Foreword
The Internet has made everything so much easier. People started doing things from home instead of leaving their homes, including ordering groceries, working, and even gambling. The Covid 19 lockdown has rapidly accelerated this shift.
While it can be tempting to start gambling online, there are still some safety concerns to be aware of. If you’re not careful, you could lose a ton of money, or at best have a bad experience. So you can avoid all these types of situations. Here is our complete casino security guide for beginners.
Why is casino security important?
You may think that focusing on casino security is not worth it. You might think that the odds of having problems with an online casino are not high. However, you’d be surprised how common it is. Here are all the potential issues you may need to deal with if you are neglecting casino security.
1. Scam
If you neglect casino security, the worst thing that can happen to you is scams. There are indeed many legitimate online gambling sites out there. However, there are also many scam sites that may try to scam you.
It is very common for people to get scammed after accidentally entering an illegal online casino. You could lose a lot of money. However, you can significantly reduce your chances of landing on a scam site by following some simple casino security strategies.
2. Identity Theft
Another common security issue you should be aware of when using an online casino is identity theft. Some scam sites work well enough not to steal your money, but they will steal your information without you noticing.
When you register with an online casino, you must enter personal information such as your address. Shady platforms steal this information, which is then used for identity theft.
Many times, people enter the same passwords they use for sensitive accounts like Facebook and email. When someone with malicious intent obtains this information, they can use it to gain access to your other accounts.
3. Bad experience
The main goal of playing and betting at an online casino is to have a fun and exciting experience. Let’s say you neglect casino security and try to avoid all types of scam sites. Still, there is a chance you can have a bad experience and ruin your day.
There are many things that can cause you to have a bad experience. You may be stuck with your bonus and unable to withdraw it. You might think that this is actually a free bet on the bonus, which is a waste of your money. Or, even if you win your bet, you may end up with a small amount. All of these can make you feel really bad.
4. Find out what licenses an online casino has
The main thing you should pay attention to when practicing casino security is whether or not the online casino has the proper licenses. Various regulatory agencies check online casinos for illegal activities and then provide them with licenses and certifications.
To see which licenses an online casino has acquired, visit its main website and scroll down. You can find license information there. Some of the most notable licensing organizations include the Curacao Gaming Authority, the Malta Gaming Authority, the National Gambling Commission, the UK Gambling Commission (for the UK) and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority.
5. Know all the security measures used by online casinos
As we mentioned, identity theft is a common problem with shady online casinos. However, this only happens on sites with poor security measures and encryption protocols. Therefore, you must ensure that the online casino has proper encryption protocols before you get started.
Industry-leading encryption protocols include Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) and SSL encryption. Find out what encryption the website uses. Open a website and view its URL in the search bar. If you can see a closed lock symbol, the site is encrypted with SSL. If you see “https,” the site uses the HTTPS protocol.
6. View all deposit and withdrawal options
When you play casino games at an online casino or engage in any other type of online gambling, you need to make some deposits using real cash. Also, when you win some bets, you will need to make some withdrawals with real cash.
Since you need to make some cash transactions at an online casino to use them properly, you must make sure that the online casino has all the withdrawal and deposit options you need.
You should pay special attention to the withdrawal options. If the website does not offer a withdrawal option to which you are entitled, your winnings will remain on the website and you will not be able to access them.
7. Read all the rules carefully
After you find a decent platform with proper licensing and encryption agreements, you need to make sure to read everything carefully. If you don’t, you’ll end up with a bad experience.
8. Bonus terms and conditions
One of the most common mistakes newbies make is that they choose a bonus without carefully reading the terms and conditions. To take advantage of the bonus, you must abide by certain restrictions. For example, certain bonuses may only be available for certain bet sizes and certain betting events. You can only understand these restrictions if you read all the rules.
9. Withdrawal terms and conditions
Another important thing that people forget to read is the terms and conditions of opting out. You need to have a certain minimum amount in your wallet to be able to withdraw. You can only disclose this and other important information if you carefully read the Withdrawal Terms and Conditions.
10. Odds and House Edge
Before you place a bet, it’s important to understand the odds and the house edge. These two things will determine the amount you will get if you win. If you accidentally end up at a game or live casino table with low odds, you won’t be rewarded with big wins.