How to Spot a Secure and Licensed Casino

With thousands of online casinos to choose from, ensuring you’re playing at a safe, secure, and fair site is your number one priority. The existence of unscrupulous sites means you must be vigilant to protect your funds and private data. Here’s a checklist of what to look for to ensure you’re choosing a trustworthy online casino.

Always Verify the License

This is the most critical factor. A legitimate online casino must hold a valid license from a recognized regulatory authority. These regulators ensure that casinos operate fairly and securely.

You should be able to find information from regulators such as:

• The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA)
• The Government of Curacao

This information is usually displayed in the footer (at the very bottom) of the casino’s website. A reputable casino will make this information easy to find and will often provide a link to the regulator’s website where you can verify the license status.

2. Look for SSL Encryption

Your personal and financial data must be protected. Trustworthy sites use SSL encryption to safeguard data transmitted between you and the casino. It’s the industry standard for online security, used by all major financial institutions. You can easily check for this by looking for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar next to the website’s URL. If the URL starts with «http» without the «s,» the site is not secure.

3. Fair Games and Independent Audits

A trustworthy casino will have its games and casino Random Number Generator (RNG) software regularly tested by independent third-party agencies. Their seal of approval means the games have been tested and found to be fair. A casino proud of its fairness will often feature the eCOGRA or iTech Labs logo prominently.

4. Positive Reputation and Clear Terms

It’s always a good idea to research what other players have to say about a casino. Look for patterns in complaints, especially regarding withdrawals and bonus terms. Finally, a good casino will have clear, easy-to-understand casino terms and conditions (T&Cs) for its bonuses and general operation. Ambiguous or unfair terms are a sign that you should avoid that casino.