Are Real Money Casinos Rigged? How to Spot a Safe Casino Before You Deposit
The online casino space is full of opportunities, and with it, scammers seeking to reap where they haven’t sown. If you’re hesitant towards online casinos because of your financial safety, you’re at the right place. In this post, we share 6 tips for identifying safe and legitimate online casinos before making deposits.
Check the site for a casino license
A legitimate online casino is an establishment with ties to legal bodies to ensure visibility and honesty throughout the business. Most online casinos get their licenses from gambling boards that issue international, regional, and national licenses for operation.
When you visit a new online casino, scroll down to the website footer and check for evidence of the casino license. They may include an icon that opens the full licensing document or ownership details, and registration numbers. You can cross-check these licenses on the regulator’s site and read their terms and conditions to understand why they’re beneficial for you.
Licensed casinos operate within specific regulations set by the licensing body. The regulating body also has the mandate to step in and protect players against illegal moves by casinos, including restricting licenses. Licensed casinos also prioritize data safety, financial security, and game fairness.
The main advantage of depositing with legitimate online casinos is that you have a reliable place to seek recourse if the online casinos don’t play fair. You can have the casino’s license revoked by sending complaints to the regulator to protect other players, and depending on your jurisdiction, you can sue the business owners.
Some of the common licensing bodies in online casinos include:
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- Curacao Gaming Control Board
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Explore player reviews
Always read other players’ experiences at an online casino before registering an account. Credible casinos often have multiple reviews over time and a mixture of both positive and negative reviews on different platforms.
The best online casinos respond to both positive and negative comments in a professional manner. Look for evidence of the casino’s support accepting mistakes and reaching for more communication. Check if the reviewers recommend the casino or warn you about scams.
Unsafe online casinos often limit account access after accepting deposits, refuse to respond to customer reviews, and withhold player winnings. If a casino is illegitimate, you’ll also notice warnings in the reviews that pop up in your online searches.
Check for secure payment methods
Legitimate online casinos make it easier for you to fund your account and withdraw winnings through common and trusted payment methods. These financial methods of money transfer always include rigorous identity verification, making it easier for both you and the casino to remain financially safe and compliant.
Illegitimate online casinos may insist on payment models that don’t support verification, making it harder for you to trace where your funds go. They’ll also have unclear payment terms and may remain unresponsive when you consult them before making a deposit.
Always check in with the customer support and read reviews while reviewing payment processes in an online casino, because no-verification casinos that use cryptocurrencies are also on the rise.
Take time to read the casino’s terms and conditions, especially the payment terms. Check if you can find answers to the following questions.
- How often does the casino pay out winnings?
- What is the minimum and maximum withdrawal per day, week, or month?
- What is the minimum and maximum withdrawal limit per payment method?
- Does your casino charge fees for a payment method?
Some of the payment methods you’ll find in online casinos are:
- Globally available cards like VISA, Mastercard, and Discover.
- E-wallets and third-party payment processors such as PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, Neteller, Payz, and Astropay.
- Wire transfers from bank to bank.
- Common cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether.
Check for standard casino security features
Before committing any of your data to an online website, you should always check if it meets the minimum safety requirements. If it’s an online casino, there are a few more common safety features you should expect.
SSL encryption: When you visit a safe online site, you’ll notice a small padlock before the https link. That icon is an indication of SSL encryption, which protects any communication you have with the site from anyone trying to siphon information for free. Usually, your browser will flash a warning if the casino isn’t safe for browsing.
Privacy policy: Online websites that collect data from users all have a privacy policy, often found on the website footer. A detailed policy is transparent about why and how the casino collects your data.
Most policies have sections about who the casino shares your data with. For example, Jackpot Capital explicitly states in their privacy policy that they do not share or sell your data with unaffiliated third parties. The policy also lists the people who access your data, including service providers, business partners, and legal bodies.
The online casino privacy policy should also explain your rights as far as your data goes. Usually, you can request access to your personal information, rectification of inaccurate data, restriction on data use, and revocation of consent to data.
Multifactor authentication: It’s no longer safe to only rely on a password to keep your casino account safe. Only recommend real cash with online casinos that prioritize your safety by limiting account access. Multifactor authentication is a great way to control online casino access. Deposit with online casinos that use a password and phone number, plus email verification.
Test the customer support
Before trusting an online business with your money, do your best to contact human agents and test the available support. A legitimate online casino will invest in the quality of its support, whether automated or not.
After testing the chatbot with several queries, we recommend sending an email. Look for answers that show the support team’s level of professionalism. The language and tone should be respectful and geared towards support rather than redirecting blame. Fake sites may share support channels, but may fail to respond to your emails promptly, respond unprofessionally, or refuse to comment altogether.
Take it a step further and schedule a phone call with the support team to weigh how tedious it is to access a human conversation before making a deposit. If no one ever picks up or bothers to call you as agreed upon, you should probably not entrust them with your deposits.
Check for responsible gambling support
Gaming is a fun way to wind down, spend time with friends, and also challenge the mind. However, when taken too far, gambling for real cash can become problematic. For this reason, reliable online casinos comply with measures to help players manage gambling.
On the responsible gambling page, you’ll find details on setting player controls such as deposit limits and breaks. The casino may allow you to set spending limits for daily or weekly games.
You can also request an online casino account restriction for a few days, weeks, or months. During the seclusion period, the casino won’t contact you or share promotional messages, making it easier for you to take healthy breaks.
Take your time and verify
Put your safety first and seek casinos that want the best for you. Take time to verify an online casino’s legitimacy before making deposits for the best online gambling experience.
