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How to Spot a Secure and Licensed Casino

With thousands of online casinos to choose from, ensuring you’re playing at a safe, secure, and fair site is your number one priority. The existence of unscrupulous sites means you must be vigilant to protect your funds and private data. Follow this guide to identify the key indicators of a reliable and secure online casino.

1. Check for a Valid Gambling License

This is the absolute first thing you should check. A trustworthy casino will always be licensed by a respectable governing body. These regulators ensure that casinos operate fairly and securely.

Look for logos and license numbers from authorities like:

• The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA)
• The Government of Curacao

This information is usually displayed in the footer (at the very bottom) of the casino’s website. Trustworthy sites are transparent about their licensing and allow you to verify it independently.

2. Look for SSL Encryption

It is vital that the casino protects your sensitive information. Trustworthy sites use SSL encryption to safeguard data transmitted between you and the casino. This is the same technology used by banks and major e-commerce sites to keep data safe. You can easily check for this by looking for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar next to the website’s URL. The URL should also start with ”https” instead of ”http” – the ”s” stands for secure.

3. Fair Games and Independent Audits

A trustworthy casino will have its games and Random Number Generator (RNG) software regularly tested by independent third-party agencies. Agencies like eCOGRA and casino iTech Labs specialize in certifying the integrity of online gaming software. Look for the logo of one of these testing agencies in the website’s footer.

Reputation and Transparency

Do a quick search for player reviews and casino feedback about the casino. While individual complaints are common for any business, a consistent pattern of negative feedback about delayed payments, poor customer service, casino or unfair practices is a serious warning sign. Finally, a good casino will have clear, easy-to-understand terms and conditions (T&Cs) for its bonuses and general operation. If the T&Cs are overly complex or seem unfair, it’s best to look elsewhere.