So, Michigan has passed legislation to allow online sports betting, and you are feeling lucky. Ready to cash in? Not so fast! Review these tips to make sure you are keeping your confidential information safe and gambling responsibly.
Review of Terms and Privacy Policy
Sure, the fine print isn’t exciting, but it’s there for a reason. A quick review of the Terms will tell you what expected conduct is appropriate and the acceptable use requirements. It’ll also tell you important legal disclosures such as arbitration agreements and disclaimers.
The Privacy Policy will tell you what, how, and with whom your information is collected and shared – such as cookies, contacts, location, and personal information. More importantly, it will tell you what information you can opt-out of sharing and how to request to opt-out.
Security and Encryption
When visiting a secure site, you will see a padlock in the top corner of your browser, left of the URL. This padlock is known as an “SSL” or “Secure Socket Layer.” This protection allows you to safely provide sensitive information such as your username, passwords, and credit card numbers into the site by encrypting or concealing the information.
There are other security features built into the Sports Betting apps, as well. Some of the apps allow you to customize your lock-out time. Instead of being inactive for 6 hours before being locked out and required to sign in again, you could set it for 15 minutes.
Additionally, most sports betting apps offer Multifactor Authentication, also known as “MFA.” By setting up MFA, you can require a code to be sent to your phone or email that you enter into the app to log in, in addition to needing your username and password to log into your account. This provides another layer of protection so that hackers cannot access your account.
History and Customer Support
We cannot stress enough how important it is to review your history and transactions. Due to liability, some transactions are limited to a certain timeframe to be able to dispute. Meaning, you could lose your right to dispute a transaction if you wait too long to report it. Therefore, regularly reviewing your transaction history is a good habit to adopt.
If you notice a transaction that was not authorized or have other concerns with your account, you can contact Customer Support within the app. All Michigan sports betting sites are required to have a Customer Support Center for your convenience.
Gamble Responsibly
Most apps offer self-set spending limits, so that you can set and abide by your spending budget. Typically, daily, weekly, or monthly spending limits are offered.
If you feel you may have a gambling problem, it is important to know that you are not alone, and help is available. You can call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117. Or the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or chat at ncpgambling.org/chat.
