As more people look to online sources of entertainment, the demand for these services continues to grow exponentially. In 2019 alone, online gaming revenue exceeded £200 billion – making it more of a valuable industry overall than virtually any other corporation or entity. Because of this rapid growth, a wide variety of online gaming proprietors, developers and solutions have emerged to fill this demand.
While a large number of people admit to playing online games via console and PC, an increasing share of gamers are simultaneously embracing the value of online gambling. Rather than needing to travel afar to enjoy the benefits of gambling or reserve accommodations at an exorbitant cost, players are choosing to have fun from the privacy of their own homes. This is completely revolutionising the nature of gambling on a global scale.
Yet many are left wondering whether or not online gambling is a safe activity. With a plethora of protections utilised in conventional gambling parlours and businesses, many have come to expect similar safeguards when playing online. As such, the question remains: what can be done to ensure such safety in a digital casino?
To explore this concept further, let’s examine the nature of online gambling and what players can do to protect themselves.
How Secure Are Your Credentials?
It might surprise you to learn that the biggest initial risk in online gambling – or any form of online interaction, for that matter – comes from individual user behaviour. A majority of internet users have either utilised common passwords such as “123456” or have incorporated easily discovered details (such as birthdates and phone numbers ) into their most vital online credentials (click here for more information on these startling statistics ).
With sloppy behaviours such as these, who needs virtual enemies? Likewise, users often incorporate basic details into their usernames for logins to various email services, banks and other crucial websites. The end result: hackers and would-be thieves who know even the most basic information about you can easily compromise one or more of your accounts – and this includes online gambling sites.
Think about the information that must be provided to online gambling platforms. You have to supply real information, credit card or bank account information, and other potentially sensitive forms of information for tax purposes. Shouldn’t this be secured with the utmost care?
Ultimately, experts recommend using different combinations of usernames and/or passwords for each site you use that is sensitive in nature. A randomised series of alphanumeric characters (lower and upper case ) can mitigate many of these risks. Some online casinos also offer two-factor authentication that ensures multiple devices must be used to login securely. When these options are available, they absolutely should be used to guarantee maximum security.
How Much Have You Researched Online Gambling Sites?
With dozens of jurisdictions on a global scale offering access to thousands of online casino and gambling services, it can be overwhelming for a first-time player to know where to turn. Ultimately, a little bit of research goes a long way toward ensuring that your online gambling experience is as secure as possible. It shouldn’t be too surprising that some gambling platforms are not as secure, legitimate or trustworthy as others.
To ensure your gambling experience is as legitimate as possible, there are several criteria you should first analyse. One of the biggest indicators of a casino’s likely legitimacy is its age: how long has the casino been in operation, can you verify its existence via its current domain through public records, and what sort of information can be easily found regarding its past operations?
Next, analysing user reviews for individual casinos is crucial. It isn’t difficult to find independent, authoritative reviews for virtually every online casino in existence (if you cannot find this information, then beware: the likelihood of this casino being in existence for very long is minimal ).
Other factors that should be assessed include how the specific games offered by the casino are rated (i.e., are these games/software considered to be fair in payouts? ), how the casino handles privacy protections and personal information, and whether the casino in question has a licence that can be independently verified.
Professional casino review websites supplying an independent analysis of casinos for UK gamblers, US players and others can be found quite easily. Services such as Online Casinos offer this analysis to protect players from untoward gambling services. Additionally, they provide online gambling tips, guides and insight into the latest online casino games being deployed: go here if you’re looking for more information.
What Methods of Deposit and Withdrawal Exist?
A key indicator of an online casino’s legitimacy – and whether or not playing with them is a safe bet – is how transparent and inclusive their deposit and payout options are for players.
Some casinos have a notable reputation of paying winners very slowly. Others have histories of missed payments and bounced cheques. Some casinos significantly restrict the number of options available to players in terms of deposit and withdrawal options.
None of these examples are good indicators of a casino’s overall online security. The last thing a player wants is to deposit a large sum, win big, and then ultimately be scammed when the casino suddenly closes its doors. As such, analyse these policies and reputations carefully.
Major Red Flags to Look for
Last but not least, consider carefully a few other metrics that may or may not indicate an online casino’s viability and virtual safety. There are several blatant online casino red flags.
Does a casino seemingly promise everything a gambler could want? If they offer the best games, payouts, bonuses and everything else under the sun, then be sceptical.
Casinos that have a reputation for rapidly changing terms of services or guarantees are another type to watch out for carefully: this may be indicative of a cash shortage forcing them to embrace new policies.
Likewise, some disreputable casinos force bonuses onto players who would otherwise prefer to cash out, requiring them to meet select requirements beforehand. This is a major red flag.
If customers who have had problems with an online casino suddenly find themselves being incapable of logging in or accessing their balances, run away; this is almost certainly a fly-by-night casino seeking to scam users and silence critics.
Ultimately, online gambling can be a perfectly healthy, safe and fun form of online gaming. However, not all online casinos are equal in this regard. To ensure your safety, be sure to use strong credentials, research casinos thoroughly, analyse their financial structures and watch out for other red flags. If you follow these tips, you can have a safe and rewarding online casino experience.
