Online gaming is a massive and growing, new genre of games that puts the convenience of games as diverse as slots to live poker into the palm of your hand. If you’ve never played at an online casino before, however, it can be daunting.
Unlike with in-person (sometimes known as brick-and-mortar) casinos, there’s a risk that the online casino you are using isn’t reputable and could be a scam.
This is the same risk as comes from any online interaction, including shopping. So if you can shop online safely once you know what to look for, you can also play online once you know these top tips:
Start Where the Players Are
One of the best and easiest ways to start finding a list of reputable and safe online gaming platforms is to see what real people are using.
You’ll find guides, Reddit posts, comments, and even entire online communities out there ready to help. You’ll find people talking about big-name brands all the way to hot newcomers like Kanuuna.com.
Use these mentions to create a shortlist, and then follow up with the rest of the tips in this list.
Check the Licensing
There are two ways you need to check the licensing of the platform you are investigating. One, by making sure you have access to it in the first place.
You can easily do this by making sure you don’t have your VPN on. If you’re in an area where that platform isn’t licensed in, it will usually tell you. Otherwise, you’ll need to check your state/country’s laws.
The second step is to check the platform’s actual license. Ideally, you’ll want to copy-paste their license code and search the directory individually, rather than clicking on any in-page link.
Licenses will be issued by a country’s gambling commission. Here are a few examples of the most reputable ones:
- UKGC, the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Nevada Gaming Commission and State Gaming Control Board
- Estonian Tax and Customs Board
Ensure They Follow Identity Checks
Do note that these platforms do run a quick, built-in identity check through systems like BankID, so even when you play a quick game, you are still getting checked.
This is because all legally operating casinos must adhere to anti-money laundering checks and must ensure that underage persons are not playing.
Only Use Platforms that Offer Self-Exclusion Features
Reputable online casinos will include a variety of self-exclusion features to help you play responsibly. This can include a deposit limit, a loss limit, and so on.
Essentially, if you pass these limits, you will be prevented from depositing or playing more until a pre-selected amount of time has passed.
It will still be on you to set these features, but once they’re set, you shouldn’t have a way to reset them until the time limit has passed.
Online gaming platforms offer a lot of fun, and, being internet-based, can be enjoyed practically anywhere and from any device. The only challenge is that you need to make sure the platform you are using is safe, so use the tips in this guide, and have fun!
