How To Identify a Trustworthy Crypto Casino: Expert Tips & Checklist

Three quick facts to note about trustworthy online casinos

• An online casino is more credible when it is licensed by reputable regulatory bodies.
• SSL encryption is a standard security feature at safe online casinos, but look for other features like 2-factor authentication and KYC verification.
• Reliable platforms have simple terms and conditions with no unclear phrases.

How to find trustworthy casinos — 10 top factors to consider

Although a lot goes into identifying a trustworthy online casino, here are 10 essential factors you should not skip:

1. What security features are there? Is there a license?

A license is among the first things we check in an online casino. If such certificates are available, the operator will boldly display the information in the site’s footer or in the About Us page. These licenses are registered at the State level, rather than national, meaning the online casino must obtain a valid license in every state it operates in.

These are issued by the state’s regulatory commission – some examples include the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) or the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

In some cases, licenses are for specific types of games offered, such as Online Poker requiring a peer-to-peer gaming license, or Online Casino for virtual slots games. If the online casino isn’t developing its own games, the actual developer of the gaming software must also be licensed.

Now, with crypto platforms, you might not always find a license and some even operate outside of the United States; that is where high-end security features come into the picture. Look for clear use of security architecture such as SSL encryption certificates, two-factor authentication, and HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security).

Crypto casinos may also use security systems for funds (limiting what funds are “exposed” to digital hackers or requiring multiple “signatures” to unlock funds for usage). This is a good sign, as financial protection will be stronger with these set-ups.

Also look out for 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) for logins and withdrawals on your account, a useful feature in case your password is stolen as it provides a second barrier to access. This has become more popular across the internet and is widely used by Google, Amazon etc.

When it comes to games themselves, some digital casinos may even allow you to verify the fairness of the games you’re playing via cryptographic hashes, so you know the outcome was fair and random – not predetermined or otherwise altered at any point.

It’s a big red flag if none of these security features are present, consider playing elsewhere if this is the case.

2. Evaluate the website closely

The design of any website – like the cover of a book – undoubtedly makes a first impression on would be players. However, whether garish and fun or slick and luxurious, an online casino should be more than just visually appealing.

It needs to function well, offer security, and tools to help you navigate and use its services. Here’s some top things to look for in a good online casino design:

• Make sure the site is well-organized, so you can navigate it easily without getting lost, stuck, or frustrated.
• Check the loading speed – the faster it loads, the easier it is to reach the content you want without unwanted delays.
• No redirects! This indicates you are being moved from one online location to another, and these could be entirely different sites. At best this could increase load speeds, but may even expose you to malware and other security risks.
• Good online casinos should include a link to their terms and conditions somewhere on their pages. Check the footer of the site and the navigation menu.
• Similarly, there should be ways to reach support if you encounter any problems with the site, your account, or the games you’re playing. Look for multiple ways to get in touch with someone official.
• Look for easy access to your profile, security settings (e.g. your password), and any other personal data.

If what you want isn’t easy to reach, or there are indications the site may not be legitimate, it’s best to look elsewhere for your gaming needs. Most legitimate providers understand and cater to their users needs, so there are loads of good options to pick from.

3. Check for a mobile application and compare it to the desktop site

Many casino operators have joined the trend of making their websites mobile-compatible. A few go the extra mile and create dedicated mobile apps.

The availability of an application gets the operator a thumbs up from us, but always test it to see how it operates on your device, and as always keep an eye open for any issues like your device flagging the app as a security concern.

Always be sure of where an app comes from, before installing it or giving it access to any personal or financial information.

Security aside, let’s look at functionality: whether you use the web-based version or the app, compare the offerings to those of the desktop site. Do this to be sure you’re not missing out on the fun when playing on smaller screens.

4. The quantity and quality of the game portfolio

One of our favorite things about crypto casinos is their diversity of the game library. You have everything from original, provably fair games to live dealer options. If you learn the provably fair meaning, you’ll see why these titles rank high in our books. Other common categories include:

However, do not just check the quantity of games. Also, understand the providers that supply them.

Look for well-known names such as Betsoft, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Hacksaw Gaming. Such providers have a proven track record of offering fair games.

5. Welcome bonuses and reward systems for returning players

Online gaming is a competitive market, and the best crypto casinos do not skimp on bonuses built to attract and retain your interest!

Check the available promotions that you can claim after creating an account. There’s often a sign-up bonus as a reward simply for joining up, just to get you started.

Next, look for other rewards for returning players. These can range from matched deposit bonuses to free spins, rakeback, cashback, and provider-based bonuses. Often you’ll be eligible for bonuses simply for returning and playing, recommending friends, interacting on social media and so on – the kinds of thing most people do anyway.

There’s also often VIP bonuses, limited-time tournaments, and special “quests” which can be great bespoke offers to take advantage of.

6. How are the bonus terms and conditions?

The more bonuses they are, the better, but do not be quick to claim these offers or assume they apply to you without knowing the caveats first! A very big red flag is too-good-to-be-true promotions with unreasonable terms and conditions. That’s why you should never skip the fine print. Go through the conditions and see if you can easily meet them before you deposit and activate any bonus.

In particular, keep an eye out for wagering limits, whether bonuses have an expiry time or date, and other criteria that makes you eligible (or ineligible) to claim.

It’s normal for most bonuses to come with some caveats, but bonuses from reputable sites will be attainable for most – they shouldn’t be prohibitive.

7. What of the overall casino’s terms and conditions?

As we’ve already suggested; Terms and conditions are not limited to player bonuses alone. The casino itself will also have a T&Cs page that details its operations.

This page should clearly state the operator’s responsibilities to its players, restricted regions, payment terms, and your responsibilities as a player, among others.

If there are too many unclear phrases or clauses you’re not comfortable with, consider opting for a different platform with clearer terms that you can feel comfortable with.

8. Crypto payment methods and the overall payment process

We like crypto casinos that support a wide range of cryptocurrencies. However, there’s more to payments than a variety of options. You should ask questions like: “Are crypto deposits instant at the casino?” and “How long does withdrawal take?”

Some websites have a comprehensive payment page that lists available payment methods and the processing times for each. The information may also be available elsewhere with a quick search online – often in reviews of that specific site.

Another thing to note is the ease of making transactions. You should be able to fund your account and cash out without lengthy processes or delays. Some services take longer than others and – while not strictly related to transaction services – be sure to check the terms of cashing out with specific websites for any additional play-through requirements etc. This should be outlined clearly in the terms and conditions.

In case you’re wondering how to deposit and withdraw with crypto, you can check out our comprehensive cryptocurrency gambling guide.

9. How does the customer support team treat players?

First things first; check the available communication channels. Most platforms have FAQ pages, but that is not enough.

There should ideally be a way to contact the website by email and also a live chat function, allowing you to reach someone quickly in the event of issues. There may also be phone and social media based support too, which are always welcome additions.

Whatever the case, you’ll want ways to reach the site quickly and conveniently, so that any issues can be ironed out with a minimum of stress.

Afterwards, evaluate the response time, noting how the customer support agents attend to you. This will tell you if you can trust the support team to provide the appropriate assistance whenever you’re faced with issues when playing on the crypto casino.

10. Last but not least — the approach to responsible gambling

Once you learn how to recognize problem gambling, you’ll understand the importance of responsible gambling tools.

Check if there are restrictive options that allow you to limit your deposit amount, loss amount, and the time you spend on the gaming site.

It also helps if the operator supports “cool-off” and “self-exclusion,” which allows you to take a break from the platform for a specific time frame.

Best practice for a site that promotes responsible gambling would include:

• Loss limits: A financial cap (often time-based e.g. “per week”) that limits what losses can occur before a player is forced to take a break. These shouldn’t be easy to bypass – forcing you to pause and take stock in the event of an unfortunate losing streak.
• Self-exclusion periods: Allow the player to voluntarily block themselves from the website for an amount of time (which can range up to months, or even longer).
• Activity notifications: Tell the player how long they’ve been playing for, allowing the player to remain grounded in reality.
• Affordability confirmation: Sites will often run background income checks to ensure players are in a safe financial position to play.

Reputable sites will also have checks in place to ensure they’re not impacting vulnerable groups:

• Advertising: Will be geared to avoid vulnerable groups and should make would-be players well aware of the risks of gambling prior to them playing.
• Age verification: Most sites are required by local or national law to ensure their players are of legal age to play. This includes a Know Your Customer (KYC) check which often includes taking biometric evidence to prevent minors from accessing gambling sites.
• Transparency: Look out for proof of independent audits from specialists. In the US this includes BlueBird CPAs, GLI, RubinBrown and REDW.

Look out for mention of these safety checks – online casinos will often include mention of them in their terms and conditions as well as FAQ sections.

Hits and misses of crypto online casinos

Here is a summary of the pros and cons of reliable crypto casinos:

Pros and Cons

• Safe to play at, with excellent privacy
• Fast websites and games
• Demonstrably fair gaming

• Typically high volatility games
• Money transfers cannot be reversed
• Generally weak regulatory protection

More info can be found above, but let’s expand on each of these here. Some of the big benefits to crypto casinos include:

• Safe to play at, with excellent privacy: Provided they’re reputable (be sure to check!), online crypto casinos typically offer great privacy and protection and will advertise this to reassure you.
• Fast websites and games: Thanks to robust coding, you should find it lightning fast to move around the website and games should also load and run quickly (on desktops and ideally mobile devices and apps where appropriate).
• Demonstrably fair gaming: To reassure players and ensure returning custom, websites will do all they can to prove their games are legit. Look out for evidence of cryptographic hashes that verify a games’ results.

However there are some risks and drawbacks you ought to consider:

• High volatility games: It’s worth researching games before you play – you’ll find plenty of high-volatility options out there. This means fewer payouts but with the potential for higher rewards if you are successful.
• Money transfers cannot be reversed: Once you’ve made a payment, there’s no returning it. This can pose a great financial risk so be absolutely certain before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
• Generally weak regulatory protection: Often crypto casinos operate outside of the United States and so aren’t subject to their regulation. This means that although they may offer robust player protections, there are some that are far less ethical. Check before you play.

Although it may delay you getting to play, we highly recommend thoroughly researching any online crypto casino you’re considering joining. A little leg-work early on may save a lot of issues later on!

Sign up only at trustworthy crypto casinos

You now know the major things to consider when identifying trustworthy online casinos. Interestingly, these factors are not limited to crypto casinos alone. You can use them to find reliable gambling platforms that accept fiat payment methods as well.

If you don’t want to do the hard work of evaluating every crypto online casino you visit, we have you covered. On this page, you will find a list of trustworthy brands that we handpicked after thoroughly reviewing and confirming that they are safe. You can choose one or more of them, click on our on-page banners to visit the site and sign up.

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Identify a trustworthy casino – FAQs