7 Ways To Tell If An Online Casino Is Legit
So you found an online casino that you would like to play at, but you aren’t sure if it is legit? This guide will help distinguish legally operating US online casinos from illlegal offshore gambling sites.
It is important to only play at legal online casinos with fair terms, reliable and fast payouts, and great customer support.
Players also need to know how to separate legitimate online casinos from rogue operators.
In this article, we will take a look at all the things you need to watch out for in order to ensure you are playing at a legit online casino and avoid blacklisted casinos and providers.
Are Online Casinos Rigged or Legit?
Unfortunately, rigged online casinos exist, but so do legit online casinos with fair RNG software and reliable payouts.
Follow these steps to ensure the gambling site you’re about to sign-up for doesn’t offer rigged games.
#1 State Licensed
Legal online casinos must be licensed by the state’s gambling commission to offer casino games where they operate.
For example, Casinos licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement are only available to users in New Jersey.
Players are strongly advised to avoid offshore casino sites.
#2 Security Features
Legit online casinos will utilize security protocols and encryption to convert sensitive data into unreadable code, and active SSL encryption, which provides a secure connection between the online casino and a player to keep personal information safe and secure.
#3 Reputable Software Providers
Game variations at legitimate online casinos are as good as the software provider supplying them.
These game providers are licensed, and only work the licensed casinos, plus each game is tested for fairness in compliance with regulatory standards.
RNG Tested And Certified By Third Parties
Proper RNG software is a crucial element for fair online casino games. All licensed and reputable gambling sites use a random number generator that third-party providers like iTechLabs and eCogra.
7 Ways To Spot Safe And Legit Online Casino Sites
We’ve prepared a checklist you should consider before making an account at an online casino. Always be sure that the online casino has the following:
#1 License Per State
Each state has its own set of rules and regulations that govern licensed online casinos.
Only join a reputable online casino when you’re sure it’s properly licensed by the in-state gambling commission you’re residing in. The casino geolocation software will stop you from accessing a site you shouldn’t be playing at, and using a VPN for casino gambling can put you in danger.
#2 Regulated Banking Methods
US online casinos have a wide selection of safe and secure payment options. State gambling regulators deterine which deposit methods are allowed, and each payment processor is licensed and verified.
#3 Responsible Gambling Features
Every trustworthy online casino has responsible gambling features that can help you if you think you have a gambling problem including:
- Deposit limits
- Time out
- Self Exclusion
- Reality check
- Player activity statements
Some online casinos have also partnered with Game Sense, for an expanded commitment to safe and responsible online gambling.
#4 Official Games From Licensed Software Providers
A large pool of online casino games is crucial for attracting players, and all regulated online casinos in the US have various types of official outsourced games from reputable software providers:
Published RTP (return to player percentage) informs players how much money a game will pay out over time, on average. The industry-standard RTP is “around” 96% (or slightly below that), and a game provided by a reputable software studio is sure to pay the exact amount of money back to players over time.
Games from dubious providers, on the other hand, may promise a high RTP and then fail to deliver.
#5 Bonuses With Fair Terms
Predatory gambling bonuses with 40x rollover requirements attached to both your deposit and any bonus funds should be avoided, and we highly encourage all players to read the terms and conditions of any gambling bonus before accepting the offer.
Fair wagering requirements on online casino bonuses range between 5x to 20x, and anything beyond that will make converting the bonus to real money a near-impossible task.
Bonuses at legal online casinos usually have a fair rollover, as opposed to offshore casinos, where claiming a bonus is basically giving up your initial deposit.
USGambling.com believes that all bonuses should have fair wagering requirements with flexible time frames, allowing players to reasonably fulfill the conditions.
#6 Reasonable Account Verification Requirements
Players at legal gambling sites will be asked for documentation when going through the “Know Your Customer” or KYC process to verify their identity and location.
The most important thing to remember is that legit online casinos will verify your account quickly and with minimal hassle, provided you follow instructions.
Shady gambling sites will repeatedly ask for more documents, making the withdrawal process complicated, hoping that you’ll eventually give up and gamble away your winnings.
#7 Read Expert Reviews
Reading expert gambling site reviews can save you a lot of time and effort researching on your own. Expert reviews are usually written by professionals with extensive experience and knowledge in the online gambling industry.
Reviews written by other players are also a good way to gauge the quality of an online casino. Just keep in mind that third-party casino review sites are filled with disgruntled gamblers unlikely to leave positive reviews after losing money.
Red Flags of Rigged Online Casinos
Players should be wary of some common red flags before joining any gambling site:
- Not officially licensed by the state you are located in
- Too-good-to-be-true bonuses
- High wagering requirements
- Failing to pay winnings and constantly requesting additional documents
- Unreliable or unresponsive customer support teams
- Negative reviews by other players and expert authors
You can gamble online safely and responsibly by following these suggestions and being aware of potentially rigged casinos.
Legit Online Casino FAQ
Can Online Casinos Tamper with the RNG and RTP?
No. Since the games are not owned by online casinos, they can’t tamper with the RNG or the payout percentages.
Should you trust online casinos?
You should only trust reputable online casinos that are legally allowed to operate in the state you reside in. Trusted online casinos don’t cheat, are not rigged, and are fair to players.
How do you trust an online casino?
To determine whether the online casino is trustworthy and reliable, you should check the casino’s license, reputation among players, payment options, security, selection of games and providers, and customer support.
