Thinking of setting up an online gaming account for the first time? Whether you’ll be playing on the move or in your favorite armchair at home, choosing a safe and reliable platform is paramount.
Below, we’ve explored five of the most effective ways to guarantee a positive, engaging, and secure gaming experience from your chosen application.
1. Check for licensing
Any safe, legal and fair gambling platform should be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, with a public certificate that’s available to view online.
Gambling and iGaming platforms must adhere to strict regulations and operate transparently. Regulated iGaming means players can enjoy personal safety, privacy, and uninterrupted fair play during exciting games like online bingo. With an official license, players and regulatory bodies can ensure fair play and comprehensive player protection.
2. Read the reviews
It’s crucial to do your research and find real reviews from real players. Knowing how to spot a fake review can be tricky, so try to use your best judgement. Genuine feedback from experienced gamers can be incredibly valuable. If it’s detailed enough, it can help you to assess:
- The game quality
- The platform’s reliability
- Customer service and account issues
- Community and safety
- Overall experience
In short, reviews can provide an invaluable insight into the core aspects of an online gaming experience, especially for beginners.
3. Understand the different payment methods
Secure payment methods set the safest gaming platforms apart from the competition. While using digital wallets might feel like the most convenient option, you should do your research and only pay via safe methods.
Debit and credit card transactions are typically secure, but you’ll need to make sure that any website you use is SSL encrypted before entering card details. Alternatively, you may choose to set up a Direct Debit with your bank to keep things predictable.
4. Protect your identity
Most gaming platforms will ask you for basic personal information when you set up your account, but you should never feel pressured into sharing more than you’re comfortable with.
Check the platform’s privacy policy to ensure that your data will be handled and stored securely. With this in mind, you might still prefer to use a pseudonym when you play on live servers to conceal your real name from other gamers.
Look for safety features
Finally, it’s worth remembering that any online gambling platform should take some proactive responsibility for the safety of their players. This involves openly recognizing the importance of responsible gambling and giving all players means to control, limit, or pause their time spent online.
The safest platforms offer user-friendly spend limit tools to help you manage your gambling on a daily, monthly, and all-time basis. Some go beyond this and allow you to temporarily lock or close your account when you need to take a break.