Legitimate online casinos exist. Likewise, there are illegal ones that exist for one purpose: to steal funds. Players who fall into their trap often complain of no payouts despite accumulating wins in their accounts. The one process that can save you from such an experience is to confirm that the casino is safe before registering.
Based on regulations and licensing requirements, online casinos must ensure a few things before operating. These include data encryption, firewalls, valid SSL certificates, secure payment options, etc.
Our recommended checks fall into the above areas. The best part about them is that you can complete the rundown within five minutes. On that note, here are the most essential checks you should make at any online casino before playing.
#1 Check the Casino’s License
This process is easy, and from my experience, it shouldn’t take more than a minute. It is essential because it establishes the online casino’s legitimacy to operate in your region. Even if the casino is not licensed for your country, having a valid license from its base of operations is still valid. In that case, your issue won’t be safety, but you should clear up with your country’s laws first.
To check the casino’s license, do the following:
- Open the online casino’s official website or mobile app.
- Open the “About Us” page or the “Terms and Conditions.” Casinos often place their license numbers at strategic locations where players tend to visit. Check out how this looks at this verified Stake casino Deutschland.
- Check the pages for the casino’s license information. That should include the licensing body and the license number.
- Use the above information to check with the licensing body if the license is still valid.
- Once established, move on to other steps on this page.
#2 Check the RNG’s Fairness
The next thing you want to do is ensure you aren’t on a manipulated platform. For that, you must refer to the casino’s random number generator or the fairness of the games.
Crypto casinos might provide you with provably fair games to verify fairness. However, most mainstream casinos do not have that feature.
As a workaround, you can look for a seal of approval or a certificate from an independent testing agency. These bodies run unbiased checks on a casino’s random number generator and the games to see if they produce fair results.
Prominent independent testing agencies include iTest Labs, eCOGRA, Gaming Laboratories International, BMM Test Labs, etc. Their logos on an online casino often indicate their approval. Now, you not only have a licensed platform but also one that has been certified to feature fair games.
#3 Check the SSL Certificate Status
Encryption prevents hackers from accessing vital data. For online casinos, this can include your login information, banking details, crucial passwords, etc.
Casinos often use 128-bit or 256-bit SSL encryption for their platforms. Some might state this information in their privacy policies, while others might just mention encryption without specifying which technology.
Another way to verify a site’s security is through the URL. You should see a padlock symbol on your browser before the casino website’s URL. Click that to view the site’s information.
Once opened, you should have confirmation that the site is secure. That means the casino is using a valid certificate from a trusted source.
#4 Check the Privacy Policy for Data Usage
This step is necessary to know how the casino stores and manages your data. Does it use secure servers? Does it have a firewall for the servers? How does the casino control access to user data?
The casino’s privacy policy should satisfactorily answer the above questions. Remember, when you register, you accept the site’s terms and conditions and its privacy policy. Therefore, the policy should conform to the laws on accessing and using user data.
#5 Check for Other Security Features
Now, it is time to check how many features the casino provides for self-protection. These often include 2-factor authentication, Google Authenticator, biometric protection, security questions, etc.
Note that some casinos make these features available to registered players. Hence, you might not readily access them when unregistered.
#6 Review the Payment Options
Featuring and encouraging a shady payment option should be a red flag. Instead of that, the casino should feature trusted and reputable banking methods. Whether it be card payments, e-wallets, vouchers, or cryptocurrencies, they should all be secure options.
#7 Review Player Feedback
As a last step, there is no better way to know how an online casino operates than to read first-person accounts. Find independent players and expert reviews. While at that, pay attention to payouts, data security, and customer support.
Conclusion
These processes might seem to take long, especially if you are new to online casino gaming. But you will get used to them as you become more experienced. Then, you can complete them quickly within five minutes.
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