How to Find a Safe Casino?
As mentioned, picking safe online casino sites comes with experience, and that includes knowing exactly which aspects to check. Having reviewed hundreds of US legal online casinos, In my opinion, it takes checking every single section of the site. I always start with security methods used and make my way to bonus terms and some obvious focus points like games and their fairness. If you’re still new to all this, I’ll break down the entire process in a few simple steps:
States Regulation
Finding the best safe online casino in the US mainly depends on your state. At the moment of crafting this guide, legal online gambling is only allowed in several US states, including NJ, PA, MI, CT, WV, and RI. However, each of the states has its own regulatory bodies which are responsible for auditing online casino sites and issuing local gambling licenses. Depending on your state, here’s a list of these regulatory hubs:
- New Jersey — Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE)
- Michigan — The Michigan Gaming Control Board
- West Virginia — West Virginia Lottery
- Rhode Island — Rhode Island Division of Lottery
- Connecticut — The Department of Consumer Protection
- Pennsylvania — The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
So, your first move in finding a safe online casino in your state would be to look for certificates and approval from these regulatory bodies. In case a site isn’t licensed by any of these, you can’t really take it as safe. It’s also not legal to access sites not approved by the local governing body in certain states. So, my best advice would be to always stick to the DGE-licensed platforms if you’re from the NJ, and that goes for all the other states on my list.
Technical Security
In my career as an expert casino reviewer with over a decade of experience, I’ve been asked a lot about the term “technical security.” The best way to explain it would be by saying that it’s an overall term for on-site safety. That includes your details as a player, as well as all the other potential breach points like identity theft, payment system faults, and others.
To cope with all that, safe online casinos usually incorporate various security methods and systems. The one I’m always looking for as a testament to the site’s security is SSL encryption. Besides data encryption, I’ve learned to appreciate platforms that take extra precautions with their identity verification systems, but here’s an explanation for all safety-related technical aspects:
| Security System | Explanation |
| SSL | A system that encrypts data between the casino site and a user |
| 2FA (Two Factor Authentication) | Personal verification method based on a code sent to your mobile device |
| Identity Verification | Casino’s identity confirmation system that is based on a specific set of personal details |
| Segregated Funds | Protection method based on keeping player’s and system funds separate |
| Responsible Gambling | Set of features enabled by the site to prevent gambling addiction |
Games Fairness
The biggest indicator that you’ve found one of the most secure online casino platforms is the verification of game fairness. The safest online casinos rely on frequent software checks and audits done by third-party expert agencies to determine the fairness of their games. They also test RNGs and the RTP rates of slots and table games. That goes for all the games represented on the site, from online slots to live dealer tables and bingo games. I’ll be expanding on this aspect in a while in more detail.
Plus, the proper verification process is twofold, which means it is carried out both by the state’s regulatory body and an independent auditor. Online casinos that successfully go through this type of verification show the signature logos of companies that reviewed the software on their main page.
Secure Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Every online casino needs to rely on safe and vetted payment systems to be approved by the DGE, the WV Lottery, and other regulatory bodies. So far, I’ve seen very little progress in the field of cryptocurrencies. At least when it comes to fully legitimate local gambling sites in the US.
Thus, you should be looking at sites offering online casino best payout methods including trusted options like credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. These include options like MasterCard, VISA, Discover, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and others. Plus, there’s always the addition of ACH and digital vouchers like Paysafecard and Neosurf, so pay attention to those as well. I only recommend going with a site that offers proven payment methods with proper security features.
Safe and Secure Mobile Apps
With the dawn of HTML5 technology, the entire iGaming industry has changed, and that goes for mobile casino apps as well. I would only recommend platforms that offer safe apps for Android and iOS with proven security measures to keep personal and banking details safe.
To that end, I always check the overall features of the app and its security before recommending it to readers. I also tend to double-check player reviews left on Google Play Store and Apple’s AppStore to see what other site members think of the app.
Professional Customer Service
To ensure a smooth and safe online casino real money gaming experience for players, reliable websites in the US simply must have proper support channels. By that, I mean multi-channeled support with 24/7 availability through email coordination, direct phone hotlines, and live chat support.
Sure, if a certain casino doesn’t have one of these, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad or unsafe platform. But, in my eyes, it’s a must for a site to have at least one readily available support channel with 24/7 human support.
