Online Casinos in 2020 – Are They Safe?
With new online casinos popping up almost daily, we felt the need to raise awareness of how crucial it is to stay safe online. Unfortunately, not all online casinos have your best interests at heart. So, if you want to embark on an exciting online casino adventure, you must choose a secure and reliable gambling platform.
Since there are hundreds of online casinos, new players usually don’t know how to recognize a safe one. The key is to stay informed, and with this guide, you’ll know exactly what makes an online casino trustworthy.
Valid Gambling License
Licensing information is a crucial indicator of safety. It should always be the first thing a player checks before exploring any of the casino’s sections. For example, in the United Kingdom, any operator who wishes to launch an online casino needs to obtain a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. The UKGC is a world-renowned regulatory body, known for its strict regulations and rules.
In the rest of Europe, most online gambling platforms are licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. These two regulatory bodies have received high praise for licensing and overseeing secure and trustworthy online casinos.
In the US, each state’s gaming regulatory body provides licenses to online casinos. Every state in which online casinos are legal has specific laws and regulations enforced by different regulatory bodies. For instance, the Division of Gaming Enforcement operates in New Jersey, while the Gaming Control Board is in charge of Philadelphia.
Regulatory bodies have more responsibility than just issuing gambling licenses. Their job is to oversee online casinos and prevent any incidents between the operator and the players. Moreover, if players feel mistreated, they can complain directly to the regulatory body.
Latest Security Systems and the Best Encryption Technologies
Online casinos need to respect certain norms when it comes to player protection. One of them is ensuring each player’s financial and personal data is kept safe. The best way to protect it is to apply encryption protocols.
Almost all online casinos employ industry-standard SSL encryption technology that provides secure money transactions. It also encodes the players’ data, making it impossible for unauthorized third parties to access or misuse.
Here’s how you can check whether an online casino uses encryption technology — visit the online casino you want to play in, and see whether the lock icon in your browser’s address bar is in the locked position. If it is, the platform is safe.
If not, you need to move on and find a different online casino. No matter how great the bonuses are or how exciting the game catalog is, your safety should always come first. All regulatory bodies require operators to use data encryption tools.
World-Renowned Software Providers
When it comes to online casinos, diversity is vital. If you want to settle down with one casino platform and avoid having to pick a new one every few weeks, pay special attention to the range of games it offers. It’s always a plus if you have more than a few options at your disposal. That’s where software providers come into play.
The iGaming industry is overflowing with software provider companies. They partner up with online casinos to give players the best gambling experience possible. The range of game providers you find in an online casino can speak volumes to the quality of games available on the site.
Some companies have created names for themselves over time — Microgaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil, Playtech, Play’n GO, IGT, to mention a few. They have set the bar high, and now, every new software provider needs to match or outperform them to stay in the game.
Thanks to their authenticity and innovation, software providers can give players games with superb graphics, interactive features, exquisite animations, and engaging audio. Combined, it creates an incredibly immersive casino experience.
If you’re wondering how this shows if a casino is safe, you need to know that every software provider goes through rigorous testing before it’s allowed to offer any games to online casinos. These tests are performed to ensure none of the games are rigged. That way, you can relax and enjoy a game knowing that nobody has tampered with it.
Transparent Promotional Incentives and Policies
Online casinos are known for their bonuses — it’s one of the main aspects that sets them apart from brick-and-mortar casinos. Welcome bonuses are there to incentivize players to register an account in a particular online casino. If you’re new to the online gambling world, keep in mind that every bonus comes with a bonus policy. We can’t stress enough how important it is for you to carefully read each promotion’s terms and conditions before you claim it.
Unfortunately, fraudulent casinos are famous for attractive and hefty bonuses. These might seem like a great idea on the surface, but the bonus policy that applies to them is often exploitative. The sad thing is that thousands of players make the mistake of not checking the promotion’s terms and conditions until it’s too late.
However, bonuses in safe online casinos come with straightforward policies, without any hidden agendas. In most cases, reputable casinos will prominently display the most important bonus terms you need to meet. This allows you to know exactly what the offer consists of and what you need to do to claim it.
It can be difficult to find safe and secure online casinos, not to mention ones that offer bonuses with a low deposit minimum. However, if you’re looking for good options, this list of Canadian casino bonuses has got you covered.
Whether you’re looking for no deposit bonuses, match deposit promotions, or VIP rewards, you must always read the fine print.
Efficient Customer Support
You might notice that some online casinos lack proper customer support, provide players with vague responses, or simply avoid responding to customer requests. All of these are signs of a potentially unsafe online casino.
Usually, online gambling platforms provide customer support through different channels — phone, email, live chat, etc. Some casinos are also active on various social media channels and feature extensive FAQ sections. Given that the players are casinos’ primary source of income, they should be appropriately treated. Customer support teams should prioritize timely responses, thorough explanations, and an overall positive attitude.
The best way to determine whether customer service is dependable is to get in touch with a representative, even before creating an account. Based on the answers you receive (if you receive any), you can see how efficient the help center is.
Another good idea is to check online reviews from other players — people love to complain when they’ve had a bad experience, and in this case, it can be beneficial. When you’re searching for a reliable online casino, focus on platforms with polite and prompt customer support.
Hassle-Free and Secure Payment Methods
Even though this is the last aspect we’ll talk about, it is just as important. Nowadays, online casinos support dozens of different payment options. When looking for the right casino, you should always look at the banking section and see which payment services are supported.
That way, you will know if your favorite payment method is available. If you don’t find it, you can contact customer support — they might recommend another similar option for you to try.
Typically, payment solutions range from credit and debit cards (Visa, Maestro, Mastercard) to e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Sofort, Paysafecard) and bank transfers. Reputable online casinos ensure there is no shortage of ways to make deposits and withdrawals.
However, just like with bonus terms and conditions, there are a few things you need to know about payment methods. Transaction fees are the first thing to look for — check if your preferred payment option charges any fees and if so, make sure they are reasonable. Furthermore, if you’re playing in an international online casino, you must ensure your currency is accepted. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay conversion fees as well.
Then, you should see how much time is required to process a payment. The transaction time will vary, depending on the payment method you opt for. Reputable online casinos will process deposits instantly, and they shouldn’t charge any additional fees for the transaction.
Finally, safe online casinos will require you to verify your identity before you make any withdrawals. They also employ top-notch modern encryption technology that ensures all your payments are processed securely.
Conclusion
If you want a carefree and relaxing casino experience, you should do some research before joining an online platform. Renowned online casinos will treat every player equally, with respect and fairness.
Registering in a shady online casino can end up ruining online gambling for you forever. With this guide, you’ll quickly recognize which online gambling platforms you should steer clear of. So, do your homework, research the operator, and if it checks all of the boxes, you’ll know you’ve found a reliable one.
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