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Gambling has always been an essential part of entertainment. Since the earliest civilizations, men have been playing games of chance. However, nowadays, gambling has come a long way since the days of street games. Thanks to the advent of the internet, online gambling is becoming all the rage today. The practice has been available since the late 90s. However, it is only in recent years that it has truly blown up in popular culture. As more and more people are getting into the different online casino games, many are bringing up some concerns. So, in this article, we would like to address some of these concerns. We are going to take a look at a few of the risks that come with online gambling. And give a few suggestions as to how to protect yourself.

Risk of Losing Anonymity

The first and most common concern when playing online casinos is that they will somehow lose their anonymity. And to be fair, this fear is a valid one. After all, many websites out there demand to know everything, from your date of birth to your social security number. We live in the internet era, and most have at least somewhat of a social media presence. If somehow the wrong people got their hands on the correct information, they could use it to do us plenty of harm. So, protecting your identity is more important than ever.

So, how can you overcome this risk? Well, there is a relatively straightforward way. All you have to do is find a website where you can bet online without a social security number. While many US-based gambling and betting sites demand your info, many offshore casinos and bookies require little more than a confirmation that you are of age. Locating these websites and ensuring they are available to a US audience is simple. And even if they are not, you can always use a virtual private network to overcome any regional restrictions that the websites might have.

Risk of Addiction

Gambling addiction is one of the rare few addictions classified as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. In the fifth edition of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, they put gambling addiction under the “impulse-control disorders” class. As you might have guessed, an impulse-control disorder is a condition that makes it difficult for people to manage their impulses.

Many believe it is much easier to develop an addiction to gambling through online casinos. And while this is not exactly true, the risk is still there. Online casinos are available a lot more, as they are only a click away. However, nowadays, most websites track the activity of their users, ensuring that they don’t overextend their playtime. To ensure your safety, it is essential to find websites limiting how much money you can wager or how many games you can play in one day, week, or even month.

Risk of Not Getting Paid

When you are playing online, there is always this concern that the website will only pay what they owe. The fear is understandable. After all, when you play online, there is a separation between you and the people who are supposed to be paying you. Frequently, when a casino hasn’t paid back your win, there is some delay in the withdrawal.

Countering this risk is relatively simple. All you need to do is find one of the many casinos that don’t require an SSN and promise a quick and easy withdrawal. Of course, always be sure that the websites you are playing or betting with are licensed. For those who may not be aware, a gambling license is a stamp of approval. Gambling commissions, either local or international, issue these licenses, the purpose of which is to show that the casino is trustworthy. So, if you are not playing with a licensed casino, you are putting yourself at a greater risk than necessary.

Some Final Thoughts

Safety is the prime concern of most people gambling online. And with online casinos becoming legal in many US states, here are a few things you can do to ensure your safety. First and foremost, get a good VPN. Not only will this let you access offshore websites, but it will keep your IP and personal information safe. You should also always look for a licensed casino. Unlicensed websites tend to be scams or, at the very least, highly unfair. Lastly, practice self-discipline, and walk away from a game when the time is right. These are just a few of the ways that you can stay safe when playing your favorite games.

This article was written in collaboration with football betting experts.