How to recognise reputable online casinos

Everyone somewhere dreams of making a quick buck and being lucky enough to win money. That's why online casinos are trendy and thriving like no other industry. But the gambling world also has its downsides. Dark machinations or scams are no longer uncommon here. But in what industry is it not? Nevertheless, you can protect yourself if you consider a few things when looking for a reputable online casino. There are criteria that a casino provider must meet. We explain here what they are.

How to recognize a safe online casino?

There are several factors by which you can recognize reputable gambling providers. These include not only the official EU gambling license but also the secure encryption and payment methods offered.

Even if it is difficult for a layman to find a reliable casino provider, these points are particularly important. Firstly, you have to compare casinos. Rating sites such as redaktionstest.net are also ideal for getting the first impression of providers. Also, these criteria are important so that you can be sure that it is a reputable online casino:

• The online casino must have a certification such as TÜV and/or a valid gambling license from the EU (e.g. from Malta ).
• All data or transmissions must be protected with at least 128-bit AES encryption because of data security.
• Gambling operations must also be subject to regular government controls.
• Customer service must be provided in German and be available 24 hours a day.
• Deposit and withdrawal processing should be very easy. In addition, a variety of secure payment methods must be offered.
• Of course, the deposited sums go into the casino's business account and are not used for anything else.
• The online casino software should be reliable and error-free.
• Safe, transparent and fair play must be guaranteed.
• The provider's bonus programs must be realistic and not highly exaggerated in order to attract customers.
• Legal certainty must be guaranteed in case of disputes.
• Internet casinos should offer preventive measures to prevent gambling addiction. This could include, among other things, deposit limits or self-exclusion.

What is the legal situation in Sweden?

It is well known that gambling can be addictive. Therefore, the gambling industry in Sweden is also regulated by the state. In 2019, new rules have been introduced for the Swedish gambling market. Both the government and the Riksdag saw the alarming development of gambling addiction in the country and therefore decided to introduce more restrictive measures against gambling. Among other things, new rules were put forward regarding how much gambling operations were allowed to offer their customers in the form of bonuses. These player benefits were slightly reduced.

The state also initiated new features designed to reduce access to gambling. These include, among others, time limits, a lower limit on maximum casino deposits and a pause on games. Spelpaus is a service that excludes casino customers from all gambling at licensed gambling companies in Sweden. Although people volunteer for the service, many see something negative in the uncompromising suspension that has followed. Many Swedish players are therefore increasingly opting for unlicensed casinos.

The EU license is more or less in a grey area, but it is allowed. Casino providers are based in Malta, for example, and thus can offer their gambling throughout the EU. According to the National Gambling Agreement, Internet gambling is generally prohibited. Under § 284 StGB, this also includes online casinos and is therefore not actually permitted. However, no landmark ruling has been issued so far, so it is more or less tolerated, even if the online casinos are in a grey legal area.

Gambling is fun, but it's a stick of two ends

If you do want to try your luck, you should find out more about the provider and the online casino beforehand. Because even though the internet has many advantages, there are also many lousy sheep in this environment. Nevertheless, you can keep yourself safe by following the points above.

If you want to be safe, you also have the option of downloading apps that are gambling in nature, but in which you cannot win money. Instead of real money, virtual currencies are used here and you can still have fun. They are not subject to the Gambling Treaty and are therefore perfectly legal. Of course, it lacks the atmosphere and live events that make the game really interesting.