Have you played at an online casino lately? If so, you are not alone, that is for sure! Gambling participation globally is going up year on year, and in the UK, one of the most sophisticated markets, more that 25% of the adult population have placed a bet online in the 12 months to June 2024. That figure is testament to the sheer popularity of the past (as well as the lure of hard cash!).
With such high participation levels the gambling industry is one of the most profitable businesses on earth. But it is also a very attractive proposition for fraudsters. With sophisticated tech hacks it is easy to scam gamblers out of their cash with fake websites and games that are rigged. That is why in our latest guide to this popular pastime we provide you with some important tips on how to be sure the casino you are playing at is 100% legit!
Don’t bet online again until you’ve read this article!
Contents
1. Does The Casino Have a License?
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The first and most important thing to remember is that you must NEVER play at a casino that is unlicensed. More and more countries are now regulating the online gambling industry and only allow businesses who have been granted a license to take bets in their country. In the UK it is the Gambling Commission who are responsible for dishing out licenses, in the US the process is managed on a state-by-state basis. Other jurisdictions where gambling operators can obtain a license include Malta and Gibraltar.
The key takeaway here is that in order to be issued with one of these licenses the operator must go through a thorough audit of their games, cashier, platform and business set-up to ensure that they are totally legit. This includes making sure the outcome of every game is completely random, personal data is held securely, and transactions are all carried out over a secure socket connection. In the UK businesses are also required to ringfence customer account balances to ensure that the money can be returned to the players in the event that the business goes bust.
So, you can see how important a license is as a signal that your casino is legit. But how do you know if the operator is licensed? That is easy. Just check the footer of the website where the licensing information should be published clearly, including licensor, license number and business address.
If this information is not visible, don’t sign up, deposit or play because the site could be unsafe.
2. Does the casino have customer support?
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All licensed casinos are required to offer a customer support service to help players who have an issue with their account or the games. In most cases you can contact the team through email, phone or a live chat widget on the website. Some will also have a full list of FAQs to consult for a quick answer to your questions.
So, before you sign up, make sure there is information showing how to contact the support team. And if you want to be sure, try contacting them to see how long it takes and how satisfactory their responses to your questions are. The support team will be your first port of call if you have a complaint to raise as well, so you need to be certain the staff are professional and helpful.
3. Does The Casino Display Payout Information?
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It is not always a condition of a license that a gambling operator should display the payout rates of their games, but if they do, it is another sign that they can be trusted. Some casinos or game suppliers will pay to have their products audited by 3rd party organisations whose role is to test games for randomness and to provide consumers with data that verifies the house edge or Return to Player (RTP).
Typically, the RTP of casino games is between 95% (slots) and 99% (table games like Blackjack). If an operator chooses to display the RTP of the games over the last year of month then the information will usually be linked from a button in the footer of the site. Popular and trusted game auditors to look out for include eCorga and iTech Labs.
4. Cashier and Payment Services
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Another useful indicator that a casino site is legit is the cashier and the payment options available for deposits and withdrawals.
Gambling operators are prepared to go as far as they can to make every feasible payment service accessible. In most jurisdictions that means the standard Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, as well as eWallets like Paypal. Some services are also exclusive to particular regions – for example, in Canada eCheck casinos like the ones shown here are very popular, whilst in Scandinavia the new Pay and Play sites are growing fast. So check to see that your favourite service is covered before you register.
A good range of payment options is always a sign that the casino is legit but what is also important is that the cashier through which you make your deposit clearly runs on a secure ‘https’ connection which you can see in your browser address bar. If the connection is not secure then your personal details, and your bank account, are at risk. So never play at a site that isn’t running across an https connection.
5. Read the General Site and Bonus Terms
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These days of course most of us just accept whatever terms and conditions we are presented with before we even read them. But sometimes, it pays to take the time to have a browse through, and that is certainly the case with online casinos.
The general terms of a site will tell you things like how much you can withdraw in one day – an important point if you score a big jackpot win. An unlicensed casino may try to withhold big wins for a long period, so check to see that big wins are honoured in a timely fashion. You may also find information about how your personal details are saved and what to do if you have a complaint to raise about the site.
As well as the general terms it’s also worth checking any bonus terms relating to free money offers you receive on sign up. Legit casinos will provide clear and transparent terms that show how much you can claim and what restrictions, if any, are put on your winnings. Sometimes you will have to wager them through a few times before you can withdraw. Unlicensed sites may make it impossible to withdraw your winnings at all, so always check to see how fair your bonus offer actually is!
6. Does the Site LOOK legit and Have a Good Reputation?
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Finally, take a step back and ask yourself, does this site look trustworthy? Real, licensed operators who are investing in their brand for the future will have a sophisticated, easy-to-use and clean website with clear instructions on how to sign up, deposit and play. The site will also work well on mobile as well as desktop, and may even be supported by a downloadable app.
In short, if it doesn’t look legit then the chances are, it’s not!
And don’t forget, you can also check gambling forums and review sites that will publish articles about the latest casinos and sportsbooks. You can often find information on these that will tell you if a site you are interested in is legit or not. Our advice is – always be cautious and take your time before signing up and parting with your money.
Good luck!
