Not long ago, playing and winning real money at an online casino felt foreign. If you wanted to gamble, you had to visit a land-based establishments. Then the internet changed everything: ordering pizza, hailing cabs, finding soulmates, and yes, playing casino games online. Yet, myths about online gambling persist—myths we’re here to bust.
Separating the Safe from the Sketchy
It’s amazing how far the pendulum has swung in terms of our trust of the online world. The idea of disclosing personal or financial information used to be seen as reckless and asking for trouble. Fast-forward to 2024, and with a little discretion, we can be relatively safe.
There’s plenty of misinformation out there regarding what is considered a safe online casino, so let’s take a look at five of the most commonly held misconceptions, and blow them out of the water with cold and hard facts.
Myth #1: All licensed casinos are equally trustworthy
Playing at an unlicensed casino isn’t a good idea. This doesn’t mean you’ll face mishaps, but the risk of doing so is significantly higher. Fraud, wrongful account suspensions, unfair gameplay, and data leaks are all potential risks when playing at an establishment that operates without a license from a trusted regulatory authority.
Licensed casinos are a far safer option because of the data encryption and regular game testing assured by authorities such as eCOGRA. That said, not all licensing bodies are equal. The Malta Gaming Authority and Curaçao eGaming are some of the better-known names in the industry, with the former having a particular reputation for its dedication to fairness, regular testing and data encryption. Others, like the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, has been criticized for not being as stringent in its policies.
Myth #2: Safe casinos don’t need digital encryption
Any online space where you disclose sensitive information should have digital encryption technology in place to protect you. Not having digital encryption in place, even if properly licensed, can lead to your information being stolen, fraudulent account activity, and even the theft of your funds. There are countless incidents of data breaches where proper (and up-to-date) data encryption was not employed.
What’s more, these measures require regular updates to stay on top of would-be hackers.
Myth #3: High payout percentages mean it is safe
Another common myth is that the more a casino pays out, the more trustworthy it is. This is simply not true. Return to Player (RTP) percentages are merely theoretical percentages indicating how much is returned to players over time, and not necessarily reflective of your personal experience while playing.
Myth #4: Safe casinos don’t need responsible gambling tools
All the best online casinos in Canada have responsible gambling tools and resources in place. Links to gambling support groups, self-assessment tools, deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion are required by the most trusted regulators for providing a safe environment for online gambling.
Playing online is a great way to have fun – and potentially win some money, too. But, be mindful of your spending and never rely on gambling as your main source of income.
Myth #5: All casinos with good reviews are safe
A convincing review can help sway your opinion one way or another. But, remember that marketers are often paid to write positive reviews. When looking for a Canadian gambling site, be sure to stick with reputable casino reviews written by experts with your best interests at heart.
It’s also worth doing your own safety checks to get complete peace of mind.
Play only at Safe Online Casinos
Here we’ve only busted five myths about what makes an online casino safe, but these cover all the most important ones. The big takeaway is to always do your due diligence at a site like Maple Casino when looking for a place to gamble online, where well-researched reviews and casino themed blogs can help point you in the right direction.
Below are some of our top choices of safe online experience in Canada. Best of luck, and be safe out there!
