It’s a horrible world out there. Not just in the physical trappings of day-to-day life but there are online threats out there on all corners of the internet too. Given that most people play on real-money casinos online, it makes for a myriad of pitfalls where people can be parted from their hard-earned cash in illegitimate ways. Let’s review some top safety tips on how to stay safe while playing online poker for real money.
Only Play on Reputable Sites
The first safety point is to only sign up with a site that you trust, and if you want a good place to start then you can safely play poker with real money from this list of sites. Whether you know somebody who uses a site, you’ve read a non-biased review or you go by the certifications and licenses the site has – be sure the online casino is trustworthy enough for you to hand over your card details. After all, you wouldn’t openly share your bank account particulars with a dodgy-looking casino on the wrong side of town, would you? So why do it online? Failure to only bet with reputable sites could lead to unfair games, your data being sold to third parties and even worse financial implications as your card details have been handed over to a company with no track record of handling such data.
Website Security and Encryption
Closely linked to the above point, it’s worth checking the security of any online casino you intend to do business with. Even if you’re more interested in using their app, hop on a web browser and see what their website security looks like. If it’s the SSL encryption then it’s probably safe, if not, you could do with swerving the brand as there isn’t even a base layer of security.
Fair Play Metrics
You’d like a decent chance of winning at the poker table, right? For that to happen, you’ve got to ensure that the games on any online casino or poker site are operated fairly. There are a few different certifications and ratifications that websites can display to show that they conduct their business properly. In addition, there are lots of non-biased casino comparison sites that document how good online casinos are.
Check the Responsible Gambling Tools
The majority of good online casinos and poker websites will enable responsible gambling tools to help their customers. These include deposit limits and play time allowances, which ensure that users don’t overspend their money or time. These have become more commonplace as gambling has become an addiction to some, and sites without such features are lagging.
Using a Strong and Unique Password
While there’s a lot you need to look for from the website, there are also some actions that you can take to ensure that you stay safe. One of which is a fairly simple but often overlooked step. Using a strong password that is unique to this account is a great idea as it leaves you less susceptible to phishing and/or its subsequent effects.
Only Gamble What You Can Afford to Lose
Another golden rule that you should employ yourself when logging on to online poker sites is to only play with funds that you can afford to lose. For most people, online poker should be seen as a recreational activity with a mere chance of financial income. Having a set bankroll for poker and gambling pastimes is usually a good idea to ensure that you don’t mix up your weekly food or gas budget with poker and end up in a sticky situation because you lost it all online.
Continually Cleanse Your Device
By cleanse, we don’t mean with a duster and surface cleaner – but by running virus, malware, and various threat detection software. Ensuring that you run your security protocols frequently will not only ensure your device is free from harm, but also that the information you share online is also safe.
Avoid Playing on Unfamiliar Networks
If you’re at home using your own Wi-Fi or on your mobile phone provider’s network, then your connection is as safe as it can be. After all, you as the customer have a lot of control over where the information goes and where it is stored. What you can be less sure of is what happens if you log on to a public Wi-Fi. In theory, that big coffee shop chain could be stealing all of your information or someone has compromised the network security. Therefore, it is ill-advised to play poker in any capacity on public Wi-Fi.
The same goes for work networks too. While it’s not morally wrong to play poker at work, your manager might see it as a misuse of company time and not be best impressed as a result. Especially if you’re using a work computer to do so.