Can you trust online casinos
Of course, the big money involved in online gambling will always attract unscupulous operators, so it's always wise to be wary of new casinos. Our recommended casinos have all been around for enough time to prove themselves trustworthy and reliable - and in the unlikely event that any of them prove to be the opposite, we'll get rid of them immediately. US players welcome!
Do online casinos cheat?
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Can you trust online casinos?
Gambling is all about taking risks, but you don't want to add uneccessary risks by playing at a casino that will cheat you out of your winnings, or not allow you to win at all.
Some gamblers insist that all online casinos are rigged, that 'impossible' things happen too often for them to be truly random.
This view is fairly widespread and seems odd to those of us involved in the industry. But online casino gambling is actually a victim of its own success, as the article below tries to explain.
1. Frequency of games
One of the big advantages of online gambling is that you play at your own pace. You're playing against your own version of the casino, so you don't have to wait for others to place their bets or be paid out. There are no physical chips or cards or balls, so there's no 'clearing up' to be done between games. The cards are dealt quicker, the roulette wheel takes less time to spin, the dice are always ready to be thrown.
As a result, you can play many more games per hour than you can in a land-based casino.
But there's a downside to this. Unusual events will seem to occur much more frequently than they would in a bricks and mortar casino. Not in terms of probablity, but in elapsed time.
As an example, the probability of getting 6 consecutive blacks in roulette is approximately 1 in 64.
In a real casino, it can take two minutes between spins of the wheel, so this event will only occur on average every two hours or so (2 x 64 = 128 minutes). Playing online, you can get in three spins every minute, or 180 in an hour. Suddenly, the unlikely event of 6 consecutive blacks is happening every 20 minutes (180 / 64 = 21.33).
In both cases, the probability is the same, but the impression is that an unusual event is happening six times more often when playing online, which leads players to the conclusion that the online casino must somehow be rigged.
It's perfectly understandable, and a hard misconception to shake off. Players generally don't study probability but have an innate feel for how often results come. Anything unusual makes them suspicious.
But we assure you that the random number generators used by online casinos are completely random and are constantly monitored and tweaked to ensure that the results they generate are as close to 'natural' as possible.
2. Playing alone
As mentioned above, when you play online, you're playing alone. That gives you a great amount of freedom, but there's an important psychological effect to consider.
Let's say you're playing blackjack in a real casino on a table with four other players and you hit an unlucky streak and lose ten hands in a row. It's highly unlikely that all the players at your table are having such a bad time as you - the probability is that one or more players at your table will win some of those hands.
Even though you're losing, you can see others winning, so you know that the casino is honest.
Online, you're focusing only on your own results. Because you don't see anyone else win or, more importantly, see the casino lose, those ten losing hands seem to be against all probability.
As with the roulette example above, it gives you an uneasy feeling that things are not quite right.
Think in terms of pure probability and you'll see that you've exactly the same chance of winning online that you have in a real casino.
3. Past reputations
Online gambling enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity. At times, it was like a new frontier. But like any new venture, it attracted some dubious characters along with the genuine operators.
Everyone involved in online casino gambling has to be honest about this: in the early days, some casinos cheated. It's an unfortunate fact, and for many years did nothing to improve players' confidence in the honesty of online casinos.
Fortunately, things have now changed. The online casino industry is one of the most regulated of all businesses. Most of those 'rogue' casinos have been run out of town - named and shamed and blacklisted by the numerous industry watchdogs.
These industry ombudsmen exist to uphold the image of fairness and reliability and will step in to investigate and resolve any player disputes. So long as you're playing at a regulated casino site, you'll be protected against any wrongdoing.
In the UK, things are even stricter. Since the gambling act was enforced, only regulated casinos are allowed to advertise or be promoted. In this case, regulated means licensed in an approved jurisdiction. This caused major headaches as many of the biggest casinos suddenly found themselves outside this so-called 'white list'. Most have now moved operations to places such as malta, but some have resisted and are now unable to promote to UK and EU players.
Of course, the big money involved in online gambling will always attract unscupulous operators, so it's always wise to be wary of new casinos. Our recommended casinos have all been around for enough time to prove themselves trustworthy and reliable - and in the unlikely event that any of them prove to be the opposite, we'll get rid of them immediately.
So do online casinos cheat?
In conclusion, reputable, long-standingonline casinos don't cheat, they're not rigged and they are fair.
But before you start to gamble online, you'd be well advised to check out your options. Our casino overview page is designed to allow you to compare and contrast our approved online casinos. When you've narrowed down your options, read our individual casino reviews, where you'll find all you need to know - games, bonuses, languages, deposit and withdrawal options, customer service details.
If you're nervous about starting to gamble online, we recommend you try out one or more of our secure casinos, safe in the knowledge that the casinos we approve are licensed, regulated and - above all - honest.
Which online casinos can I trust & why?
Wondering which online casinos you can trust and why? Then we have the answers on this page.
Top trusted online casinos:
| casino | our rating | bonus | free spins | visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Deposit £10 get £40   | |||
| Deposit £10 get £50   | |||
 | 100% up to £300   Why can you trust these casinos?It always pays to be as informed as possible when it comes to giving an online casino your custom, so rather than just tell you that you can trust the above casinos, we’re going to explain exactly why that’s the case. Fortunately, there are a number of major reasons why those casinos do rank so highly in terms of trustworthiness. Licensed & regulated According to the gambling act 2005, which established the commission, there are three principle aims of licensing online casinos and gambling businesses as a whole.
Being licensed by the UK gambling commission, therefore, means that online casinos are legally required to act fairly and transparently toward their customers. Verified & tested games / softwareThe above casinos, what’s more, have a lot more to recommend them when it comes to their trustworthiness beyond simply being fully licensed. The many different games they offer, for instance, are also tested and verified by independent bodies to guarantee that they are fair and are not rigged against players. One such independent organisation is technical systems testing (TST) which is an internationally recognised testing body for both the land-based and online gambling industry. Established back in 1993, TST evaluate different gambling software, games and their underlying random number generators in a process known as compliance testing. The company itself describes compliance testing as follows:
Being certified by TST, therefore, ensures and guarantees that the casinos listed above are operating according to their UK licences – licences which stipulate that they must operate fairly and openly. Gaming laboratories international (GLI) are another independent body intrinsically linked with guaranteeing the trustworthiness of online casinos. In fact, as the organisation itself explains they have come to be associated with setting the standards for trustworthy online gambling:
Certification from GLI, therefore, as has been gained by the games of many of the online casinos listed above, is yet another hallmark of trustworthiness. In a similar vein, the casinos we’ve identified as being the most trustworthy also utilise the impartial services of other independent bodies when it comes to settling disputes. Two good examples of such organisations are ecogra (ecommerce and online gambling resolution advice) and IBAS (independent betting adjudication service). Ecogra are a globally trusted name when it comes to player protection and the maintenance of online gambling standards, and provide an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service which they describe as:
Similarly, IBAS are also a third party organisation specialising in acting as:
The fact that the casinos we have listed do utilise the services of these companies to help settle disputes, therefore, means that customers can be assured of a fair and reasonable resolution of any issues, even if they do not find the casino’s own initial response to be satisfactory. Get a full look at all our ratings in the casino reviews section. Can you really trust online casinos?Can I really trust online casinos? This is a question you'll find posed on many different player forums whether it be regarding payments or the trustworthiness of online casino games and payouts. Many people who are interested in playing online are often hestitant as they have no idea how to ascertain whether or not they will be able to find an honest, safe online casino where their transactions will be secure, deposited funds will be safe and where the games aren't rigged. Here we'll take a look at various aspects of trust in online gambling and how you can best judge whether or not an online casino you play at will be trustworthy or not. A logical look at online casinos The online casino industry has been around for over more than two decades and millions of players from across the globe play at various online casinos. Of course, there have been many fly-by-night casinos that have opened and closed over the years but these are more the exception than the rule. After all, the industry would have not been able to enjoy such significant growth if there weren't legitimate operations providing players with a safe and satisfying gambling experience that ensured their repeat business. Another aspect of the industry that speaks volumes about its growth and associated repute is the fact that many online casino groups are publicly traded entities, listed on the world's various stock exchanges. In order to enjoy such a position, there is an element of transparency required by these organisations. Where you play matters When it comes to answering whether or not you can trust online or mobile casinos, the answer will ultimately come down to where you are playing. Generally online casinos operating microgaming, playtech and more recently netent software are reputable as these providers have been in the game for the better part of the industry's lifetime. Even within these groups there are more established online casino groups that you can trust. For example, in the microgaming fold groups like the palace group who own and operate betway online casino have a good reputation, as does the casino rewards group with luxury online casino and UK casino club casinos. From the playtech fold, eurogrand is a trusted name, and from netent, betsafe casino is a solid option. If you are looking at a new online casino, always consider the following aspects to determine whether or not it is a safe option:
Are online casino games rigged? As mentioned, a major concern amongst people considering playing online is whether or not the casino games in question are rigged. The truth is they could be if a developer really wanted to do it, BUT online casinos don't really have to rig games because most casino games already have a built in house edge that ensures a profit over the long term. Also, casinos would be taking a huge risk in fixing games because if anyone found out, it would mean the death of their business, so why take such a huge chance when you already have the inside track on most games? In addition, just like their land based counterparts, reputable online casinos (and yes, this is where the licensing and regulation element come into play yet again) are audited on a regular basis to ensure the fairness of their games. These results are often published for public access. With this kind of in-depth scrutiny rigging games is not possible, even if they wanted to. As you can see from the above discussion, whether or not you can trust an online casino, really comes down to where you play and finding a safe place to do so does require a little work, but it's definitely worthwhile. Can you trust an online casino?Some people may find it difficult to trust online casinos, for various reasons. It may be because casinos revolve around gambling, which some might associate with shady characters. Land-based las vegas casinos in the U.S. Did originate from mobster investments, but that was many decades ago.  Another reason people may not trust online casinos is because in the past, many online casinos used pop-up advertisements and perhaps even shady redirects. Online advertising practices were very different in 2001 than they are today. In the early days of the internet, people easily fell for scams and virus-infected websites, because everything was so new. And of course, because casinos and pornography were considered “shady” parts of the internet, you had to expect some level of risk if you visited those kinds of sites years ago. This mentality may continue today, even though online casinos (and pornography) have become a bit more ‘mainstream’. It can be disconcerting to some people that there really are just so many online casinos available. There are literally thousands of online casinos, with new ones popping up all the time. Because many of them may be shady or even outright fraudulent, it’s easy to just assume that all online casinos are untrustworthy. Finally, even though there’s so many online casinos popping up all the time, many shut down their doors just as quickly. This can leave online gamblers feeling uneasy about joining new casino websites, seeing them as a potential risk if the casino shuts down and doesn’t return player’s wallets. How can you trust an online casino?As with any website that involves cash transactions, you must do your research beforehand. There are numerous ways to verify if an online casino is legitimate or not. There are many well established online casinos with good reputations, like casumo online casino , betonline, 888casino, and others. Reading user reviews of course should give you a good idea of other user’s experience, however bear in mind that user reviews can be reflective of a vocal minority. Some people may lose money fairly, simply the nature of the game, yet choose to accuse an online casino of being rigged. There are websites, like wizard of odds, which maintain blacklists of online casinos to avoid . Do a google search for “online casino blacklist”, and check to see if an online casino you are considering using is included on any site’s list. Of course remember that not all websites may be entirely impartial. Some may add online casinos to their blacklist based on a few player complaints, and others may be bribed into besmirching legitimate online casinos. What if I believe an online casino is rigged?It’s somewhat normal to feel incredulous if you’re on a bad losing streak. If a blackjack dealer is consistently beating your hands, like always getting 21 when you get 20, it might feel like the game is stacked against you, and the RNG (random number generator) isn’t actually so “random”. To be fair, nearly all casinos games are stacked against you, even slightly. This is known as the house edge. While games like blackjack, craps, and roulette offer nearly 50-50 odds of winning, it’s not as simple as flipping a coin. There are variances that show themselves after lots of plays. If you sit down at a blackjack table and the dealer gets 3 blackjacks in a row, this might seem incredibly odd. Yet if you tracked that blackjack table over a million hands, it actually wouldn’t seem that odd at all. So if you believe an online casino software is rigged, first make sure it isn’t simply bad luck. If you truly believe something fishy is going on, you can submit a complaint to various places who can investigate for you. Sites like wizard of odds, askgamblers, casinoplayersreport, and others can investigate the online casino, and add the site to various blacklists. OUSC player survey – can online casinos be trusted?What makes an online casino trustworthy?  Online united states casinos (OUSC) conducted a month-long survey among online players to determine what factors make a casino site dependable. We wanted to know what makes people trust – or distrust – an online gambling site. Our team set off to do just that. What makes an online casino trustworthy?What we discoveredWhat factors make an online casino trustworthy?Reliable cashouts are by far the most common way an online casino establishes trust. About half as many respondents said casino reviews and recommendations were the key factors when choosing a casino. The third major factor cited was the speed of payouts, as players believe an operator which pays quickly has good cash flow and nothing to hide. Customer service and how helpful casino reps are also was a key factor that those surveyed consider. Top 10 factors players consider to determine if a casino is legit or not We asked, you answeredOur researchers at OUSC surveyed 179 players on the factors that led them to trust an online casino. We categorized the responses in 10 general categories. These factors include customer service, site security, withdrawal times, and the reliability of payouts. Our survey has a 95% confidence level in our methodology, while the margin of error is 8%. Most respondents said they do trust online casinos. However, they provided a huge variety of factors they consider when deciding which casinos are legit and which ones shouldn’t be trusted. We publish our results below. Each section will cover every main category, along with our team’s analysis, and a break down of the most interesting responses we received. Payment issues – speed & reliability (51%) Reliable cashoutsAccording to the survey, reliable withdrawals are the #1 way online casinos establish trust with players. Of the players surveyed, almost one-third of all respondents said they considered trustworthy and reliable payouts as their top concern. Some players are more concerned with truth in advertising. Others are more concerned about terms of use, such as low wagering requirements or no-deposit bonuses. Two respondents even expressed a cynical view that casinos preserve the illusion of fairness. They said they like casinos that “let you win every once in a while.” the vast majority of those who want reliable cashouts simply want one thing: to receive their winnings when it’s time for the casino to pay. Fast payoutsMany online casino gamblers look at the speed of payouts. If a site pays quickly, then it must be honest and legitimate. The fast payouts category has two type of respondents. Those who want the fastest withdrawals possible and those who don’t want to deal with slow-paying operators. It’s a big distinction. An honest and reputable online casino might not have the fastest payouts (12-24 hours), but it might have reliable payouts within a few days. Even a site which takes 48 hours to verify your identity and a payment method that takes a week is acceptable to many players if it is consistent in its withdrawal times. Sites that “flag” payments for phantom term violations or have an inordinately small withdrawal limits are different from the legit casinos that don’t have uber-fast payout times. Good bonusesAbout 3% of players consider good online bonuses to be their number one deciding factor. Players who shop for bonuses in our survey are not the wide-eyed gullible types who take any bonus, regardless of terms, simply because it’s big. Several respondents defined “good bonuses” as those with fair terms and rollover requirements that are easy to clear. Good bonuses to many players have more to do with factors like cashable winnings, no fine print, and no max cashouts. Some who cited good bonuses appeared to shop for the biggest no-deposit bonuses or deposit bonuses, but that was only a fraction of 3% of the players surveyed. About 1% of the respondents seemed to think big bonuses or lots of daily bonuses were a reason to trust an online casino. Player reviews and site reputation (14.8%) 15% of those surveyed say their main concern is the casino site’s reputation. They go with an online casino that has established a good name in the gambling community. These players read casino reviews and player recommendations. While some respondents did not say whether player reviews or third-party recommendations swayed their opinion more, a solid number said they read player reviews and complaints. Online player forumsSites like askgamblers exist, which allow players to post their honest reviews of an online casino. Players with complaints can post their issues and receive feedback and advice from other people. Sometimes, a customer representative from the casino replies to the posts. Players concerned about a site’s reputation can see how customer service handles complaints, and even see a 1-to-10 rating system for what percentage of issues are resolved. Many online casino player forums exist, providing essentially the same service. These message boards have countless threads devoted to player complaints. It is wise not to take one player’s opinion when researching a casino. This is due to disgruntled players, online trolls, and dishonest competitors might post a bad review for illegitimate reasons. Instead, when researching a casino’s reputation, get a sense of the general consensus about the website’s reputation. Site safety, security & regulations (12.9%) Theft of player identities and identity spoofing of operators, along with site security is the top concern of about 1-in-15 online gamblers. Cutting edge security technology like SSL certificates and 128-bit encryption are important to these players. Players want an online casino software free of malware. Most importantly, they want online transactions to be safe, secure, and encrypted. Those concerned about site security can take precautions. If you fear your credit card or banking information might be compromised, you can join a web wallet like neteller or skrill. This adds another layer of security to payments because you aren’t transferring your bank or credit information when you make deposits and withdrawals. Anonymity & cryptocurrenciesMany players who consider security as their topmost issue prefer to use blockchain payments. This is due to identity thieves having no way of stealing the information. For those players, bitcoin, litecoin, or ethereum are the preferred payment methods. One player gave a very detailed and complete opinion saying trust in a casino can be established by “security measures and transparency in its written or cashed out funds history with the public and gaming board supervision and US laws to enact fair play.” in contrast to another respondent who said “I just keep praying that it is as secure as they say they are and trustworthy.” It is important to note these elements among the ones most players take into consideration for deeming an online casino secure:
Regulations and supervisionMany players –7% of respondents– make signup decisions based on the government authority that certifies and regulates an online casino. Licensing information is a good place to start when choosing an online casino. Players who want to know the licensing authority can check the site’s homepage to see the seal of approval from one or more gaming authorities or gambling commissions. If you want to be doubly sure, call the regulator and ask if it licensed the online casino you’re researching. Casinomeister, a site which tracks blacklisted and rogue casinos, told an anecdote years ago. They asked a regulatory agency if it licensed the now-defunct begado casino and they said: “they’d never heard of the site”. Needless to say, the site was blacklisted. Common misconceptions about online casino safetySome respondents make decisions based on faulty assumptions. The player who only participates at casinos headquartered in the united states is likely to be choosing unwisely. Even the online casino brands active in the regulated states of new jersey, nevada, delaware, and pennsylvania usually are not based in the united states. Live customer support (9%) Roughly 10% of the respondents said live customer service instills trust in them. If they can speak to a person on the phone or interact with them in a real-time live chat feature, they feel more comfortable dealing with the online casino. That makes sense. Live customer service is the casino equivalent of the personal touch. Gamblers feel they’re dealing with real human beings. Interacting with real people isn’t enough. Customers have to feel those people are friendly, mean them well, are fluent in the language, and knowledgeable about the issue. In short, online casino players want customer support that’s helpful. Below are some of the issues players who took the survey discussed when talking about live customer service. This is what a player had to say about trusting an online casino’s customer support: Live casino experience (4%) Live dealer casinos are a growing trend in online gambling. Casinos that stream video of real-life dealers using real playing cards, spinning wheels, and dice to resolve bets has a tremendous appeal. Players accustomed to brick-and-mortar casino gaming might never get used to a random number generator (RNG). Obviously, some players will never trust an RNG to resolve bets. Live casinos restore table games to the way they were meant to be played, where the bets are resolved in an old-fashioned way. People trust peopleMuch like the responses about live customer service, interaction with a live dealer instills trust in many players. They get personal attention from a real human being in real time, instead of dealing with computer systems. The camera stays on the table at all times – usually from several adjustable angles – and so the player trusts their eyes that the game is fair. Plus, live dealer games are more entertaining, due to social reasons. It’s surprising that no more than 4% of players listed the live casino experience as their top reason to trust a casino site. Other factors that make an online casino trustworthySome of the answers were outliers which fit in no category. For instance, one respondent said: “I develop trust in a casino based on the theme. Essentially the way the site looks like.” another player said much the same thing. “I trust a site when their web pages are clean, consistent, and user-friendly.” Site aesthetics and web design are good reasons to keep playing at a casino, but we urge readers to make decisions based on reputation, trust, licensing, live interactions, the helpfulness of customer support, and the reliability of payouts. What other reasons influence an online gambler’s trust?Each of the following responses was given to our researchers when asked: what makes a gambler trust an online casino?
Casinos can’t be trusted (8%) One surprisingly common response is: “casinos can’t be trusted.” A certain number of online gamblers have lost trust in casinos, or else they never believed casinos were legitimate. Roughly 8% of the respondents expressed extreme skepticism or even cynicism about the online casino industry. Many, if not most, online casinos are licensed by gaming regulators outside the united states. Those sites do fast regulatory oversight and third-party audits for payout percentages, security issues, and fairness. Despite that, it appears 8% of american online gamblers believe casino sites cannot be trusted. Why some players may be misguided in their mistrustThese people say online casinos operate within an honor system and you can’t trust an unregulated site. That is true if you’re talking about online casinos that truly are not licensed and regulated at all. Only four US states regulate online casino gaming. Although, that does not mean a site is unlicensed. Such players probably have had bad experiences. Like someone burned once or twice in the dating scene, bettors with bad experiences sometimes assume the entire online casino industry is just as bad. This set of respondents is a good reminder that players should do their due diligence and research sites before signing up because not all online casinos are bad. Payment issues affect trustworthinessPayment issues are the number one red flag that destroys a players’ trust in an online casino. Read an online casinos’ sales copy and you might get the idea fast payments are more important, with 12 to 48 hours seemingly being the standard. Our researchers found that reliable payouts are more important than fast payments by a factor or nearly 3-to-1. If an operator takes 5 business days to pay but can be trusted to make payments consistently in that time frame, players remain loyal to the casino.  Because payments comprise over 50% of all responses, OUSC wanted to give players the tools to spot bad behavior from online casinos. The term “payment issue” can refer to a wide range of behavior. Rogue casinos have a number of tactics they use to avoid paying out in a timely and reliable fashion. From our years of covering the online gambling industry, these are the most common payment issues which destroy a player’s trust in an online casino. Types of payment issues
Can players trust online casinos?Players can trust online casinos, as long as they check warning signs, and other factors we listed above. Whatever method you use to pick an online casino, reevaluate your decision based on the new information you receive. Management and policies can change on a dime, depending on the site’s ownership situation. If you start to notice any of the activities listed above, consider them a warning that the casino operator might not be trustworthy anymore.  In conclusionAs our OUSC player trust survey, payment issues are the #1 way to spot a rogue casino. Many other factors go into a choice to deposit money in a site, but trustworthy withdrawals are the key to a fun online gaming experience. If you don’t get paid when you make a cashout request, then you never won the game in the first place. If you are still on the fence about whether or not to trust a casino, consider these factors. Weigh in your options, then choose from a reputable online casino where you can play safely and actually win real money! You may also likeIf you enjoyed reading about this OUSC exclusive survey, make sure to check out our online united states casinos gambling articles. You’ll find useful and relevant content such as interviews, surveys, research pieces, and guest posts about all things gambling. Is there a particular topic you would like to read about? Let us know! Online casinos – can you trust them? With the goal of learning more about a player’s decision-making process before visiting casino sites, the OUSC team conducted a month-long online casino survey. We surveyed more than 170 online players regarding their perception of online casinos and what made them trustworthy. We published the results and have summarized here the factors you’re looking for to know if you can trust online casinos. Top three factors that make online casinos trustworthyOur survey revealed a number of factors that players consider when choosing an online casino. Here are the top three factors people look for to know they can trust a casino. 1. Reliable and fast payoutsReliable payouts and withdrawals are the number one factor that makes players trust online casinos. About one-third of players surveyed said their top concern is finding a casino that lets them receive their winnings in a timely manner when it’s payout time. According to our survey, fast payouts are also a sign of honesty and legitimacy. Some casino sites might not have the fastest payouts, but they might have very reliable payouts within a reasonable waiting period (12 – 48 hours). The key is consistency and security. 2. Player reviews and site reputationThe old saying “your reputation precedes you” takes on a special meaning when players consider online casinos. Around 15% of our surveyees said their main concern is the casino’s reputation. There are numerous websites where the gambling community can exchange information, experiences, and reviews about online casinos. Countless threads of comments and online casino reviews create a history of every site, making it easier for players to browse and learn about what fellow gamblers have experienced. 3. Site safety, security, and regulationsThe main concern of almost 13% of the players we surveyed includes theft of player identities, identity spoofing of operators, and site security. These players look for casinos that offer cutting edge security technology like SSL certificates, 128-bit encryption, and software free of malware. Players trust casinos that offer safe, secure, and encrypted transactions. One of the most secure payment systems out there right now is bitcoin casino deposits. They have a very complex system that makes it harder to hack or steal than regular methods. Why don’t players trust online casinos?According to our survey, about 8% of online players don’t trust online casinos whatsoever. They either have lost their faith in casino sites or they never believed the casino industry was trustworthy from the beginning. Many of the respondents think online casinos operate within an honor system and are unregulated, thus they can’t be trusted. Although only four US states regulate online casino gambling, that does not mean sites are unlicensed. In most, if not all, cases, online casinos are licensed by gaming regulators outside the US that perform regulatory oversight and third-party audits for payout percentages, security issues, and fairness. Companies like ecogra offer testing certifications, with online casinos earning a seal of certification if they prove fairness within their games.  Common online casino payment issues to watch out forOur survey shows that payment issues are the number one reason players don’t trust online casinos. Take a look at the following six types of payment issues that destroy a player’s trust. Slow payingPlayers are willing to wait a reasonable amount of time for payments, like 12 to 48 hours. However, casinos lose a player’s trust when they take days, weeks, or even months for a withdrawal. Low max withdrawalsSites that have low maximum payouts per week are also losing the trust of their players. Payments in increments as low as $500 a week are a bad sign. No paymentThis is the worst case scenario. A site will definitely lose all trust and gain a bad reputation if they refuse to make a payment. Using arcane terms and conditions to refuse payment is usually a sign of a rogue operator. Terms of useTerms of use and policies that are designed to be violated by players is a huge red alert. Cashiers at this type of operators use all sorts of excuses to void winnings. Activity has been flaggedIf nothing happens when you’re losing, but when you win money your account is flagged for “suspicious activity”, be suspicious yourself. Voided bonusesRogue casinos used one-sided terms and conditions as a weapon to void a bonus or cancel out winnings. New casino sites to play real money   Play at OUSC’s top-rated US online casinosAs you can see, there are a number of factors players consider when choosing and trusting an online casino. The main factors include reliable and fast payouts, as well as the site’s reputation and security. Rest assure that the OUSC team is focused on reviewing and recommending only the safest and best online casinos for US players. Want to know what players have to say about online casinos?Make sure to visit our online casino trust survey page to get a closer look at the results and responses from real players. Related blog posts Limited time offer – mybookie special sign up bonus Get your money quick with instant withdrawal online casinos Welcome 2020 with these online casino coupon codes Diego garzon - collaboratorHe has written articles for a variety of industries including online casinos and gambling, with a special focus on online slots. Can we trust online casinos?In recent years, the popularity has increased significantly for online casinos. And today, we have numerous apps for smartphones that we can download and play some from thousands of games online. Online casinos even got more popular than the land-based casinos and significantly affected their publicity. However, since there are so many online casino companies, the question is, are they all reliable and trustworthy. There are some factors that every player should consider before putting a deposit at any casino account. In this article, we are going to present to you the most important factors that make an online casino safe for you. Why some players don’t feel safe about online casinos?Some researches say that around 10 percent of people who are gambling through online casino platforms, don’t feel so safe when it comes to sharing their data and depositing money on their accounts. The reasons for that might be that they did not ever believe in casino sites, or they had some bad experiences. Also, there are a lot of people who think that there are no regulations about online gambling, and how all of that might only be based on an honesty system. However, there are indeed only few casinos that are regulated by law, but that does not mean that any online casino could work without a proper license. However, if you are interested in reading more about the rules and regulations of online casinos, there are some websites, such as smartcasinoguide.Com, that are especially for questions and issues with possible problems and misunderstandings that players might have. What makes an online casino trustworthy?There are many factors that gamblers should pay attention to when they are choosing where to make their account. From those factors, there are three most important ones, and those are reliability, reputation, and safety. When it comes to reliability, an online casino needs to have correct and fast payouts. One of the main reasons for someone for having some trust issues with online casinos is about payments, and are they going to be in proper time. Also, players are much more interested in sites that have highest speed of payments, because it makes it more reliable. Another crucial factor that every reliable casino must have is the reputation. Since there are so many websites today that offers us the possibility of gambling there, many players don’t feel so safe because they don’t know are those sites reputable. Every player needs to check the history of every site before they make their account there, because sites with a good reputation have a lot of data that are showing players how many people have accounts, and they also share their data with everyone. Furthermore, the biggest issue with all online casinos is the security and regulations that are making that site safe for gambling, and sharing data with them. More than 10 percent of players find the security of the site to be one of the main reasons for their doubts about the safety of that online casino. It is necessary for an online casino to ensure players with secure withdrawal of money. Could there be any issues with payments?If you are not sure about the safety of some online casinos, you should check if there are possible issues with payments. The main reason for someone to have trust issues with these sites is the possibility of problems with getting paid. There could be problems like the lower maximum amount that you can withdraw, slower paying, issues with terms of use, or obvious avoidance of bonuses and winnings. For a regular and trustworthy casino, it is reasonable to have a period of a maximum of two days to pay out their players. Also, if sites have small amounts that you can withdraw at once, that could be a sign that they are not so reliable. Also, in the worst case, you could come across some site that is a complete fraud, and don’t ever get your winnings. It is very important to read all of the terms of use because there also might be some policies that can go in favor of the owner of the website. If there are some terms which say that players cannot be paid, maybe that site is a fraud. The worst-case scenario is when games at some sites never get you to win, which means that they are a possible scam. Are there online casinos that cheats?Since there are so many of them, there is a big possibility that some of them might be a hoax. The site that is made only as a scam doesn’t get you any awards, and even if you win something, you will need a lot of time to get that many on your account, or you will don’t get it at all. It is important to check the basic info before you make your account on some online casino platform. When the site has all license and is regulated properly, you can see all of the data about who owns the site, where is the address of the company, email address, and contact. Furthermore, reliable sites have customer service that you can contact at any time. When some site has a good reputation, you can see how many players have accounts there. Also, they usually offer free deposits to their players to try out some games before they deposit their own money. Nonetheless, the casino with a good reputation will never cheat, and you can get your winnings in about one day. Another important indication that some online casino might be a fraud is the design and the engine of the site. That means if some site has a slow speed of games, or it is full of bugs, that could lead to a possible scam. So, beware of the unlicensed casino, and remember to always check where are you depositing your money. Can you really trust online casinos?Can I really trust online casinos? This is a question you'll find posed on many different player forums whether it be regarding payments or the trustworthiness of online casino games and payouts. Many people who are interested in playing online are often hestitant as they have no idea how to ascertain whether or not they will be able to find an honest, safe online casino where their transactions will be secure, deposited funds will be safe and where the games aren't rigged. Here we'll take a look at various aspects of trust in online gambling and how you can best judge whether or not an online casino you play at will be trustworthy or not. A logical look at online casinos The online casino industry has been around for over more than two decades and millions of players from across the globe play at various online casinos. Of course, there have been many fly-by-night casinos that have opened and closed over the years but these are more the exception than the rule. After all, the industry would have not been able to enjoy such significant growth if there weren't legitimate operations providing players with a safe and satisfying gambling experience that ensured their repeat business. Another aspect of the industry that speaks volumes about its growth and associated repute is the fact that many online casino groups are publicly traded entities, listed on the world's various stock exchanges. In order to enjoy such a position, there is an element of transparency required by these organisations. Where you play matters When it comes to answering whether or not you can trust online or mobile casinos, the answer will ultimately come down to where you are playing. Generally online casinos operating microgaming, playtech and more recently netent software are reputable as these providers have been in the game for the better part of the industry's lifetime. Even within these groups there are more established online casino groups that you can trust. For example, in the microgaming fold groups like the palace group who own and operate betway online casino have a good reputation, as does the casino rewards group with luxury online casino and UK casino club casinos. From the playtech fold, eurogrand is a trusted name, and from netent, betsafe casino is a solid option. If you are looking at a new online casino, always consider the following aspects to determine whether or not it is a safe option:
Are online casino games rigged? As mentioned, a major concern amongst people considering playing online is whether or not the casino games in question are rigged. The truth is they could be if a developer really wanted to do it, BUT online casinos don't really have to rig games because most casino games already have a built in house edge that ensures a profit over the long term. Also, casinos would be taking a huge risk in fixing games because if anyone found out, it would mean the death of their business, so why take such a huge chance when you already have the inside track on most games? In addition, just like their land based counterparts, reputable online casinos (and yes, this is where the licensing and regulation element come into play yet again) are audited on a regular basis to ensure the fairness of their games. These results are often published for public access. With this kind of in-depth scrutiny rigging games is not possible, even if they wanted to. As you can see from the above discussion, whether or not you can trust an online casino, really comes down to where you play and finding a safe place to do so does require a little work, but it's definitely worthwhile. Here's how to find online casinos you can trust, so you can focus on having funOnline gambling is all the rage right now, and it’s only expected to grow. In just 6 years, between 2016 and 2022, the industry is expected to double to $82 billion a year. Once you start online gambling, you want to find a casino that you know you can trust while enjoying gambling and playing games. There are a lot of sites out there, but you have to sift through the ones that are out to scam you and find the legitimate gaming sites. Would you like to know how to find online casinos that offer everything you want and you know you can trust? Types of online casinosAre you new to the online gambling world? There’s a lot to learn at first, such as the types of online casinos. These are the most common ones to look out for. Download gamesThere are online casinos that operate through games that you download onto your device and play. The advantage of downloading is that you often get access to more games than you would through instant play. You need to be extremely cautious when you’re asked to download software. There are times when these games are malware that can do serious damage to your phone or computer. The intent behind the malware is to get personal information, which people can sell on the black market. They can also use your info for ID theft or to use your payment information. You should have a strict policy in place to only download software from trustworthy sites. Instant playThese types of casinos operate without you having to download anything. You just log in to a casino site and start playing games or placing bets. That’s a big advantage in terms of speed and security. MobileIt seems that everyone is doing everything on their phones. Mobile gambling is one of them. One recent survey of british gamblers showed that 44% of gamblers used a mobile device to play at least once in a 4 week period. As you try to find online casinos, you’ll find that a lot of them are a combination of mobile and instant play sites. Customer serviceIn some cases, you want to find sites that have a government-issued license to operate. That can be hard to do because governments have been slow to catch up with the changing times. For example, in malaysia, the government doesn’t grant licenses for online gaming sites, yet. What can you rely on to tell if a site is trustworthy or not? Customer service is one of those things that you can look for in a casino. Some casinos offer 24/7 support through a variety of means, like email or chat. SecurityAnother way to can tell if a site is trustworthy or not is the level of security provided. You’re going to have to provide some type of payment information when you gamble online. This can be the scary part of online gambling because you don’t know what happens on the other end. Look at the website URL. Is it http or https? An https is a secure connection protocol. That makes it more difficult for outside hackers to obtain your information. You’ll want to check to make sure that the highest encryption standards are used to keep your data and payment information safe. Weclub takes its responsibility to the community very seriously. We have a strict underage rule and we don’t pay out to players who aren’t qualified. We believe that gambling should be fun, and not have a negative impact on your life. Types of gamesOf course, you want to find online casinos that are fun to play as well as secure. How can you tell if a site is going to be fun or not? Start with the number and variety of games they offer. Some sites only focus on sports betting, while others focus on online slot machines or other games. Other online casinos, such as weclub, offer online sports betting and a wide variety of games. You want to find online casinos that match your skill level, too. For beginners, you may want to start with simple games like slot machines. As you get more comfortable, you may want to try out a new challenge. The top online casinos offer games where you can constantly test your skills. For veteran players, you may want to move on to live casino games to challenge yourself. Promotions and bonusesWhen you’re finding online casinos, you want to make sure that you have opportunities to take advantage of bonuses and promotions. Some bonuses and promotions are available to new members. Different games have additional bonus payouts that you want to take advantage of, too. PayoutsWhen you win money gambling, you may want to cash out right away. Some sites take a while to payout or they have limits as to when you can cash out your winnings. Check the payout information before you sign up. You don’t want to be in a position where you have to wait for your money. Find online casinos to play and winYou want to gamble online because it’s fun and it can be a great way to unwind. Yet, it can be very difficult to find online casinos that you can trust. There are a lot of illegal sites that just want to access your banking information to try to rip you off. You can find trustworthy and fun sites by looking for a few things. Don’t download software unless you’re certain you can trust that site. Look for online casinos that have a wide variety of games and take your security very seriously. Are you ready to get started with gambling at a secure site? Sign up to join weclub today. OUSC player survey – can online casinos be trusted?What makes an online casino trustworthy? Online united states casinos (OUSC) conducted a month-long survey among online players to determine what factors make a casino site dependable. We wanted to know what makes people trust – or distrust – an online gambling site. Our team set off to do just that. What makes an online casino trustworthy?What we discoveredWhat factors make an online casino trustworthy?Reliable cashouts are by far the most common way an online casino establishes trust. About half as many respondents said casino reviews and recommendations were the key factors when choosing a casino. The third major factor cited was the speed of payouts, as players believe an operator which pays quickly has good cash flow and nothing to hide. Customer service and how helpful casino reps are also was a key factor that those surveyed consider. Top 10 factors players consider to determine if a casino is legit or notWe asked, you answeredOur researchers at OUSC surveyed 179 players on the factors that led them to trust an online casino. We categorized the responses in 10 general categories. These factors include customer service, site security, withdrawal times, and the reliability of payouts. Our survey has a 95% confidence level in our methodology, while the margin of error is 8%. Most respondents said they do trust online casinos. However, they provided a huge variety of factors they consider when deciding which casinos are legit and which ones shouldn’t be trusted. We publish our results below. Each section will cover every main category, along with our team’s analysis, and a break down of the most interesting responses we received. Payment issues – speed & reliability (51%)Reliable cashoutsAccording to the survey, reliable withdrawals are the #1 way online casinos establish trust with players. Of the players surveyed, almost one-third of all respondents said they considered trustworthy and reliable payouts as their top concern. Some players are more concerned with truth in advertising. Others are more concerned about terms of use, such as low wagering requirements or no-deposit bonuses. Two respondents even expressed a cynical view that casinos preserve the illusion of fairness. They said they like casinos that “let you win every once in a while.” the vast majority of those who want reliable cashouts simply want one thing: to receive their winnings when it’s time for the casino to pay. Fast payoutsMany online casino gamblers look at the speed of payouts. If a site pays quickly, then it must be honest and legitimate. The fast payouts category has two type of respondents. Those who want the fastest withdrawals possible and those who don’t want to deal with slow-paying operators. It’s a big distinction. An honest and reputable online casino might not have the fastest payouts (12-24 hours), but it might have reliable payouts within a few days. Even a site which takes 48 hours to verify your identity and a payment method that takes a week is acceptable to many players if it is consistent in its withdrawal times. Sites that “flag” payments for phantom term violations or have an inordinately small withdrawal limits are different from the legit casinos that don’t have uber-fast payout times. Good bonusesAbout 3% of players consider good online bonuses to be their number one deciding factor. Players who shop for bonuses in our survey are not the wide-eyed gullible types who take any bonus, regardless of terms, simply because it’s big. Several respondents defined “good bonuses” as those with fair terms and rollover requirements that are easy to clear. Good bonuses to many players have more to do with factors like cashable winnings, no fine print, and no max cashouts. Some who cited good bonuses appeared to shop for the biggest no-deposit bonuses or deposit bonuses, but that was only a fraction of 3% of the players surveyed. About 1% of the respondents seemed to think big bonuses or lots of daily bonuses were a reason to trust an online casino. Player reviews and site reputation (14.8%)15% of those surveyed say their main concern is the casino site’s reputation. They go with an online casino that has established a good name in the gambling community. These players read casino reviews and player recommendations. While some respondents did not say whether player reviews or third-party recommendations swayed their opinion more, a solid number said they read player reviews and complaints. Online player forumsSites like askgamblers exist, which allow players to post their honest reviews of an online casino. Players with complaints can post their issues and receive feedback and advice from other people. Sometimes, a customer representative from the casino replies to the posts. Players concerned about a site’s reputation can see how customer service handles complaints, and even see a 1-to-10 rating system for what percentage of issues are resolved. Many online casino player forums exist, providing essentially the same service. These message boards have countless threads devoted to player complaints. It is wise not to take one player’s opinion when researching a casino. This is due to disgruntled players, online trolls, and dishonest competitors might post a bad review for illegitimate reasons. Instead, when researching a casino’s reputation, get a sense of the general consensus about the website’s reputation. Site safety, security & regulations (12.9%)Theft of player identities and identity spoofing of operators, along with site security is the top concern of about 1-in-15 online gamblers. Cutting edge security technology like SSL certificates and 128-bit encryption are important to these players. Players want an online casino software free of malware. Most importantly, they want online transactions to be safe, secure, and encrypted. Those concerned about site security can take precautions. If you fear your credit card or banking information might be compromised, you can join a web wallet like neteller or skrill. This adds another layer of security to payments because you aren’t transferring your bank or credit information when you make deposits and withdrawals. Anonymity & cryptocurrenciesMany players who consider security as their topmost issue prefer to use blockchain payments. This is due to identity thieves having no way of stealing the information. For those players, bitcoin, litecoin, or ethereum are the preferred payment methods. One player gave a very detailed and complete opinion saying trust in a casino can be established by “security measures and transparency in its written or cashed out funds history with the public and gaming board supervision and US laws to enact fair play.” in contrast to another respondent who said “I just keep praying that it is as secure as they say they are and trustworthy.” It is important to note these elements among the ones most players take into consideration for deeming an online casino secure:
Regulations and supervisionMany players –7% of respondents– make signup decisions based on the government authority that certifies and regulates an online casino. Licensing information is a good place to start when choosing an online casino. Players who want to know the licensing authority can check the site’s homepage to see the seal of approval from one or more gaming authorities or gambling commissions. If you want to be doubly sure, call the regulator and ask if it licensed the online casino you’re researching. Casinomeister, a site which tracks blacklisted and rogue casinos, told an anecdote years ago. They asked a regulatory agency if it licensed the now-defunct begado casino and they said: “they’d never heard of the site”. Needless to say, the site was blacklisted. Common misconceptions about online casino safetySome respondents make decisions based on faulty assumptions. The player who only participates at casinos headquartered in the united states is likely to be choosing unwisely. Even the online casino brands active in the regulated states of new jersey, nevada, delaware, and pennsylvania usually are not based in the united states. Live customer support (9%)Roughly 10% of the respondents said live customer service instills trust in them. If they can speak to a person on the phone or interact with them in a real-time live chat feature, they feel more comfortable dealing with the online casino. That makes sense. Live customer service is the casino equivalent of the personal touch. Gamblers feel they’re dealing with real human beings. Interacting with real people isn’t enough. Customers have to feel those people are friendly, mean them well, are fluent in the language, and knowledgeable about the issue. In short, online casino players want customer support that’s helpful. Below are some of the issues players who took the survey discussed when talking about live customer service. This is what a player had to say about trusting an online casino’s customer support: Live casino experience (4%)Live dealer casinos are a growing trend in online gambling. Casinos that stream video of real-life dealers using real playing cards, spinning wheels, and dice to resolve bets has a tremendous appeal. Players accustomed to brick-and-mortar casino gaming might never get used to a random number generator (RNG). Obviously, some players will never trust an RNG to resolve bets. Live casinos restore table games to the way they were meant to be played, where the bets are resolved in an old-fashioned way. People trust peopleMuch like the responses about live customer service, interaction with a live dealer instills trust in many players. They get personal attention from a real human being in real time, instead of dealing with computer systems. The camera stays on the table at all times – usually from several adjustable angles – and so the player trusts their eyes that the game is fair. Plus, live dealer games are more entertaining, due to social reasons. It’s surprising that no more than 4% of players listed the live casino experience as their top reason to trust a casino site. Other factors that make an online casino trustworthySome of the answers were outliers which fit in no category. For instance, one respondent said: “I develop trust in a casino based on the theme. Essentially the way the site looks like.” another player said much the same thing. “I trust a site when their web pages are clean, consistent, and user-friendly.” Site aesthetics and web design are good reasons to keep playing at a casino, but we urge readers to make decisions based on reputation, trust, licensing, live interactions, the helpfulness of customer support, and the reliability of payouts. What other reasons influence an online gambler’s trust?Each of the following responses was given to our researchers when asked: what makes a gambler trust an online casino?
Casinos can’t be trusted (8%)One surprisingly common response is: “casinos can’t be trusted.” A certain number of online gamblers have lost trust in casinos, or else they never believed casinos were legitimate. Roughly 8% of the respondents expressed extreme skepticism or even cynicism about the online casino industry. Many, if not most, online casinos are licensed by gaming regulators outside the united states. Those sites do fast regulatory oversight and third-party audits for payout percentages, security issues, and fairness. Despite that, it appears 8% of american online gamblers believe casino sites cannot be trusted. Why some players may be misguided in their mistrustThese people say online casinos operate within an honor system and you can’t trust an unregulated site. That is true if you’re talking about online casinos that truly are not licensed and regulated at all. Only four US states regulate online casino gaming. Although, that does not mean a site is unlicensed. Such players probably have had bad experiences. Like someone burned once or twice in the dating scene, bettors with bad experiences sometimes assume the entire online casino industry is just as bad. This set of respondents is a good reminder that players should do their due diligence and research sites before signing up because not all online casinos are bad. Payment issues affect trustworthinessPayment issues are the number one red flag that destroys a players’ trust in an online casino. Read an online casinos’ sales copy and you might get the idea fast payments are more important, with 12 to 48 hours seemingly being the standard. Our researchers found that reliable payouts are more important than fast payments by a factor or nearly 3-to-1. If an operator takes 5 business days to pay but can be trusted to make payments consistently in that time frame, players remain loyal to the casino. Because payments comprise over 50% of all responses, OUSC wanted to give players the tools to spot bad behavior from online casinos. The term “payment issue” can refer to a wide range of behavior. Rogue casinos have a number of tactics they use to avoid paying out in a timely and reliable fashion. From our years of covering the online gambling industry, these are the most common payment issues which destroy a player’s trust in an online casino. Types of payment issues
Can players trust online casinos?Players can trust online casinos, as long as they check warning signs, and other factors we listed above. Whatever method you use to pick an online casino, reevaluate your decision based on the new information you receive. Management and policies can change on a dime, depending on the site’s ownership situation. If you start to notice any of the activities listed above, consider them a warning that the casino operator might not be trustworthy anymore. In conclusionAs our OUSC player trust survey, payment issues are the #1 way to spot a rogue casino. Many other factors go into a choice to deposit money in a site, but trustworthy withdrawals are the key to a fun online gaming experience. If you don’t get paid when you make a cashout request, then you never won the game in the first place. If you are still on the fence about whether or not to trust a casino, consider these factors. Weigh in your options, then choose from a reputable online casino where you can play safely and actually win real money! You may also likeIf you enjoyed reading about this OUSC exclusive survey, make sure to check out our online united states casinos gambling articles. You’ll find useful and relevant content such as interviews, surveys, research pieces, and guest posts about all things gambling. Is there a particular topic you would like to read about? Let us know! So, let's see, what we have: can you trust online casinos? Why do players feel that online casinos are not as fair as real casinos? At can you trust online casinos 
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