The online gambling industry is one of mammoth proportions with a countless number of online casinos operating in it.
With such an enormous choice, it can be confusing for players to know where to even begin. And, unfortunately, there are casinos out there who engage in bad practice.
It has been reported that 25 online gambling sites have been banned by the Danish Gambling Authority for illegally offering gambling services to Danish citizens.
Also, Casumo has been hit with a 310k euro fine for illegally offering their services in the Netherlands, which adds to the troubles they had with the United Kingdom Gambling Commission in November of 2018.
In this blog post, we thought it would be a good time to explore how you can establish whether an online casino is trustworthy or not.
Online Casino Checklist
All online casinos will claim to be doing everything by the book, but you should always keep your wits about you.
But fear not, with this thorough set of guidelines, you should be able to spot the signs of an untrustworthy casino.
The last thing you want is to deposit your money at a casino only to discover that the website has all the makings of a rogue casino…
Does the Casino Have a Licence?
This is the first thing to always check for whenever you consider signing up to an online casino. If the online casino doesn’t have a licence which covers players in the country you are in, that casino is not legally permitted to offer online casino services.
Licences are absolutely imperative, plain and simple. Many of the recent reports surrounding bad practice of online casinos has been around the casinos not having relevant licences.
For UK players, make sure the online casino is licenced and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
For those players residing elsewhere look for licences such as:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Gambling Commission
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
The bottom line is that if you are being offered online casino services, the online casino must hold a relevant licence which permits them to offer the services in your country.
Does the Casino Site Look Professional?
This is a bit of an ambiguous one, but it is worth bearing in mind nonetheless. The vast majority of reputable online casino sites look and feel the part.
They are slick, easy to navigate and provide a very user-friendly experience with all options within easy reach.
If the casino site you are on looks disorganised and with no real structure, it is not a good sign. Any reputable online casino will want to give a good impression through their site and if a site is giving you the opposite impression, you should take note.
Are There Lots of Games Available?
Most online casinos will offer their players the chance to play many different games designed by a range of different providers.
If you can only see a small number of games and not much variation, this is a cause for concern.
This is not a black and white rule, as there are some casinos which don’t have a wide choice of games and yet they are perfectly reliable outfits.
Also, some casinos might only offer unique games specifically designed for that casino only.
Still, most online casinos will provide quite a wide range of games covering most of the different categories of games such as table games, slots, video poker, jackpot games and the live casino.
Furthermore, keep your eyes open for a variety of different providers. If you see the likes of NetEnt, Microgaming and Evolution Gaming at the casino, this is a good sign.
Is the Support Section Clearly Visible?
One of the most useful ways to establish a casino’s credibility or otherwise is the support section. Obviously, if a casino is not engaging in good practice, their contact details will be hard to come by.
If you cannot find a support section or the section is vague with questionable information, you should be concerned.
Vague support information usually indicates that the online casino is trying to hide something.
What are the Bonuses Like?
Bonuses are expected at any online casino, and this is particularly true when it comes to welcome bonuses.
If you see no signs of bonuses or promotions, be wary.
On the other hand, if you see bonuses and promotions which look too good to be true, they probably are.
Check through the bonuses and promotions which are available and take a read through the terms and conditions attached to them.
If you see anything unusual with bonuses and promotions, it is a good idea to get in touch with the casino’s support team and ask them to explain their bonuses and promotions.
Is there Clear Payment Information?
It is very common nowadays to see casinos offering several different payment methods ranging from simple card payments to e-wallet and pay by phone payments.
Again, if the payment information screen doesn’t include information such as limits, withdrawal and depositing fees and transaction times, this is not a good sign.
Also, if the casino doesn’t offer at least a few payment methods or is vague about the ones they do accept, be cautious.
Does the Casino Have Good Reviews?
Perhaps the most obvious point of all: if the online casino has a considerable number of negative reviews and horror stories obviously, take note.
If you are looking for honest and expert opinion, be sure to check our casino review page here at Mobileslotsites.
Keep your Wits About You
Unfortunately, the online casino world is definitely not immune to bad practice and unscrupulous behaviour.
Untrustworthy casinos do operate in the field and it is always prudent to be healthily sceptical whenever you consider signing-up to an online casino.
But with this useful guide in mind, you have all you need to make an informed decision.