A few years ago many people were gloomily predicting the demise of bingo. The traditional halls were closing at the rate of a couple a month. Players were drifting away to other forms of entertainment – it all seemed just the game’s days were numbered.
But as it turned out, you should never underestimate the appeal of a game that’s been with us in its modern form since the 1930’s thanks to a US entrepreneur and salesman called Edwin S. Lowe whose story is a fascinating one.
Perhaps it’s what he saw in the game that has not just kept it alive but helped it to thrive well into the 21st century. We also have to thank is our old friend the internet as it’s online bingo that has taken over from the “live” game.
While the move online has brought with it many advantages for players, it’s also introduced a few risk factors too. But if you follow these tips it should ensure that you can play safe in the knowledge that there’s nothing amiss and you’re free from the risk of online scams or other ways that you might be affected.
Do your research
There are so many bingo sites out there, and they’ve all been designed to look exciting and appealing for players. The huge majority of them are safe and fine to play. However the internet being the internet, there are a few rogue operators out there.
They’re often not around for long because the authorities generally manage to close them down fairly quickly, but there’s still the chance that some players might be caught out.
Fortunately, there are plenty of review sites and bingo communities out there who offer honest, unbiased reviews. So, once you’ve found a bingo operator whose site looks like your kind of place, do a little digging and only go for ones which have overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Check that they are fully licenced
Another very important step is to make sure that the operator in question has a licence from a recognised authority. In the UK it is the Gambling Commission that issues these licences but there are also other authorities based in places like Malta and Gibraltar. So even if you’re in the UK and the site is licensed elsewhere it will still be trustworthy.
The relevant casino authority will have checked on a number of aspects before granting the licence including the financial stability of the operator and that they are using trustworthy software for the games they offer.
Incidentally, if you feel any bingo site is falling short of the required standards, you simply need to report them to the relevant iGaming authority.
Make sure the bingo website is secure
To play bingo you are going to need to share at least some personal information with the operator.
To have the peace of mind that this information is secure, check what level of encryption the site uses. As a starting point, look for a little padlock on the left hand side the site’s address bar. This will tell you that it’s a safe site. Then, if you click on the padlock, there will be more information about the level of security.
The security of a site is an aspect that you can be 100% sure about when it comes to well-known bingo operators like Jackpotjoy – but even so, if you want to have real confidence it’s as well to look into the details of that security.
Read the terms and conditions
Whenever you sign up for most things online there’s generally a box you need to tick to confirm that you’ve read the terms of conditions. It can be tempting to just tick and go ahead thinking that you’ll read them later when you have time.
But how many of us actually do this?
In the case of bingo sites it’s pretty important that you do. The Ts and Cs will include important information about everything from how you’ll be paid your winnings to the rules surrounding any bonuses and offers. So it might seem like a slog, but it’s better than learning later on about a rule that might have put you off playing on that site.
Don’t make your password “password”.
We need so many passwords these days that it can also seem like the easiest option to use the same one on many different sites, or to choose simple ones to remember.
But it really is critical to have a password that no potential scammer could possibly guess. Often the site in question will suggest a highly secure one consisting of letters, numbers and special symbols. It’s a good idea to use it.
Even if you’re worried that you’ll never remember it, the chances are that your browser on your phone or PC will store it for you. Then it will automatically insert it when you type in your user name to log into a favourite bingo site.
Use a digital wallet
Our bank details are something we always need to keep safe so the fewer people who know them, the better. All good bingo sites offer you a number of alternative ways to pay like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. These offer you an extra level of security – so using a preferred one is always going to be a good idea.
So there you have them. All the tips you need to play bingo safely online. Now it’s “eyes down” and get ready to go!