How to Vet Whether a Betting or Gaming Platform Is Trustworthy
With over 2400 iGaming platforms listed by the UKGC alone in 2022, there has never been a greater diversity and range of exciting sportsbooks and gaming providers available to users online today.
This is only going to increase following the surge in popularity of these related sectors in the United States following the repeal of the PASPA back in May of 2018 by the Supreme Court. While this points to an expansive moment for the industry, it bears noting that not all gaming providers and bookies are of equivalent quality. What’s more, some are even inherently fraudulent, and without a certain degree of vigilance, users could potentially fall foul of malicious actors.
To counter this, the online gaming sector has created robust security measures and legislative standards to promote high quality and safe business practices, though it can be good to know what to look for to seek confirmation should you find yourself on a site that raises your suspicions. Below we’re going to take a look at some key tips anyone can use to check whether a gaming or betting platform is trustworthy, secure, and in compliance with the industry’s regulatory framework.
Recommendations
One of the most effective ways to assess whether a bookmaker, iGaming service or online casino is trustworthy is to check whether it comes recommended by leading comparison sites like SBO. Platforms such as this offer a diverse range of competitive sign-up bonuses and other promotions for use with the gaming providers they work with.
In addition to this, such platforms review and assess the brands they partner with, rating them on their respective features, customer service, and range of options. As such, providers that come rated highly by comparison platforms such as these can not only be relied upon to be safe and trust-worthy, but of the highest quality available.
Licensing
Any valid gaming provider or sportsbook must demonstrate compliance with the licensing authorities under whose jurisdiction they fall. There are several noteworthy organizations to look out for when assessing the quality and security of a potential betting site.
For example, the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission) ensures that UK-based providers comply with strict anti-fraud measures and maintain the highest standards of cyber-security. Other prominent legislative bodies include the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB), and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC).
Be sure to check whether the gaming provider you’re visiting is licensed with one or more of these before proceeding, as it will guarantee that the platform in question will have had to undergo a stringent assessment process to vet it for authenticity and quality, before being granted its license.
Blacklisting
Backlisting is when an authority or group compiles a directory of people, brands or legal entities that have been found to be untrustworthy, necessitating a formal boycott that discourages anyone from doing business with them.
There are numerous blacklists available online dedicated to calling out and warning businesses and prospective customers alike of malicious and fraudulent gaming providers, with leading comparison platforms often making these available to their users on their sites. Suffice to say, any website, app, or platform that finds itself blacklisted by the wider industry ought to be given a wide berth.
SSL Certification
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a modern web security standard that encrypts data moving between your IP and the server of the website you’re visiting. This prevents hackers, viruses or spyware from gaining access to your confidential information while it’s in transit.
While not all websites on the internet today use, or necessarily require, SSL certification, brands and any kind of platform that deals with sensitive financial information are expected to qualify for it.
Part of what makes the SSL certificate, which is offered by organizations such as RapidSSL, so reliable is that any website or platform applying for it must seek a test of its validity by an independent and trusted third-party, which makes it virtually impossible for suspicious actors to acquire.
To check whether the website you’re visiting has SSL certification, one need only look at its URL. If the site’s address begins with ‘https://’, then this means it is encrypted with SSL. If, on the other hand, the site’s address begins with ‘http://’, it does not have this certificate and should be treated with caution.
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