Is online gaming safe?
We get asked this question a good deal, and we always give the same answer. Online betting IS secure, but only if you take some precautions. It is ultimately down to YOU to make sure your own security.
There is no denying that betting online for real cash involves some risk. There’s the clear risk of dropping money on wagers naturally, but that’s not what we are discussing here. We are talking about the probability of being ripped off or cheated in some way, or even the risk of getting into legal trouble. These risks, amongst others, are why people worry about the safety of internet betting.
Although it’s not a bad thing to be careful of the risks involved, the fact is that there’s not really much to be concerned about. Very few men and women who bet online have to face any actual security problems, and there’s no reason why you need to either. Preventing the dangers and protecting yourself is actually pretty easy.
Not convinced? Then this guide is exactly what you want. We look at every one of the most common security concerns concerning online gambling, and explain the steps you can take to make sure those concerns DON’T turn into a reality.
Getting Ripped Off or Cheated
This is definitely the most common security concern we hear about. Lots of individuals worry that online gaming websites simply can’t be trusted, and we understand why. Over the years there’ve been several gambling sites guilty of some or all of the next.
Disappearing with customer funds.
Not honoring winning wagers.
Not paying withdrawals, or paying very late.
The fact that these things have occurred at all reflects poorly on the internet gaming sector. It should not even be possible for websites to rip their customers off or to treat them unfairly.
Regrettably it IS possible though, and we are not shocked that it happens. There are always going to be individuals on the planet who try to scam or cheat others rather than make an honest living. And in some ways the world wide web has made it easier than ever to get away with it.
Bearing this in mind, it’s not exactly surprising that some folks don’t enjoy the idea of betting online for real money. They’re simply not familiar with the risk of being ripped off or cheated, and who can blame them?
The good thing is that it’s not really that big of a risk.
Individuals do get ripped off and cheated from online betting websites. We’d be lying if we said otherwise. That doesn’t mean that online betting is fundamentally unsafe though.
In fact, we’d even go as far as to state that the reverse is true! There are a few shady sites which operate unethically (to put it mildly), but they’re the exception rather than the rule. Most betting sites are totally safe to use, and may be trusted to treat their customers in the ideal way.
Hence the trick to staying safe is just to avoid the shady websites and stick together with the legitimate ones. But how can you do so? How can you know which websites can definitely be trusted?
This is simpler than you may think. Do a little research to determine which sites meet the following criteria.
Licensed and regulated by a reputable body.
Been in business for several years.
Favorable online reviews.
Deficiency of unwanted reports/complaints.
The very first item on this list is especially important. Any site that is not licensed and controlled should be avoided in any way costs. That does not mean it’s possible to just blindly trust any site that does have an internet gaming permit though. Some licenses are really simple to get that they’re hardly even plausible. Others are only issued to websites that comply with VERY strict rules and regulations. To learn more, please see the report we have listed below.
Online Gambling & The Role of Licensing Authorities
The duration of time a site has been working is a really great measure of their validity. Shady sites do not last too long, as they’re constantly getting closed down for one reason or another. So if a site has existed for several decades, it is very likely to be one you can expect.
Online reviews are a great way to discover more about a betting site. If a website has plenty of favorable reviews, that is obviously a good sign. Particularly when those reviews are from those who have really used those sites. Actual user reviews typically paint the most accurate picture.
WARNING
You need to be careful about expecting review websites. There are tons of sites which review betting websites and other gaming sites, but they are not all 100% honest. Some of them get paid to post positive reviews, so that you can’t expect to get unbiased opinions. Be especially wary when each review appears to be positive, and all sites get 5 stars or 10/10 ratings.
We’ve got our own review section here at GamblingSites.com. Our reviews ARE honest, and based on a combination of their own experiences and extra research. We write concerning the good and the bad, providing our readers with balanced views and the information that they really must understand.
When a gambling site does engage in unethical behaviour, it is very likely that the people affected will publicly state their concerns for everyone to see. That is why we advocate trying to find negative reports and complaints. Simply do a Google search using the site name and”scam,””criticism,” or something similar. If there’s anything bad you should be aware of, you’ll probably find it. If you do not find anything, then that is a fantastic sign.
Please be aware that none of those individual criteria we’ve discussed here GUARANTEES a website is a trusted. If you put them together you may be pretty confident that a site is untrue, but you still will need to proceed with caution if you want to protect yourself. We advise testing a site out with little deposits until you’re absolutely sure they can be trusted.
We realize that most people who gamble online, or wish to, would like to simply sign up using a website and begin placing their wagers right away. Assessing various distinct websites and testing them out is simply too much hassle. They still wish to keep safe though. Luckily, we’ve got an answer to this problem.
We’ve done the hard work, having researched and tested a broad range of betting sites. According to our findings, we have compiled of list of recommended sites that we think are the best around. This is ultimately only our opinion, but one thing’s for sure. Each and each of the recommendations is secure to use. They are all legitimate, trustworthy and reliable. We just wouldn’t recommend them otherwise.
Best Sports Betting Sites As recommended by GamblingSites.com
Breaking the Law
Why would anyone be worried about breaking the law when betting online? Anyone who resides in a country where online betting is completely legalized or regulated might be wondering this. Regrettably, in different countries around the world, there are those who completely understand why breaking the law is in question.
These people genuinely do not know if it is legal for them to place wagers online, since the online betting laws in their countries are outdated, confusing or both. It’s not clear what’s legal and what is not, so people naturally worry that putting an internet wager may be breaking the law.
Now, we are not lawyers. We’ve researched the legislation relating to online gambling broadly though, and we’ve come to two very clear conclusions. The first is that many online gambling legislation is aimed at people who provide online gaming services and operate gambling websites. The next is that there are not any laws that explicitly allow it to be illegal for an individual to place a sports bet online.
What does this mean for you?
Well, in our view it means that there is hardly any danger of getting into legal trouble for betting online. We can’t say for certain that you are 100% safe from breaking the law, but we actually don’t think that is an issue.
It is important that you steer clear of betting sites which may be operating lawfully though. The folks operating an illegal website are far more likely to face prosecution compared to clients, but why risk it? Even in the event that you don’t get detained (and you probably won’t), guess what happens when an illegal betting site gets broken? All their assets get captured, which means you’re likely lose any money you have at the website.
There are plenty of gaming sites which operate lawfully within the jurisdictions where they’re based. Including ALL the websites that we recommend. Stick with them and you should not have to worry about any legal issues.
Personal Details Being Sold or Stolen
These are just two distinct risks actually. The danger of your personal information being offered is easily averted, as you just must use one of our recommended betting sites. All these are legit sites that just do not engage in this kind 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’ll keep your personal details private, because your safety is important to them.
Using reputable and trustworthy sites will also reduce the chances of your personal information being stolen. These websites use the latest encryption and security technologies to make sure that your information is as secure as it can be. There is still SOME risk unfortunately, as even the most reputable companies in the world are ultimately susceptible to hackers. Just ask Microsoft, Sony or even Amazon. These companies have been hacked and had client information stolen.
Realistically, there’s only a tiny chance your personal information will ever be stolen from an online betting site. Tiny enough that it is not even worth worrying about it. What is more probable is that the info will be stolen from YOU when you’re getting and utilizing betting sites.
Below are a few security tips which can help you to keep your information safe, and prevent unauthorized access to your gambling 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.
Don’t give your usernames or passwords to ANYONE.
Change your passwords frequently.
Use odd security questions/answers.
Don’t send banking info via email, live chat or Skype. Simply enter it directly at a gaming website, where everything is going to be encrypted and protected.
Becoming Addicted
This is not the same sort of risk to the others mentioned so far. It is a very real risk, however, and one which you should definitely be aware of. A small percentage of people do get hooked on online betting, or at least experience some type of problem gambling. If you would like to remain safe from these dangers, it is crucial that you gamble responsibly.
Your first step must be to set a budget based on how much you are prepared to deposit online. This should ideally be a weekly funding or even a monthly budget. It needs to be money which you can afford to lose, and that is not required for anything more important.
Then you have to be quite strict about sticking to your budget. Don’t justify overspending by stating”just this once” or”I’ll win it back.” That’s how problem gambling begins, and things can soon escape control. Don’t ever borrow money to wager with . If you do not have the money yourself, then you shouldn’t be betting. It is that easy.
Be mindful that most online betting sites allow you to place your own deposit limitations. Please take advantage of this if you believe overspending will be something you struggle with. It is an extra layer of security that you may be thankful for later.
We also recommend learning about bankroll management and staking plans. This can help you stay in control, and it can even enhance your overall chances of winning cash.
Please be aware that it’s best to refrain from gaming all together in the event that you’ve got an addictive nature. You might have the ability to stay in control, but you may not. It’s simply not worth the danger.
Summary There is no actual reason why online betting should not be a completely safe experience. There are some dangers involved for sure, but most of these risks could easily be averted. You just need to have a few straightforward precautions.
If you only remember one thing in this article, let it be this; that websites you decide to use CAN and WILL make a difference. By adhering to legal and legitimate sites which can be trusted, you’ll have the ability to remove lots of the frequent security issues. Should you also gamble responsibly, and require some security measures to protect yourself, you’ll be safe.
Then you can focus on having fun and trying to acquire some money, which is just what online sports betting is all about.
Read more: allcitynewsonline.com