Online casinos have become ubiquitous and easier to access than ever before. As with most things that go down this path of mainstream adoption, the space can become ripe for bad-faith actors to try and lure customers into scams. Verifying the authenticity of online casinos, therefore, is a very important step before you get started on your journey. Signing up for an online casino involves a form of data transfer, including financial data; you would take precautions for any other such transactions on the internet, and that should be the case when you’re signing up at online casinos as well.
Here are 5 Signs that Prove that an Online Casino is Legitimate:
Prominent licenses
When looking for a safe online casino, it is important to make sure that the casino is licensed and regulated by a gambling commission such as the Malta Gaming Authority. This ensures that the casino is operating within the law and that players are protected from fraud and unfair practices. If an online casino is licensed by a reputed authority, then it will typically display the logo of that authority in the footer of its landing page, alongside its license number.
Typically, these logos or numbers are hyperlinked to the gambling authority’s official website, which will have the certificate on public display. To be sure, you can also head over to the gambling authority’s website and key in either the operator’s name or license number to ensure it matches up to what is displayed on the site.
Once you have verified authenticity, you can be sure an online casino is safe to engage with as licensed websites typically undergo audits for finances, data security, and business procedures before they are handed licenses.
Legitimate Banking Methods
When looking for a legitimate online casino, you should first take a look at the deposit and withdrawal methods they offer. Does it list global brands like PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard? If it does, there’s a good chance that the site is legitimate. Companies of that stature have huge reputational and financial risks if they don’t do their necessary compliance checks, and will have highly competitive teams to ensure that they don’t get involved with bad-faith players. They will not do business with operators who are not legitimate.
Having said that, make sure that the payment gateways are actually routed through these companies. It is easy for scammers to put up names and logos to feign legitimacy, but your clearest sign will be when you are actually on the verge of making your transaction. For instance, if you click on, say, the Mastercard option in your dashboard, and the website redirects you to an unknown link and payment gateway, then that site is not legitimate.
Reasonable Welcome Bonuses
Almost every online casino worth its salt will offer its players generous welcome bonuses; however, it stands to reason that no one would like to simply give money away – so make sure the welcome bonus being offered isn’t too good to be true.
Typically, casinos offer deposit match bonuses that will match your first deposit up to 100%, within a certain threshold. If a casino matches your $500 deposit with a $500 bonus, that seems about par for the course. But if the welcome bonus being advertised is 10x or 100x your deposit, then in almost every single case you should simply close your tab and move on. Also, remember that most casinos that offer welcome bonuses will have spending requirements before you can cash out; if these requirements are unreasonable, the casino could either be a scam, or a licensed operator that is using predatory tactics. In either case, steer clear.
Reputable Software Providers
A legitimate online casino will offer games from leading software providers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution, Playtech or a select host of premium, reliable providers. Any casino games provided by such companies will typically carry their branding alongside the title of the game when you are looking through the casino’s menu. These providers create high-quality games, and immersive gaming experiences – but more importantly, they are long-term players who are trusted to not rig games and have reputations for data safety and privacy. So take a close look at the games on offer and do a bit of research on the software providers. A legitimate casino will not shy away from displaying their software providers’ identities.
Strong Reviews
When choosing an online casino, it’s important to look for one with good reviews. A legitimate online casino will have players talking about their positive experiences online. You can find these reviews on various platforms, but typically the most authentic ones are found on forums like Casino Bonus Club which has gambling communities consisting of everyday people. Look for comments about features like customer service, game selection, and banking options.
You will also find several reviews on Google, but take some time and read reviews from many sources so that you aren’t lured into paid articles written by scammers. A pretty good rule of thumb to follow is that if you look up an online casino and there are no reviews beyond the first one or two Google pages, then it is not worth investing your time.
CEO Wanted
