The number one priority for anyone looking to play online fruit machines, classic favourites like blackjack and roulette, or any other digital content typically found on today’s casino sites should be how safe the website you are considering joining is.Â
I’ve learned that a little bit of research and a few basic background checks go a long way and can save a great deal of disappointment, and I strongly urge anyone who wants to gamble real money online to heed these warnings.
With that said, here is everything you need to know about how to quickly check an iGaming site’s reputation to ensure it’s all above board.
These tell-tale signs are relatively easy to find, whether you are a newcomer who hasn’t ever played on sites like this before or a ‘seasoned pro’ like me who has played on countless sites.
Are all sites safe?
Back in the day, when online gambling sites were still quite new, the global industry was a bit like the Wild West. The operational practices and regulatory frameworks weren’t anywhere near the same high standards or as mature as they are today, and it was less easy to spot a rogue site.
I have been playing on sites like this for nearly 15 years, so I’ve learned what makes a good site and what to look out for.
Fortunately, the landscape is much better today, and most sites are 100% safe and secure. However, there are still a few bad eggs out there, and you just have to hope you never sign up to one.
The most important thing I’ve learned that a website operator can obtain today to prove it is reputable and running a legitimate day-to-day operation is its license.
A handful of top-tier licensing authorities/gaming commissions are well-known for their high standards, strict vetting processes, thorough background checks, and in-depth investigations that they conduct over their applicants before issuing them with licenses.
Each jurisdiction where online gambling on sites like this is legally permitted will always be overseen by that country’s main authority, and you should stick to playing on sites like this.
For example, I’m based in the UK, where the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) oversees/issues licenses/regulates all land-based and online activities like this, so I will only ever play at UK-licensed sites.
If, for example, you’re based in Michigan, stick to sites licensed by the MGCB. The AGCO licenses the safest sites in Ontario. In Pennsylvania, it’s the PGCB. You also have similar top-tier, globally renowned licensing authorities in Alderney, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and Malta, to name a few.
How do I know the site I am about to join is reputable?
When deciding which site to join, I always like to find out where it’s licensed, who owns that site, and whether that operator can be trusted/has an unblemished track record.
Expert review sites will often have great resources that will help you assess a website’s validity. For instance, if you look at this casino meister blog post, you’ll be able to read what they’ve written about Virgin Games. Their experts have gone into great detail about the brand’s affiliation with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin, but, also, aren’t shy about highlighting the platform’s faults. It’s these kinds of details which help iGaming fans make their final decisions on whether or not to sign up to an online gaming site.
I was horrified to learn that a handful of the world’s most dangerous sites have even lied about where they are licensed, going as far as to plaster the logo of a licensing authority on their website of where they claim to be licensed to make them look above board.
Therefore, I always like to go straight to the official licensing authority website where an operator claims to have obtained its license and then check through that authority’s list of licensees to see if they are, in fact, licensed there.
It only takes a minute or so to check, and it gives me added peace of mind to know it’s actually licensed there.
What else should you be looking out for?
Other things I check for when determining how reputable a site is are the following:
- Secure payments – the safest sites will only accept secure online payment processing providers and will cater to a range of people by accepting well-known credit/debit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and maybe even cryptocurrencies
- Payout speed – reputable sites today will process near-instant deposits and try to process your withdrawals within a few hours
- Security – always check the web URL starts with https:// (the ‘s’ stands for safe) and that it has the necessary SSL (128-bit or higher) cryptographic encryption certificates and uses other highly advanced cybersecurity measures to protect you, your sensitive data, and your bankroll
- Software – only play on sites with software provided by market-leading companies
- Fair policies, Ts and Cs – the safest sites will comply with AML and data privacy/protection laws and will have clear & concise, fair & realistic Ts and Cs
- Promotional offers – they will offer frequent, generous promos/bonuses with low to medium wagering requirements
- Support/customer service – the friendly, easy-to-reach, and professionally trained support agents will only ever be a click, tap, email, or phone call away and will always demonstrate excellent customer service standard
- Responsible gambling – the most reputable operators will be committed to protecting people like me by providing a range of safer/responsible gambling tools, which ensure I always remain within my budget and include things like deposit limits, win/loss limits, session time reminders, and spending caps
Most of this information is really easy to find, and the easiest way I’ve found to determine if a site I am considering joining is safe is to go straight to the expert reviews.
It’s much harder for a rogue operator to run a dodgy website these days, but they do still try, and they are usually easy to spot, which is why you should always stop and think before signing up anywhere. In other words, trust the experts on reputable sites, and you can’t go wrong.
