Debunking 4 Common Online Casino Myths & Misconceptions

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There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding online casinos. But are there any truths hiding behind these? Settle these myths and misconceptions here.

With a world as colorful as online betting, misconceptions arising from mere opinions are inevitable. Some of these myths are from lack of understanding about how online betting sites work. Others believe that online betting is against the law, while some think that playing games online is a waste of time and money. Either way, these misconceptions can cause some players, like you, to miss out all the fun and rewards that online betting can bring. Is there a truth behind these hunches? Read on to settle the common misconceptions relating to online casino affairs, once and for all.

1| All Online Betting Sites Are Illegal

This is arguably one of the biggest misconceptions about online casinos. Not all jurisdictions show clear legal support of online betting, but over 70 countries do. For instance, if you live in the UK, Sweden, Mexico, and Germany, you can legally play and wager online.

In the US, however, laws regarding online betting are in grey areas because of interstate online gaming regulations. In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was born to prohibit betting sites from knowingly accepting wagers connected to online gaming. The act barred US players across many online gaming sites. After many years of dispute, the US Department of Justice allowed states to decide their own stance about online gaming through the Federal Wire Act of 1961.

Following the act, Delaware became the first state to offer various online casino games. As of this writing, if you live in the UK, Sweden, Mexico, and Germany, you can legally play and wager online.

Simply put, determining whether online gambling is legal or not varies from state to state. As a player, you have the responsibility to check the online gambling rules and regulations of your country before signing up with a certain online gaming hub.

2| Online Casinos Are Not a Good Option for Safe Betting

Safe Online Casino Checklist

Do you want to play online but are not sure whether it is safe or not? The unregulated world of the internet contributes to pressing concerns like having your personal data leaked or your funds being stolen. But in reality, reputable online casinos provide a fair and safe betting environment by using top-notch technology to protect your funds and your personal information.

For instance, most online betting sites use SSL technology to convert your entire transactions private. Plus, they work together with widely accepted and trustworthy banking channels, ensuring that your funds are secure. Bitcoin casinos, on the other hand, allow you to wager anonymously, minimizing the risk of privacy invasion.

To further check whether your funds and your data are in good hands, check the casino’s license. Third-party regulators give betting sites the green light to do business. But online casinos get licensed only when they comply with the strict set of rules and standards relating to safety, game fairness, and quality of service. Some of the reputable online betting license operators are UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority.

3| Online Casinos Offer Rigged Games

If you have been playing in online casinos for a long time, you have probably encountered a fair share of players claiming that all online casino games are fixed to favor the house. But can these claims be false? Yes, if you are playing on a reputable online betting site.

Most online casino games are simulated by algorithms called Random Number Generators (RNGs). While dissecting this technology can be complex, RNGs, by essence, generate sets of numbers from billions of number combinations without using a certain pattern, other than by chance. These random numbers will then interact with the visual display of the game to generate a result.

Bitcoin casinos offer a sure-fire tool that builds the credibility and transparency of their games – the provably fair feature. This feature allows you to verify the result of a bet, ensuring that you are not being duped. Bitcoin dice sites use one of the most common implementations of provably fair, using three variables: server seed, client seed, and nonce. Sounds complicated? Here is how it works:

Step 1: Provably fair casinos give you a hash, or encrypted data of the server seed before you start playing. The casino cannot change this later on, and you cannot decode this data.

Step 2: Your browser generates a client seed, or a random data that the casino cannot see. A variable called nonce represents the number of your bets. It increases by 1 each time you place a wager.

Step 3: The three variables will be combined through complex mathematical functions to generate the game result. Since the nonce changes each time you make a bet, the game produces a different result on each roll.

After the game, online casinos will reveal the non-hashed version of their seed. From here, you can use a third-party hash calculator online to verify the fairness of the roll. Simply choose SHA-256 as your hashing function and indicate the non-hashed version of the server seed. If the result matches the hash client seed provided earlier in the game, the results are fair.

4| Online Casinos Promote Underage Gambling

Underage Online Gaming

In a brick-and-mortar casino setting, spotting an underage bettor can be as easy as banning them from entering the premises. Online casinos’ case, on the other hand, is a different story. The flexible world of internet and technological advancement opens doors for illicit activities, including underage gaming.

While underage gaming is a pressing concern, you do not need to worry as reputable online casino operators follow and implement rigid age verification approaches like Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations to combat the issue. KYC procedures require new players to provide documentation verifying their identity before they can sign up. So if you are registering with a certain betting site for the first time, you might need to submit copies of your passport, voter’s identity card, driving license, credit card statements, and more.

Now that you know some of the truth behind many online betting myths and hearsays, you can freely enjoy all the fun and rewards that come with betting online. But do not forget that as a player, you have a fair share of responsibility to perform. Before betting online, you must check your local laws, choose reputable betting sites, research about the online casino you are planning to join, make sure that you are of proper age, and more. When you tick off all these items on your list, you are off to an exciting betting adventure.

| Related: Best Bitcoin Casino 2018: Quality Casinos, Games & Bonuses

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