The online realm has opened up a new avenue for the casino industry. Right now, gamblers can place their bet using their devices, private, and comfy at home. There are also bonuses and other promotions that can boost the players’ bankroll. Furthermore, gaming websites offer more casino games compared to brick-and-mortar casinos.
While online casino sites lay down several benefits, it is critical for players to not let their guard down while playing online. For years, the online gambling industry has been the target of hackers and other cybercriminals. In fact, just the opening of 2021, a group of hackers known as Advanced Persistent Threat 27 or APT27 gained access to specific servers and demanded a large sum of bitcoin as a ransom to five unnamed gambling companies. Not to mention, there are still a number of unscrupulous operators that offer rigged games and fake promotions.
Here’s the good there are several ways to avoid this type of operator and stay safe while gambling online. You don’t to be tech-savvy to protect yourself online. Below are some of the simplest yet effective ways to be safe in an online casino.
Choose casino sites with a license
There are several government watchdogs and other organizations that are doing their best to create safe and secured online gambling platforms for the players. These institutions are validating every site to guarantee that there is nothing fishy going on behind operators’ services. When the companies pass these validations, the government will allow them to operate. The gambling company also will receive a license.
If you are looking for a gambling site to play at, choose the one with the license. If the site is regulated, you will see the seal of its regulator at the footer of the website. Try clicking this logo. If it brings you to the regulator’s site, this means that they have a legitimate license.
You should also take note that those operators that are based in countries with strict regulation against online gambling, like many Thaicasino, are acquiring a license to international regulators to operate. These online casinos are acquiring a license to operate to give their members peace of mind that their services are safe and secured.
Understand the Terms and conditions page
Never skip reading the terms and conditions page of the casino. In fact, it is recommended to read and understand everything on the terms and conditions page before you create a casino account.
The terms of use agreement page of the casino contain all the rules and regulations that players should follow in using their platform. Once you violated these rules, you will surely have a problem in withdrawing your winning, or worse lose your account.
When you read the terms and condition page, the casino rules that may forfeit your winnings and other potential drawbacks. You can also find information about hidden fees on the terms and conditions page.
Look for the Responsible Gambling Page
By now, you should know that all gambling games can be addictive. The regulators and operators themselves understand this very well. This is the reason why they have a responsible gambling page.
If your gambling habit started to negatively affect your finances, mental health, or your life, you should visit the responsible gambling page. Players can find information on this page on how to minimize or recover from different risks in gambling. Here, you can activate the self-exclusion feature where you will be temporarily or permanently ban from accessing the casino site.
You can also find a self-assessment tool on this page that will help you recognize if you have an unhealthy gambling habit.
The operator’s customer representative will guide and support you through the process. They will also recommend you to a third-party organization that can help you cope with the situation.
Look for the lock icon
All quality casinos are using SSL or Secure Sockets Layer to protect their members’ data. This is an encryption technology that establishes a secure connection between operators and the visitors of the site. The technology guarantee that no other party can access or receive the information you give to the website.
It is easy to say that the website has an SSL certificate. Usually, the browsers are giving visual cues. The most well-known indication is the lock icon before the URL. If the website has the lock icon, this means that the website is using SSL. You can also find a green URL box for those websites that has an SSL certificate.