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There are a number of ways you can tell if an online casino is legitimate. In this review, we’re going to cover what to look for in a safe gambling site, including a number of signals you can keep your eyes out for. Every player should understand what makes a safe online casino, and that’s what this guide aims to do.
Licensing and Regulation
Every reputable and legit online casino/sportsbook platform is licensed by the appropriate regulatory bodies. Some of the more popular licenses are issued by:
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- Curacao Gaming Control Board (CGCB)
Checking if a casino is licensed is simple. You just scroll to the footer of the homepage of the casino, and see if the licensing body’s logo is there. That’s how to check for a casino license.
Third Party Audits
The logos of the likes of eCOGRA, and IBAS, can also be found at the footer of the homepage. These are third party auditers, and their presence on an online casino is just as important.
There are a number of factors they check for, including:
If the casino game uses a RNG (Random Number Generator) to generate its content
If the games meets provably fair standards
The RTP (Return to Player) rates meet the industry standard (96% and above)
These audits add an extra layer of security to your casino play, ensuring that every game you play is objectively fair.
Website Security
We would always recommend you check that the website itself is also secure to wager at. You can easily verify the encryption of the website by going up to the URL and clicking the lock button beside it.
There, you can view website certifications. Check for “https://” in the URL to verify website security.
Reputation and Reviews
The best way any player can learn the truth about an online casino is to check the player reviews. The people who will give the most honest reviews are players themselves, especially when they come across something that is unfair or dangerous.
Check review sites, such as Trustpilot, to get a better idea of what the consensus of the online casino is. You can also check public forums, and read some expert reviews on the online casino to gauge if there is anything off about the platform.
Responsible Gambling Tools
Every player should be protected from addiction, especially if they find themselves falling into addiction. All legitimate online casinos should have:
- Deposit and wagering limits in place, that can ba adjusted weekly and monthly
- Reality checks, or timeouts, if a player has been wagering for too long
- Self-exclusion measures, if a players gambling is getting out of hand, and they need to stop permanently
You can find all of these tools in the ‘Responsible Gambling’ section of every legitimate online casino.
Reliable Banking and Customer Service
Another surefire way on how to tell if an online casino is legit is by checking their payment options. Traditional methods like debit/credit card, eWallets like PayPal and Skrill and cryptocurrencies are all the norm, as long as they are secure. If a online casino only offers one obscure eWallet, something is up.
The customer service is also a telling sign of the legitimacy of a platform. Every good online casino offers a variety of contact methods, like a 24/7 live chat, email and phoneline a player can contact. If all these methods are responsive and helpful, this is a fair casino.
Clear and Fair Bonus Terms
The terms and conditions to a bonus offer are such a great indicator of what you can expect when signing up to a new online casino. Player-friendly wagering, time, and game choices make bonuses achievable. Unfair wagering requirements indicate a dishonest casino.
Transparent and Professional Website
Lastly, take a look at how the website itself is laid out. Is the platform easy to navigate? Is it an intuitive betting platform, and do high-end games run smoothly on it? How does it look aesthetically?
Every professional betting platform should be presented like a legitimate online casino or sportsbook. If it looks shoddy, chances are it is shoddy and unsafe to bet at.
FAQs
How can I know which casino to trust?
If you look for a certain number of trust signals in certain casinos, you will learn which platforms to trust. Look for licensing, transparency, safe payments and fair bonus terms.
How to verify if an online casino is legit?
The easiest way to verify an online casino is legit is to check it is licensed. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and look for the logo of a licensing authority body (UKGC, MGA, etc).
How to spot fake casinos?
Fake casinos generally lack a lot of safety measures. They are not licensed, their websites are not secure, they do not offer safe payments and their customer reviews indicate they are scams.
What’s the safest way to gamble?
The safest way to gamble is with a licensed online casino, with a secure payment method that is verified beforehands. If the online casino offers KYC (know your customer), this will verify a payment beforehand.
Do casinos choose who wins?
No, any legitimate casino does not choose who wins. They use a number of fair gambling tools in their games, such as RNGs (Random Number Generators) and provably fair technology to make the playing experience fair for the player.