There are a ton of online casinos on the internet where you can pass your time and make some money while you are at it. However, there are also some illegal ones that can cheat you out of your winnings and disappear the next moment. Here are some indicators to help you weed out the cheats from the legal online casinos on the internet.
1. Check Safety & License Validity.
Make sure that you use a website that ensures your safety when playing online. It should have the latest security measures and prioritize the safety of your personal data. The most common way is to check for a padlock in the address bar indicating the online casino is SSL encryption-protected. Apart from this, make sure it is also PCI-compliant. This will ensure safe banking options along with financial data safety.
Every online casino needs a genuine gambling license from a reputed regulator to run its services. Check for an authorized regulatory seal at the footer/bottom of the website. When clicked, it will redirect you to the regulator's official website listing the online casino's license details. If you are able to do this successfully, then rest assured your online casino is legal. Here are some of the world-renowned regulators:
- The UK Gambling Commission
- The California Gambling Control Commission
- The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- The Swedish Gambling Authority
- The Malta Gaming Authority
Another added measure that legal online casinos employ is GDPR compliance. This holds your online casino responsible for all your data stored with them. In case there is an issue of data mismanagement, they need to produce evidence of your consent for any data they have on you. While a username and password are standard login requirements, online casinos should have the added protection of Two-Factor Authentication is vital.
2. Check If Bonuses Are Valid.
A good way to know if an online casino is safe and legit is by trying out their bonus offers. Almost every online casino offers a welcome bonus to entice you to sign up with them. The legal online casinos let you claim your winnings with ease provided you fulfil their wagering requirements. However, the illegal ones will frustrate you and may even come up with new or hidden conditions.
3. Check Customer Services.
A good way to check if an online casino is legal or not is to get in touch with them. First, confirm if their contact details are valid by contacting them. Then gauge their response time and whether their feedback is knowledgeable. Should you not hear back from them or get vague feedback, then you ought to steer clear of that website or be careful when dealing with them.
4. Check their Gaming Service Provider.
Online casinos these days have practically every game and variant that you can think of. However, it is important that you join an online casino that is tied up with a reputed and reliable software provider. This will ensure there is no rigged gaming and a result of only randomly generated numbers and combinations. Here are some of the most famous online casino gaming software providers:
- Microgaming
- Evolution Gaming
- Playtech
- Big Time Gaming
- NetEnt
5. Test Banking Methods
Legal online casinos offer hassle-free and fast banking methods. The banking options available are also player-friendly offering options such as bank transfer, debit and credit card, e-wallet, prepaid cards, and digital currencies too. Test their banking options with a smaller amount of money before going ahead with large deposits. Check an online casino’s terms and conditions for payment processing times, as some casinos can take weeks to process payments.
6. Look for Responsible Gaming Advice
A safe online casino will always offer its players assistance with gambling addiction. They offer valuable information on it and this is usually in the form of a link or button at the bottom of the website. Many also offer assistance with managing your account to ensure you do not blow through your deposits. However, illegal online casinos are happy to hold back such information from you.