Safe Online Casinos:  Where to Find Them

Safe Online CasinosSafe online casinos are not a myth.  They really do exist.  In fact, generally speaking, online casinos are as safe as any other form of online entertainment.  It is absolutely possible to participate on online gambling sites without compromising your safety and security.  That being said, like any other online transaction, you should use common sense and apply tried and tested measures to ensure that nothing goes awry.  In some ways, gambling online is less risky (and less expensive) than playing at land-based casinos.  You don’t have to travel to find safe online casinos.  All you need is a secure internet connection.  Of course when it comes to spending your hard earned money, you will want to take every precaution possible so that nobody has an opportunity to take advantage of you.  Below, we listed some of the “gambling commandments,” which are basic rules you can follow to maximize your enjoyment at safe online casinos.

How to Identify Safe Online Casinos

A quick scan of a safe online casino website should reveal a telephone number you can call to speak with a customer service agent.  Don’t assume that the number works; call to verify that you can actually speak to a customer service representative.  It’s very important to establish a reliable line of communication so that in the event that there is a problem or dispute in the future you will have a means to resolve it.  Avoid any casino that doesn’t have a functional phone number.  Some casinos do offer email support but this is no substitute for phone contact.

  1. A quick scan of a safe online casino website should reveal a telephone number you can call to speak with a customer service agent.  Don’t assume that the number works; call to verify that you can actually speak to a customer service representative.  It’s very important to establish a reliable line of communication so that in the event that there is a problem or dispute in the future you will have a means to resolve it.  Avoid any casino that doesn’t have a functional phone number.  Some casinos do offer email support but this is no substitute for phone contact.
  2. Only play at licensed online casinos.  These are often identified by some sort of “seal” that is displayed on the website.  Safe online casinos will make these seals prominent as they serve as a visual cue to potential customers that they have received approval from a regulatory body.  This is important because if you find yourself in a dispute with the casino you will have the option to register a complaint with the licensing body.  Licensing bodies must act with complete transparency in order to maintain their reputation, so they are highly motivated to resolve any grievances.
  3. Membership to any online casino requires users to agree to a set of terms and conditions.  This is a binding agreement between the player and the casino.  Only play at safe online casinos that post these terms clearly on their website.  But even then, once you have located the terms and conditions, you should still read them thoroughly.  Pay particular attention to any “fine print” as this can affect your ability to withdraw any potential winnings from the casino.  If you don’t agree with the terms and conditions, simply move on and choose from the other safe online casinos.
  4. Conducting some online research can be extremely helpful when looking for safe online casinos.  Gambling sites and message boards will help steer you in the right direction.  There’s no better way to learn about the pros and cons of a gambling site than from previous members.  Things to look when conducting your research include negative player experiences, failure to pay out winnings, cheating scandals, and malware.  When an online gambling site has been labeled as being “rogue” by webmasters and gamblers it’s a good rule of thumb to keep your distance.

Following the gambling guidelines above and you can pretty much be assured that you’ll have a safe and enjoyable online gaming experience.