No matter if you’re just dabbling or an avid online gambler, it is essential that you are aware of the risks. Online gambling’s easy accessibility and addictive nature can lead to serious financial loss or addiction; unregulated platforms may result in unfair odds or rigged games; in-app and game purchases can further contribute to gambling addiction by providing false sense of value or reward.

First and foremost when gambling online, the one thing you must avoid doing is borrowing money to place bets. Borrowing money to gamble puts you at an extreme disadvantage and may make winning back losses difficult or impossible altogether; furthermore, your risk of bankroll loss increases significantly when gambling with borrowed funds.

Gambling under the influence of alcohol should also be avoided, as this will likely result in poor decisions and have long-term repercussions for both mental and physical wellbeing. Furthermore, gambling under the influence is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Be cautious not to show offensive behaviour while playing online casino games. For instance, if another player loses in poker and you become angry over it, do not use language such as profane words or profanity in the chat window to insult or threaten them; such behavior could get you banned from the site. Likewise, do not swear or post offensive messages in chat windows either as this could also get banned by casinos that require rapid gameplay sessions and don’t wish to waste their time with meaningless discussions that don’t contribute directly towards game play. Keeping conversations short and engaging is recommended since online casinos need time slots dedicated exclusively towards games themselves and don’t wish wasteful chatter that does contribute directly.

Finally, never link your bank account directly with an online casino or sports betting website – this puts your funds at risk and makes it easier for cyberattackers to steal them. Instead, always use virtual credit cards or reloadable debit cards when gambling; the latter options allow fewer cyberattackers access to your funds directly than direct banking access does. Likewise, avoid gambling on public wifi and use strong passwords to safeguard identity – taking these steps can greatly lower the risk of an addiction to online gambling.