The online casino industry is booming. With the entire pie now being worth over $50 billion a year in revenue worldwide, there are now more online casinos than ever to choose from as providers flock to get a slice. Unfortunately, this means that some online casinos really are better than others, as there are innumerable numbers of untrustworthy, faulty and downright dubious casinos out there which will leave the unsuspecting player feeling cheated of their time and money.
The online casino industry is pretty lightly regulated in most countries, especially when compared to their land-based counterparts, and this unfortunately means that there are as many bad operators out there as there are good ones. Not to worry, though, as long as you keep a few simple tips in mind, you’ll have no trouble sticking with a reputable online casino every time you play. Here’s your guide to choosing a trustworthy online casino.
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Consult the Players
Sometimes the best sources to trust are the users. That’s why sites like Tripadvisor and Airbnb have made it so big in 2018, because we want the opinion of the people who use the services rather than official reviewers or casino staff. When looking for a trustworthy real money casino to play at, the most important thing you can do beforehand is to check the reviews. Reviews might be available on the online casino’s site, but you’ll get a much fairer picture by checking Google and seeing what the internet has to say about the casino you’re considering. There is no shortage of reviews sites where players are free to give their feedback about whether you should trust a site or not, as well as plenty of dedicated online gaming forums, chat rooms and blogging platforms. Always get a detailed consensus by reading as many reviews as possible before you start playing.
Make Sure They’re Licensed
This one is key and is also the only way you have any chance of your funds being protected in the event of a scam or possible error on behalf of the casino. You’ll be able to check if an online casino has a license by consulting the regulatory body of whichever country to casino’s domain is registered in. It takes five seconds to do and is the most important single thing you should be checking before you make that first bet or spin that first slot. If an online casino is not licensed or you cannot find any information to suggest that it is, then simply do not use that casino under any circumstances. A licensed, reputable casino will also say that it is licensed, probably on the home page, and will provide you with a link to prove so.
How is Their Customer Service?
This is always a telling feature for any company, not just online casinos. If you want to get an idea of how you will be treated as a player, give them a call or send off an email with a few random queries, and see what kind of response you’ll get. If customer service is poor, dismissive, uninformative or rude, then it’s not very likely that you’ll be looked after well by the casino. It also raises red flags in that they may be reluctant to give out the payouts their players are entitled to. A bad attitude can tell you a lot about any organization, and this is never truer than with online casinos. If reviews are indicating that a casino has a poor reputation regarding customer service, it’s best to stay well clear.
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Secure Payment
Since you’re playing with real money to win real money, you want that money to be as safe as humanly possible. No matter how well-intentioned and honest an online casino might be, it doesn’t mean much if your payouts are at the mercy of cybercriminals and hackers. Make sure the platforms used for processing payments and financial information are well-known and trusted big brands. Think providers such as PayPal, Worldpay and MasterCard. If you haven’t heard of a casino’s chosen payment platform, do your research and make sure it’s an established and widely trusted company.
Bonuses
Plenty of online casinos offer welcome bonuses, some more generous than others. Make sure that the one you’re getting is obviously a good deal, but also that it’s realistic and makes sense. All online bonuses tend to come with some conditions, such as placing a deposit or a wager fee before receiving your free spins or bets, so make sure the conditions you’re agreeing to are standard by reading that small print. The last thing you want to do is end up signing your mortgage away for a few free spins on the slots.
The majority of online casino gaming out there is safe, fun and legal, but it’s always good practice to follow these steps to ensure your experience is as enjoyable as it can possibly be.
