The Online Poker Expert

Let’s face it, online poker and even something as innocent and fun as Internet bingo has risks — and not just the possibility of losing or becoming addicted. Because of the vast amount of money involved, there’s also the risk of becoming an Internet gambling scam victim. Here are some things to look for before choosing an online poker or gambling site, so you don’t become a target:

Make Sure the Site Looks Professional
Ask yourself whether the site looks like there was a lot of thought and money behind its construction. If you can’t find the answers to basic questions or there’s little or no information on the rules and how to play each game, be careful. In fact, if the site looks lacking in any fundamental way you should probably look for another place to play.

Check for Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) Membership
The IGC is a non-profit trade association for the interactive gaming industry. Before you put money on a site or even register, check their membership list to see if it’s listed. A site not being a member doesn’t mean they’re running a scam; but IGC members tend to be major players in the online gambling industry and have pledged to adhere to a code of conduct that protects players.

Make Sure the Site Has Player Support
It’s standard for legitimate online poker and general gambling sites to have 24-hour support with both a toll-free phone number and e-mail contact addresses. Some even have real-time, interactive support. If you want to be extra careful, send an e-mail or call their customer support prior to putting money on the site or registering . If you can’t think of a specific question, ask them what gambling software they use. If you don’t get a response or it takes more than 24 hours to get an answer, consider playing at another site. If you decide to play video poker on the site, keep all their contact information (including the physical address) in a safe location offline, so you’ll have it should the site suddenly go down — or worse yet — disappear.

Run a Test
If a site allows free play, start there to see if everything meets your expectations. If they don’t have a “play for free” section or if you’ve already decided you like what you saw while playing free, then start small. Don’t put large amounts of money on the site at first. Try several small transactions (deposits and payments) and make sure the transactions go well before you go onto betting big.

These are just some of the things you should be aware of to protect yourself when choosing an online gambling site. For more detailed information on what to look for, visit the IGC’s Beginner’s Guide.

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