How to Pick Out Credible Online Casino Operator

Undoubtedly, online casinos are now all the rage. In September 2021, New Jersey and Michigan posted record money revenues from internet gaming products, and in the UK, remote betting is the most massive gambling sector by GGY, with £3.1 billion. Casino-style gaming is responsible for an ever-growing percentage of the revenues this category pulls in. Thus, there is no doubt that without it, this global industry has no chance of reaching its projected goal of hitting a global market size of £116 billion by 2028.

Given the rapid expansion of this sector, new operators enter this mix every week. By some estimates, there are over 3,000 interactive gaming platforms on the World Wide Web just like you find the best apparel store and the best gardening stores online. That number is swelling at a dramatic pace, as established gambling corporations are continuously releasing new brands to cater to every niche imaginable. Also, smaller unknown entities are unleashing their platforms which look and operate identically to ones by sector juggernauts. While most of these are relatively safe, there are some shady sites out there. These may refuse to payout wins and do little to safeguard user data. That is why it is essential for all parties interested in partaking in this pastime to only do so at reputable UK platforms and proven casinos not on GamStop. Below, a breakdown follows regarding some of the most vital criteria any online gambler should implement when evaluating a potential gaming home.

Licensing & Safety

Keeping player information secure should be a top priority for every online gambling operator. Thankfully, every regulator operating in the sector mandates that their licensees implement data encryption technology. The most popular kind is Secure Socket Layer data ciphering, better known as SSL encryption. It jumbles up all information a gambler shares with his chosen site that only these two sides can read since they are the only ones that have the appropriate keys to unscramble it.

Naturally, the UKGC is the top European regulator by all accounts. However, offshore ones like those from Curacao, Malta, and Panama are also legitimate. Moreover, they have spent more time in this sphere than the UKGC, which got birthed in 2007. For comparison, international overseeing bodies like eGaming Curacao and the Malta Gaming Authority sprung up in 1996 and 2001, respectively. These are the organizations that license casinos not registered with GamStop. So, there is no reason to fear such internet gaming services since most casinos not blocked by GameStop adhere to the same rules as those monitored by the UKGC because you can’t stop it with physical standard fence gates.

Payment Method Diversity

Any quality online casino will offer a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options, including renowned debit/credit cards, e-wallets, pre-paid solutions, and even cryptocurrencies. Due to mounting public pressure, the UKGC banned credit cards from its approved platforms. That occurred due to recent statistics showing that gambling addiction is on the rise in Britain. So, the UKGC acted swiftly by removing debt accumulation payment methods from UK online casinos in April 2020. Credit cards a still an available choice for deposits at foreign non GamStop casinos.

In general, concerning fiat money, e-wallets offer the fastest processing times. They can unite gamblers with their winnings within 24 to 48 hours. Credit/debit cards are super secure, but they can incur wait periods of over five banking days. Wire transfer is an old-school method that is still widely in play. Yet, its processing timeframe is even longer than those of Visa and MasterCard. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to play at a site that has all of the options mentioned in this subheading, as operators often restrict bonuses for e-wallet users.

Promo Robustness

Casino promotions are the secret engine that drives the interactive gaming sector. It is an aspect of this industry that most substantially sets it apart from land-based establishments. Virtually all online operators offer a deposit promotion on sign-up, which usually matches the funds a player fuels his gaming balance using a pre-defined percentage. Complimentary reel-rotations called free spins often get added to this mix. It is a warning sign if a gambling site has no registration deal whatsoever.

Following the depletion of free-play funds via a welcome bonus, online casino enthusiasts should expect to snag further deposit matches called reload bonuses and participate in loyalty schemes that yield multiple generous perks. The string of deals on hand should be never-ending for existing players. Platforms that are stingy in giving out bonus cash may be unreliable. They may not have adequate backing or are not willing to follow industry trends.

Game Portfolio Vastness

Everyone signs up with an internet casino to test their luck on games of chance. Therefore, it is ideal for a site with adequate security and robust promos to feature hundreds of gaming products. Of course, slots are the most-played games in all casino lobbies, but live dealer tables are etching closer to closing this wide gap with each passing year. They offer many of the thrills associated with brick-and-mortar gaming in an authentic casino-like setting.

Other top gaming choices include lottery products like keno, scratch cards, and bingo. Video poker is also an online staple. It is the only casino game where the player can gain an advantage over the house in a specific set of circumstances. Note that it is not only necessary for a site to house titles from all these genres. These must get certified for fairness from quality testing boards like TST, eCOGRA, and iTech Labs.

Quality Service & Responsible Gambling Features

There is no escaping the fact that problems will arise with the use of any gambling site at some point. Hence, it is crucial that every operator does their best to swiftly resolve all issues stemming from a player’s use of their gaming service. The best avenue for attaining such a quick resolution is always the live chat window. Premium operators have this window functioning 24/7. At least, that is the norm for most top casinos not on GamStop. UK-based ones are more likely to have it operating only during standard working hours or until midnight. That said, UK sites differ from international platforms in that some of them still have phone support, which many consider a thing of the past. In short, the golden trifecta of customer support options no gambling site should be without is live chat, email, and an FAQ section.

No site should also be without responsible gambling features. These can get found on a player’s profile page, and they allow him to set deposit/loss limits and self-exclude once he believes that he can no longer control himself when betting online.

UK Platforms vs. Non-GamStop Casinos

The UKGC does its absolute best to curb the potential dangers of playing games of chance over the internet. It incorporates several anti-addiction measures that casinos not on GamBan and GamStop do not utilize. These include lower max wager limits, wait times of two-and-a-half seconds per spin, and no auto-play function. Furthermore, participation in the GamStop self-exclusion network is obligatory for all platforms operating under the UKGC umbrella. Once a gambler activates this option at one UK site, he can no longer play at any operator active in this network until his chosen self-exclusion timeframe elapses.

Non-GamStop casinos have responsible gambling features, but they do not go to the extreme to curb betting addiction the way the UKGC does. The allure of casinos found on websites like non-gamstop-casinos.com lies in that they provide games unavailable to the UK market, have more liberating gameplay, better VIP programs, and offer the use of niche transaction methods.

Final Piece of Advice

Selecting a decent and credible online casino is no simple task. Nonetheless, it can get achieved if interested parties follow the standards discussed above. Doing so guarantees that the digital gambling home they choose will keep their info safe and always give them their winnings. One thing to never forget when betting online is that this activity requires a cool head. No one should chase losses, and everyone should stop when they want to keep wagering even though they are on a losing streak. Knowing when to quit is the main factor in gambling remaining, an entertainment-based pastime, and not a danger to a player’s financial health.