With the coronavirus leading to an unprecedented online gambling boom in 2020, the news has been mostly good for gamblers – at least in terms of gaming accessibility.
However, for those aged 18-20, the increased attention on the industry – and the fact that states like Pennsylvania and Michigan are finally starting to offer domestic online casino options – hasn’t meant much, as most laws require players to be at least 21 to participate.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that 18 and up players are up a river.
On the contrary, domestic options aside, in just about all US states, it’s legal for individuals to bet and win real money over the Internet provided they use a reputable international 18 and up online casino.
But there is one area where all players – especially young adults – need to exercise caution when gambling online, and it has to do with security.
Not just data security, either, but financial security.
In other words, you need to be smart about both where and how you spend your money.
After all, you’ve got a long life ahead of you, and savvy gamblers always look to the future.
To succeed as a gambler – whether you’re playing online casino games, participating in online poker tournaments, or betting on sports online – a long-haul perspective is called for.
Volume and consistency are keys, here. Meanwhile, going all in right off the hop is the fastest and easiest way to go all out.
Some mainstream outlets are ringing a similar bell, explaining to new potential gamblers exactly what a legitimate, safe gaming experience requires.
In a brief article via New York’s The Island Now, a few solid pieces of advice are shared. In order to maximize your safety when gambling online, the site explains what to look for from your gaming provider.
It lists the following key elements to ensure a secure online gambling experience:
“Make sure you gamble in a licensed casino”
We agree. That’s critical.
However, if you stick with the most reputable operators, it’s also moot, as they’re all licensed and regulated in their own home countries and must maintain those standards in good faith to be eligible to offer their services to an international clientele, like 18 and up USA players.
“Encrypted passwords”
Again, we agree. But again, it’s a moot point.
The best 18+ casinos online are all huge, prominent businesses that utilize cutting-edge software solutions as a matter of course.
Unless you’re gambling at a brand new site that nobody’s ever heard of or a venue that doesn’t earn more than a couple points on an aggregate online casino review, you can be sure that SSL and TLS standards are in place.
“Choose a trusted payment method”
Well, duh.
But here, The Island Now runs into a bit of a snag with its analysis.
The site implores users to “[s]tick to established brands such as Visa or Mastercard,” but then tells players that they “can make payments via an e-wallet platform, such as Skrill or PayPal.”
This isn’t accurate.
While credit and debit cards are indeed valid options, the UIGEA banking regulation will cause such transactions to be declined about 5% of the time.
This is hardly ideal for many players, especially those who bet on sports regularly or want to enter time-sensitive online blackjack, online slots, or online poker tournaments.
As for Skrill, the platform is currently limited to non-USA players at most reputable gambling sites.
PayPal is similarly international only. There are no USA-friendly 18+ online gambling sites that accept direct PayPal deposits (though a few workarounds do exist for those so inclined).
“Multiple layers of protection”
Here, it’s advised that you use only those gaming sites that utilize KYC (Know Your Customer) standards and require multiple proofs of identity in order to process payouts.
This is sensible, but it’s also already baked in.
Honestly, you’d have a hard time finding a notable and well-regarded online betting site that doesn’t already stick to these standards.
“Read the fine print”
It’s always smart to read any site’s terms and conditions when you’re spending money on a service, and the same is true for online casinos.
Fortunately, it’s also very easy.
All reputable operators have minimal terms and conditions that take about 10 minutes to read, and they’re written in plain English that’s simple to understand.
The key point here is making sure that you familiarize yourself with how bonuses work, as you must meet rollover or playthrough requirements to claim any associated payouts.
Reputable casinos and betting sites have rollover limits of between 5X and 50X, which vary by market. If you come across a site offering bonus bucks with bigger rollovers than that, we advise looking elsewhere.
And of course, bonuses are entirely optional. If you find a site that features mandatory bonuses, it’s a scam and you should look elsewhere.
“Take advantage of the trial period”
Uh, what?
Per The Island Now:
“Some online casinos offer new players a trial period that is free of cost. Since you do not invest any money during this limited period, you cannot withdraw and winnings either. However, you can use this time to get acquainted with” the site’s tech, games, and operations, etc. and so on.
Here’s the thing: There are no trial periods at legitimate online 18 and over gambling sites. That’s because you can already play for free with any of these operators, as they have “fun” modes or “practice” modes for all their games.
Just sign up and play.
When you’re ready to win real money, you can make a deposit at your convenience, and there’s no time limit.
In fact, if you come across an online gambling site that advertises “free trial periods” or anything of the sort, that’s kind of a red flag. The industry used to work that way, but it doesn’t anymore.
Additional Safeguards
The above points conclude The Island Now’s advice. But honestly, it’s just scratching the surface.
We have plenty to add, and we could dedicate a dozen pages to this discussion, but we’ll keep it short and sweet.
If you want to guarantee that your online gaming experience goes off without a hitch, you’ll definitely want to stick with sites that offer all of the above.
But you’ll also need sites that feature the following:
- Regularly audited random number generation (RNG) software for all games made by top developers like Realtime Gaming, Microgaming, BetSoft, etc.
- Cryptocurrency support for deposits and withdrawals (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Stellar, Dash, Cardano, Dogecoin, etc.)
- Longevity in the industry
- Full mobile gambling support for all RNG online slots, table games, and live dealer casino games
- Prompt customer service via live chat, email, and telephone
Now, in addition to the above, there are some other things you can do to keep yourself safe and secure when gambling over the Internet.
These have nothing to do with individual sites but are instead strategies that concern your overall approach to gambling itself:
- Join multiple respected and reputable betting sites so you can find the games you like best and get the best odds on any given contest or tournament. All sites are different and unique, and by having a membership at several, you will only increase your odds to win.
- Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Limit your wagers to 1-3% of your bankroll. Sure things do not exist.
- Do not chase losses. When you lose – and you will lose – take it in stride and stick to your plan.
- Don’t rely on immediate gratification or big wins. Successful gambling is a long-haul proposition, with small wins that add up over weeks, months, and years.
- Do not spend money you need for more important things. You should always gamble with disposable income. Take care of you and yours first and foremost.
- Don’t get addicted. Gambling too often can take its toll if you aren’t careful, so don’t be afraid to reach out if you feel like you’re developing bad or destructive habits.
- If you use a prepaid or secured credit card, make sure that you stick to your limits. When you’re building credit (as all 18 and up adults should be doing), you have to keep your eyes on your financial future.
- Use cryptocurrency. This isn’t just because crypto gets you bigger bonuses and same-day payouts, either. Crypto is investment-grade stuff, and accumulating crypto wealth may be a big part of your long-term plans. It’s never too early to start thinking about your nest egg.
Well, there you have it, the short and sweet basics of safely gambling online.
If you follow the simple advice in this short article, you will give yourself the best possible edge no matter which sites or gambling markets you choose.
Gambling is one of the oldest, most engaging – and potentially profitable – forms of entertainment, but you have to be smart about it.
Start slow, and you’ll be sitting pretty.
And we’ll see you at the digital felts!
Source: The Island Now