As the online casino industry continues to expand and generate multi-billion dollars, there’s a growing gap between subpar, quality, and elite casinos. Quite simply, some are better than others. But what are the characteristics that distinguish the top providers from the rest? We have picked out seven key characteristics you should keep an eye on so you know when a casino is trustworthy.
#1 – Revered By Experts
Just because a casino is new doesn’t mean that it’s not trustworthy. Still, those who have been in the industry for a while usually have a positive reputation they have built successfully over several years.
Expert reviewers and those who know what to look for will often signpost a casino they trust and have encountered several times over several years. Playing at a casino online involves many factors – but just like any other industry, the experts who know every nook and cranny of what makes an online casino tick and the credentials that make the top providers a cut above the rest.
With several casino experts now turning to digital journalism, blogging, and supporting digital copies of their newsletters, the internet has become the number one hub for experts providing opinions and insight into the burgeoning iGaming industry.
#2 – Consistent, Positive Opinion Within The Gambling Community
Although the experts can provide guidance, some might be biased toward a particular provider or company they have worked with. That’s not the case concerning opinions within the broader gambling community.
Now, while it is true that some social media comments and reviews will be scathing if somebody feels like they have been hard done by – on the whole if the gambling community has a collective opinion about a brand, it tends to be reasonably reliable. While it shouldn’t be taken as gospel, it’s a key factor that can provide insight into the quality of an online casino, and current or ex-customers will shine a light on where the casino excels and can improve.
#3 – Secure Site & Correct Licensure
A cyberattack or data breach doesn’t always signal that a brand still has security issues. One key component of online casino trustworthiness is a brand that can keep your personal and financial information secure.
Licensing is also important. Ideally, you want a casino to have more than one license. Some reputable jurisdictions include Gibraltar, Malta, the UKGC, and US state legislative bodies. Those sites with obscure licenses or making it difficult to find the certification on their site are not operating like some more trustworthy brands.
#4 – RNG Testing & Third-Party Certificates
RNG (Random Number Generator) testing and third-party auditing help to consolidate the fact that an online casino provides provably fair games and has been licensed by auditors. If licensed by a highly revered gambling commission, they will also be independently audited. However, other examples of auditors include eCOGRA.
#5 – Social Media Presence
In the digital age, a brand must have a social media presence – and the same applies to online casinos. This doesn’t mean they must post on Facebook 400 times a day. Still, they need to appreciate just how beneficial social media marketing can be and how having a visible presence can instill a positive image of their brand. Those casinos that can’t be found on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube are not operating in the spirit of a modern-day brand.
#6 – Customer Service Options
Customer service options can range from a 24/7 live chat, e-mail, a high-quality chatbot, quick response on social media, or a combination of them all. If a site only has a form to fill in or an e-mail address, where you will only get a response within 48 hours, it might mean they’re not entirely untrustworthy. Positive customer experience can completely reshape the quality of a brand, and online casinos are no different.
#7 – Robust Approach To Responsible Gambling
Whether it’s self-exclusion options, cooling off periods, or access to problem gambling charities, the sign of a trustworthy site is that it has a range of tools that can assist you in keeping your gambling within a suitable framework.
Those sites that overlook these features or make it more challenging for those looking to implement these safe gambling tools may be taking liberties in other areas of their gambling platform, so it is something to be wary of.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, if an online casino can tick the boxes in these seven areas, it will be a brand that you can trust. That doesn’t mean they have to hit all these benchmarks, but a solid performance in at least four or five areas will often constitute a high-quality brand.
If we were to pick one of these, what would be the most important? That’s tricky. But we would say revered by experts – while the experts aren’t perfect, they will put their necks on the line if they think a casino is particularly trustworthy or untrustworthy. From my experience, this tends to be the best measuring variable.
