In the last few years, more and more people in India have been enjoying all the pleasures and convenience of playing in the online casino. Much of this has been to do with the steadily increasing percentage of the population who have internet access which has risen from 7.5% in 2010 up to 34.45% in 2019. While the figure seems to have plateaued at this level, it’s likely to rise even higher in future. All the same, it still means that over 924 million adults can theoretically play in online casinos.

With a potential player base of this size, it’s hardly surprising that a huge number of online casinos have appeared, all with their own special appeal to players. For many, this means choosing to play on the ever-popular slots. For others, it’s table games like roulette and blackjack that appeal to them. Many casinos also now offer a “live” alternative in which games are run by real dealers with the action being streamed direct to a player’s PC or mobile device. With the additional option to chat to the dealer as you play, this method of play captures the excitement and the adrenalin of the real thing very effectively.

But despite all the entertainment to be had in an online casino, one thing is of paramount importance and that’s whether it is a safe and secure one to play on. This is especially important when it comes to online casinos because not only will you need to provide some important personal information when you register, you will also be paying stake money and, hopefully, claiming winnings. You will also need to be sure that the casino is committed to fair and honest gaming that gives everyone an equal chance of winning.

This is all put into even more context as India ranks highly in the countries that are victims of cybercrime and even led the world in this way for three months in 2019.

"Information security" (CC BY 2.0) by Ervins Strauhmani

So the first thing to look for, if you want to keep your personal details safe, is the level of encryption the particular site uses. This scrambles up your information and makes it almost impossible for hackers to discover. The minimum that you should look for is 126-bit encryption, but sites that increase this to 256 bit are much more than twice as secure.

To ensure that it’s a fair casino you need to see that it’s been officially approved by one of the world’s recognised gaming authorities. For sites based in the UK this is the Gambling Commission and there are equivalents on islands like Malta and Jersey too.

If you search for a casino using one of the most popular comparison services then safe alternatives should never be difficult to find. This is also where you will be able to read about the different bonuses that are available and read impartial reviews that will tell you everything you need to know.

So if you like the idea of discovering everything that online casinos have to offer, hopefully this guide has told you enough about how to choose a good one and, most importantly, how to stay safe once you have.