You might be thinking about joining an online casino but have some questions on your mind regarding online casino safety and fairness. Read this guide to find answers to these questions and understand everything you need to know about online casinos today.
What is an online casino?
An online casino is a website (though many now have apps) that you can use to play and place real money bets on casino games. Although online casinos have been around for a while, they’ve really become popular over the past decade, with a huge spike in popularity taking place during the global pandemic.
Flash forward to 2023, and there are over 2,000 online casinos throughout the internet. Some online casinos are better than others, which is why you should stick to the best casino online sites. Many offer a variety of casino games, excellent sign-up bonuses, and more, which are exactly what modern players want.
Are online casinos safe?
The short and sweet answer is yes!
Online casinos (and gambling sites more broadly) can be trusted as long as they are officially licensed and regulated by official authorities, such as the Gambling Commission. Licensed and regulated means that it’s been checked and verified by industry experts and has been determined to be safe for the general public to use.
If you ever come across an online casino that isn’t officially licensed, don’t use it. Sure, it might seem safe on the surface, but it could be a scam site. Instead, stick to officially licensed online casinos so that you can protect yourself and your bank details.
Are online casinos fair?
Licensed online casinos are 100% fair — just like land-based casinos are.
In terms of fairness, there’s no difference between a Las Vegas casino and an online casino. The playing field is level and exactly the same. As with land-based casinos, the house will always have a slight advantage on a number of games.
If you’re wondering how this is possible, it’s simple. Online casinos use RNGs (Random Number Generators) so that it’s impossible for them to be rigged or deceptive in any way. Whether you’re playing online roulette or online slots, the online casino itself can have no influence on the outcome, which should hopefully give you peace of mind.
In which countries are online casinos legal?
Just like with normal gambling, some countries have restrictions in place when it comes to online gambling. However, the good news is that the vast majority of countries do allow online casinos, with some of the main examples being:
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Spain
Even if your country doesn’t allow online casinos, you might be able to join an offshore online casino that accepts players from other countries. Aside from this, the only other factor you need to be aware of is that you must be above the legal gambling age in your country to play in online casinos. If you aren’t above the legal gambling age, you’ll have to wait a little longer before playing.