I mentioned in my first post that it’s important to preview online casino games and practice before you play with real money, especially in a game like craps where there are lots of rules to learn and different bets you can make with varying house edges. There are a few other things that are important to consider as well, before you register and deposit with a casino- and all of them have to do with player responsibility. We have a habit of assuming that as customers of these online gaming sites, that we have the highest say-so, and it’s their job to cater to us in order to get our business. But in the realm of online casinos, it’s very different.

Online casinos have a much harder time keeping track of their patrons and are more susceptible to fraud than traditional brick and mortar casinos are. It’s also easier for operators to set up a ‘rogue’ casino and defraud you, the player. Because of this, there are a multitude of ways that you could end up missing out on what you think are legitimate winnings, and ways you could have your money taken without any recourse for recovery. Some responsibility is going to fall on your shoulders if you want to have a good time gambling without fear of wasting your hard-earned dollars.

First of all, it’s your responsibility to check out the casino you’re interested in playing at before you make a deposit. This is because you want to be sure the casino isn’t rogue. A rogue casino is one that doesn’t abide by rules of fair play. They’ll often let you deposit and lose your money, but when you win, they’ll disappear or refuse to respond to you and never pay out. It isn’t difficult to look this information up beforehand. Simply do a search and make sure the casino is listed on an accredited casino list compiled by a reputable source. See what other players have said about the casino. Check out the software they use, and what jurisdiction they’re licensed in. It might sound like a lot of effort, but when you’re playing with real money, the investment of time is always worth it in the end.

The other responsibility you have is to read the site’s full Terms and Conditions. It’s far too easy to break a rule if you haven’t read them, especially as some of them can seem downright weird or difficult to understand. If you register with the site, you’ve officially entered a binding agreement with the casino to abide by their rules. Break one- even on accident- and good bye cash winnings. If you read the T&Cs and there’s something you don’t understand (such as how the wagering requirement works), ALWAYS ask customer support about the rule first.

We aren’t accustomed to believing that we have a lot of responsibility when it comes to playing around and having fun online. But in this case, the responsibility you have is to yourself. Do yourself a favor and put in the extra legwork before gambling. It’ll be worth it when that first check comes in from the casino.