Credit card safety was an important issue when transactions started becoming widespread through the Internet, and it is a credit – no pun intended – to those responsible for ensuring a secure environment for these transactions to occur that it has been handled with such aplomb.

That is not to say, however, that credit card transactions over the Internet are foolproof. There are several precautionary steps that should be taken, however, so that you can be betting online in no time.

1. Designate one credit card with a low credit limit as your primary card for all Web-based transactions. Tell your bank that they are not to raise the limit on the card without your prior written permission, and use it for Web transactions whenever possible.

2. It may also be an idea to designate one or two other credit cards with low credit limits as backup cards should you be unable to use the primary card.

3. If you use a variety on online betting sites, try to use the same card for all transactions; it helps to monitor things, while ensuring nobody can hijack your card for their own purposes.

4. Review all credit statements thoroughly and immediately dispute and report any charges that you did not make. Check your credit provider regarding the rules and procedures concerning how to do this.

5. The increased range of modern cordless phones open them up to interception by devices operating on the same frequency, and hence to be extra secure use a corded phone whenever giving out your credit card number.

6. Check the URL of the page that you are at when depositing funds, and make sure it begins with https. If the security certificate has expired, contact the betting site before doing anything. A lock in the corner of your browser is a sign that Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology is being used, and the chance of your data being intercepted during transmission is next to nilch. Internet Explorer users will find that double-clicking the lock will display the security certificate.

7. Always check forums and other places for discussions of the online betting site and make sure it is of some repute before making any credit card transactions. There is no guarantee that the site is not the front for a credit card fraud operation, so snuff it out first.

Remember, if your card was not physically present with the merchant at the time of the transaction, your liability is limited to $0. You have no binding obligation to pay anything for an online transaction that you did not initiate. The merchant and the bank that issued your credit card, however, will investigate claims and you will be held criminally liable for issuing a fraudulent complaint should they be proven wrong.