New casino sites are commonplace; a careful gambler does not take things at face value when it comes to choosing an online gambling venue. Many of us enjoy a gamble from time to time, but it’s essential to stay safe when playing on new casino sites and follow the advice given by The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). They recommend that any online gambling site you are considering placing your business with must be licensed and regulated. The Gambling Commission is a not-for-profit organization with the safety of UK gamblers at its forefront. Taking their advice seriously is just common sense. Along with correct registration and licensing, there are other considerations to make. It is very worthwhile to spend a few minutes checking the credentials and product offerings before diving in to avoid disappointment or problems.
What to Check?
With such a volume of new online casinos and gambling venues to have emerged in such a short time, there can be the odd new site that is not correctly run or licensed.
Following the advice of the UKGC, checking that the online gambling venue you are considering is registered with the Commission is a great start. Indeed, if a casino or venue has not received its Safe Gambling Seal, then it should be immediately disregarded.
Comparison Sites
Online gambling venues must be licensed correctly with the relevant authorities. Checking details like this can be tedious, but a good way to narrow down your choices quickly and retain the reassurance that all the relevant checks have been made and the suggested online gambling sites are correctly licensed and registered is easily achieved by using an online gambling venue comparison site.
A comparison site lets us move on to the more exciting part of choosing a new online gambling venue, the signup bonuses, and the games on offer. With an easy-to-follow layout, a good online casino comparison site will list the key features of a venue alongside the bonus information and individual review scores. With new sites being vetted continuously, you can be sure a comparison site will offer you the latest and best offerings in online gambling and entertainment.
A Quality Gaming Experience
Although not directly related to maintaining your safety, being confident and satisfied with the performance and offerings of your chosen online gambling venue is obviously key to enjoying your gambling entertainment. Every gambler is different. Nevertheless, others’ opinions on a possible casino or online gambling venue may give you a hand in establishing if they are the one for you. Online reviews are plentiful; the kind offered by online casino comparison sites tend to be from more experienced gamblers and may be included in your more generic Google searches. Be cautious. If a review is too good to be true, it probably is.
Gamstop Registration
All online gambling venues operating within Great Britain must be registered with Gamstop. Gamstop is a gambling self-excluding service that offers protection to gamblers by providing them with a means to prevent their own access to gambling sites registered within Great Britain for a self-set time period.
The service can help and support gamblers who wish to take a break from gambling. The service can take away any danger from a short-term lapse in concentration on gambling abstinence. It’s crucial any gambling venue you consider is fully registered with Gamstop. Not only does it provide you with the aforementioned service, but it is an indication the gambling venue you are considering takes the safety of its customers seriously.
Use Secure Wi-Fi
With worldwide internet access now available, the choice of locations you can place a bet from through your smartphone is almost endless. However, not all data connections offer the security needed to ensure your safety while enjoying a game of poker or live sports betting while on the move. Avoid public Wi-Fi, as its use can compromise your data and may expose you to the risk of fraudulent activity or scams. Ensuring you only use secure Wi-Fi or mobile data will ensure your data in transmission stays safe and secure.
Payment Methods
Keeping your money safe is directly linked to payment methods. Online gambling sites offer different payment methods. Choose one that suits your needs and is suitable to broker your transactions should you not wish to make direct payments from your own banks. This can keep your credit history unaffected by any gambling activity on your account, which can sometimes affect your credit score. It can be seen as sensible to ensure that you, as a customer, are able to make and accept payments in more than one method from your chosen online gambling venue. This can alleviate any problems that could arise if one is down for maintenance or compromised at a time when your wish to make a transaction. The UKGC advise customers of UK gambling venues to take note of the accepted currencies and the means of their safe withdrawal. Payment services like Trustly and PayPal have simplified this for many casinos and customers.
Does the Site Seem Legit?
When you visit an online casino website, you’re looking for a smooth experience to help prove the website is legitimate. This means you want a site that loads quickly, with links that work and pictures that are displayed correctly. If you visit an online casino that seems to offer loads but doesn’t have a smooth-running website to back this up, then it could be time to search elsewhere for your entertainment.
You should expect to see things like a contact page and an about us page on the website. Depending on the country the casino is based in, you should also expect to see things like VAT numbers, business license numbers, and even the registered company number displayed on the website. Without these details, it could be that the online casino you’re interested in is unregistered, and that is most definitely an online gaming experience that you want to avoid wherever possible.
