Nevada Gaming Commission
Anyone who has ever gambled at legally regulated brick ‘n mortar casino knows there are strict laws in place ensuring that fair odds are being offered, payouts are being properly handled and a minimum payout percentage is being met on the various games. Just as important as it is to never gamble at an online casino that is operating outside of legally regulated jurisdictions, gamers should never play at online casinos who are not legally licensed or who are operating outside the domain of regulatory gaming bodies.
For instance, much in the same way the Nevada Gaming Commission and Control Board regulate and watch over Las Vegas casinos, there are gaming commissions operating in various jurisdictions around the world who have laws in place to license and regulate online casinos. The most well known and respected of these are the Antigua and Barbuda Directorate of Offshore Gaming, Kahnawake Gaming Commission (of the Mohawk territory in Canada), the UK Gaming Commission, and regulatory bodies in Gibraltar, Curacao, Isle of Man and Alderney.
Therefore, it only serves the best interests of online gamblers to only gamble at who are licensed by any of these regulatory bodies. If you come across an online casino you are thinking of opening an account with, search the website to find out where they are licensed and regulated. This can usually be found on the “About Us” page, and is something that any self-respecting gaming site will publish for their visitors to see. If you come across a jurisdiction you are not familiar with, do an online search to find out if they are legitimate. If they are not, you will assuredly come across something of the sort, for information doesn’t travel anywhere faster than the internet.
Legitimately licensed and regulated online casinos offer fair odds (up to par with Atlantic City and Vegas casinos) and usually offer payout percentages surpassing those of many land-based gambling casinos. Along with customer service, payout percentages should be a major consideration of yours when selecting an online casino to open an account with. Only play at those sites who have their payouts verified by independent, third-party auditors, and whose findings show payouts consistently in the mid to upper-nineties percentile. Contact the customer support department of prospective gaming hosts to ensure you are dealt with in a friendly and responsive manner, and you will have covered the most important factors ensuring that you are gambling at the best host available.