Casino Player’s Rights Awareness: What You Should Know

Player's rights awareness in online casino
Last Updated on | by Pavo Jurkic

This page is solely dedicated to raising awareness for players’ rights when playing at online casinos in New Zealand and other offshore gambling sites. Let’s make one thing clear – no matter what sort of casino you’re playing at, you have a certain set of rights that you can use to your advantage.

Privacy and Data Protection

First and foremost, I have to discuss KYC in online casinos and its respective privacy and data protection measures. For starters, KYC stands for Know Your Customer. It’s a verification system used by online casinos for AML (anti-money laundering) purposes. KYC systems require players to scan government-issued IDs to verify their identity.

However, it’s important to note that KYC systems typically possess state-of-the-art data protection features that make them safe, sound, and virtually impenetrable. There’s nothing to worry about in terms of KYC, as long as you’re using a licensed casino, that is.

Fair Gaming Practices

Online gamblers are entitled to fair gaming practices. This means online casinos are required to offer fair and transparent gameplay on their platforms. This is ensured via third-party organisations like eCOGRA and iTechLabs which provide certification for casinos that adhere to their fair play standards.

Of course, this is only true for casinos that have legit licences and seek external certification that provides additional credibility. That’s why we always advise our readers to only stick with fully licensed casinos.

Security and Trustworthiness

According to our research and experience, online gamblers are entitled to the utmost in terms of security and privacy. This is because online casinos always go out of their way to provide gamblers with state-of-the-art security systems.

They’re used to ensure proper safety not just for the transactions (deposits and withdrawals), but for every other aspect of the gambling site. We’re talking about comprehensive measures for fraud prevention, anti-hacking systems, and additional security measures for preventing identity theft.

Valid Gambling Licence

Online gamblers have the right to play at casinos with a valid gambling licence. However, that’s up to you to decide because there are plenty of casino sites that hold no licence out there.

If you’re currently on the lookout for an online casino to play at, the first thing we advise you to look for is a legit gambling licence. Without one, you’re risking a whole lot of issues, including unfair games, high transaction fees, and security/privacy-related risks.

Financial Transparency

Another important set of players’ rights falls in the category of financial transparency. By that, we’re referring to fairness in terms of deposit and withdrawal processes. This includes zero or low transaction fees, fast internal processing, and a wide number of payment methods.

Alongside that, financial transparency represents casinos’ ability to protect their users’ data during transaction processes, be it through SSL encryption or other security measures which prevent financial exploitation.

Customer Support and Assistance

Let’s not forget about customer support and assistance in general. No matter which online casino we’re talking about, players are always entitled to some form of assistance. In most cases, players will have access to live chat customer support, sometimes even live chat service working 24/7.

Other assistance channels include robust FAQ sections, help centres, customer service phone lines, and email assistance. The factors that differentiate good from bad casinos in terms of customer support are easy access to knowledgeable representatives, efficient problem-solving skills, and timely help with problem gambling.

Accountability and Responsible Gaming

We can’t move on without addressing responsible gambling. It comes as no surprise that players aren’t only entitled to responsible gambling practices but to self-seclusion options and additional resources. By that, we’re referring to various responsible gambling tools related to problem gambling. This includes daily/weekly/monthly limits, wagering maximums, deposit limits, and other forms of self-limitations players can turn on via their account settings.

Needless to say, players have legal rights too. We’re referring to legal guarantees which are protected under applicable laws and regulations. If you think your rights have been compromised, you can always contact the local gambling authority and inform them about the issue.

Of course, this only works if you’re playing at an online casino that has all the necessary licences for providing online gambling services. If you’re using an unlicensed platform, you won’t have much luck chasing your rights via consumer protection laws and other legal measures.

Player’s Obligations

Now that we’re all done talking about the players’ rights, it’s time to talk about their obligations. Casinos have to adhere to a certain set of rules imposed by the regulators, but players have to do the same too. In our experience, here are the main obligations players have to follow:

  • Compliance with Terms and Conditions

    First and foremost, all players have to adhere to the terms & conditions featured on the casino’s T&C page. If you’re not sure about the rules you have to follow, simply skim through the T&C page. If you’re still not sure whether or not you’re allowed to do something, you can always contact customer support.

  • Honest and Fair Play

    When registering for an account all players accept the terms and conditions which typically include sections related to honesty and fair play. You see, many players try to cheat the system by making multiple accounts or using third-party tools to gain a competitive edge over the casino. Needless to say, this is deemed unfair gameplay and is likely to result in a permanent ban.

  • Reporting Suspicious Activity

    Players are supposed to report any suspicious activity they notice during their stay on the platform. Whether it’s a glitch on the platform or a player who’s winning a ton of money using a weird strategy, it’s on the players to report such activity to the operator. However, you don’t have to be a snitch as failing to do so typically won’t result in any penalties.

  • Compliance with Legal Requirements

    All online gamblers have to be of legal gambling age to enjoy online gambling from the comfort of their home. This is ensured via the so-called KYC (know your customer) processes. They require players to submit detailed personal information and present a valid government-issued ID to confirm their identity.

FAQ:

  • What are player's rights in the context of gaming?

    If you’re gambling online, you have a whole set of rights protecting you from any wrongdoings, be it from the casino you’re playing at or external forces (hacking). Based on our observations, players’ rights typically include privacy protection, transaction transparency, fair play, proper help channels and assistance, as well as resources and tools for responsible gambling.

  • What should I do if I encounter a violation of my player's rights?

    You can do several things. For starters, you can contact the casino and ask for their stance on your issue. If you’re not satisfied with their response, you can forward your issue to your local gambling authority. They will provide assistance and help you learn more about your rights as an online gambler.

  • Are players’ rights the same for all gaming platforms?

    The basic players’ rights like fair play and privacy protection are typically the same across the globe. However, details regarding wagering, transaction fees, and other jurisdiction-specific rights depend on the regulatory body. The best way to learn about your rights on a certain platform is to explore its licensing and T&Cs page.

  • Can player's rights awareness help prevent problem gambling?

    To an extent, yes. Knowing their rights can help prevent problem gambling by providing players access to responsible gambling resources and helping them understand the available tools. By that, we’re referring to wagering maximums, deposit caps, and time-based access restrictions.