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I’m a new kid on the online casino block, and I want to find a safe online casino I can trust. I’ve been having a look at some of the casinos out there, and I can’t shake this niggling fear that I’m going to get taken for a ride. They promise me what seems like great bonuses and big winning potential, but how do I know that I’m not going to lose all my money signing up for a scam?
I want to know that my online casino transactions are safe and protected and that all gameplay is fair. Can you give me some pointers?
Chris L.
How to find a Safe Online Casino
Well, Chris, you make a valid point. There are a lot of online casino sharks out there, waiting to sink their teeth into gullible gaming gamers. I’ve got an online casino blacklist that I want to share with you to make sure your wallets aren’t swallowed whole.
So how do you find a safe online casino? There are various checks that you can perform before you put your trust into a casino brand.
Is the Online Casino licensed?
Would you get in the car with an unlicensed driver? No. So why should the journey through an online casino be any different? You’re looking for a safe online casino, has a legitimate licence and guarantees that fact. All safe, licenced casinos play by the rules and are obligated to provide players with secure and dependable service. Make sure you also have a look-see at the licencing jurisdiction. The ones you want to go for are Khanawake in Canada, The Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Malta, and the UK Gambling Commission. A reputable safe online casino will proudly display heir certification somewhere on the website, plus you’ll be able to find out their licence number so you can double check with these third-party organisations. Just remember, it is more worthwhile for a reputable casino to play by the rules then it is for them to scam a player and risk losing everything.
Reputable Online Casinos payout, will this one?
You do want to walk away a winner right? That’s why you have to take a look at the casino payout reports. A trustworthy and safe online casino will publish accurate and timely payout percentages on their site. The only payout reports that matter though is those that have been audited and verified by a reliable third party, such as eCOGRA, which stands for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. eCOGRA is also responsible for testing the fairness of the online casino’s games, so if you can see the casino has been verified by this organisation, you know the casino is a pretty safe bet. We also recommend that you always go for casinos that have payouts of 95% or higher as they will give you a much better chance of hitting the jackpot.
Trusted Safe Online Casino Software Providers
We all want what’s fair in life, which is why as a player you want to be certain that you can trust the games you are playing. Some very reliable gaming software providers have proved themselves trustworthy like Microgaming and Real Time Gaming. Make sure you know what provider your casino uses and take a minute to check that they have a good reputation as a safe online casino. These companies are responsible for designing the online casino games from the ground up. They will ensure the Random Number Generator, which will decide the results, is fair and gives the player a chance to win. If the software provider isn’t reputable, the online casino definitely won’t be. There are plenty of very highly respected casino game developers out there, so you won’t be short on choice.
Can you bank on them? Safe Online Casino Banking Methods
You’ll see that trusted online casino’s use 128-bit SSL Digital Encryption technology for all transactions. This is the same type of encryption that is used by the top banks and online retailers around the world. If the casino doesn’t use this standard of security, walk away because plenty do. The casino must also list a variety of safe transfer options available including credit cards, debit cards, e-Wallets, prepaid cards and bank transfers. And if you don’t want to run the risk of waiting months for your wide-smile winnings, make sure you always familiarise yourself with the small print for withdrawals and deposits. This includes getting to know the average payout time, as well as what the withdrawal limit is. Unfortunately, most online casinos will not allow you to withdraw as much as you want every day, but as long as you are aware of this, there shouldn’t be any issues. Some of the most recognisable banking methods include:
Some of the most recognisable banking methods include:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Neteller
- Skrill
- PayPal
- PaySafeCard
- EntroPay
Reputation Reputation Reputation.
Your mother was right – Reputation will follow you everywhere. And it’s the same for online casinos. Reading reviews is a bit of a bother, but believe me, it’s worthwhile. Get familiar with what people are saying about certain casinos… find out who’s posh and who’s tosh. This type of research could save you from trying out a dodgy online casino. Read the reviews right here on Casino UK, as we’ve done all the hard work for you, but don’t be afraid to get out onto the world wide web and find multiple sources. While reputation is imperative, don’t let that stop you from giving a new online casino a try, so log as it has been checked out by the likes of eCOGRA, the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission.
We all like a little bit of risk now and then, but with online casino security, I recommend you play it safe. You don’t want to become one of the horror stories that people hear. But, with a little patience and guidance, we’re sure we’ll be able to find you a reputable online casino in no time!
Safe Us Online Casino
Good Luck,
Connor Reeves
Have Your Own Question?
Have any gambling related questions about casinos or gaming strategy? Submit them to me on the Ask Connor page now and I’ll do my best to answer them!
Online casinos are like any other regular business and thus are not exempt from a few bad apples making a few bad choices. Some online casinos fail and go aground and some actively scam and lie and steal from their customers. This is normal in any business line and in any industry and should not be seen as exclusive to online gambling. Unfortunately online casinos suffer from two specific stigmas, people don't trust gambling companies and people don't fully trust internet based companies.
Innate distrust towards online casinos also depends on your cultural and geographical background. For example, the European online gambling industry is far more regulated and safe than the online gambling industry in other areas of the world like Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. The last factor influencing distrust of online gambling is personal views, and this is the hardest to change. People will always think online casinos are rigged or purposely programmed to make you lose when in fact its just a matter of luck whether a player wins or lose (of course the house edge influences the outcome too).
There are more legal and regulated online casinos than rogue casinos and most online casinos are licensed and regulated by some form of government organization. Many online casinos belong to corporations which are duly registered and certified and which even feature on stock markets.
Safe internet casinos
A safe online casino is basically an internet gambling shop which offers a guaranteed safe and secure gaming environment to their players. They process deposits and withdrawals through safe servers and encrypted data transfer and most are audited by some independent organization. These certifications and labels are important since they offer proof and peace of mind when choosing your new online casino. The random number generators (RNG) are tested constantly throughout the year. Another good way to get hands-on information on a specific online casino is to read player reviews or visit watchdog sites like CasinoMeister where the community can offer recommendations on where to play safely and where they also name and shame rogue casinos.
What to avoid?
If you're unlucky enough to have signed up with a rogue casino you will sooner realize your funds and personal information might have been compromised. Clues to consider include lack of certificates, meaning the casino has not been granted a license to operate, its not being monitored or regulated and there is no official government or independent organization making sure all aspects of the operation are safe and secure including player funds. Other clues involve long waiting periods for withdrawals, constant excuses for shady or improper behaviour and overall bad customer support and gaming experience.
Online Safe Casinos
Choosing a safe online casino
The best way to avoid being the target of a scam casino is using common sense and gut feeling. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. Maybe the site is lacking a professional website, there are no secure pages when accessing the cashier (https), no certifications or mentions of licensing or jurisdiction and very unprofessional customer support. But keep an eye out especially for documentation or certificates showing independent testing results, which government regulates the operations and what organization they got their license from. If any or all of these are missing, you should be hearing alarms ringing in your head.
Casino jurisdictions
Free Safe Online Casino Games
These are the governments, areas and regions which offer the possibility for land-based and online casinos to apply for a license and which will monitor and regulate the business operations and financial transactions of these companies in exchange for a licensing fee and as long as these operators operate within the established laws and regulations put in place by the licensing body.
Casino licensing
Online Casino Ireland
A safe, secure and regulated online casino will hold a license from any of the many jurisdictions or licensing organizations in the market which guarantee that all operating and financial operations of the company are being constantly monitored and regulated. These operators must abide by a certain number of rules like paying taxes and hosting their servers within the jurisdictional area where the license was issued.
Casino certification
Certification is of the utmost importance since its the only way for an online casino to show that it has undergone rigorous testing of its software, servers and random number generators. There are many third-party and independent organizations out there which offer a barrage of tests and certificates which add value and confidence to the online casino.