The digital space has opened up a plethora of marketing and advertising opportunities for online organizations of all types. This includes online casinos, of which there are hundreds of different brands to choose from today – but not all of them operate legitimately and honestly. When it comes to choosing an online casino to play with, it’s absolutely essential that you seek out a reputable, reliable and trustworthy website at which to play.
Finding a reputable site is the best way to keep your hard-earned money and your personal details safe online, while also ensuring that you will always enjoy a fair chance of winning in line with the brand’s pledges and reported payout percentages. In this article, we will explore the best ways to determine whether or not an online casino is trustworthy to enable you to find the best sites at which to play.
#1: Seek Out Reviews
The most popular and longest-lived online casinos tend to garner plenty of reviews from former and current players. These reviews serve as invaluable tools to help you assess the legitimacy of a casino brand. If you have come across a specific brand that you are interested in signing up with, start off by searching that brand online and locating recent reviews of the online casino in question.
If you can find plenty of reviews from satisfied players who have enjoyed a transparent and fair gaming experience, this is a great indication that the casino is trustworthy. Of course, some scammers will attempt to set up fake casino review sites to promote their platforms, which is why we recommend starting off with trusted review platforms that offer independently conducted reviews written by industry experts.
#2: Be Cautious of “Too Good to Be True” Offers
Some popular casino brands offer very significant sign-up bonuses and special promotions to attract new players and keep them coming back. These bonuses are some of the best features that online casinos offer – but certain unscrupulous brands may use them to attract unsuspecting players with no intention of paying out. If an online casino is offering you a bonus package that seems excessively generous, it’s possible that it could indeed be too good to be true.
Take caution, do some research to find out if previous players have indeed received their promised bonuses, and remember to check out the brand’s play-through terms as well. If you are required to wager 50x the value of the bonus to withdraw your winnings, for instance, it might be worth your while to look for a smaller welcome bonus with easier play-through terms instead.
#3: Check Out Its Design
This might seem excessively simple, but an online casino’s visual design and layout may actually offer clues about its legitimacy. If the online casino looks sleek and professional, uses hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS), and does not have any noticeable spelling errors or poorly integrated design elements on its pages, these are all good indications that the site is trustworthy.
Conversely, if the casino’s pages look outdated, are slow to load, or simply don’t seem like what you would expect, you may have a potentially suspicious site on your hands.
#4: Assess the Online Casino’s Software
All modern online casinos run on varying kinds of software, and the most trusted casinos are usually those that are powered by legitimate and well-known software developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and IGT. Luckily, reputable online sites like Grand Rush casino are very transparent about the third-party developers they have teamed up with to power their websites.
Simply check out the software section of your chosen online casino to determine which developers are supporting it – this will also give you a strong indication of the types and quality of online casino games you can expect to have access to when you sign up.
#5: Check for a Valid License
All trustworthy online casinos are fully licensed and certified by renowned governing bodies, including big names like the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gaming Commission. Always ensure that your casino is licensed by a reputable governing authority before signing up to play.
Licensed casinos are required by law to operate legally, to remain honest about their payout percentages, and to protect their players’ personal details according to the strictest standards.
#6: Peruse the Banking Options on Offer
Trustworthy online casinos offer a wide variety of well-known banking options for their players. Depending on your region, reputable casino brands will offer methods such as PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, EcoPayz, Bitcoin, Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, and other regional eWallet and instant transfer options.
Large payment platforms like PayPal always verify the legitimacy of the digital sites they partner with, so if your chosen casino offers trusted methods like this one, it is likely a legitimate brand. Check also that your site of choice offers fully encrypted online payments, which ensures that your bank details are always protected from the risk of being intercepted by suspicious third parties.
#7: Always Avoid Blacklisted Casinos
If you followed the first step outlined in this article and explored some online casino reviews online, you may have noticed that certain casinos have been ‘blacklisted’ by review sites.
Blacklisted casinos are those which have been found to be dishonest or unfair in their dealings with players; they may not all be scam websites, but it is better to avoid them to protect yourself and your bank account alike. If you come across any brands which have been blacklisted by trusted casino review sites, always steer clear and search for a more reputable brand instead.
The Takeaway
There are many trustworthy online casinos online that offer a fair, transparent and enjoyable gaming experience for all their players. Use the tips and guidelines mentioned in this article to seek out only the most legitimate and highly regulated casinos at which to play, especially if you wish to play casino games for real money!
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