Online Casino Risks and Traps: How to Avoid Them?

1. Playing at Fraudulent Casinos

One of the biggest mistakes any gambler can make is playing at a fraudulent casino. Sites that offer unfair odds, fail to protect your information, or lack a license from a recognized gambling authority should be avoided.

The obvious risk of playing at an unsafe site is that any money you deposit could be lost forever. It does not matter how skilled a player you are if the casino never intends to pay. Also, providing your payment information to an unsafe casino brings the added risk of having your banking information leaked.

Avoiding fraudulent sites is easy as long as you do your research beforehand. Ensure that the online casino has a positive track record of paying players and employs updated safety measures.

2. Playing Rigged Games

Every casino game has a house edge. However, some games have been rigged to give the house an even bigger advantage.

Avoiding counterfeit games is the easiest way to stay away from rigged machines. However, with so many convincing fakes out there, staying away from fake versions of popular titles can be easier said than done.

You should also check the payout conditions and reported RTP for a game before you play it. Lowering the payout and/or adjusting the RTP for a machine is an easy way for unsafe casinos to trick players into losing money.

3. Claiming Bad Bonuses

Another rookie mistake to avoid is claiming bad casino bonuses. Reading the terms and conditions of a bonus offer is a necessary, albeit boring, step in ensuring you are playing safely.

Some of the key information to identify about any bonus before accepting it includes:

• • Minimum and maximum deposit requirements
  • Playthrough or wagering requirements
  • Maximum cashout limit
  • Accepting deposit methods
  • Bonus funds expiration date

The wagering requirements and deposit amounts are two key pieces of information you need to calculate the expected value of a bonus. Also, since you typically can only have one bonus active at a time, getting stuck with a bad bonus can cause you to miss out on better offers.

Reading the T&C and understanding what you are getting into is the best way to avoid bad bonuses. Finding trustworthy VIP programs or safe bonuses you can redeem multiple times will also limit your risk.

4. Getting Your Money Stuck

Losing your deposit by betting is one thing, but having your money stuck in your account is frustrating. This often happens when casinos accept large deposits but have low payout limits.

Other factors that can keep your money stuck in your account include slow payout speeds and limited payout methods. Extended processing times will lead to you waiting long periods for your payments. Likewise, if the site does not offer a withdrawal method you can access, you will be forced to look for other, often expensive and inconvenient options.

Secure casinos make it easy to learn about their payment and withdrawal methods, limits, and speeds before you deposit funds. Picking sites that offer a wide variety of payment options and fast transaction speeds will also help you avoid this issue.

5. Betting Beyond Your Limits

Betting beyond your limits is another online casino risk that successful players must avoid. There are two main limits to be aware of: money and time.

Your bankroll, or the money you have to bet with, is the most important limiting factor when gambling. Betting more than you can afford to lose is a rookie mistake that can be extremely costly. Sticking to your bankroll can be tough when casinos are offering enticing bonuses to encourage additional deposits.

Playing too long is another major risk. Sticking to your time limits, regardless of whether you are up or down, is the key to not blowing your bankroll or developing unhealthy betting habits.

The only way to stick to your gambling limits is to have great self-control. Some sites also allow you to opt in to programs that will limit the amount you can deposit in a given time period.

6. Playing Games You Do Not Understand

Learning a new casino game can be exciting. However, betting on a game you do not understand the rules of is an unnecessary risk that players should avoid. If you do not know the rules of a game, you will likely just burn money.

On the bright side, casino games typically have a rules section that explains how the game works. Study these sections to learn the ins and outs of a given game. Also, look for free demo versions of the game to practice your strategy and increase your knowledge before betting on it.

7. Competing Against More Experienced Players

Sharks are experienced players who are looking to take advantage of their inexperienced counterparts. While often associated with poker, any casino game that pits players against each other can be home to sharks.

Some games to watch out for sharks include certain crash games, Chemin de fer baccarat, and Teen Patti.

Playing games is the best way to become a more experienced player. However, going head-to-head with an expert when you are still gaining your footing is a costly mistake.

Instead, look for tables that have players with a similar experience level. If the other players have you at a disadvantage, it is a good idea to leave and find a different table to play at.

8. Playing with Emotion

Gambling can be a lot of fun, but it is vital to keep your emotions out of your decisions. Playing when you are emotional, or tilted, comes with many risks. Mainly, playing with emotion makes it harder to stick to your strategy.

Tilted players are also more at risk of playing beyond the bankroll and time limits they set before they started their session.

Your personality will determine how likely you are to become emotional while playing. Recognizing the signs that you are becoming tilted and having a plan, such as leaving the table, will minimize the damage. Also, taking frequent breaks will help prevent your emotions from building up over a long session.