Betting sites – how to stay safe

Betting online, and betting in general, is something that all of us might approach in a different and unique way. What we want out of online betting can be different for each person, and thus each person can be at different risks. Whoever you are and whatever you want, though, the top priority for your online betting career must always be safety.

So, today, let’s look at some of the best ways to stay safe on online betting sites.

1.Licenses 

There are a lot of things that determine just how safe a site is, but we could say there is one single thing which sorts the safe from the outright unsafe. That is whether they have been officially licensed by the Gambling Commission or Irish Revenue Comissioners.

This means that the site is operating legally, and is abiding by the terms of the U.K. or Irish gambling regulations which protect consumers.

If you are looking into unlicensed, unregulated sites, you’re putting yourself at significant risk in a number of ways and you’re better off sticking with a site like the betting sites at Betfree which list Irish regulated sites. Whether they’re out to simply operate an unfair game or to scam you outright, you’re never safe with an unlicensed site.

To date, the U.K. has issued licenses to over 80 online bookies. If you’re in any doubt, make sure that the site you’re looking at is on their list. This should always be your first question.

2.Site security 

Staying safe online becomes a greater minefield with each year that passes. Security becomes tighter and more complex, and it can often feel like we are being made to jump through hoops for the simplest things.

When it comes to a betting site, though, the more hoops they make you jump through for the sake of security, the better. Everything from encouraging a strong password, to activating 2-factor authentication, to even verifying the site uses SSL encryption.

A site might be licensed, but still susceptible to data breaches. Over 1,200 data breaches were reported in 2021 alone, steadily increasing year on year. You must ensure the site you’re looking at has robust security, and is not putting your data at risk.

This can all seem a bit daunting and technical if you’re new to the world of online betting, but it is far more intuitive than it sounds. In any case, you absolutely can’t bet safely online without a rudimentary understanding of online security.

3.User feedback 

Once you’re sure that the site is officially licensed and has strong, robust security in place, the next thing to check is the nuts-and-bolts user feedback. When signing up to a new site, the best way you can get a sense of how well it functions is to look to user reviews.

There are many places you can find directories of reviews of popular betting sites. This will give you a good insight into how other users have found the site, and whether there have been any significant issues they’ve had.

Staying safe with a betting site means not making any deposits until you’re certain of the site’s safety. If you look into reviews of a site and find many people reporting they’ve had issues with deposits, withdrawals, or anything on a technical level—this is where you’ll find that.

Betting online and putting out so much personal information can be daunting, and understandably so. Especially if online betting is not something you’re familiar with. Overall, though, betting sites are generally reputable and safe, and knowing the basics to look out for is always the first step in determining how safe a particular site is. Armed with the knowledge you’ve acquired here, you should have no problem determining whether a site is safe.