The first rule of online gambling? Never talk about online gambling. The second rule? Always be aware that other people are out to take your money, either legally or illegally. The legal aspect you probably expect, but the illegal may be a surprise to you. It’s that element that you need to be wary of. Scam casinos, cheating players and poorly-designed software are all working against you when you step out into the online gambling world.
You may be asking yourself: Is it worth it? If you’re looking for a good time and excited by the prospect of gambling in your own home, then of course it is. And if you follow this guide, you’ll be more than ready to take on this world, despite its dangers. Remember: There is plenty of worry-free fun to be had IF you take the proper steps to ensure that you play safe before you get started.
The key to playing safe is to find a great and legitimate online casino. Other casinos may have bigger bonuses, flashier sites or more favorable lines than the site you actually choose to play with, but those sites may not have the kind of track record that you need to ensure safe play. This site is full of articles about both spotting scam sites and how to go about evaluating a legitimate site, so rather than rehash them, let these articles guide you to the ideal casino:
- How to Spot a Scam Casino
- Choosing a Valid Sportsbook
- Common Online Gambling Scams
Once you’ve decided on a casino, you have gotten over the hard part, but there are still dangers lurking. Once you sign up and make your deposit, you have essentially turned over some hard-earned cash and your personally identifiable information to someone on the faith of your research. If you do get scammed, read up on your (admittedly VERY limited) options in our article “So You Have Been Scammed.”
In addition to the more general articles above, we have some tips specific to new players:
- Don’t play games that you’re unfamiliar with for money. No matter how easy it is, you can’t be sure that other players aren’t out to take advantage of your naiveté and play unfairly. Plus, you will never be able to spot a (perhaps intentional) glitch in the site’s software that puts you at a disadvantage if you don’t know how the game is going to work. If the game looks exciting to you, then go through the trouble to learn its ins and outs.
- Don’t play with gamblers that are out of your league. Heighten your odds of not being taken advantage of by not playing games of chance against people who seem to be hanging around the site a lot, looking for people to scam. Remember: The casinos aren’t the only ones who can pull a scam in the online world. Players have their tricks, too.
- Know you have to wait at a good casino. You may be in a rush to get down to the business of gambling, but good casinos will want to verify you are who you say you are before you lay your first bet. Because of the prevalence of identity thieves and con artists online, be grateful for this and consider yourself lucky to be at a casino where they value honesty.
