Whether you're looking to play casino games online or you're just surfing the net, security should always be a priority. If you want to play online for real money then it becomes even more important to know how to identify which sites you can trusts and which ones you should stay away from. This is why, we've put together a list of key attributes you should look for when choosing where to play so you can be sure it's a safe online casino. Let's have look...
Site's Reputation
A site's popularity is typically a good place to start and it's usually a good indicator of how trust-worthy the casino really is. An online casino that has been around for a long time and it is popular among players and people in the industry would hardly represent a threat; if they were a dangerous or dishonest casino, chances are someone had already blown the whistle and they would be out of business by now.
The obvious question is, how can I tell how popular a site is? A safe online casino is most likely recognized by other online companies such as Experian Hitwise (a leading global information company). Internet information companies often award other companies with titles such as 'the most reputable online casino', 'best gaming company of the year' and the like. Another factor to consider is the holding company that ultimately owns the casino site. This information is typically very easy to find and most likely will be found under the "About Us" section. A casino owned by a company listed in the Stock Exchange Market, for example the London Stock Exchange Market, will surely be a safe online casino.
As we mentioned before, a dangerous casino would not be in business for too long, so looking at how long an online casino has been operating can be a good indicator of how safe it is. This does not mean that every new casino site is a fraud company but if a casino has been around for long enough, for example since 1996, then most likely is a safe online casino.
Veterans of the gambling industry are among the safest and most reputable casinos you can find online. Respected industry publications such as the Online Gambling magazine also issue a list of the best online casinos of the year. These online casinos have earned the respect of the industry and they are surely the best places to play online.
Gaming Licenses
The government body that grants an online casino with a gambling license is perhaps the most important aspect to look for. Before putting your money down, you should always pay close attention to which organization has awarded the casino with a gambling license to ensure that you are playing at a safe online casino. If you look around, you will notice that many casinos are licensed and regulated by the government of Gibraltar (a British colony) and this is usually a good sign that it is safe to make deposits and play at the casino. If the government of Gibraltar is behind the casino of your choice, you can be sure it's a safe online casino.
You may ask the question, why is a Gibraltar license a good sign? Any casino that request a gambling license from the government of Gibraltar must abide by some of the toughest casino regulations in online gaming and protect their players' information through tight security systems like VeriSign technology. If you're going to make deposits and leave your money in the hands of the casino, you really want to make sure it's a safe online casino where your money will be well protected.
Privacy Policies
Protection against fraud and theft is definitely paramount, but what about protecting your information? Privacy policies are usually buried down between endless lines of boring Terms and Conditions text - yes, the kind that 99% of users never read. That's why it's important to be reassured that your personal information will be stored safely and will not, under any circumstances, be shared or even worse, sold to other companies. An honest casino should be clear and upfront about their privacy policies. It's not necessary to read through endless lines of boring legal text to understand how robust their privacy policy is. A safe online casino usually highlights this clearly in their Terms and Conditions and provides information on how cookies are used to identify you and store information about you.
You shouldn't be afraid of having a great time playing online but you should always be smart about who you trust. If you follow these three easy guidelines and do a bit of homework before taking out your credit card and giving your details to an online casino, you shouldn't have to worry about being ripped off. Enjoy all the fun that the online casinos have to offer but remember to always play it safe!
Site's Reputation
A site's popularity is typically a good place to start and it's usually a good indicator of how trust-worthy the casino really is. An online casino that has been around for a long time and it is popular among players and people in the industry would hardly represent a threat; if they were a dangerous or dishonest casino, chances are someone had already blown the whistle and they would be out of business by now.
The obvious question is, how can I tell how popular a site is? A safe online casino is most likely recognized by other online companies such as Experian Hitwise (a leading global information company). Internet information companies often award other companies with titles such as 'the most reputable online casino', 'best gaming company of the year' and the like. Another factor to consider is the holding company that ultimately owns the casino site. This information is typically very easy to find and most likely will be found under the "About Us" section. A casino owned by a company listed in the Stock Exchange Market, for example the London Stock Exchange Market, will surely be a safe online casino.
As we mentioned before, a dangerous casino would not be in business for too long, so looking at how long an online casino has been operating can be a good indicator of how safe it is. This does not mean that every new casino site is a fraud company but if a casino has been around for long enough, for example since 1996, then most likely is a safe online casino.
Veterans of the gambling industry are among the safest and most reputable casinos you can find online. Respected industry publications such as the Online Gambling magazine also issue a list of the best online casinos of the year. These online casinos have earned the respect of the industry and they are surely the best places to play online.
Gaming Licenses
The government body that grants an online casino with a gambling license is perhaps the most important aspect to look for. Before putting your money down, you should always pay close attention to which organization has awarded the casino with a gambling license to ensure that you are playing at a safe online casino. If you look around, you will notice that many casinos are licensed and regulated by the government of Gibraltar (a British colony) and this is usually a good sign that it is safe to make deposits and play at the casino. If the government of Gibraltar is behind the casino of your choice, you can be sure it's a safe online casino.
You may ask the question, why is a Gibraltar license a good sign? Any casino that request a gambling license from the government of Gibraltar must abide by some of the toughest casino regulations in online gaming and protect their players' information through tight security systems like VeriSign technology. If you're going to make deposits and leave your money in the hands of the casino, you really want to make sure it's a safe online casino where your money will be well protected.
Privacy Policies
Protection against fraud and theft is definitely paramount, but what about protecting your information? Privacy policies are usually buried down between endless lines of boring Terms and Conditions text - yes, the kind that 99% of users never read. That's why it's important to be reassured that your personal information will be stored safely and will not, under any circumstances, be shared or even worse, sold to other companies. An honest casino should be clear and upfront about their privacy policies. It's not necessary to read through endless lines of boring legal text to understand how robust their privacy policy is. A safe online casino usually highlights this clearly in their Terms and Conditions and provides information on how cookies are used to identify you and store information about you.
You shouldn't be afraid of having a great time playing online but you should always be smart about who you trust. If you follow these three easy guidelines and do a bit of homework before taking out your credit card and giving your details to an online casino, you shouldn't have to worry about being ripped off. Enjoy all the fun that the online casinos have to offer but remember to always play it safe!
