In a world full of hundreds of online gaming operators, staying safe is essential. Nowadays, most casinos will go to incredible lengths to ensure their customers protection, yet there are still a few who want to exploit the inexperience of new customers.
In a world full of hundreds of online gaming operators, staying safe is essential. Nowadays, most casinos will go to incredible lengths to ensure their customers protection, yet there are still a few who want to exploit the inexperience of new customers.
That’s why it’s always good to know how to spot a safe casino. This can include anything from finding reliable payment methods to looking for casinos with trusted software like the ones found at http://www.microgamingtribune.com.
But if you are new to the world of online gambling, it’s best to arm yourself with crucial knowledge. With that in mind, here are ten tips to help you choose a safe online casino.
#1 Check for a License
The license of an online casino serves as evidence that the operator adheres to rules and regulations set by its issuing authority. These rules normally regulate the casino’s safety, financial banking and player fairness. The most common licensing authorities are:
- Malta Gaming Authority.
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority.
- Curacao eGaming.
- UK Gambling Commission.
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.
These are the most common licenses, but any other licenses will also mean that the casino is regulated by a specific country or government. If unsure, do a Google search for the license and read through the provisions.
#2 Check Online for Scams/Rogues
Another great tip to find out if a casino is secure is to do an online search with the name of the casino and the word scams or rogue added.
Rogue casinos are casinos that try to trick layers out of their winnings. This can be anything from claiming you tricked the casino into winning to delaying payments for obscure reasons. That’s why it’s always good to do a quick search and browse through the results.
#3 Check for Trusted Developers
If a casino’s game collection is powered by a good game developer, than you can rest assured that is a quality casino. Leading game developers will never provide their software solutions to shady operators. Thus, always check the software before choosing a casino.
#4 Check for a Security Certificate
Since you’ll be sharing information like your bank details or home address, it is essential to make sure the operator has a security certificate.
Security certificates ensure that the information you enter is encrypted before it’s sent to the operator. The simplest ways to check this is to look for an SSL / TLS Certified watermark on the footer of the front page.
#5 Check the Banking Method
Casino offer a variety of payment and withdrawal options, but to ensure you stay safe check out the safety of those options. This means going through the FAQs of the payment service itself, but also check for SSL certificates as well.
#6 Check for Accreditation
Casinos, just like schools need accreditation. The leading accrediting agency of today is eCOGRA, which tests the casino for a number of features like:
- User privacy.
- Safety of transactions.
- Player fairness.
- Accurate payouts.
- No payment delays.
Finding an eCOGRA watermark on the operator’s site is sure proof that the casino is safe and trusted.
#7 Read Reviews
One of the most common ways in finding pros and cons in today’s world is to read through reviews. But when it comes to online casinos, the scope of reviews isn’t strictly limited to user ratings.
There are a number of casino review sites that offer a detailed look into the quality of a gaming operator. The best approach is to read through both types before you settle on one casino.
#8 Test the support staff
A casino is as trusted as its own staff. The easiest way to check if something’s wrong with a casino is to contact the support staff and start asking questions. The best questions would be about payment safety, player privacy, payment delays, etc. If the support staff avoids direct answers, you are better off with another operator.
#9 Check the Bonuses
Most casinos nowadays will be uniform in their bonus offers and give players a number of standard rewards like:
- A 100-250% matching bonus on your first deposit up to a limited amount.
- Matching bonuses on your second, third and fourth deposits.
- Weekly, monthly or holiday bonus promotions.
- Free spins on slots.
- Mobile gaming bonuses.
If you browse through a couple of casinos, you will know approximately what standard bonuses are. However, if the casino offers bonuses that are too good to be true, they probably aren’t the safest place to play.
#10 Review the Design
And finally, if the casino site itself has a flawed design, there are chances that you might be putting yourself at risk of security breaches. The best way to check is to simply click through its pages. If they are full of ad banners or look poorly designed, they are probably more vulnerabl