Your Guide to Safe Online Casino Gambling

Only Licensed Casinos are Reputable

In the UK it's a legal requirement that all online gambling sites offering services to those in the UK are overseen by the government organisation known as the UK Gambling Commission, or UKGC. For sites hosted in other countries, organisations such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) assist in regulating sites that operate in the UK.

If you're in the UK and see a site not regulated by the UK Gambling Commission you should avoid it as they are not operating within the laws of the country. The focus of the UKGC is the protection of players by ensuring all practices are above board, ensuring that the games are fair, and also making sure that players are treated in an acceptable manner.

Finding out whether a site is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission is key when choosing an online casino and, luckily, the process is usually really easy. Verified sites will always display the UKGC logo in a prominent place, usually at the bottom of the page. You can then click on this logo to find details of the online gambling site's licence from this regulatory body.

Should you encounter any issues at an online casino licensed by the UKGC, your complaint will be handled with official channels and typically resolved quickly and fairly. The UKGC is seen as one of the strictest and best regulatory bodies in the world, so players in the UK can rest assured that they are protected.

eCOGRA and Independent Auditing – Fair Games

To the uninitiated, it might seem that it would be incredibly easy for an online casino to cheat players out of their money, simply by making the games impossible to win. This is not the case, though, thanks to the work by eCOGRA, as well as similar companies.

These organisations:

• Audit sites regularly
• Ensure games are truly random
• Evaluate how safely casinos store players' money

So, if you see the eCOGRA logo at a site, you can be sure that their games are completely trustworthy. As with the UKGC, you can find out if a site has been audited by heading to the bottom of a page. Clicking on the logo should then bring up the site's certificate.

Pick the Perfect Payment Option

When it comes to making payments at real money online casinos, nearly all the different options are completely safe. Some people are understandably wary about depositing online, though, so what can they do to stay confident?

To start off with, choosing from one of these preferred and popular banking methods will guarantee peace of mind when visiting an online gambling site:

• Bank deposits
• Bank verified debit cards that require a pin code when performing transactions
• Paysafecard and other prepaid solutions
• e-wallet services such as Neteller or Skrill

When it comes to online gambling, you should always trust your instincts. If you ever feel uncomfortable when making a transaction, stop and use a different method. Before you input your details, check for a lock icon in the URL bar or app to show that the site is using the latest SSL encryption technology.

When it comes to how the actual online casinos handle your money, you can be sure that any casino we recommend is completely secure, and that your money won't disappear without a trace.