When it comes to picking a safe online casino, it is important to know what to look for in order to ensure that your deposits are in good hands. Since the UKGC moved to clamp down on the British gambling sector, the country has seen strict measures applied to curb problem gambling. These included a ban on credit card deposits, in-game spin timers, and bet limits. A result of this loss of freedom has driven many punters to seek out casinos not on GamStop.
These sites are located overseas and are subject to less strict regulation but can you trust them? This guide will help you to recognize the more reputable casinos.
Security and Licensing
The first thing you need to ensure when choosing an online casino is that the company provides a secure platform and protects users’ funds.
For the betting platform, it is important to find the most up-to-date security measures. One of the basics is SSL encryption, which was designed to provide privacy, authentication, and data integrity for users in all internet communications. Sites that use this feature are showing that they value customer safety and data security. Firewalls are another important feature, and they can prevent hackers stealing funds or customer data.
To further protect the deposits of gamblers, the next important issue is regulation. Even when leaving UK shores, it is important to find a casino that is regulated by a gaming authority in their respective country. For UK gamblers, the ideal regulator would be the UK Gambling Commission. British citizens are afforded more security and support in their home country, but some punters have been increasingly looking overseas to the non-GamStop casinos. Malta and Gibraltar are two examples of European countries that have attracted betting companies. These are regulated by their own bodies, such as the Malta Gaming Authority and are subject to EU rules on money laundering rules, so they are a good starting point when finding reputable sites.
In more recent times, there has been a rise in South American gambling services, with Curacao and Costa Rica being two that will welcome British punters. These countries tend to have lighter regulations and they also have little or no consumer protection for UK punters, so they should be treated with care.
The UKGC has been working with the GamStop non-profit organisation to apply a strict self-exclusion scheme in the UK in a bid to stop problem gambling. Individuals seeking protection can apply to the scheme and they will have their accounts blocked from all gambling sites for a pre-determined period. This can be for a period of up to five years and is irreversible. Another organisation being used in the UK is Gamban, which is a for-profit private enterprise that will block gambling sites from mobile devices and PCs. Unfortunately, many gamblers are in denial of their problems and the overseas sites should not be seen as a way around the new rules.
Variety of Payment Methods
Outside of the important safety measures, choosing a suitable casino site will also require a variety of payment methods and withdrawal methods. A site that provides a single bank account for deposits would be risky.
The standard for online payments is debit and credit cards, but another restriction enforced by the UKGC was to ban credit cards at British sites. This is another reason why punters have increasingly looked to overseas sites. Many consumers prefer to use a credit card to separate their betting transactions from their bank statements. This can avoid stigma when they are applying for a mortgage or a loan. For withdrawals, UK betting sites will provide wire transfers and payment wallets, but the overseas sites can provide these and many are now offering support for cryptocurrencies. This is giving non-GamStop casinos an advantage over British sites.
Consumers should study the terms and conditions for withdrawals to ensure that fees and times are satisfactory. Withdrawals are usually instant for e-wallets, 1-3 days for cards, and 3-5 business days for wire transfers.
Bonuses and Promotions
One of the more exciting aspects of signing up to a new casino is finding welcome bonuses and promotions. New sites usually offer welcome rewards and free bets to get you started.
Another restriction implemented by the UKGC has been strict rules on the marketing of UK companies. There have also been calls from some groups an outright ban on gambling marketing in the country. This has been another reason why UK punters have been looking at their options outside of the country. Bonuses and promotions are often more generous at the non-GamStop sites, where welcome rewards can be up to 100% or more, with sign-up rewards being matched up to
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