When we are handing over potentially sensitive financial information like credit card details to an online casino, or staking our hard-earned cash on their games, we like to know that nothing will go astray and that we stand a fair chance of landing some winnings. But how can a player be certain that their chosen site is a reputable and trustworthy place? There’s a couple of sure signs that should be checked out before committing to any particular place.

The most obvious is checking that it’s a licensed casino. Most online casinos operate under the terms and conditions of a licence issued by a government agency, which acts as a guarantor of fair play, security and a certain standard of customer care.

It has to be said that some are better than others in various ways, but if a site is licensed in Malta, Curacao or by the UK Gambling Commission as examples, it should be a safe and secure place to put money.

Another way is simply to read reviews or customer comments. Trusted review sites have nothing to gain by sending players to sub-standard casinos and will point out the pros and cons of each place that they think is worth visiting.

Check that data is encrypted through 128-bit SSL systems. It may sound a bit technical, but most casinos advertise this fact at the bottom of their homepages, while they may also state that they are ‘Thwate’ certified, which ensures that the top security systems in place.