Playing at an online casino site like Megaways is fun and exciting, with lots of different games that can be played whenever you like – but as with any online transaction, it is important that you stay safe.
While the nationwide coverage of big businesses is suffering data breaches, anything you do online should always be done with security in mind because you want your personal information to be safe – and when it comes to sharing financial information, this is even more important.
Playing online casino games with money means sharing your identity, your address, and your card details with the provider, so you need to trust that they will store and use that information properly.
Before you get started in an online casino, protect yourself by following these top tips.
Licensing and Regulation
Reputable gaming sites must obtain a license from the relevant authority. This is based on where the online casino has its headquarters – for example, a company in Gibraltar should be licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, and in the UK, it would be the UK Gambling Commission.
To become licensed, the online casino must meet fixed requirements and standards and adhere to strict guidelines, including fair play and tests of randomness in their games.
You will be able to tell if the online casino you are considering is licensed because they will display the license number in the footer of their website.
Encryption
For the general security of your data, look at the address of the website. You want to see HTTPS at the beginning of the address (rather than HTTP) as this means that the site is encrypted.
Some sites use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which was developed to ensure authentication, privacy, and data integrity. SSL is the predecessor of the more modern TLS (Transport Layer Security), which is encryption based on cryptography.
This encryption is what will protect the details you share from being available to nefarious sources – bearing in mind that a reputable site will ask to have copies of your driving license or passport to determine your identity and prove your age, as well as your address and financial information.
Trusted Payment Options
Although some online casinos have introduced cryptocurrency to deposit funds to a player account, for most people, the best payment options are the ones that are more recognizable.
A reputable online casino will have several different options for you to use to deposit and withdraw, including debit cards and e-wallets. Look for names that you recognize (such as MasterCard and Visa or PayPal and Neteller).
Read the Terms and Conditions
Every online casino will have in-depth terms and conditions that cover both routine use of the site as well as individual games.
Be conscious of regulations set by the site about how long it will take to pay out any winnings and if there are any restrictions or limits on large withdrawals.
This is especially relevant with the new player bonuses that are offered – some sites might offer deposit matching, but you might not be able to withdraw anything that is won with the bonus and must use it for further gameplay instead.
The rules of each game you choose to play should be prominently displayed, and you should look for key details like the minimum stake and the Return To Player (RTP) rate. You are, of course, more likely to hit the biggest jackpots if you stake higher, but lower stakes might suit a player that is looking for multiple games or something that is more fun.
The RTP rate is displayed as a percentage and represents both the likelihood of a win and the house edge on each game that you play. For example, a 95% RTP means that, on average, for every 100 coins that are deposited, 95 are returned to the player, and the house edge is 5%.
Knowing how this works will keep you safer while you play because you will be in control through the games you choose.
Set a Budget
You need to keep track of your bankroll to have the best experience when you play at an online casino, and this means setting a budget. You can choose how much you want to spend (most players spend 1-2% of their monthly budget at each session).
Setting your own limits to suit your style and risk appetite is important, and a reputable online casino will be able to help you with this. There are tools available to help you make better decisions and limit your spending.
Playing at an online casino should be a fun and exciting way to spend some time, so plan a way to make it better for you.
Keeping these tips in mind before you get playing will help you to make sure that you stay safe while you are online so that you can focus on the fun.