7:09 AM
Bingo King
There are thousands of websites now offering games of some variety and new ones pop up all the time. Those interested in playing games must now sort through all of these options to find the gaming sites that are safe. In this case, safe means offering protection of personal information, identity, and financial information. Those who pay games that cost real money to play are even more concerned with finding websites that are completely safe. Following are some guidelines that will help everyday people find the gaming sites that play fair when it comes to online safety.
Sample or Free Games
The best online gaming sites will either offer an assortment of free games or will offer samples of their most popular pay-to-play games. This is important because no one wants to pay to play a game only to find that the website is dysfunctional or the game is not worth paying to play. When they are able to play a few levels or worlds to see how a game functions and how the website is laid out, they are able to make an educated decision on which games they want to put their money on.
Reasonable Signup Obligations
Most websites will ask players to sign up for membership to the site, even if they are only playing the free games. This gives the gaming site a way to contact players who utilize their website and to monitor who is using their games. It is also a way for them to identify players who may be causing problems with other players if there are chat programs or message boards offered on the site.
Yet, players should never be asked to give up valuable personal information in order to join a site. If a paid membership is not being purchased, then nothing further than an email address and potentially a first name should be required. Sites that ask for more information are scams and should be avoided at all a paid membership is being purchased, the information collected should be limited to payment information and an email address. There is never a reason for players to give out their social security numbers or more substantial personal information.
Secure Payment Sites
If a paid membership is required for some games, the payment page should be completely secure. Players should be able to see notices right on the page that it is encrypted for their protection. This ensures that payment information is not intercepted and used without authorization.
The best sites will allow payment from services that give the site their money while protecting the players' financial information. Gaming cards and payment processing services are far more secure than individual gaming sites.
Option to Cancel
A reputable online gaming site will always give players a simple way to cancel their membership when they no longer want to spend time on the site. Some sites will require players to call a phone number and speak with a customer service representative to cancel an account, but a representative should always be easy to reach. The disconnection of the account should be immediate and there should not be hoops to jump through to secure the disconnection of services.
If all of these points are covered by a gaming website, then it is probably reputable and safe for consumer use.
Sample or Free Games
The best online gaming sites will either offer an assortment of free games or will offer samples of their most popular pay-to-play games. This is important because no one wants to pay to play a game only to find that the website is dysfunctional or the game is not worth paying to play. When they are able to play a few levels or worlds to see how a game functions and how the website is laid out, they are able to make an educated decision on which games they want to put their money on.
Reasonable Signup Obligations
Most websites will ask players to sign up for membership to the site, even if they are only playing the free games. This gives the gaming site a way to contact players who utilize their website and to monitor who is using their games. It is also a way for them to identify players who may be causing problems with other players if there are chat programs or message boards offered on the site.
Yet, players should never be asked to give up valuable personal information in order to join a site. If a paid membership is not being purchased, then nothing further than an email address and potentially a first name should be required. Sites that ask for more information are scams and should be avoided at all a paid membership is being purchased, the information collected should be limited to payment information and an email address. There is never a reason for players to give out their social security numbers or more substantial personal information.
Secure Payment Sites
If a paid membership is required for some games, the payment page should be completely secure. Players should be able to see notices right on the page that it is encrypted for their protection. This ensures that payment information is not intercepted and used without authorization.
The best sites will allow payment from services that give the site their money while protecting the players' financial information. Gaming cards and payment processing services are far more secure than individual gaming sites.
Option to Cancel
A reputable online gaming site will always give players a simple way to cancel their membership when they no longer want to spend time on the site. Some sites will require players to call a phone number and speak with a customer service representative to cancel an account, but a representative should always be easy to reach. The disconnection of the account should be immediate and there should not be hoops to jump through to secure the disconnection of services.
If all of these points are covered by a gaming website, then it is probably reputable and safe for consumer use.