When you place a bet with an authorized gambling company, you would be agreeing to a contract that the law can uphold. As serious as this may sound, we know that most punters fail to go through the terms and conditions. In fact, a study by the UK Gambling Commission found that only 23% of gamblers actually bother to read the fine print. As discussed in this article, agreeing to a website’s terms is as legally binding as signing a contract for any offline service.
So, word to the wise: the next time you’re trying to profit from that free no-deposit bonus, you need to read through the casino’s conditions and understand them. Why, you ask? Well, essentially, you’re entering a contractual agreement. This means that if you disagree with any of the points outlined in this document, don’t tick that ‘agree’ box! Because if you do so without giving it a second glance, you have no right to dispute it if you missed a point you may have otherwise ignored.
The Information That Casinos Should Provide In Their T&Cs
Let’s go through the information an operator must include in their terms and conditions while also exploring how it will benefit you when playing with a casino.
Information Related To Methods Of Payment
Since gambling is based on a series of deposits and withdrawals, casinos need to specify what’s acceptable and what is prohibited in their terms. In particular, they should specify:
- The minimum and maximum limits for your deposits and withdrawals;
- The accepted payment methods that you can use for transactions;
- Which currencies are allowed on the casino;
- If there are any fees attached to any transaction.
Why should you bother reading this information?
- To be able to protect your funds
- To be aware of the available payment methods
- To be in the know about how to avoid unnecessary fees
- For effective money management
Information About Personal Data Handling
In fulfillment of KYC policies, you are bound to provide the casino with personal details and documentation such as driver’s license, utility bills, property papers, bank details, and so on. Therefore, the casino should include the following information in its terms:
- How your data is stored
- What happens to the data if you self-exclude or stop playing at the casino
- The amount of time that needs to pass before your data is permanently deleted
Why should you bother reading this information?
Being so private and confidential, you need to ensure your personal data is being divulged to a trustworthy operator who will keep it secure and dispose of it once you no longer use their services.
Responsible Gambling Tools And Other Resources
Various licensing agencies require those casinos that they regulate to allow players to take breaks or give up gambling completely. Therefore, in its terms, an operator must provide information about which responsible gambling tools you can avail yourself of when playing with that casino. These may include one or more of the following:
- Limits on your amount of cash deposits
- Limits on the time you spend playing
- Self-assessment tools, including ones that test for problem gambling
- Links to outreach programs
- Availability of self-exclusion
Why should you bother reading this information?
Being disciplined in your gambling practice is key, so you must keep yourself informed about the available options that can help you avoid the risk of problem gambling in the long run.
Evidence Of Game Fairness
Licensed casinos must ensure fairness of games in their terms of service. Therefore, they must provide evidence that they have the following systems in place:
- Random Number Generators (RNG) which consist of a software that ensures randomness and fairness in games
- eCOGRA seal is an approval from a top international gaming facility that audits games and certifies whether they’re rigged.
Why should you bother reading this information?
Making sure that the casino’s games are fair and random is within your interest. Surely, you want to have a fair chance of winning and you also want to be sure that you get the same chances of winning online as you would at a table in a brick-and-mortar casino.
Details About The Site’s Licensing
Legitimate casinos are licensed from an authoritative gambling agency such as the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao Gaming Control Board, and others. Before signing up with a casino you must make sure that their site or their T&Cs include the following information:
- Explicit statement detailing which authoritative gambling agency licenses the casino
- Other licenses they may have
- The address of their physical offices
- Their forms of contact
Why should you bother reading this information?
A casino’s license is one of the most important criteria to assess before playing at a casino. Gambling at a licensed casino will put your mind at rest that the operator undergoes regular audits to ensure fair play and security of data.
A Final Word Of Advice
Now that you know what information to look out for in the terms and conditions and why you should bother staying in the know, make sure you don’t skip reading the fine print. After all, a contract with a casino has the same importance as any other contract. No one can do this work for you, so make sure you do it right!
