom part of the casino site. Look for these seals on the casino websites. We suggest choosing a casino with this seal to ensure safe online betting.
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Look for SSL encryption
We strongly suggest to only play on the casino site that has Secure Socket Layer encryption. SSL creates a foundation of trust by establishing a secure connection. It handles all the sensitive information you give to the casino including those about your credit cards.
To know if the site is using SSL encryption, you can simply look for the “lock” icon next to the URL.
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Avoid downloading software if possible
Some casinos may require you to download a software or an app before playing. Be careful in downloading this software. If you are not sure about the reputation of the casino, we suggest you to look for another casino to play.
While there is nothing wrong in downloading the casino app, this software may provide a hole for unscrupulous people to hide worms and viruses in software and use them to skim your passwords and financial information.
Confirm first the casino reputation before downloading any software for the safer online casino experience.
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Visit the About Us page
The “about us” page holds relevant information about the site casino services, payment methods used, and customer service phone number, and many more. The information about the site is most of the time also included on the “about us” page.
For your security and to know more about the site you want to play with, take a moment and know what the casino’s “About Us” page has.
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Read Ratings & Reviews
This is perhaps the easiest way to know the sites’ reputation and credibility. There are many legitimate websites nowadays that provide honest insights online casino fairness. Some even have the power to call out online casino to resolve some issues. If too many issues weren’t resolved, the online casino site will be blacklisted. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to play with this casino if you want safe online betting.
Conclusion
The online casino provides another way for players to enjoy casino games in the comfort of their homes. However, the world of online casinos is surrounded by different issues. Never let your guard down and always practice extreme precautions to protect yourself from different kinds of fraudulent activities. Follow the online casino safety tips above to ensure safe online gambling.