Accreditation is so important in many fields, but in online casino gaming, where sites have access to your credit card information, photographic ID and a plethora of personal details, there’s an added obligation for them to display the necessary accreditation, so you know that they have the capacity, security and reputation for keeping your information secure.
In an online world where the number of casinos continues to grow, it is paramount to understand where to find a site’s accreditation, and that some licenses have a firmer footing and more respected standing in the industry than others. Don’t worry; we will go through all of this today.
Hopefully, we will be able to provide this insight today, give you the tools to seek out site accreditation and how it works, and keep you and your information secure as you hop between online casinos.
What does accreditation mean?
It’s essential to make this distinction – for some people, an accredited online casino has third-party audit information proving its software and game designs abide by RNG (random number generator) standards, confirming game fairness.
For others, it’s a seal of approval from some of the biggest names in the casino licensing sector, including the UK Gambling Commission, Malta, New Jersey etc.
The expert reviewers at CasinoMeister include this as part of their definition, but they also put casinos through a more rigorous set of tests. As you can see from the criteria Casino Meister has on their site at https://www.casinomeister.com/accredited-casinos/, they go into much greater detail about what accreditation means.
Having defined their specific criteria and accreditations for over 20 years, the experts at CasinoMeister ensure that they chisel this definition into a shape that has adapted to a changing market. They have five main sets of criteria:
- Affiliate marketing standards.
- Player and industry assurances.
- Marketing standards.
- Operational standards.
- Focus on responsible gambling.
Responsible gambling
One of the most important criteria for any casino is that it clearly signposts its responsible gambling tools. This can take many forms, whether it’s via deposit and time limits, a specific page detailing the harm of problem gambling, or some of the recommended charities that can help with addiction. Gamblers Anonymous is one of the key organizations in this field.
Other tools include a signposted cooling-off period form on the site. Ideally, it’s a combination of these factors, but sites that make it difficult to access this information are unlikely to get accreditation.
AI is becoming a greater asset and tool for all businesses, ranging from health care to transforming the real estate business. It’s also being used to detect problem gamblers. For those casinos using the technology for this greater good, this is another component that stands out as part of their accreditation. The site must also have a history of transparency toward its customers, and a clear KYC process for people to register and verify their information.
Operational standards
Accreditation goes a lot deeper than this, but just to touch the surface, some of the factors in this area include:
- 24/7 live chat customer service option, which isn’t outsourced.
- Clear information about the holding company, who owns it, or where the business is registered.
- Transparent terms and conditions.
- Must pay out jackpots in full – not in chunks or in betting credits.
Marketing standards
Standards preclude spam or adverts designed to deceive, mislead or onboard customers while hitting them with jargon. This applies to any commercials on traditional media like TV or radio, or more commonly, up-to-date marketing on social media. Excessive marketing, such as daily emails, text messages, or Facebook messages and tweets, will cause a company to be marked down, too, and it will be more challenging for them to obtain accreditation.
Player and industry assurances
Any site vying for accreditation must ensure that its RNG software is audited by a third-party independent from its service, and proof of this must be easy to find on its site. Other assurances include a license from a reputable, longstanding jurisdiction, such as the UKGC or the Malta Gaming Authority.
Affiliate marketing
As affiliate marketing becomes a much larger part of how casinos grow their brand, casino experts have placed greater importance on how it impacts their accreditation and reputation. Any affiliate who attaches their social media brand or naming rights to a casino must do so in the spirit of full transparency.
This transparency is a two-way street. Brands must ensure they discuss changes in terms with them, do not underpay affiliates, and do not enter into agreements that could lead to a conflict of interest.
Conclusion
While this might seem like a lot of information to take in, many of the criteria we’ve discussed today focus on casinos doing the right thing – not trying to cut corners and not trying to pull the wool over their customers’ eyes. For instance, the marketing standards could apply to many businesses, even beyond the online casino gaming sector.
Once you understand these principles and start finding ways to apply them to your own reviews and critique of a site, it should enhance your gaming experience. If a provider hits all of these five criteria we’ve explored today, they will get the expert accreditation they seek, and it will help them gain further legitimacy within an ever-growing and in-demand sector.
SP
