Paul De Freitas
Finding the right online casino to play at can be a daunting task, especially if you have merely begun your journey with online gambling. There are many factors one should consider, including the game variety, bonuses, or user experience. Those are the secondary things, though. As a rule of thumb, when looking at various casinos, the first thing to check is whether the site is safe.
And while some people claim that there is no such thing as a safe casino site, that is not true. Like land-based casinos, online gambling sites have to undergo thorough inspections to receive a license, which grants them the right to run their operations. Of course, it does not mean the internet is not full of casino scammers. The key is to know how to recognize such sites to stay away from them.
To ensure you never find yourself at a so-called rogue casino, we have prepared the following guide. Below, you will find all the information regarding navigating through numerous online casinos before trusting one with your real money. Read carefully, and do not let anything spoil your online gambling fun.
In a nutshell, a safe online casino can be defined as a gambling site with a fair and random gaming experience, fast payments and withdrawals, clear Terms & Conditions, and the updated cybersecurity. Additionally, it must have all the required licenses issued and regulated by an independent third-party auditor.
When going through numerous real money online casinos, you will soon realize that picking just one can be challenging. To make your job a little easier, consider making a list of essential factors safe casino sites should have. Here is a list of what you should examine:
Every time you visit a casino site for the first time, the first thing to check is the license. This indicates that an online casino is safe, as it is regulated by the third-party accredited gaming authority. What is more, this ensures fair gambling and guarantees certain rights for you as a player.
Besides just casino gaming experience, a license means a site has a fully transparent policy regarding their bonuses, promotions, customer service, withdrawals, deposits, etc. In other words, a license tells you whether you can trust the casino with your money. Such online casinos also come with solutions to promote responsible gambling like proper age verification or self-exclusion tools.
In addition to licenses, it is also a good idea to check the legal situation in the casino's country. As a rule of thumb, it is always recommended to play at casinos based in countries with clear and set legislation towards online gambling.
Many things combine into the online casino's security. The first factor is software used by the casino. When it comes to that, you can only trust casinos that work with reliable and certified casino game developers, such as NetEnt, Playtech, RTG, Microgaming, or Play'N'Go. Like licensed online casinos, software from these developers is also tested by auditing companies, ensuring their games are fair and safe to play.
The second factor you should look at is cybersecurity. Safe online casinos use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificates that maximize safety and keeping your personal information secure. Trusted online casino sites should also use HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol, providing safe communication over the used network.
Another factor you should consider is the RNG (Random Number Generator). Simply put, it is software that generates random outcomes, ensuring the casino experience is fair and similar to the one in a brick-and-mortar casino. All the safe online casinos protect their RNG from being tampered with using the SHA-3 hash algorithm. If the site features it, it means it is safe to play there.
The last thing to look at when it comes to security is the privacy policy. Safe online casino sites update their certification details numerous times a year, displaying all the information to players and ensuring they understand everything.
A real money online casino is nothing without its collection of games and sports betting options. The more titles a casino has to offer, the more fun a player can have. They also provide more opportunities to win great prizes. However, the game selection can also tell you whether the casino site is safe. That is because all the reputable online casinos offer hundreds of games that are fair and top-quality.
That being said, if you see that the online casino has a great collection of table games and slot machines, it means they want to provide players with an engaging experience. And while we are at it, do not forget to check the developers of the casino games available on the site. As mentioned, reliable software means all the differences in terms of safety and fairness.
Online casinos are responsible for huge amounts of money players store on their accounts. Not only that, but they also have access to players' banking details. To ensure protection, gambling sites utilize SSL and TLS digital encryption (which we have already covered).
However, online casinos need to ensure that all the financial operations carried out to and from the casino system are quick and secure. That is why all the safe casinos offer only the most popular and renowned online payment methods.
With that in mind, a secure online casino should provide you with such deposit and withdrawal possibilities as Visa or MasterCard, as well as PayPal, iDebit, Paysafecard, and many others. If you see such banking options at a casino site, it means you should expect fast and secure payments and withdrawals. Not to mention this significantly improves the convenience and overall user experience.
It is always good to check the casino's background and reputation. Online player reviews can tell you a lot about the gaming and user experience or customer service, so be sure to read what other players have to say about the site.
Why? Because numerous online casinos may look reliable at first, but in reality, they are far from being a hundred percent trustworthy. For instance, some casinos alter odds and payouts despite having all the licenses. Others might have unclear Terms & Conditions regarding bonuses or deposits. In other words, it is always to double-check whether the casino is reliable before trusting it with your real money.
As mentioned, online casinos have to meet several conditions to get a license. What is more, they need to be regularly inspected to determine whether they are safe, fair, and up to date with all the laws and regulations.
In general, we can divide organizations that keep an eye on online casino sites into regulators and auditors. Below, more information on how they differ and what are the key organizations that monitor the online casino industry:
Casino regulators are government bodies that focus on maintaining and monitoring the appropriate levels of security at online casinos. To keep the license, an online casino must fully meet all the requirements laid out by the regulator.
Among the world's top authorities that regulate the online casino industry, we can include:
Casino auditors investigate how casinos online are run as a whole. They look for flaws and bugs that might jeopardize the players' data and sensitive information. For instance, auditors thoroughly test the deposit and withdrawal process, as well as cybersecurity solutions such as encryption. If the online casino has a seal of approval from a respectable auditor, you can rest assured it is safe.
The most renowned casino auditors globally include:
At A2Z Casinos, we only recommend our users the most reliable and safest online casino sites. We carefully examine each site to ensure it meets all the security requirements and whether it offers a great collection of casino games, bonuses, gaming experience, mobile compatibility, etc.
Below, we have listed some of the top online casinos in the industry that guarantee a fantastic experience while being a hundred percent secure.
As a multi-award-winning online casino, LeoVegas (established in 2012) is considered one of the most trustworthy casinos in the industry. It is regulated by UK Gambling Commission (among others) and regularly checked and verified by eCOGRA. What is more, they work with all the renowned software providers, including NetEnt, Microgaming, or Evolution Gaming. In other words, LeoVegas ticks all the boxes of a reliable gambling site.
Reasons why we love LeoVegas:
You can check out our full review here.
Launched in 1998, Jackpot City is one of the oldest, most respected, and safest online casinos in the industry. Known as the "home of jackpots," the site gathers over 3.5 million players worldwide, offering an amazing gambling experience not many online casinos can match. The site is regulated by the EU and licensed by Malta Gambling Authority. It also carries the quality seal of eCOGRA, ensuring the casino is secure and trustworthy.
Why you should play at Jackpot City:
Read more about Jackpot City in this detailed review.
Casoo Casino might be one of the newest casinos in the online gambling industry, but it has already established quite a reputation. Launched in 2019, Casoo is a space-themed casino that gives players the feeling of a journey through the endless expanses of space. The site operates under Curacao Gaming License and works with all the reliable software providers. It is a casino designed by players for players, and you can clearly see it from the first time you enter the site.
Reasons to try Casoo Casino:
You can find more information on Casoo Casino here.
Established in 2006, Betway Casino is a part of the renowned Betway Gaming Group that also includes Betway Sports, Betway Bingo, and Betway Poker. The casino operates under the license from Malta Gaming Authority and is audited by eCOGRA. In fact, it is probably one of the safest real money casinos out there.
Why is Betway Casino worth giving a go:
Read more about Betway Casino here.
With 20 years of experience, Spin Palace Casino definitely knows the ins and outs of the online gambling industry. Since its launch in 2001, Spin Palace has earned the reputation of one of the best and safest online casinos. Licensed in Malta and holding eCOGRA's seal of approval, Spin Palace connects millions of players globally who love the site for its variety of games, amazing bonuses, and second-to-none user experience.
The many advantages of Spin Palace Casino include:
You will find more detailed information in our Spin Casino review.
Finding a safe online casino is one thing. The other is taking care of your own security while having fun during legal casino gambling. Many players underestimate it, so please make sure you always consider your cybersecurity before gambling online. The best thing to do here is to apply a simple rule - safe online casinos are only as safe as you.
Let us go through several tips on how to enhance your security when gambling at online casinos:
As already covered, you should always ensure the online casino you want to play at is trustworthy. Check whether it is licensed and regulated by an independent organization. If the answer is yes, look at various games and their developers, bonuses, banking options, customer service, etc.
You can also read online player reviews to see what other users have to say about the site. If the feedback is positive and you can see that the online casino is indeed reliable and provides a great user experience, you can set up an account and win some real money.
Once you find your safe casino, you can rest assured nothing threatens you from the casino's side. However, it does not mean you are a hundred percent secure. For this, you should also ensure that your device is up to date with software updates, firewalls, and other cybersecurity measures. Otherwise, you increase your chances of getting your casino account hacked.
As a general rule, you should never access online casinos when using public Wi-Fi. Since you will be playing for real money, you need to ensure the internet connection you use is secure and password protected. Gaming at casinos online via unsafe Wi-Fi is an invitation for a hacker to access your account and steal your money and data.
No, your birth date or the name of your dog is not a strong password. It may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many people still use weak passwords when setting up their online accounts. And guess what, online casinos are not an exception. When creating an account at the casino, use a complex password and change it regularly to improve your security.
Generally speaking, all the online casinos we recommend at A2Z Casinos are trustworthy. We only promote respected casino brands that are well-known for their exceptional service. Stick to the online casinos you find on our site and choose the one that will suit you best. It will save you a lot of time spent on research.
Although online gambling gets a bad reputation compared to playing at brick-and-mortar casinos, it is actually safe and fair. Not to mention that online casinos come with numerous benefits land-based ones cannot match. However, the key is to play at a trustworthy and secure casino. And when it comes to that, there are many things you ought to consider.
Firstly, ensure the casino you want to play at is licensed and regulated by an independent and respectable organization. Then, look at the security solutions it utilizes and gaming software providers it works with.
You should also do your research regarding the casino's reputation. Once you all this, you can get to the next part - finding out more about the gaming experience, games, bonuses, payment methods, etc. To make this task much more convenient, feel free to use our casino reviews as a reference. At A2Z Casinos, we thoroughly check every casino, ensuring we recommend only the best casinos online.
