Gambling and gaming at online casinos have evolved massively over the years, with a boom in mobile and live tables being just the tip of the iceberg. However, one thing that hasn’t changed over the past two decades is the concept of risk.
Whenever you play games with real money at an online casino, you risk losing it. Unfortunately, you’re never guaranteed a win on slot games or casino tables, regardless of how lucky you feel and what the house edge might be.
Therefore, keeping a close eye on your gambling habits and keeping a tight rein on your bankroll while exploring different titles in a game catalogue is important.
In this guide, we’ll take you through what you need to know about responsible gambling tips and how to keep your money and data safe while playing tables, slots and more.
What to look out for when gambling online
The number one rule of playing casino games online is to only ever choose a site that’s regulated fully by its local jurisdictions. This is normally easy to spot by looking at the bottom of a website’s homepage, which should list different regulator badges and certificates.
For example, it’s always wise to check if the site complies with The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 associated with all land- and remote-based casinos, or The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956-2019 for iGaming and lotteries. This tells you that the site is registered with the regulator and that its games and practices are above board and within the scope of the law.
It’s also worth noting that the government is creating a separate gambling authority, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which will independently regulate the Irish gambling industry. Look out for the GRAI badge on casinos once the authority has launched, as this will tell you that the site is fully regulated in the country.
However, there’s more that you could be looking for when researching new online casinos and finding different games to play. Here are a few responsible gambling tips to try when assessing a site.
Check a casino’s security
You should never consider gambling at a casino that uses unsecured protocols or doesn’t have the latest security certificates. The casino is responsible for making sure that its site is completely secure against data leakage, including any card or e-wallet details you might save to an account.
To start with, look for the padlock next to the URL of any casino you visit. This appears in most web browsers and tells you that the site is running on a secure protocol. Another telltale sign that you’re playing at a safe site is the appearance of ‘HTTPS’ in the web address.
HTTPS tells us that a casino uses the secure version of the older, standard hypertext transfer protocol. Websites and casinos using the older HTTP prefix are no longer considered safe to use. Avoid these sites because there’s a risk that any data you send through them could be intercepted or leaked.
Be careful with deals
Many online casinos try to attract customers by offering big freebies and bonus codes when they sign up and make a deposit. However, there are some offers that are too good to be true.
For instance, you might find that some casinos offer huge cash-matching bonuses but expect you to wager it back hundreds of times over before you can withdraw money. In other cases, you might be restricted to certain games or unable to withdraw cash at all.
It’s reasonable to expect casinos to offer some terms and conditions. However, some casinos are more restrictive than others. Always make sure that you read what’s in the terms and conditions, even if it might seem like a boring job!
Look for responsible gambling tools
In the majority of cases, online casinos pitched to Irish players offer responsible gambling tools that help them manage their money.
In some cases, you can freeze your account by request, meaning that you can ask a casino to lock your account until further notice. You can do this temporarily or permanently.
Other casinos provide bankroll limits. This means that you can ask a casino to prevent any deposits from being made into your account or to restrict how much you can spend in a given time period. These tools are incredibly useful in helping people manage their gambling money better.
The most responsible online casinos also list details for different gambling help resources or downloadable programs, including BetBlocker or GamBan, where you can self-impose gambling bans on your devices for free. Other subscription tools are also available from providers, such as BetFilter, if you feel that your gambling is out of control.
It’s always wise to use responsible gambling tools provided by casinos if they are available. However, it’s also healthy to set yourself limits for walking away from a game, regardless of whether you’re winning or losing.
Look for a variety of top games
As responsible gambling tips go, this one’s a bit of a ‘sleeper’ in that not everyone practises it. If you’re well-versed in casino games, slots and developers, then there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise some of the most popular and trusted brands online.
Therefore, be careful if you find a casino that just offers games you’ve never heard of, or that seems to offer little insight into their gameplay.
A casino with a range of varied games from top developers is more likely to be reputable than a smaller outfit with a suspicious range of low-quality titles.
We’re not suggesting that all casinos offering rarer games and titles from smaller developers aren’t to be trusted! What we are suggesting is that you do your research as much as you can, and if your gut instinct tells you that there’s something ‘off’ about the way that a catalogue is laid out or the games that are on offer, then you should step away and avoid paying in.
What to know when gambling online
Now that we’ve looked at some of the most important things to spot when getting started at new casinos, let’s consider some of the healthiest behaviours to exercise once you actually start playing.
Not all casinos follow the same rules
It’s worth noting that while our responsible gambling tips apply to the whole of the online gambling experience, not all casinos and gambling sites will be the same. Therefore, take each casino as it appears and make sure to apply your own judgement.
You’re never guaranteed a win
This is a golden rule that all casino players need to follow at one point or another! Even if the odds seem to be in your favour, there’s never a guarantee that a game is going to pay out, regardless of whether it’s a card table, a slot, or even pachinko.
Therefore, keep an open mind. Remember that the games developed for online casinos are random by design, and that the odds are always high for a reason – casinos are running businesses, of course!
Again, set yourself limits before you make a deposit and start playing with real money. You’ll be safer that way, trust us!
You might need to provide ID
As part of regulatory challenges in the country, casinos operating within the various betting and gaming acts need to ask for full identification and age before admitting new customers.
You know that you’re dealing with a reputable casino when you’re asked for proof of passport, driving licence or otherwise – however, just to be careful, always check the licensing and regulation of a website and check the data processing policy for your ID.
You don’t have to accept a bonus offer
Bonus codes are, in many cases, completely optional. Therefore, if you don’t feel comfortable signing up to a casino and paying into the welcome deal because of its terms, you can usually sidestep it.
Again, always make sure to check the terms and conditions of a welcome bonus deal before you register and make a deposit. You don’t have to accept them if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.
Best practices for safe gambling
Let’s close with a few other quick responsible gambling tips to remember when you’re playing cards, slots or other games online.
Don’t chase wins or losses
There are no patterns to winning or losing – it’s all completely random! Chasing winning or losing streaks will burn through your bankroll and put you at risk.
Use casino-provided tools to limit your bankroll, and withdraw when you reach the limits you set for yourself.
Use banking methods you’re comfortable with
If you don’t want to use a debit card at a casino, try using a secure wallet option instead. Look for casinos that accept lots of different payment and withdrawal methods, and that don’t require lots of your sensitive data just to process funds.
Always play on secure networks
Practice general browsing safety when gambling online. If you’re paying into a casino, only ever connect to a fully secured Wi-Fi network or your private 4G or 5G.
Never play casino games on an unsecured network or a public hotspot. These are open for hacking and data leakage, meaning that any financial details you share while connected are at risk.
In many cases, staying safe while gambling online is a case of employing common sense. However, given that online casinos have evolved massively over the past few years, it’s not always easy to know how to take care of your gambling activities. Follow our tips and step away when you’ve reached your limits online!
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