Generally, it’s safe to play at online casinos today but it’s perfectly understandable that there are still people out there who are hesitant about trusting anything online. There is still a myth that goes around about how online casinos rig their games, but with proper research, you’ll know that this is unlikely. It would help you to feel safer playing online if you get to know more about how these operators work.
Online casinos have been around since the 90s and the industry has come a long way. Grand View Research reported that the value of the global online casino market has already reached over 59.6 billion USD and it is set to continue to grow up to 127.3 billion USD by 2027 with a CAGR of 11.5 percent. With this sector of the gambling industry growing, more people are simply starting to show confidence in playing at an online casino site.
The Basics of Online Gambling
Today, there are thousands of online casino sites that are ready to accept your bets. It’s a common misconception that online gambling operators create their games but this isn’t exactly the case. Online casinos only facilitate gambling activities by hosting games from casino software developers.
A simple way of explaining it is by thinking of setting up a business and selling products that you don’t manufacture yourself. To be industry-specific, this means that gambling websites are basically teaming up with casino game developers so that they can bring you the latest and best real money games to play. Casinos sites are platforms where you can access games produced by popular casino software developers. Some of the most popular developers are the following:
- NetEnt
- Evolution
- Playtech
- Microgaming
- BetSoft
- Quickspin
- Betradar
- iSoft Bet
- Amatic
- Ezugi
- Playson
- Habanero
- Endorphina
- BetConstruct
- Booming Games
- Lucky Streak
- GameArt
- Tom Horn
- SA Gaming
- Mr Slotty
- Pragmatic Play
- Golden Race
There are just so many casino developers out there today and this is why it’s hard to easily get tired of online real money gaming. There are just so many games to play. Some of these developers are focused on certain games only. There are some of them that are focused on developing new games on slots, blackjack, and poker.
It’s rare to find an online casino that claims to only offer games that they created. The truth is that if you find a website with this claim, it’s best to look for another site instead. Know that casino software developers are following certain standards to ensure fairness and the quality of the games they release and it’s hard to trust a gambling site that is not partnered with any official developers.
Casino operators can also decide on which type of games they want to offer. There are sites that are heavy on slot machine games or sports betting. Either way, operators can host games and odds from different developers at the same time.
Safe Practices When Playing Online
While it is already generally safe to gamble online, it’s always better to take responsibility when it comes to your online safety. When gambling online, always only deal with registered and licensed operators. Typically, online casinos have a license number displayed at the bottom of the site. Check if the number is legit and if it is, you can be assured that the activities on this casino are randomly checked for fairness.
Most of the time, you may see casino licenses are issued by jurisdictions like Curacao, Malta, Isle of Man, Alderney, Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, and Kahnawake. Any of these licenses would do. What makes licenses differ from the others is reputation, license duration, and fees.
Aside from checking on the casino license, another thing that you can do is to visit casino review sites. Most of these sites only ever feature legit operators. What’s great about going through their reviews is that you get to know an operator without spending too much effort. A thorough review would include how fast an operator is in terms of payouts, payment methods you can choose from, the games that you can play, and how accessible a site is. Some would also allow actual customers to share their input about a certain site.
Know that you may not have access to many online gambling sites. This will depend on your location. You should always check the local regulations in place for any gambling activities in your country or area. There are places where online gambling is completely illegal and if this is the case, then this activity is just really not for you.
