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

Some of the very first few trusted online gambling agent casinos that appeared, have, rather remarkably, survived the test of time and have become leaders in their field. Others on the other hand, were one hit wonders and due to poor marketing along with abysmal customer support they failed miserably and disappeared shortly after opening.

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

With all new markets in contrast, 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 internet gaming market has picked up more than its fair proportion of these conmen since its inception and this led, in lots of peoples minds to the whole industry being tarred with the exact same brush.

The Press additionally has a part to play their dogged determination to knock online gambling as often as it can be, citing cases of addiction. Of course, where fortunes can be won there is always an element of addiction. On the flip side, these cases are fairly rare and also the vast majority of people can gamble small amounts responsibly. Look-at how many have a weekly flutter on the lotto with virtually no problems whatsoever.

It’s worth noting at this point that the area generally speaking, over the past couple 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.

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

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

Stick with a Well-known Company

Large international gaming companies 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

There are a great 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 top gambling portals only promote reliable, tried and tested sites.

As a result of the close working relationship held between the site owners and contributors, they’re a knowledgeable bunch who will advise with some authority or where to play safely.

Portals are also a great 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 abilities before committing to regular play.

Secure Payments

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

Set a Limit

Before you decide to start, set a limit on just how much you could be prepared to loose and don’t cross that line.

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