How to Stay Protected as an Online Casino Player in the UK

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, April 9, 2024

It’s widely known that the iGaming market in the UK is one of the most regulated in the world. In this respect, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the leading regulatory force, overseeing everything from licensing to the imposition of sanctions on betting brands that breach their rules and regulations.

However, the presence of the UKGC hasn’t stopped the formation of a prominent black market in the UK. This means that there are rogue operators whose intention may be to steal your funds and personal financial data, so you must also take steps to safeguard yourself when wagering your money online.

What Rights do You Have as a UK Bettor?

Before you delve into the precise steps that you can take to protect yourself when betting online, it’s important to understand your rights within the marketplace. It’s crucial that you’re aware of these rights and able to implement them as an individual customer, regardless of how much you intend to wager on each transaction!

You Have the Right to Transparency and Fairness

Under the terms of the UKGC’s licensing laws, operators are required to ensure that their games are fair. This dictates the use of random number generators and independent testing organisations, which can lead to brands receiving certification for their games’ libraries. Sites must also publish an accurate return-to-player (RTP) rate for all games, so that you can make an informed choice about which ones you play.

You Have the Right for Your Financial Transaction Data to be Protected

Other licensing terms in the UK require brands to protect their sites with SSL encryption. 128-bit SSL encryption is the minimum-security standard for iGaming brands, with this helping to encrypt your financial data every time you complete a deposit or withdrawal. This can also help to protect a much broader range of personal information and help you to maintain your privacy.

You Have the Right to Have Your Deposited Funds Segregated

One of the biggest protections including in the UK Gambling Act of 2005 is that your deposited funds must be ring-fenced and kept in a separate account by operators. So, your funds cannot be used to finance business operations or invest in commercial expansion and must be protected in instances where you choose to withdraw your funds. The accounts used by operators are afforded ratings by the UKGC, each of which offers an insight into how your funds are managed.

You Have Rights Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015

Whenever you spend your money with a commercial brand, aspects of your transactions are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This is a huge and far-reaching piece of legislation, which covers multiple points including your ability to cancel a service or return goods (and be fully refunded) within a finite period of time. This applies to deposited funds within your online casino accounts and any bonuses you’ve opted into, although you may have to forgo winnings in the case of the latter.

You Have Rights Under the Data Protection Act 1998

The Data Protection Act from 1998 applies to all brands with a digital and online presence, including iGaming operators. This ensures that you have a right to privacy, and to know how brands collate, store and utilise the data you provide them with. You also have the right to request and see this data at any time, and request that your information is not shared with third-party brands or organisations.

How to Enforce These Rights and Protect Yourself Online

Of course, sites also use identity and age verification measures to ensure that players are aged 18 or over when registering for an account. Now that you understand these rights and examples of consumer-friendly legislation, however, the next step is to ensure that these are enforced and acted on at all times. Here are some key steps you can take in this regard!

• Ensure That You Wager at a Licensed Site: In order to ensure that you wager with a brand that is required to adhere to rules pertaining to fairness and transparency, they’ll need to be licensed by the UKGC. Accredited and reputable brands should provide their full licensing number and details at the bottom of their homepage, while this should ideally be hyperlinked to the UKGC site or a similarly authoritative resource that verifies the information. Also, we’d recommend checking the Companies House resource online to confirm a brand’s headquarters, structure and trading status.
• Check for SSL Encryption: We’ve already touched on the importance of SSL encryption when betting online. The good news is that there’s a quick and easy way to ensure that a site uses 128-bit SSL encryption to safeguard your financial transaction data. Simply hover over the site’s URL and ensure that this starts with ‘https’ as opposed to ‘http’. You should also see a padlock simple on the left-hand side of the browser bar, and clicking on this can further highlight the site’s encryption status and certification.
• Read Online Reviews: Another way to protect yourself is to leverage customer reviews. The best resource in this regard is Trustpilot, which gathers huge swathes of data across multiple brands and can offer a fascinating insight into a brand’s trustworthiness, perception and ability to deliver a positive transactional experience. You can also check out first-hand reviews and independent casino review sites online, paying particular attention to any issues revolving around withdrawals and T&Cs associated with bonuses.

The Last Word

It’s also wise to ensure that brands use games and software from reputable providers, and that these have publicised and tested RTP rates. Also, remember that there are alternative commissions and regulators that have authority in some jurisdictions, such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) and the Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC).

Casinos are also financial sites and may be accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). By understanding your core rights and the various laws that are established to protect them, you can subsequently safeguard yourself when betting online and ensure that you enjoy a positive iGaming experience!