Online casinos are hugely popular across the whole of Ireland. Players are always on the hunt for the best bonuses as well as a great section of games. What really makes an online casino is down to the games that are featured. You’d expect to see a wide selection of slots but then also pelt of table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker. However, before you dive in and start playing at any online casino, you need to know that it’s safe.
With the sheer number of sites, it’s easy enough to stumble upon one that you really need to be steering clear off. While there are plenty of protections in place, players still have a degree of responsibility to ensure that where they are looking to play is okay. So, how do you know if online casinos in Ireland are safe? Read on and we’ll let you know what to look for.
Be sure to check out licences
When you’re using PayPal casinos in Ireland, it’s important to stay safe and use secure sites. One of the easiest ways to establish if a casino is safe is to check out if it’s licensed. You’ll find that reputable online casinos operating in Ireland will have licences from one or more of the following:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
You’ll usually find the information relating to the license in the footer of the website. As well as being able to see which authority has issued the license, you should also be able to spot the license number. This allows you to check it out and make sure that it’s legitimate.
If there’s no sign of any licensing information then do not be tempted to play. No matter how great the site may look, how big the game selection or how amazing the bonuses may be, it’s just not worth the risk. The truth is that there are plenty of great online casinos out there that are licensed so stick with one of those.
Levels of security
Technology has developed at an astonishing rate and that means that there is now the capability to keep websites safer than they ever have been before. When you visit an online casino in Ireland, you want to be sure that it has a minimum of 128-bit security in place. This means that steps have been taken to keep your details safe and made it as hard as possible for hackers.
The reality of reputable online casinos is that they have security measures in place that are on par with banks and other financial institutions. So, before you sign up, check out what security is in place and be sure that you’re happy with what there is – remember it’s your money and details at risk!
A great mix of payment methods
Any online casino in Ireland that is safe to play at will offer a range of payment options. Not only will there be a few on offer, but they will also be methods that you recognise and ones that are proven to be secure. Just some of the most popular, and safest, payment options include:
- Cards such as Visa and Mastercard
- Bank transfers
- E-wallets such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill
- Prepaid cards such as Paysafecard
Even if you only spot one of these methods being available you can still be sure that you’re at an online casino that can be trusted. The thing is if you’re at a casino and you’re not happy with the options you can simply find a site where you are: there are so many online casinos to choose from that you’re bound to find one that suits your needs.
Free play
Some of the best, and the safest online casinos in Ireland will let you try before you buy, so to speak. They’ll allow you to create an account and play some of the games for free so that you can get a feel for them and the site as a whole. Of course, playing for free means that there are no cash prizes, but it’s still a worthwhile exercise.
Free play opportunities can also be used to get get to grips with games that may be new to you. It could be that you’ve always fancied a hand of blackjack but have never got around to it. the best thing here is to play for free, get to learn the game, and then start to wager and play for real money.
Check out the customer support
Of course, no one joins an online casino thinking that things are going to go wrong. The unfortunate truth is that, sometimes, they just do. When this happens you need to be sure that the casino is easy to contact and will assist you as much as possible.
A trustworthy online casino will make it as easy as possible for you to get in touch. They should be offering the likes of:
- Phone support
- Live chat
- Online contact forms
It’s also worth checking out reviews from existing players. If you do this you can get an insight into how the casino really treats its customer before you take the plunge and become one.
Keep passwords safe and secure
While casinos should be going out of their way to keep the playing environment secure, you have a part to play too. Just remember, you’re sharing a lot of details with your chosen casino and you’re likely having a great deal of money passing to and fro.
Treat your casino details as you would your PIN for your bank card. Do all that you can to keep it safe and make sure that you never share it. The best online casinos will always have your back should things go wrong, but if it transpires that you’ve been sharing your password you can probably kiss that level of support goodbye. With a little common sense and by choosing the safest online casinos, you can play with peace of mind.