Safe & Secure Online Casinos

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:

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:

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.

Who Verifies the Safety and Security of Online Casinos?

I have already explained that every state that offers legal gambling in the US has its own gaming authority. You simply have to pay attention to regulatory agencies in each state, as well as their framework for issuing online casino licenses to qualifying platforms.

To help you find a safe casino online regardless of where you are located, I’ve decided to give you a brief description of each of these regulatory bodies. Here’s how licensing and regulations work by state:

What Is the Best Safe Online Casino?

I know that telling you how to find safe online casino platforms is just the first part of the deal. That’s why I wanted to tell you a bit more about the practical side of things. I’ve hand-picked the safest online casinos in the US based on my reviewing experience and impressions after playing on the sites for a while. So, I believe I’m qualified to recommend the following three options for safe US casinos:

WOW Vegas Casino

For those looking for the best social and sweepstakes online casino in the US safety-wise, WOW Vegas is an option that checks all the boxes. It even has a generous welcome bonus for new players who join the site. You get 2 SC and 150,000 WOW Coins right off the bat. The site uses the latest SSL encryption protocol to make sure everything goes smoothly in terms of on-site playing security. All that makes it one of the best rated online casino sites in the sweepstakes market, available to almost every US player.

Players can also relax knowing that the site’s representatives are always just a couple of hours away via the support ticket service. It has more than 900 casino-like games provided by the industry’s leading developers like Pragmatic Play, and others. I also loved the site’s support system which includes all the necessary support channels and allows you to use one of many responsible gambling features. The platform features self-exclusion and setting up purchase limits to keep your spending at bay.

Pros

• Great selection of sweeps casino games
• Latest security protocols are enforced to keep player data safe
• Impressive welcome bonus

Cons

• Doesn’t have live chat support

BetMGM Casino

Unlike WOW Vegas, BetMGM is a full-fledged asino online for real money, offering quite a few perks for players. If you’re looking for a gambling site that is not only safe but also reputable in the US gambling industry, BetMGM’s online casino is a perfect solution. It even offers one of the biggest gaming libraries that I’ve seen on the US iGaming market, featuring over 3,000 releases. On top of that, BetMGM also has military-grade protection and safety protocols, as well as responsive support and a detailed identity check process.

Not only can you feel safe playing on this site, but you can also explore a top-tier gaming selection powered by High 5 Games, NETEnt, Play’n GO, and many others. The site is available in MI, NJ, PA, and WV.

Pros

• Amazing selection of online casino games
• Top-tier security features with SSL protection
• Managed by one of the safest and most recognizable brands

Cons

• Doesn’t have dedicated phone support

Caesars Casino

Last but not least, Caesars entered my shortlist for the safest online casino through a live support system that always helps you with safety inquiries. Besides, it’s also managed by a trustworthy brand with decades of experience offering casino games to US players, although not in the modern, iGaming way.

It’s available in NJ, MI, PA, and WV, offering more than 800 casino games from nearly a dozen top-notch gaming providers. Caesars also has one of the best mobile apps among US casino sites, and it offers games from local providers like WMS, IGT, and Bally. To top it all off, Caesars is also an online casino with instant payout methods, including PayPal, Venmo, ACH, American Express, and Discover.

Pros

• Around-the-clock support
• Reputable brand managed by Caesars Casino Las Vegas
• Offers some of the most secure payment methods for US players

Cons

• Game availability ranges from state to state

Look Out for These Logos

Besides gambling regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority or organizations like the DGE in the US, you should pay attention to independent casino software auditors. Independent auditors confirm the safety of both new online casino sites and US casinos with years of tradition.

Luckily, gambling online gets at least a bit safer with emblems of agencies like eCOGRA and iTech Labs at the bottom of the page. So, these are the most prominent ones:

• eCOGRA — With more than two decades of experience regulating safe gambling sites, eCOGRA ranks pretty high on my list. In my experience, if you see their badge along with the emblem of the casino regulator authority, there’s no room for any worries. Plus, eCOGRA not only approves online casinos but also game providers, so you can rest assured of the RNG fairness wherever their badge is on display.
•  iTech Labs — As yet another organization that both tests random number generators and casino sites as a whole, iTechLabs stands out with its unique testing methods. It goes right up there with eCOGRA as one of the most reputable online casino testing agencies. Plus, it provides regular audits of the gaming software and on-site systems.
• Norton Secured — Norton is the leading name in the field of online casino security. If you see its badge on a casino site, that means you can rest assured of the SSL encryption used. Plus, it means that the site passed Norton’s vulnerability assessments and personal information security tests.
• TRUSTe — Besides the software fairness and having fair banking options at my disposal, I also find that it’s crucial to play sites with dependable privacy policies. That’s where TRUSTe kicks in as an auditor with more than two decades of experience which focuses on on compliance with privacy laws and regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA.
• Secure SSL Encryption — We finally reach SSL encryption which is a casino safety method itself and it’s pretty widespread these days. You’ll easily find US casinos using SSL encryption to keep their data safe, and I always advise going for one of these platforms.

Tips on How to Play Safe

The only way you can stay safe while gambling online is by visiting casinos with a proven track record of providing a secure iGaming environment. For that purpose, I can only leave you with some useful tips on maximizing your online security when you join online gambling sites:

• Only go for licensed casinos — To keep both your personal and financial information safe, you will need to stick with gambling sites approved by the US governing bodies. In my experience, not only is going offshore potentially illegal, but it’s also a bad choice if the site isn’t approved by a reputable authority.
• Check the game fairness first — As soon as you land on casino sites that use random number generators in their games, make sure to look for fairness certificates like eCOGRA or iTechLabs.
• Keep your banking details confidential — Even when playing on trusted online casinos, always keep your banking details safe. I’d strongly advise against exposing your credit cards and their passwords, or bank account details online by using a public WiFi connection.

Play on casinos vetted for safety — Last but not least, you should only play on casinos vetted for safety by industry experts. Here, at LuckyGambler, you’ll find reliable picks with excellent customer service, the latest data encryption, and other safety features tested by industry experts.