Is online gaming safe?
We get asked this question a lot, and we always give the same answer. Online betting IS safe, but only in the event that you take some precautions. It is ultimately down to YOU to make sure your personal security.
There’s no denying that betting online for real cash involves some risk. There’s the obvious risk of dropping money on wagers of course, but that’s not what we’re talking here. We are referring to the risk of getting ripped off or cheated in some way, or even the danger of getting into legal trouble. These risks, amongst others, are why folks worry about the safety of internet gambling.
Even though it is not a terrible thing to be wary of the dangers involved, the simple fact is that there is not really much to be concerned about. Very few men and women who gamble online have to confront any real safety problems, and there’s no reason why you need to either. Preventing the risks and protecting yourself is really pretty simple.
Not convinced? Then this article is just what you want. We look at each of the most frequent safety concerns relating to online gambling, and explain the actions you can take to ensure those concerns DON’T turn into a reality.
Getting Ripped Away or Cheated
This is definitely the most frequent safety concern we hear about. Lots of people worry that online betting sites simply can not be trusted, and we know why. Through the years there have been several gambling sites guilty of a few or all the following.
Disappearing with customer capital.
Not honoring winning wagers.
Not paying withdrawals, or paying very late.
The simple fact that these things have happened at all reflects badly on the online betting industry. It shouldn’t even be possible for websites to rip their customers off or to treat them unfairly.
Regrettably it IS possible, however, and we are not shocked that it happens. There are always going to be individuals in this world who try to scam or cheat others rather than make an honest living. And in some ways the internet has made it easier than ever to eliminate it.
Bearing this in mind, it is not exactly surprising that some people don’t enjoy the idea of betting online for real money. They’re just not familiar with the probability of being ripped off or cheated, and who can blame them?
The good thing is it’s not really that big of a risk.
People do get ripped off and cheated by online gaming websites. We’d be lying if we said otherwise. That doesn’t mean that online betting is fundamentally unsafe though.
Actually, we’d go as far as to say that the opposite is true! There are a few shady websites which operate unethically (to put it mildly), but they are the exception and not the rule. Most betting sites are totally safe to use, and can be trusted to treat their customers in the right way.
So the key to staying safe is just to avoid the shady websites and stick with the legitimate ones. But how do you do that? How can you know which sites can definitely be reliable?
This is easier than you may think. Do a little research to determine which sites meet these criteria.
Licensed and regulated by a reputable governing body.
Been in business for several years.
Positive online reviews.
Lack of negative reports/complaints.
The very first item on this list is particularly important. Any site that is not licensed and regulated ought to be avoided at all costs. That does not mean you can just blindly trust any website which does have an online gaming permit though. Some licenses are really easy to get that they’re barely even plausible. Others are issued to sites that comply with VERY strict regulations and rules. To find more information, please see the report we’ve listed below.
Online Gambling & The Role of Licensing Authorities
The length of time a website has been working is a very good measure of the legitimacy. Shady sites don’t last too long, as they’re continuously getting shut down for one reason or another. So if a website has been around for many decades, it’s likely to be one you can trust.
Online reviews are a wonderful way to find out more about a gaming website. If a site has plenty of positive reviews, that’s obviously a fantastic sign. Particularly when those reviews are from people who have really used those websites. Genuine user reviews generally paint the most accurate picture.
WARNING
You have to be careful about trusting review websites. There are lots of websites that review gambling sites and other gaming sites, but they’re not all 100% fair. A number of them get paid to post positive reviews, which means that you can not expect to find unbiased opinions. Be especially cautious when every single review appears to be positive, and all sites get 5 stars or 10/10 evaluations.
We’ve got our very own review section here at GamblingSites.com. Our testimonials ARE honest, and based on a blend of their own experiences and additional study. We write about the good and the bad, providing our readers with balanced views and the information that they really must know.
When a betting site does engage in unethical behavior, it’s very possible that the people affected will openly express their concerns for everyone to see. That is why we advocate searching for negative reports and complaints. Simply do a Google search using the site name and”scam,””criticism,” or something comparable. If there’s anything bad you should know, you’re likely going to find it. If you do not find anything, then that is a good sign.
Please be aware that none of those individual criteria we have discussed here GUARANTEES that a site is a trustworthy. If you put them together you may be quite confident that a website is legit, but you still will need to proceed with care if you want to protect yourself. We advise testing a site out with small deposits until you are absolutely certain they can be trusted.
We realize that most people who gamble online, or wish to, would like to just sign up using a website and start placing their wagers straight away. Researching various different websites and analyzing them out is just too much hassle. They still wish to stay safe however. Fortunately, we have an answer to this problem.
We have done the hard work, having researched and analyzed a wide range of betting websites. Based on our findings, we’ve compiled of list of recommended websites that we think are the best around. This is finally only our opinion, but one thing is for sure. Each and each of our recommendations is secure to use. They are all valid, trustworthy and reliable. We simply wouldn’t suggest them differently.
Best Sports Betting Websites As advocated by GamblingSites.com
Breaking the Law
Why would anyone be worried about breaking the law when gambling online? Anyone who lives in a country where online gambling is fully legalized or regulated may be wondering this. Unfortunately, in different nations around the world, there are those who fully understand why breaking the law is in question.
These people genuinely don’t know if it is lawful for them to place wagers online, because the online gambling laws in their nations are either outdated, confusing or both. It’s not clear what is legal and what is not, so people naturally worry that putting an online bet MIGHT be breaking the law.
Now, we are not attorneys. We’ve researched the legislation concerning internet gambling extensively though, and we’ve come to two quite clear decisions. The first is that many online gambling laws is targeted at people who supply online gaming services and run gambling sites. The second is that there are no laws that explicitly make it illegal for somebody to put a sports wager online.
What does this mean to you?
Well, in our opinion it means that there’s hardly any risk of getting into legal trouble for betting online. We can’t say for certain that you are 100% protected from breaking the law, but we actually don’t believe this is a problem.
It’s important that you steer clear of betting websites that might be operating lawfully though. The people operating an illegal website are a lot more likely to face prosecution than the customers, but why risk it? Even if you don’t get detained (and you likely won’t), imagine what occurs when an illegal gambling site gets broken? All their resources get seized, which means you’ll probably lose any money you have at the website.
There are loads of gaming sites which operate lawfully within the authorities where they are based. This includes ALL the sites that we recommend. Stick with these and you should never have to worry about any legal difficulties.
Personal Details Being Sold or Stolen
These are just two separate risks really. The risk of your personal details being sold is readily averted, as you simply need to use one of our recommended betting sites. All these are legit websites that simply do not engage in this type of behavior. They won’t sell your email address to other businesses that will spam you to death. Nor will they market your banking information to fraudsters.
They will continue to keep your personal details private, because your safety is important to them.
Using reputable and dependable sites will also lower the chances of your personal information being stolen. These websites utilize the most recent encryption and security technologies to make sure your data is as secure as it could be. There is still SOME threat unfortunately, as even the most reliable companies in the world are finally prone to hackers. Just ask Microsoft, Sony or Amazon. These companies have all been hacked and’d client details stolen.
Realistically, there is only a very small chance that your personal information will be stolen via an internet betting site. Tiny enough that it’s not worth worrying about it. What is more probable is that the info is going to be stolen out of YOU when you’re getting and utilizing betting sites.
Below are some safety tips that will allow you to keep your information safe, and prevent unauthorized access to your betting accounts. We strongly recommend you follow them.
Install anti-virus and anti virus applications on all of your devices, and KEEP IT UPDATED.
Use strong passwords. Ideally with a mix of upper case and lower case letters, numbers and other symbols.
Use different passwords at different sites.
Do not give your usernames or passwords to ANYONE.
Change your passwords regularly.
Use odd security questions/answers.
Don’t send banking information via email, live chat or Skype. Simply enter it straight at a gaming website, where everything is going to be encrypted and secure.
Becoming Addicted
This is not the same type of danger to others mentioned up to now. It is a very real risk though, and one you should definitely be aware of. A small percentage of people do get hooked on online betting, or at least experience some form of problem gaming. If you want to remain safe from these risks, it’s crucial that you gamble responsibly.
Your first step should be to set a budget based on how much you’re prepared to deposit online. This should ideally be a weekly funding or even a monthly budget. It needs to be money which you could afford to lose, which is not required for anything more significant.
Then you have to be quite strict about sticking to a budget. Don’t justify overspending by saying”just this once” or”I’ll win it back.” That’s how problem gambling starts, and things can soon get out of control. Don’t ever borrow money to wager with either. If you don’t have the cash yourself, then you shouldn’t be betting. It’s that easy.
Be aware that many online betting sites enable you to set your personal deposit limitations. Please take advantage of this if you believe overspending is going to be something you struggle with. It is an additional layer of protection that you may be thankful for later.
In addition, we recommend learning about bankroll management and staking plans. This can help you remain in control, and it can even enhance your overall odds of winning money.
Please be aware that it is best to refrain from gambling all together in the event that you’ve got an addictive personality. You might have the ability to stay in control, but you may not. It’s simply not worth the danger.
Overview There’s no actual reason why online betting should not be a completely safe experience. There are a few risks involved for sure, but most of these risks could easily be averted. You simply need to have a few straightforward precautions.
If you just remember one thing from this guide, let it be this; that sites you choose to use CAN and WILL make a difference. By sticking to legitimate and legal websites that can be trusted, you’ll be able to eliminate lots of the common safety concerns. Should you also gamble responsibly, and take some safety measures to guard yourself, you WILL be safe.
Then you can focus on having fun and wanting to acquire some cash, which is EXACTLY what online sports gambling is all about.
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