Online casinos in Russia and most countries of the former USSR are in the "Gray zone". Players are not prohibited from using the services of aggregators. You can place advertising in the form of banners. But you can not get an official state license. Many countries behave in a similar way, except for some countries that issue certificates.
Many players use their regular bank cards to deposit and withdraw money. But this is not so safe, even if the institution itself is quite reliable. There are alternative ways.
Why it's not safe to use a basic bank card
The first thing that comes to mind is that the casino will use the data and steal it. Of course, this is not the case. If we are talking about a verified institution with a certificate and license, it stores all confidential information in encrypted form. None of the employees will be able to find card numbers, CVV codes, and other data that could help steal someone else's money. So why are there risks? The reasons are as follows:
- Some banks prohibit online casino transactions. The player may get his card blocked, and have to go to a branch and unblock it.
- In case of large winnings there will be questions from the tax authorities. All amounts that pass through the bank account are "in plain sight".
- Some casinos offer "infinite replenishment", which is convenient if you do not want to enter the amount manually every time. But there is a risk of not stopping in time, relevant for many excessively gambling people
Therefore, it is better not to use a "permanent" card for the game. Especially since you can use alternative methods.
Crypto, wallets, virtual cards
The easiest way to safely pay online casinos and withdraw money is to create a virtual card. Keep only a certain amount of money on it. Of course, this card should not be a credit card - no debts to the bank.
This is also a psychological trick. You allocate a certain amount for entertainment. It's quite possible that you'll win ten times as much. But also lose - well, all sorts of things happen. You'll have fun either way.
Of course, even with such a card, there is a risk of tracking by the bank and tax authorities. Therefore, the alternative is virtual wallets. They are checked less strictly, although the legislation is constantly changing not in favor of ordinary account holders.
Cryptocurrency is the safest option, which is quite difficult to trace. And winnings can be withdrawn to different cards, including virtual ones, in small amounts. Then they will not attract the attention of the bank and those who want to demand their share in the form of taxes.
General safety rules
It never hurts to be vigilant. General security rules apply to all players, regardless of which payment and withdrawal method they choose. They are as follows:
- Only play at trusted and licensed online casinos. Make sure they have a good reputation and positive reviews.
- Make sure the casino site uses data encryption (this is usually displayed in the address bar as "https://").
- Never provide your personal or financial information, such as credit card numbers or passwords, via email or unsecured messages.
- Create complex and unique passwords for your online casino accounts.
- Check your bank account or credit card regularly for unauthorized transactions.
- If possible, enable two-factor authentication for your online casino account to strengthen its protection.
These rules are universal. They also apply to any online store. Caution never hurts, although in general, officially licensed online casinos are perfectly safe.
Frequent questions
Why can't I use my main bank card?
Because it can be traced. Or the bank will ban "suspicious" transactions.
What is the safest way to pay and withdraw money?
It is best to use cryptocurrency.
What other security rules are there?
All the same, ones that apply to any virtual payments. From checking the counterparty (store, casino) to antivirus on your computer and phone.
