It is quite common for anyone that is new to online gambling to have a few questions as well as some fears about the legitimacy of it all.
After all, in a land-based casino, everything is done before your eyes while at an online casino the results are all determined by computers and software.
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This is why it is understandable that some people will have questions such as “are online slots safe to play?” or “can I trust the online casinos?”.
The short answer to both of these questions is yes…in general.
Online gambling has come a long way since it first hit the internet and while there have been teething issues early on, we are now at a stage where we can honestly say that in the main, it is a safe environment for players.
There are many regulatory authorities in place to keep watch over the online casinos and the software and games such as online slots.
These authorities have pretty much put paid to most illegally run online casinos over the years but there are probably still some illegal operations about.
However, as long as you are diligent and do your research beforehand, you should be able to avoid them and instead play your online slots at reputable online casinos.
Are Online Casinos Safe To Play At?
There are literally hundreds of online casinos all over the world and while some of them are excellent, there are others that would probably be best avoided.
While you might think it is difficult to sort the good from the bad, there are actually a number of things you can do to give yourself a better
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The key is knowing what to look for and knowing how to make sure that the online casino you are playing at is a trusted one with a good reputation.
As long as you can make sure you establish the casino’s reputation before you sign up and deposit some money, there is a high chance that you will be playing in a safe environment.
How Can I Tell If An Online Casino Is Safe?
There are a number of things you can do to determine whether an online casino is safe to play at.
These days most of them are safe as there are regulatory authorities watching over them but this is not always a guarantee.
The first thing you can do is check to see if they are regulated and by who.
Most online casinos will have their licensing information in the footer of the page on the website or casino.
Once you have seen who they are licensed by, you can then check with that regulatory authority to confirm whether it is true.
They will always share this kind of information as they also want to make sure that any online casino is not using fake licensing information.
Once you have established that an online casino is being regulated, you should then check what regulations they actually have to adhere to.
You will be able to establish these regulations by going to the licencing authorities’ websites.
You should be looking out for regulations regarding the random checking and auditing of the online casinos and their software and gaming equipment.
You should also be checking to see if they are forced to use security technology such as 128-bit SSL encryption and whether they are forced to keep player funds separate to operating funds.
The final way to establish whether an online casino is both safe to play at and recommended by players is to read reviews online.
A simple search on Google about an online casino will tell you a lot about the place you are thinking to enjoy some online gambling at.
- Check if they are licensed
- Check out the regulatory authority and determine the regulations the online casinos must adhere to
- Read reviews online to determine their reputation among other players
If you can heed all of the advice above, you should be able to find yourself an online casino that is not only safe to play at but also one that offers some good quality gaming action.
As well as regulatory authorities there are also independent regulators out there such as eCogra that will give their seal of approval to any online casino that meets their standards.
If you see an online casino that has been given this seal of approval and is also regulated, you will have found an online casino that is considered safe by many.
What Regulations Do Online Casinos Have To Adhere To?
The specific regulations that an online regulatory authority demands that online casinos under their jurisdiction adhere to will change depending on the particular regulatory authority.
However, there are some common regulations that most will share with there being a few differences in the specifics.
Below are just a few of those common regulations that most regulatory authorities will demand from any online casino that they have licensed.
- Regular RNG testing and the power to have this done randomly
- Players funds to be kept separate from all other operating funds
- ID verification must be completed alongside strict policies
- The online casinos must promote responsible gambling
- Technologies such as 128-bit SSL encryption must be utilised
All of the policies above are what you will find that most reputable regulatory authorities will demand from the online casinos that operate from within their jurisdiction.
Each of them has been designed purposely to protect the players at the online casinos.
What Is RNG?
RNG stands for random number generators and this is the software behind online slots that determines the result of each spin.
This software is designed to be completely random so that every spin could be any possible result for the player.
It works by randomly spitting out a different number every millisecond and depending on the moment you hit ‘spin’ on the online slot, you will be given that number and the result on the reels that it represents.
RNGs are monitored and tested by regulatory authorities to ensure that they are fair for players.
Regulatory authorities also have the power to conduct these tests randomly as well as the yearly tests that are carried out.
If any online casino is found to have tampered with the RNGs to give themselves even more of an advantage over the players, they can be fined, lose their license and even face prosecution.
Why Is Regulation Important?
Could you imagine what it might be like if there were no regulatory authorities making sure that online casinos were fair?
There would never be a way to know for sure if you were getting a fair deal.
Online casinos could essentially just determine their own RNGs for their games and literally steal money from players through providing games that are far from being fair.
With online regulation, these online casinos are forced to comply with strict regulations.
This means that there will be some big consequences to their business and their reputation should they not adhere to these regulations.
We should be very thankful for the work that these regulatory authorities put in on our behalf.
With them watching our backs we can feel much safer whenever we feel like enjoying a session of online gambling.
What Online Casinos Do You Recommend?
If you would rather not go looking for an online casino for yourself and do the work of checking to make sure that it is reputable, you could just take a look at a few that we know for sure are reputable and safe for you to play at.
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Mr Green Casino
Mr Green Casino is one of our favourites for a number of reasons but the fact that it is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission has to be among the best of them.
This online casino has won multiple awards over the years and once you test it out you will see why.
They have been serving customers online for almost ten years now and in that time they have amassed a large collection of almost 300 online slots from developers such as Microgaming and BetSoft.
Mr Green will also appeal due to an excellent loyalty scheme and some good bonuses which players can take advantage of.
If you are looking for an online casino that you can trust that also has the very best slots in the industry, then look no further than Mr Green Casino.
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Betfair Casino
Betfair Casino is another online casino that we know operates in a completely fair manner and always does its best to protect its players.
This online casino has been operating since 2006 and is regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority.
With more than 100 games on offer which are primarily from Playtech, Betfair certainly has enough to keeps its players interested.
Where Betfair really stands out though is through its top-quality mobile optimisation which means it can be played on all mobile devices.
There is also an excellent welcome bonus, a worthy loyalty scheme and regular weekly bonuses for players to make use of.
We highly recommend Betfair and can guarantee that it is among the safest online casinos around – hence why it has been operating since 2006.
No shady online casino will have been able to operate that long before being found out.
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William Hill Casino
Our final recommendation will no doubt be well known by many of you that are from the UK.
William Hill is steeped in history in the United Kingdom and you will see their bookies in the high streets in every town and city.
With that in mind, you can definitely trust William Hill due to the many years that they have been involved in the gambling industry both online and offline.
As for the games on offer, there are more than 200 of them to keep you interested.
This includes:
- Online Slots
- Progressive Jackpot Games
- LIVE Dealer Games
- Table Games
These are supplied by some of the leading casino game developers out there, so you will always have something fun to play.
Other benefits of playing at William Hill include being able to place sports bets, having access to a high-quality customer service and a wide range of payment options.
You really should check out William Hill if you are on the lookout for a new online casino to try.
You will not be disappointed and can be certain that a brand that first launched in 1934 is one that can be completely trusted.
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Final Thoughts
When online gambling first became a thing more than 20 years ago, it was certainly a bit of a minefield.
There have been many stories from the early years that really painted online gambling in a bad light.
However, the industry has vastly improved since then and through online regulation, online casinos, in general, are now recognised as being safe for players to enjoy some gambling.
So the next time you start to ask yourself “Are online slots safe to play?” you now know the answer.
All you have to do is use a bit of care when choosing your online casino and by doing a bit of research and it will not be hard to find an online casino that you can put your trust in.
You can browse where to play online slots in the UK here>>
Their slots will be perfectly safe and fair and you will have the peace of mind that you actually stand a good chance of walking away with a win or two.
We do not only recommend these casinos because they are safe either, we also recommend them for being exceptional in most other areas as well.
Furthermore, you could just use one of our recommended online casinos instead as we have already established how safe they are.
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