Security and Fairness

Encryption and Data Protection

If you want to sign up and play games at an online casino, you first need to fill out a registration form. This process typically requires you to provide a few personal details like your full name, residential address, date of birth, and mobile number. Then there is the process of depositing funds, which also requires you to provide sensitive payment information. You have to be absolutely certain that the information you divulge is secure and won’t fall into the wrong hands.

This is where SSL encryption comes into play. In a nutshell, SSL encryption scrambles the information you provide rendering it useless to anyone who nefariously intercepts it. Instead of getting useful information, a fraudster will get a bunch of garbled and meaningless characters that cannot be deciphered. This is the same type of security technology that institutions like big banks and even the military use. It’s the gold standard.

You also need to consider that online casinos retain some of your information. It is usually stored on encrypted servers that are further protected by other layers like firewalls and access controls. Knowing that your stored data is fully protected gives you peace of mind.

Trusted Software Providers

It behooves you to only play at online casinos that feature games from licensed software providers. This is because the games that these providers create are fair. How do we know they’re fair? Well, licensed providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Play’n Go are required to have their games undergo thorough and rigorous testing. One aspect of this testing relates to Random Number Generators. We will discuss the importance of RNG auditing and certification further below.

Aside from quality and fairness, there are other reasons for choosing online casinos that feature games from the biggest and most trusted game developers. One reason that roulette players have for seeking out sites that feature top providers is that it usually means access to a stronger variety of roulette games. For instance, Evolution, Pragmatic, and Ezugi, all offer multiple roulette variants. This equates to more gaming options and lowers your chances of getting bored.

Auditing and Certification

Random Number Generators are the heart and soul of online casino games. This is because they determine the outcome of every game. If, for example, you see that a particular game offers an average return to player of 95%, then you want to be certain that the number is accurate. Accredited third-party testing agencies like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and GLI test these games by playing tens of thousands of rounds to ensure that the RTP is as advertised. Additionally, these software auditors make sure that the RNGs cannot be rigged by either the casino or the players.

On the flip side, a rogue site may use a hacked or tampered RNG that is rigged in the house’s favor. They may also use pirated games to gain an even bigger advantage. This is definitely something that you don’t want to deal with. We strongly recommend that you look for certificates from accredited software auditors. You can usually find them at the bottom of the site’s main page, although you may have to venture into the terms and conditions to find this information. As a point of interest, software testers don’t just audit games once. Instead, they regularly test them to guarantee ongoing fairness.

Ideally, the site you choose will feature dozens of reputable providers along with RNG certification. This ensures that all results are fair and cannot be corrupted. It also usually means that you’ll have access to a greater variety of games.

Fraud Prevention and Player Protection

Licensed online casinos implement a variety of anti-fraud measures. This is required under the law and the terms of their licenses. One way of reducing fraud is by requiring all customers to verify their age, identity, and place of residence. If you registered a new account claiming to be 25-year-old John Smith from Timbuktu, then you will be expected to prove this by providing the casino with supporting documentation. In most cases, you won’t be able to cash out your winnings until you have been verified. Not only does the verification process help prevent identity theft, but it also combats underage gambling.

We’ve already gone over some of the key measures that casinos incorporate to keep your information safe. However, most reputable online casinos also offer a range of tools and resources to help you gamble responsibly. These responsible gambling tools allow you to place limits on such things as the amount of money you can deposit or lose in a certain timeframe like a day, a week, or a month. They give you the option of taking time-outs or entering into temporary or permanent self-exclusion. Of course, responsible operators also offer contact information to local and international gambling support entities like Gambler’s Anonymous, GamCare, and many more.

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

If you are checking out an online casino, and you discover that it does not have a license, you should immediately walk away and move on to the next one. So, why is a license so important? Well, it means that the operator adheres to the highest standards. And how does one know that the casino operates to these high standards? We know this because the licensing body constantly oversees the site to ensure it always operates accordingly.

Getting an online gambling license is both time-consuming and expensive. Prospective online casino operators go through intense scrutiny and must demonstrate that they are more than able to run a casino with integrity and transparency. Needless to say, they must also prove their financial capability. This scrutiny doesn’t end when the casino gets its license. The regulatory authority is always looking over the operator’s shoulder to ensure that they maintain those high standards. If a casino doesn’t keep up its end of the deal, then the regulator can levy fines and suspend or revoke the site’s license.

Customer Support and Dispute Resolution

If you have a question or other issue with an online casino, you want to be confident that you can find the answer or resolve the issue immediately. This is why it’s so important to have access to 24/7 support. Furthermore, customers should be able to use a live chat feature or telephone to instantly connect with a knowledgeable customer service professional. While email and FAQ sections can be helpful, they aren’t nearly good enough on their own.

You also want to know that you have options if you have a dispute with the operator. While it’s a good idea to always try to resolve your issue directly with the operator, this doesn’t always produce satisfactory results. Many top sites use independent third-party entities to fairly resolve disputes. Failing that, you can air your grievance directly to the regulator. This is another reason why choosing a licensed site is so important.