Time and again, the question comes up, “How do I really know that I’m not being cheated by an online casino?” I mean, let’s face it – we’ve probably all asked this question. And if you haven’t, then you probably should.  Better yet, read the rest of this brief article. It will set you straight.

While nobody can promise – let alone convince the most skeptical – that online gambling is free of cheating, (lest we forget what went down at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet), players can certainly negate the possibility of it happening to them. In other words, if you play at an accredited and reputable online casino, you are not going to be cheated. While we won’t be offended if you don’t take our word for it, the fact of the matter is that nobody – not even an accredited testing facility can give you a 100% guarantee that you won’t be cheated. 99.9% maybe…but not 100%.

The same is true for land-based casinos. When you sit down at the blackjack table, you don’t get the entire deck of cards counted out for you. But the reality is that casinos – especially established and reputable brands – have too much riding on the line to cheat players. Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker will NEVER be the same. Sure, they’ll stay in business with new players unfamiliar with their dark chapter in history, but you can bet your bankroll they will be on top of preventing any cheating from taking place like it went down before.

If you find that you can’t bring yourself to gamble without a 100% cheating-free guarantee, it’s probably a better idea that you not gamble anyways. And if you do indeed decide to venture out and find a new online casino to play at, minimize your chances of falling prey to bad business practices by ensuring that the casino is accredited.

Seems obvious, does it not? Well, you’d be surprised just how many people will take a chance on playing at an online casino that has neither an established reputation nor accreditations. Some players will even take a chance wagering at an online casino that has been known to withhold rightful payouts to players!

I suppose if you consider the nature of gambling, it’s actually not that much of a surprise after all. Gambling is risk – and the casino will always have an Edge over the player no matter what. Some players are willing to take more risk than others…Even if it means not having a guarantee they won’t be cheated or are playing with fair odds.

Granted, any casino – especially rogue operators – will “guarantee” a fair and safe betting experience in order to get your business (notice I didn’t say “earn”). So, before giving way your own business away to just any online casino, be sure to verify the checklist immediately below. And remember, if any one of these cannot be validated, look for another online casino to play at. There are plenty of viable options available these days – even for US online gamblers, who being the largest demographic in the online casino gambling industry (and an unregulated one at that), tend to be the main target of unscrupulous offshore operators.

1) Ensure the casino software has been accredited – There are a handful of recognizable, third-party software testing laboratories that award accreditations to software platforms using hard-coded Random Number Generators (RNG) that have met minimum standards of randomness and unpredictability in delivering fair odds. Certifications to look for include, Certified Fair Gambling (CFG), Gambling Associates, Technical Systems Testing (TST), BMM International, eCOGRA.org and Price Waterhouse Coopers the latter two being the most widely respected and recognized. Keep in mind, that while such a certification ensures the casino software is inherently fair, it doesn’t ensure that the casino licensing the software has not tampered with the source code.

2) Ensure the casino is regulated (not just licensed) – To ensure the online casino itself is being regulated and monitored, validate the operators regulatory credentials. This would be akin to being approved by a government-run gambling commission. Some of the most well known regulatory jurisdictions include the UK, Gibraltar, Malta, Curacao (Netherlands, Antilles), Alderney, Kahnawake, Ise of Man and Antigua & Barbuda. While Costa Rica has expressed intent to set up a regulatory commission, only business licenses are currently provided to offshore operators. This doe NOT ensure that Costa Rica-based online casinos are regulated. The same goes for Panama.

3) Ensure the casino is being audited – By audited, i mean monthly payout reports. It’s one thing to ensure the casino is meeting minimum regulatory standards and providing a fair hand. It’s another thing to see just how much players are being paid out, as confirmed by third-party audited payout reports. If the casino does not have payout reports published and transparent for public view, inquire with customer service to receive copies of the reports. And don’t just settle for an email with numbers. If the casino is truly being audited on a monthly basis, there will be payout reports at their disposal.

Again, if an online casino does not have accredited software, is not regulated (“licensing” doesn’t count) and does not have third-party payout reports readily available, play there at your own risk. While a small handful of online casinos licensed in Costa Rica have served as reliable and reputable destinations for U.S. bettors over the years, please note that any “guarantee” of not being cheated is not as great as playing at an online casino with all three items on the above checklist being met.

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