The first appearance of online casinos within the mid 90’s sparked the beginning of a brand new era, utilizing the web in a way unimagined of before. Online Gambling had begun and was set to become one of the webs most popular pastimes!

Several of the very first few online casinos that appeared, have, rather remarkably, survived the test of time and also have become leaders within their field. Others however, were one hit wonders and due to poor marketing coupled with abysmal customer support they failed miserably and disappeared shortly after opening.

Of course, some were run by genuine businesses wanting to build a reputation for fairness and integrity and stand the test of time within an up and coming, profitable, market. These were the unfortunates that tried hard but failed.

With all new markets on the contrary, the conmen will appear, ripping off customers and grabbing as much of other peoples cash as they can without any morals, scruples or sympathy.

Unfortunately the on-line gaming market has picked up more than its fair share of these conmen since its inception which led, in several peoples minds to the whole industry being tarred with the exact same brush.

The Press also has a part to play their dogged determination to knock online gambling as often as is possible, citing cases of addiction. As always, where fortunes may be won there will always be an element of addiction. Conversely, these cases are fairly rare as well as the vast majority of men and women can gamble small amounts responsibly. Look-at how many have a weekly flutter on the lotto without the problems whatsoever.

It’s worth noting at this point that the sector in general, over the past number of years, has somewhat gained a reputation for fairness and security. The conmen are now few and far between, although admittedly, some still exist. The leading sites in addition have measures in place to ensure that problem gamblers get help with their addiction and are often barred from playing.

Right now on the flip side, online casinos, poker rooms and other gaming sites have become fashionable and with the massively growing popularity, the numbers of folks playing online has grown exponentially. In certain countries or areas however gambling is still illegal, so check precisely what the rules are for your area before playing.

So what is the easiest way of selecting a safe online environment in which to play casino or poker games? Let’s look at several of the ways in which you can protect yourself when gambling online.

Stick with a Well recognized Company

Large international gaming businesses are now available online and also have a reputation to preserve. They can not afford any bad press as it’s going to affect the whole of their operations, both on and offline.

Word of Mouth

What better way to get first hand information on how a site is operated than asking others how they happen to be treated there and whether they find it an enjoyable site or not.

Consult a Gambling Portal

You’ll find a good many gambling portals available online giving advice on all facets of online gambling, including, but certainly not limited by casinos, poker, bingo and skill games.

Read the reviews of the gaming sites they feature or read their forums for the “word of mouth” recommendations. The very best gambling portals only promote reliable, tried and tested sites.

Because of the close working relationship held between the site owners and contributors, they can be a up to date bunch who can advise with some authority or where to play safely.

Portals are usually a good way by which to find out more about how to play. Many portal site pages are adorned with rules, strategy guides and often free to play games to try out your talent before committing to regular play.

Secure Payments

All the worthwhile sites accept a number of different payment options with secure facilities to make sure your information is protected. Only play at the sites where your details are safe gambling and secure.

Set a Limit

Before you start, set a limit on the amount you would be prepared to loose and do not cross that line.

Using the above mentioned information you should be well on your way to having an enjoyable time when playing online in a trustworthy and respectable site.