Since we’ve entered the era of expansion for online gambling, with its many perks and advantages, come a few problems as well. Gambling from your phone or computer, in the comfort of your home, on lunch break in your office, or even on the bus while you are commuting to work and want to kill time does sound like a perfect scenario. As great as it sounds, unfortunately, there are certain downsides, the main being that this way of gambling opened doors for many scammers just waiting to take advantage of gullible players. So the question remains, “How can you play online and still play safe?”
Well, one of the first and most solid indicators that a casino is safe is, of course, a license. Now, what happens if a casino you come across online and seem to really like doesn’t have a proper license? Can you still play? Is it safe?
The short answer is: It depends! There are a few other factors that can help you determine just how reputable the online casino is.
Local, offshore licenses or lack thereof:
Generally speaking, a license that a certain casino is going to have depends on a few things, one of the main beings where the casino is registered. For instance, in some countries in Europe, such as Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Finland, Spain, and so on, operating without a license is illegal. The same rules apply to both local and foreign casinos. On the other hand, some countries are a lot more laid back when it comes to gambling laws, and while local operators need to be licensed, the same doesn’t go for foreign businesses. This goes for Switzerland, Greece, Monaco, Ireland, Sweden, and more. Furthermore, there are countries in Europe that do not impose any restrictions on the online gambling industry, such as Malta, Albania, Belarus, and more.
However, residents of the first and second-mentioned countries often seek these foreign unlicensed casinos feeling overwhelmed by the strict rules of gambling in their country.
Some main reasons why gamblers choose these foreign casinos include:
- Lack of constricting laws and limitations that they would otherwise have to face with a local casino
- These casinos simply offer better bonuses and promotions
- There are very few limitations when it comes to depositing or withdrawing money
- Offshore online casinos allow you to make deposits and withdrawals anonymously using e-wallets and crypto wallets, unlike locally licensed casinos that require you to share your banking information.
- If you happen to forget your password to your online casino account, which I’m sure has happened to you at least once before, you can easily get access to your account again, whereas complex security systems at licensed casinos might keep you stuck out of your account.
Playing at an unauthorized online casino:
To answer your biggest question, it can be safe to play in these casinos as long as you do your research. For instance, King567 casino is still not verified, and yet it’s fully operating. Always check for accreditations, software details, and customer support. Another easy way to make sure that the site is safe is a padlock that will appear in the URL bar once you reach the site. It’s proof that the site is secured by SSL encryption that protects your data.
Even though some of these casinos can turn out to be completely safe, you still need to be aware of the scammers. Some of these casinos can turn out to be fine but avoid the ones that could simply vanish with your money one day or enable stealing your personal information doe various illegal activities. Here are some red flags to look out for:
- If the casino offers large, over-the-top bonuses with unreasonable wagering requirements.
- No licensing and no ownership information or use of a fake or nonvalid license. Always check the license numbers on the site of a given regulatory body since most of these scam casinos rely on people not actually checking the licensing information.
- No social media accounts whatsoever. If you are unable to find the casino anywhere but its main website, it’s likely that it’s a case of a scam.
- Large amounts of bad reviews. If you were to check the reviews of even the most reputable casinos, you would most certainly find at least a few negative comments from displeased users, and it’s no wonder since losing money does leave a bitter taste in one’s mouth. However, if the reviews are overwhelmingly bad and there are more negative than positive comments, you should probably learn from their mistakes and avoid the website.
- No customer support. Any reputable casino will give you multiple ways to get in contact with them. Usually, casinos provide an email address, a phone number, or a social media account where you can reach them. If you are unable to find any contact information on the site, you should seek another online casino that is equipped to help with any trouble that you might have.
With everything said, it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes even licensed casinos don’t have the best track record of being the safest gambling operators. You should be especially careful when signing up at online casinos licensed in Malta and Curacao. If you notice that their offers seem too good to be true, it’s probably because they are. Make sure to always do your research and read the fine print to ensure the best online gambling experience.
