How to Play Safe at Online Casinos

Anyone choosing to play casino games online should look for the safest platforms to register and play at. We strongly urge our readers to do thorough research before signing up to the first casino site you find. In an age where privacy and personal information are at high risk, it's critical to ensure you are gaming in a safe environment. This article will cover everything you need to be aware of to find the safest and most secure online casinos available. We'll provide insight into what to look for in safe online casinos and what you need to avoid.

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews and Recommendations

Casinotopsonline.com has been an established source of critical and honest reviews in the gambling industry for over a decade. Our reviewers and authors have spent over 130 hours analyzing all the security aspects of each of the online casinos we label on our site as being safe. In the list of safe online casinos above, you will only find those that adhere to the strictest policies regarding technical security, legal transparency, and privacy protection.

Quick Facts About Safe Online Casinos

• Safe online casinos are licensed and regulated by a reputable gaming authority.
• They use industry-standard security protocols, such as 128-bit SSL encryption, to protect your personal and financial information.
• They offer a fair and random gaming experience, thanks to the use of RNGs (random number generators).
• You can verify the reputation of safe online casinos by reading reviews and checking player feedback.
• Safe and secure online casinos will always have contact details readily available if you need to contact customer support.
• Most safe online casinos are available on multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile.
• You can usually tell if an online casino is safe by looking at the URL – it should start with “https” and have a green padlock icon.
• Safe online casinos are usually certified by independent gambling portals, such as eCOGRA.

10 Questions You Should Ask Before Signing Up to an Online Casino

1. What is the casino's licensing and regulation information?
2. Which software providers does the casino use?
3. What are the casino's available banking options?
4. What are the wagering requirements at the casino?
5. What are the casino's bonus terms and conditions?
6. What customer support options does the casino provide?
7. What are the casino's game selection and RTP rates?
8. What are the casino's terms and conditions for withdrawals?
9. Does the casino have responsible gambling policies?
10. What are the casino's overall terms and conditions?

How to Identify the Safest Online Casinos

Safety and security should always be your top priority when playing at online casinos. While many reputable online gambling sites are safe to play at, several rogue operators can put your personal and financial information at risk. Playing at a legitimate online casino gives you peace of mind knowing that your data is protected and you're not being taken advantage of. 

How do you know if an online casino is safe? Below we have outlined what to look for when determining whether the casino is reputable or should be avoided at all costs. 

Licensing & Regulation Information

Online casinos are required to have some form of licensing or registration with a regulatory body to operate legally within their jurisdiction. This regulatory body will typically have strict requirements for player safety, game fairness, and responsible gambling practices. The casino will also be subject to regular audits and inspections to ensure they consistently meet these standards and provide fair gaming experiences for players. 

🔎 What to look for: Check the website's footer for their licensing information, including their license number. They will provide information on which license they are operating under, for example, the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gaming Commission, Curaçao eGaming License or Kahnawake Gaming Commission, just to name a few.

Most online casinos and gaming software companies must submit to regular independent testing. If they pass these audits, they receive a seal of approval from the auditing company that can be displayed on their casino website to confirm that the casino or software brand operates precisely as designed and advertised, complying with all operational and legal protocol requirements.

🔎 What to look for: Reputable casinos will display their seal of approval from independent testing companies such as the ones listed below. You can also visit these providers to see if the casino is certified. 

Some other companies used for auditing purposes include Gaming Associates Europe, QALabs PTY Limited, Trisigma B.V, and Quinel M. Ltd.

The audit will ensure that all games and casinos pay out the advertised rates of return to player (RTP), utilise a fully functioning random number generator (RNG) for random and fair outcomes, and aren't offering rigged or unfair games. 

Detailed Privacy Policy and Clear Terms & Conditions

Every reputable casino should prominently display links to their privacy policy and terms and conditions, usually found as links at the bottom of the casino site. 

Privacy Policy

A study by NortonLifeLock in February 2021 highlighted that most users desire to protect their privacy. So ensuring the casino has a well-documented privacy policy is key in deciding whether the casino is safe to play at or not. Whether you're accessing a new online casino or a long-running one, the privacy policy should detail how the platform utilises and stores your data. 

🔎 What to look for:

• There will be details on the type of information collected from your visit to the site
• The sharing status of the information collected by the casino, 
• The cookies the site uses to track your behaviour (and how to opt out of tracking)
• and what safeguards are in place to protect that data.

Terms and Conditions

Every online casino should link to its terms and conditions, especially regarding specific terms relating to bonus offers, player's rights and player obligations etc. The T&Cs serve as all the small print relating to the operation of the casino:

🔎 What to look for:

• The conditions surrounding depositing, withdrawing, 
• Minimum and maximum transactions, 
• Bonus terms and wagering requirements, 
• The process of complaints and so on.

This varies greatly from casino to casino, so make sure you understand these before choosing the safest online casinos and signing up for an account. Safe and secure online casinos will always make these readily available to you.

Responsible Gambling Information

They should also display links and information regarding responsible gambling. Players should always be able to seek relevant assistance if they suffer from gambling addiction or severe impacts on their finances. Numerous organisations exist to assist with this. And while there are some safe non-Gamstop casinos available to join, it is always ideal to find one that provides the possibility of self-excluding through this scheme and other responsible gambling assistance.

🔎 What to look for:

• GamStop – a company where you can register to self-exclude from all gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in the United Kingdom for a specified period.
• GamCare – an independent UK charity offering information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling across Britain. Read our GamCare online casinos review.
• Gamblers Anonymous – founded in 1957 and operates as a fellowship of people with compulsive gambling problems.
• BeGambleAware – providing a freephone line on a 24/7 basis to assist those suffering from gambling addiction.

Longstanding Reputation

For a casino site to be reputed within the iGaming industry, it has to have had a longstanding history of no damning issues arising over the years of operating and treating its customers respectfully with fair gambling practices. 

Other Security Information to Look for

• Transparent Payout Percentages - this is usually required by law to provide to players and is a good indicator of a legitimate casino site. The absence of this information could indicate that the casino site is untrustworthy or unregulated.
• Clear Ownership Details - clear information on its owner and operator can generally be found at the bottom of the website, including details of where the company is registered. If a casino intends to scam its users, it isn't likely to provide information of this nature.
• Prominent Contact Details - For legal assistance, technical problems or even positive feedback, general contact details should be prominently displayed. It should be possible to speak to an agent through various means, including live chat, telephone, and email. Safe online casinos should offer support in the player's local language and in other commonly spoken languages.
• Technical Security Details - while this may be too technical for the average everyday casino gamer, information about the casino's use of Hybrid RSA Encryption, SHA-3 Hash Algorithm, Two-Factor Authentication, etc. should also be readily available.

6 Red Flags of Unsafe Casinos to Avoid

If you're unsure about the safety levels of an online casino, there are certain red flags that you can look out for, which will dictate to you the security level of such. These issues should be very noticeable because a legit online casino will not fall into any of these categories.

 If you notice an online casino with one or more of the traits below, we highly recommend you look elsewhere for a top online casino. Here is a list of the main and most obvious red flags you can easily check before signing up for an account. 

1. No Gambling Licence Displayed

It's always valid to question the legitimacy of a casino that has no intention of providing information regarding its licensing status. If no licence is displayed anywhere on the website, you may wish to steer clear of the casino. The platform is likely not licensed to operate as a legitimate casino or be allowed to operate in your country. This creates many risks for you, such as your money not being secure, fair gaming may not be in operation at the casino, and the risk of exposing your personal and financial information.

We take gambling licenses very seriously and have therefore published a page with casinos that are not recommended.

2. Negative Player Reviews

It's fine if a casino has one or two negative reviews in general because it's only natural for at least one player to have a bad experience for one reason or another. Yet if a casino consistently receives negative press and feedback, it's ideal to look for something else to join. Please have a look at what the players are saying about sites in casino reviews to be in the know about the areas that it is failing in. Safe casinos will always look to rectify problems as swiftly as possible to ensure you get the best and safest customer experience. Those serving scam platforms to players will do very little to change how they operate.

3. Without HTTPS:// or a Valid SSL

Security should be a paramount focus for online casinos (and indeed websites) these days. That's why safe and secure online casinos should always have an online address that begins with HTTPS://, which dictates the level of security in play. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which is what 'HTTPS' stands for, is utilised for secure communication over a computer network and is widely used online today. Without this, an online casino site can transfer information insecurely, leaving you open to potentially threatening results.

In 2021, Microsoft published research about the most common protocols used in network exploit attempts worldwide. As you can see, HTTP:// is leading the exploit attempts with a 63% share.

4. Welcome Bonuses Too High or Misleading

If you're familiar with online casinos, you'll know that most offer inviting bonuses when you sign up and make a deposit. These welcome bonuses can often provide an enjoyable first-hand experience, bolstering your balance and giving you more opportunities to play the games you love. 

You may be tempted by bonus funds or online free casino spins, but it is important to watch out for those offers that seem too good to be true. Rogue casino operators will frequently entice customers in with promises of receiving thousands of pounds or euros in bonus funds when they make a deposit. On the other hand, some may offer ridiculously low minimum deposits to get you to sign up and provide personal and financial information.

And while a legitimate bonus may be provided, the terms and conditions surrounding such could be highly inflated, making them impossible to reach. If a welcome bonus is too high and you're not entirely sure it's valid, we always recommend finding somewhere else to play.

5. Unknown Gaming Software

If you visit an online casino's lobby and don't recognise the utilised software, this should give you pause. The best online casinos will only work with the most familiar and well-known brands for their gaming content. Those developers will provide high-quality, fully audited games that offer players fair gaming. A site that uses unknown gaming software will likely incorporate unfair and rogue games instead. Make sure you're to look for Microgaming casino sites or Netent platforms. Top-quality software developers will only associate themselves with the best quality casinos.

6. Hidden Contact Methods

You always need to know how to reach out to and contact support agents when you need help. Every casino should provide the details of its different contact methods for you to use. Whether it's live chat, telephone support, email contact, and so on, you should be able to access these channels easily, and be provided information on when they are available and how to use them. Details surrounding response times for email messages should also be provided. A site without this information isn't likely to be trustworthy and will certainly provide an incredibly frustrating experience at the very least.

Top 10 Recommended Safe Online Casino Sites

The casinos on this page were listed after their safety features have been vetted by our in-house experts, scoring at least 90% in their safety rating. Our score isn't just based on how safe it is to play with real money at these casinos. We also factored in how serious each casino is about responsible gambling and their commitment to keeping gambling fun for their players by providing safe gambling tools such as time-outs, deposit and loss limits and more. Read more about our CasinoTopsOnline Trustcore and how we evaluate safe and secure casinos. 

Safe Online Gambling Tips Recap

It's not only about what security features a casino provides that keep you safe and protected. You can do various things to ensure you engage in a safe and secure gambling environment. Combining these safe gambling tips with the casinos that offer a secure service to players will likely ensure you have the best online gaming experience. Please take a look at some tips we recommend when choosing a safe online casino with real money.

1. Check the Footer

At the bottom of any online casino website will be various links and information to read. They should include details about the casino itself, who owns it, what licences it possesses, etc. If a casino doesn't provide this, you may want to hold off on signing up because it could be hiding something. 

2. Find the Licence Details

The licence number and a link to the Commission site will be displayed at the bottom of the website. Some platforms also possess more than one licence, which proves that they have achieved licensing status in more than one jurisdiction.  If you cannot locate a licence, you may consider this a sign that the casino is not providing a secure service.

3. Read the Responsible Gambling Page

An online casino must provide you with information surrounding responsible gambling. That information should be proper links to organisations that can help you if you think you have a problem or think someone else has a problem. It is important to note that while UK-licensed casinos must be registered with GamStop for self-exclusion purposes, some safe non-GamStop casinos are still available to create an account.

4. Always Consult the T&Cs

Terms and conditions vary from casino to casino, so familiarising yourself with their particular terms will help determine whether that particular casino has fair practices in place.

5. Set a Strong Password

Using a weak password leaves your privacy and sensitive information vulnerable to hackers, so creating a strong password is critical when registering at a casino. We highly recommend using Two-Factor authentication if available to further protect your account from hackers and bad actors trying to access your personal and financial information.

6. Read Other Player's Reviews

Other online casino players will always be very vocal about their experiences, especially if it has been bad. If a platform has many negative reviews about its safety and other things, it is best to avoid such. Be sure that when you're joining a platform, you know what other players have experienced at it and that they feel they are playing at a safe and secure site. Once you find these casino reviews, you can better understand the casino you intend to sign up for and play at. 

7. Check the Payment Methods

One of the first things to do when visiting an online casino is to check the available payment methods. This is not just to see if your preferred method is supported but also if the casino supports reputable payment methods for depositing and withdrawing. Safe online casinos will only work with reputable payment providers and vice versa, which is why this is an ideal route to take before signing up to a platform. Paypal, Neteller, Skrill, Revolut

8. Don't Link Your Primary Payment Card

If you use your Visa, Mastercard or other credit or debit card for everyday purchases, be sure not to link this to your chosen online casino account. It would not be ideal if the details for this were stolen, and then you were left without instant access to your money for those everyday payments. Of course, some people don't have anything else but this payment card, so it would be ideal to know what to do in this instance.

It may be possible to obtain a virtual card from your bank for online transactions. For example, if registered at a Revolut casino, you can request virtual cards through the Revolut app, which differs from the standard card you may have through this banking method. Alternatively, you can easily open an account with PayPal, Neteller, or another e-wallet. You add funds via your card and deposit at your favoured online casino. Another option is purchasing cryptocurrency and accessing a safe and secure crypto casino to deposit and play at.

9. Avoid Casino Software Downloads

It was commonplace in the early days of online casinos to download the software from the site to your desktop computer. In doing so, you would be allowed to play various games, but it did mean that you had to install the casino itself onto your computer. While the list of safe online casinos that we provide doesn't specifically offer this practice anymore, as is the case for most online sites now, some still exist. 

It is always advisable to avoid casinos that request you to download software to play games. Why? Because anything could be attached to that download that you are unaware of at the time. This could see viruses or malware added to your computer, posing a serious risk to your security.

Our Final Thoughts on Secure Online Casinos

It is of the utmost importance to carefully investigate a casino platform before signing up, as you'll need to submit your documents, card details, address and much more. Before finding your next international online casino, ensure the chosen one ticks all the boxes mentioned in this article and doesn't show any red flags listed here to avoid any nasty surprises. You can of course, rely on our recommended safe and secure casinos to save time and a lot of headaches.

References

• Hybrid encryption (Wikipedia)
• SHA-3 Hash Algorithm (Wikipedia) 
• Two-factor authentication (Wikipedia) 
• 2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report (Norton Life Lock Study)