There are always going to be questions when it comes to games using real money, and online gambling can be a cause for concern among those who are unfamiliar with the gambling industry. How can you know if an online casino is legit, and can you be sure the whole casino industry isn’t rigged? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know in order to gamble safely and with peace of mind.
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Introduction
One of the biggest concerns among those getting started with online gambling is whether casino sites on the internet can be trusted. Do they give players a fair chance to win, or will the game outcome always be in favour of the casino? This question is more than valid, as it can be hard to know whether one can (and should) trust.
The good news is this: As long as you pick a reliable gambling site for your gambling adventures, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. These casinos are not trying to scam you and they do not present a risk to your personal data or payment information.
That said, how can you know that you have a fair chance to win, and that the casino hasn’t rigged its games in their own favour? Nobody wants to waste money on games they can’t win, but there is one thing in the casino industry that makes sure nobody—not the player nor the casino—can cheat, and this is the use of Random Number Generators.
A random number generator is used for casino games to ensure a fair outcome. This software generates random outcomes every time you play a game, and one that cannot be predicted, altered or in any way manipulated. What it means is that the casino doesn’t have any control at all over the symbols that will drop in a slot game or what the dice will land on in a virtual table game.
All trustworthy casinos use random number generators, and you can usually find information about it in the terms and conditions posted on the site. If you happen to come across a gambling site that does not use random number generators, then this would be a huge red flag and an indicator that the casino should be avoided.
Still not convinced casinos play fair? Because, after all, how would they make a profit if then? We hear you, and we understand your concerns. The answer here is actually surprisingly simple. It is a common misconception that casinos make their money on players’ losses, but that isn’t the case. Casinos make their money based on the house edge.
The casino house edge is a small percentage that is kept of every placed bet, while the rest goes back to the player—hypothetically. In reality, the rest goes back to any of the many thousands of players playing, which is why some end up winning and some end up losing. However, what you lose is won by someone else, and the casino only gets to keep the house edge.
You can calculate the house edge of a game based on the RTP (Return to Player) percentage, which is often written next to the games. If a game has an RTP of 93%, then it means that $93 USD of every $100 USD players bet will, in some way, go back to the players in the shape of winnings.
93% RTP + 7% House Edge = 100% of the Bet
The 7%, or as in this example—$7 USD, is kept by the casino. If you want to increase your chances of winning, look for casino games with a high RTP and a house edge that is as low as possible. Some games such as Baccarat generally have a lower house edge than slots.
Choosing a Casino
It is easy to preach that only trustworthy casinos should be used, because sure—you wouldn’t knowingly pick a dodgy site or one that is trying to scam you. But, how do you find these legit casino sites that you know you can trust? It may seem complicated, but it is actually surprisingly simple and straightforward.
Once you find a casino site you are curious about, a quick internet search can tell you plenty about that particular site. Casino reviews will have already done the hard work for you, and you can read up on anything from game selection, to customer service coverage, payout times, available payment methods and much more.
The key here is to find unbiased casino reviews that aren’t written with the intention to promote the gambling site, and that is something we specialise in. Our intention is always to communicate an honest review of the site, to give players a truthful account of what they can expect (good and bad) when joining the gambling platform.
When you investigate online casino sites and when you are out there trying to decide where to play, don’t forget to have a look at the licensing agencies the platform is associated with. Trustworthy casinos have gambling licences, which means they are approved and regulated by third-party organisations.
Popular gambling licences come from, for example, the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority), UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission), the Swedish Gambling Authority and authorities in Curacao, and these can often be found at the bottom of the casino page or in the terms and conditions.
Being licensed means that the casino complies with certain safety regulations, such as having their site protected by advanced SSL encryption, and that random number generators are being used to guarantee fair game outcomes. A casino that does not meet industry standards won’t get a licence or will have their licence revoked.
How to Spot a Scam
Most of the casino sites you’ll come across are “good guys,” and can be trusted with both your personal details and payment info, but there are few rotten eggs out there as well. It is important to always do your research before signing up for a gambling platform, but below are a few warning sites that a casino may not be as great as it claims.
These are red flags that should not be ignored. It doesn’t mean that a casino is automatically a scam if it does or has any of the above, but it is something that should indicate to you that you need to do further research. If something sounds too good to be true with no catch whatsoever, then it usually is. Playing smart starts with choosing a gambling site.
8 Casino Scams
| Rank | Description | Why it's a Scam |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No information (or hidden information) about casino licences. | Legit casinos operate under a licence which they must display on their website. No licence = dodgy site. |
| 2 | Few or no casino reviews available online. | The WWW is close to infinite and if few people know of an online casino, then it's definitely something to be weary of, especially if it's not a brand new casino. |
| 3 | The casino does not use random number generators. | RNG are what make a virtual game provably fair. If RNG is not in place, then the house can rig the game in their favour. |
| 4 | Poorly constructed website with spelling or grammatical errors. | A website is an online casino's business card. If no attention to detail has been given to it, it can be a quickly put together site that will run for a short span of time and then disappear (with your money included!). |
| 5 | No available customer support or few contact options. | If you can't contact support or if there just isn't any available, that is a massive red flag. If anything were to go awry, then you have to be able to communicate with the operator. |
| 6 | No information about the company behind the casino. | No info on the company behind a casino is a tell-tale sign of the website just being a façade. If you don't know who runs the operation, you also won't be able to identify them in case something were to go wrong. |
| 7 | RTP (Return to Player) information is not available. | RTP is one of the most important factors in determining the fairness of an online casino game. It is only natural to give house edge information out to players. If the casino is not being transparent about its games, then they can easily have rigged the game. |
| 8 | The casino offers only one payment method (does not apply for No Account casinos). | Unless we are talking about a Pay N Play casinos, then you should expect a variety of payment methods to be offered for both deposits and withdrawals. |
FAQ
There are many red flags to keep an eye out for when you look for an online casino. Examples are failure to disclose licensing information, a poorly written website, no RNG or bonus offers that simply sound too good to be true.
Yes, all trustworthy online gambling sites use RNG (Random Number Generators), as these make sure that the outcome of games like slots is always fair. When RNG is in play, it means that the outcome of a game is completely random and that it cannot be altered or predicted.
Yes, MGA is one of the best-known licensing agencies in the world, and if a casino has a licence issued by them, then you can usually relax and know that the casino is legit. Malta Gaming Authority is also one of the most popular gaming authorities out there, with authorised casinos all over the world.
Typos and grammatical errors are red flags, but don’t discard a site just because you see one misspelt word. Errors can slip into any text, but if the website is overall poorly written with text that looks rushed and/or unfinished, then that could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
No, legit online casinos use random number generators and more to make sure that the game always has a completely random outcome, so that you have a fair chance to win. How big the chances are on a specific game can be calculated based on the Return to Player and House Edge percentage, as well as on the game’s volatility.
If the casino is legit then no, the games are not in any way rigged to favour the casino, or to make it easier for the casino to win. Fair games are key to obtaining a casino licence.
The money you lose is used to payout to those players who win, and the casino only keeps what is known as the game House Edge (usually between 1-7% if each bet). Your losses have nothing to do with the casino’s gain and they therefore do not benefit from the money you lose in that way.
A casino licence from a respectable third-party agency is always a good sign, and it means that someone else is monitoring and making sure that the casino complies with industry standards such as fair games and trustworthy payment methods.
Data Protection
A good casino will have all the necessary safety features to keep you safe when gambling online, and this means both your personal information such as name, home address and contact details, as well as your payment data. SSL encryption should be used along with reliable verification processes.
The reason you need to verify your account by uploading supporting documents (such as copies of your driver’s licence or passport) is for your safety as well as the safety of the casino. Online gambling sites need to comply with laws and regulations to combat illegal activity (money laundering, identity theft and more), and a meticulous verification process should be seen as something positive.
A reliable casino site should also offer resources to prevent gambling addiction or to help those who have developed unhealthy gambling habits. These resources can consist of gambling limits that stop you from spending more than your planned budget, as well as information regarding where to turn if you need assistance.
Frozen Casino Funds
Trusting an online casino can be hard, and it is not unusual for new players to worry about the funds left on their casino account. What happens with the money you win if you can’t withdraw it right away? Is it safe to leave money on your casino account? Yes, as long as you comply with the rules, you have nothing to worry about.
A casino can freeze your assets or confiscate your casino funds, but this would only happen if they suspect foul play such as fraud, or if you breach the casino’s terms and conditions in a way that would justify the action. If you play with good intentions and as long as you make sure to comply with the casino rules, then your money will be there waiting for you the next time you log in to play.
Conclusion
Are all online casinos scams? No. Can there be dishonest casinos out there with the intention to scam players? Absolutely, but if you do your research and stick to well-known online gambling sites, then you generally have nothing to worry about. Be smart, pay attention to red flags and most of all—enjoy your time gambling!
Fingers crossed you walk home with a big win.
Trustworthy Casinos Online
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