How to accurately research and find information online

The online industry offers one surprise after the other with so much constantly happening. With that being said, it is also known that what you read is not always the reality.

Accidents happen, but with some preparation, you can minimise the harm. This guide examines how to research effectively, check your research, create smart editorial policies, and identify fake news and scams.

How to research effectively

If you want to effectively gather research, you need to implement a couple of things. A fact about research in any field is that you need to gather, confirm, triple check and cross-reference. That's especially true for the online gambling industry. Journalists are taught from the get-go that they should at least find three sources confirming the same thing before it is considered the truth.

Truth and reliability are subjective. What’s important is to make sure the sources you use for your daily casino news are reliable and accurate.

1. Define your research

Identify your topic and what exactly it is you’re searching for, whether it’s the top-rated online casinos, a new game launch or regulatory changes in a specific region. When you have a better idea of what you’re aiming to find, you can start refining your search, focusing only on what it is you’re looking for.

2. List of reliable sources

It’s important to get your information from sites you trust or that have a reputation for being trustworthy.

3. Focus on keywords and specific terms

Enter the most relevant keywords that align with your topic into your search bar. While articles' headlines and writing style tend to vary, the basic concept or theme will remain the same. If you focus on keyword searching, you will get quicker access to the available sources.

4. Evaluate your sources

Once you’ve gathered your sources, it is time to do a quick check of the publication date as well as the source’s reputation and the author’s credibility.

5. Cross-check the information

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s not double-checking and confirming information and risk losing your credibility. As such, you want to verify all facts via several sources.

6. Stay objective

It’s easy to get lost in the heat of the moment. But when it comes to public postings, a single bad post can lead to losing your overall standing. You want to be able to provide accurate information that has a clear overview of events rather than merely focusing on your own opinion and interpretation of events.

How to check your research

Thorough research is all about the effort put into your articles. If you want to make sure your sources are legit, then there are a couple of steps to implement:

Step 1: Verify the author

Check the author's credentials, background and reputation to ensure they have the credentials for the topic.

Step 2: Check the source

Always check that the information is provided by a professional and secure platform. This certainly depends on what kind of content you're looking for, but here's an example:

If you need to research the latest legislation changes in online gambling regulations, you have two choices. The first is going straight to the source, which means government or regulatory bodies' websites with a .edu, .gov, .org, or .com extension. The second is heading to a trusted gambling site (most commonly with a .com extension) for a summarised version of the needed information.

Step 3: Check citations and references

You then want to check for all sources which could be listed within an article as additional proof of a fact or subject.

Step 4: Analyse the content

Now, you can really fine-comb your sources to check for evidence, whether it's research studies, data, or quotes. A big plus is information pieces that provide a balanced viewpoint, taking into consideration all sides.

Step 5: Cross-reference

Quickly verify the reputability of the source and the information it provides by verifying the facts. If the information is consistent across different sources, the chances of accuracy are higher.

Step 6: Check for the intent

Always go over the information provided and look closely at the intent. Is it there to persuade you, sell something, or simply inform you?

Step 7: Consult the community

If there’s one thing you can never go wrong with, it would be joining the community in online forums or discussions. There are discussions on all topics, and you’ll be surprised how much information can be revealed within these hats and platforms.

Editorial Policies

Leading sites and resources take great pride in their work. You will find that they have dedicated pages openly displaying their privacy policy and editorial policy.

The latter is used to govern the content and operators of a media company. Like gambling regulations, it ensures the content produced is accurate and ethical. There are several important principles an editorial policy should include:

• Independence and integrity – The first is its independence, which goes hand in hand with integrity. All editorial decisions of the media site should be made free from external influences. Meaning no number of sponsors, stakeholders, or advertisers should be able to determine the editorial decisions. The goal is to promote unbiased and impartial reporting.
• Accurate and fair – The editorial policy should emphasise the importance of checking the facts and verifying all information before publication. The objective is to encourage fair representation and factor in all sides of any issue.
• Be transparent – Trusted platforms should always provide clear disclosures on any potential conflicts of interest and ideally remove them from reporting on anything that might be biased. This helps with decision making and creating trust.
• Respect privacy – Not only should there be a privacy policy readily available for readers, but the platform should be dedicated to protecting the privacy of every individual. Never striving to publish information that could be harmful to their reputation.
• Be accountable – All editors and journalists should be held accountable for their work. They should work in a way that honours editorial policy and fix any errors as soon as possible.
• Engage with the audience – Another focus point is to really connect and engage with the community. Don’t just speak to readers but invite them into the conversation. There’s something about a back-and-forth that builds trust and a stronger relationship. Companies that take consumers into consideration tend to be more liked and favoured.

How to identify and avoid fake news and scams

Before you decide to take to heart anything you read, you should always be wary of fake news and scams. Especially in this day and age, where one bad review or opinion has the power to destroy a reputation. You don’t want to follow false news and be a victim of a scam.

Here’s a couple of useful tips you can use to stay safe:

1. Always check the source – Make sure the news is from a reputable and reliable source. Preferably a news outlet that has built up a reputation for accurate reporting.
2. Ignore the headline – While a headline can grab your attention, it should not be taken at face value. Often, headlines are specifically created to get you to click and read. Make sure to read the full article before assuming.
3. Factor in the evidence – A reliable source won’t post merely an opinion piece. The reliable sources will provide evidence such as research references, statistics and quotes from experts or the casino/game provider directly.
4. Check for repetition – When anything big or eventful happens within the online gambling industry, e.g., a new casino game is released, it is discussed across multiple platforms and sources. This is a quick way to identify if something might be true or fake. If it’s fake, it won’t be discussed widespread within the industry.
5. Always check the author and the date – You can always research the name linked to the article to get a feel for the credibility of their reporting. And the date can quickly tell you if an article is new or simply being recirculated.
6. Cut out bias – Another important thing you need to factor in is the possibility of an article being biased or sensationalised for views. You want accurate reporting without sugarcoating to glamorise or make it seem worse than it is.
7. Never click on suspicious links – It goes without saying that you should not click on any links that are from an unverified number or are not something you’re specifically waiting for.
8. Trust your instincts – This is probably one of the most important tips we can give. You can stay vigilant and trust that gut feeling that warns you when something is off. Don’t be blinded by bonuses, flashy designs or flowery words. Stay aware!

How to find credible gambling information

Is there anything else you should know when looking for trustworthy gambling articles and news? Well, as you saw, researching gambling-related topics follows a similar pattern. However, here are a couple of more specific tips when it comes to finding gambling articles, news, and reviews:

• Choose authority – This is especially important in this industry! Trust only websites that have a proven track record of offering reliable information, not ones that are looking to sell you something.
• Verify your source – What’s specific about it here is that you should pay attention to whether the outlet references reputable sources, official gambling regulations, or established organisations. Credible websites always back their information with verifiable data and avoid unsubstantiated advice.
• Look for consistency – Steer clear of websites with inconsistent or contradictory information across articles.
• Check for updates – Gambling regulations, terms, and information can change. Reliable websites update their content (when possible) to reflect the latest trends and developments.