Published on June 28th, 2019 | by Bibhuranjan

How to Protect Yourself When Gambling Online

The thrill of striking it big at a casino is difficult to match. Turning a sweet bonus or free spins into a massive win on the slots is tough to beat, too. Getting on a hot streak at the craps table is something that’s straight out of the movies.

Taking down a bunch of would-be experts at a poker table? You just might be the next Mike McDermott.

As fun as live casino action can be, the allure of the brick and mortar scene continues to wilt. Gamblers now have the freedom to access online casinos from the comfort of their own hope or can bet on sports from anywhere.

Of course, that freedom and versatility doesn’t come without some risk. Obviously losing the money you play with is something you walk into knowingly, but what about protecting yourself online?

If you already gamble online or plan to, consider these easy steps to protect yourself:

Play at Websites You Can Trust

The first step to protecting yourself when gambling is looking for trustworthy online casinos. It sounds simple enough, but there are fraudulent reviews, blacklisted sites and sneaky scams littering the internet.

You need to work at dodging the sketchy sites and focus on reputable online casinos that offer a unique but stable product. Searching around for information on various websites via forums, trusted review sites (normally ones that don’t pay to get posted) and social media is one great way to learn which websites you can trust.

Reputability also comes in the form of grading and general popularity. Typically the more well-known an online casino is, the easier it is to trust. If they’ve been around a good amount of time, have a large user base and offer a wide range of games and banking options, they’re usually safe to roll with.

The exact criteria to use is up to you. Just make sure you feel good about the sites you land on and play at.

Log in Securely

Whether you play on a mobile device or your computer, you can take measures to log onto the internet in a safe manner. This can include a password protected device, double-verification, fingerprint identification and also a good password.

A good rule of thumb is to change your passwords regularly and avoid easy-to-guess passwords. The more you keep identify thieves and hackers on their toes, the less likely they are to snag your information.

You can do the same with the payment methods you use, as well as the actual log in for the casino you play at online. In addition, try to use only your own trusted internet connection. If you do use another Wi-Fi hotspot, try to make sure it’s trusted and secure.

Do your best to make sure you check all of the boxes in securing yourself as best as possible. You can’t really control how secure the actual sites you’re playing at are, but if you take your own precautions you’ll be setting yourself up nicely in terms of online protection.

Avoid Websites That Have Been Breached

After your own security measures, you can try considering where to play based on website security as well.

Perhaps this goes directly into which online casinos you’ll play at above all other things, but doing your best to stay away from sites that have already had security issues certainly isn’t a bad idea.

Any online entity is subject to hacking. Target of all places was hacked and banks and other companies have security breaches all the time. Avoiding sites that have already seen their security wall drop isn’t a bad idea, though.

For the sites that have had public breeches, you can still consider them if they’ve taken serious measures to correct these issues. Just be aware of how sites have made themselves vulnerable to attacks in the past and how they’ve corrected past issues.

Play Safely and Wisely

Protecting yourself online isn’t just about picking the right website or avoiding various levels of scams. It’s also about protecting yourself from, well, yourself.

Setting strict bankroll limits is really good for your progression and ultimate success as a player, but it’s also good for the mind. Stick to that gambling budget and even consider taking specific days or weeks off away from your hobby.

Everything should be done in moderation and online casino gaming is no different. You may not ever have a problem with gambling, but gambling addiction is still a real issue. Avoid it by setting boundaries for you and your cash.

On top of your own bankroll management, you can also use website tools to restrict yourself access to the casinos. These can keep you out of your account and/or limit funds based on your own predetermined guidelines.

Overall, you are playing at online casinos because you like the games and want to win money. But you certainly don’t want to invite negativity in this time of fun, relaxation and entertainment.

To ensure the fun times stay that way, find sites you can trust and make sure they pass the eye test. Protect yourself further with strong security all around and also make sure you’re keeping tabs on your own betting habits.

Gambling online can be loads of fun. Take a few precautionary steps to make sure it stays that way.

Tags: casino, gambling, scam, security

About the Author

Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.