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Online Payments and Gaming: Keeping Your Money and Details Safe

The UK’s online gambling industry continues to swell as new websites appear week after week.

As a result, Britain’s remote betting sector generated more than £5bn between October 2017 and September 2018, making up more than a third of the gambling industry’s overall revenue. And further research reveals more Brits play bingo now than tennis (surprising, considering we’re the home of Wimbledon).

This ongoing proliferation of virtual casinos, sports-betting and bingo sites in the UK means it’s a golden age for gambling fans. But caution is key when choosing online gaming sites, especially with managing your payments.

How can you stay safe and keep your transactions secure?

Check Each Website’s Reputation and Community

The community aspect is a major factor driving the increase in online bingo and casinos.

The best bingo sites provide players with chat tools to interact with each other in real-time, recreating the social buzz brick-and-mortar bingo halls are known for. Good casinos host live-dealer games, too, which offer the same immersive, relaxed experience.

But only reputable bingo and casino brands will maintain a loyal community and, consequently, earn positive reviews. On the other hand, poor-quality sites will struggle to bring customers back regularly and only attract negative feedback.

Check out as many reviews as you can find before committing to any site, even big ones like Gala or Mecca. Any issues related to payments will be discussed, and even just one or two bad experiences are worth paying attention to. If a bingo or casino site attracts multiple negative reviews, especially related to their payment system, look elsewhere.

Credentials are King

There’s one easy way to find the best online casinos and bingo sites: it’s usually a bad sign if there’s no mention of the Gambling Commission anywhere.

Why? Because the Gambling Commission is responsible for ensuring any licensed gaming website delivers fair, honest service. Businesses must adhere to strict rules and align with stringent regulations to maintain their licence.

Scroll to the bottom of any bingo site or casino and check for the Gambling Commission logo. Alternatively, you can check the Commission’s online register yourself.

Only Use Trusted Payment Methods for Transactions

This final tip should really go without saying, but we feel it’s just too easy for people to overlook: only use trustworthy payment methods for deposits and withdrawals.

Online bingo sites and casinos should present customers with several options to choose from, covering e-wallets, credit/debit cards and direct bank transfers.

For example, Trustly is one of the most reliable methods available, allowing users to make secure payments through their bank account direct. You don’t input your details into the betting site itself: you’re directed to the Trustly domain, ready to login. Payments usually take two days. You can learn more here about Trustly and bingo and casino sites that accept this payment method.

Other dependable payment methods include PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, and Boku. All of these are common at UK online casinos and bingo sites.

You just cannot afford to underestimate the importance of safe, secure online payments at gambling sites.

iGaming is a fun, exciting, and (hopefully) rewarding pastime in the digital age. But take the time to research any bingo or casino sites you want to try before signing up.