There are possibly thousands of online casinos available, all of them offering hundreds of games for you to play. Whether they’re table games like poker or blackjack, or whether they’re old favourites like slots at FreeBetCasino, the choice is staggering. You will never struggle to find options.
However, how do you know that they’re all legitimate? Unfortunately, we live in an age of cybercrime and online scams. Rogue sites are waiting for you to sign up on their sites, deposit your money, and then block it when you try to withdraw your winnings.
Working out which sites are legitimate
Although the vast majority of sites are safe, there is always a handful you should be wary about. If you’re new to online gambling, you need to know the tell-tale signs to avoid getting scammed.
Always check for a valid licence
Here in the UK, all genuine online casinos are licenced by the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission). It’s fundamental to check this information before depositing your money in an e-wallet and handing over your personal data.
Even if the site states it is licenced by the UKGC, click on the hyperlinked licence number, taking you to the official UKGC website.
If there’s no licence, your online financial safety can’t be assured. Even if the site has good intentions to operate above board, the UKGC will protect your money should it run into financial difficulty, separating your funds from the site’s running costs.
See what other people are saying
Despite the unbelievable technological advances we see every day in the field of science, we still live in an age where word of mouth spreads faster than fraud.
Platforms like Twitter, as well as forums online, allow people to voice their experiences and concerns about a particular site, and if that site is fraudulent, it won’t operate for long if the truth about them is all over the internet’s message boards.
Some review websites like www.safecasinos.org.uk only publish valid online casinos, and other review sites include a designated section for blacklisted casinos. If you find your casino on the blacklist, you should close your account immediately.
Make sure the games are safe
Try to stick to games from bona fide software producers. The following software providers supply games to nearly all top-rated casinos in the UK:
· Microgaming
· NetEnt
· Play’n Go
· Playtech
· Internation Game Technology
· Big Time Gaming
· Yggdrasil Gaming
They’re licenced, safe, and have a staggering choice of well-known, popular games. Of course, there are other software producers but if you’re new to iGaming, stick to the above list until you get more experienced.
Test out the withdrawal option of your site
When you think about it, you’re going to end up trusting this site with your own hard-earned cash. A great idea is to deposit a small amount into your e-wallet, and then withdraw it immediately. If the process is quick and easy, start upping the amount slowly but surely.
Don’t risk depositing a whole chunk of your money, only to be frustrated later on that you are struggling to withdraw it.
Another positive for any online casino is if they operate with a live customer service chat function. If help is always at hand, it’s a good sign that the site is legitimate.