How to spot a scam among online casinos?
Scam is probably one of the first words that most people use to describe a casino. Even though it is just a bad idea, there are many stories that do not help to create a good image of gambling sites. Gambling is becoming increasingly available thanks to online casinos, countries are legalizing this entertainment to protect players, and security technologies are becoming increasingly effective. Still, the risks of choosing a dubious operator remain significant.
Honest Casinos, Do They Exist?
Many people think that online casinos are something dangerous. They think that this place is only intended to lose all their money. And they are partly right. Until recently, all establishments, both land-based and virtual, were scammers who only deceived naive players and took funds from too gullible customers.
Today, the gambling industry is becoming completely legal and, therefore, more controlled by the state. In Canada, for example, online casinos that want to offer their services to local players must present licenses and be certified by special bodies that regulate online gambling. Their software is tested regularly to ensure the honesty of the gameplay.
Signs of an Online Casino Scam
Fraud can be hard to spot. Modern technologies help scammers hide their true intentions. However, we were able to highlight a few clues by which you can identify an unscrupulous site:
- Lack of support service – unscrupulous online casinos do not have a dedicated team that handles chat or email responses; it is usually impossible for customers to resolve their issues or find out who and where to turn.
- Delays in withdrawing funds – scammers always have problems paying winnings to players, delays in refusing to pay.
- Unreliable banking methods – unknown payment systems and e-wallets are offered to you as a way to withdraw money.
- No registration – these sites are usually not regulated by outside bodies, meaning they can do anything
- The lack of a relevant section with the Terms and Conditions – this document states the rules that must be followed (T&C) in order to play successfully on a particular gambling site; moreover, scammers come up with wacky rules that they constantly change so that people do not discover them.
- A large number of negative reviews – it is normal to have negative reviews, but if there are a lot of them and on different sites, then you should think about it.
Signs of a Trustworthy Online Casino
Knowing the criteria for casino integrity is just as important as distinguishing fraudulent sites. So let's see what are the characteristics of reliable online casinos:
- Honest operator – availability of a license and certificates of honesty from reliable organizations.
- Fast withdrawal of funds – withdrawal of funds takes no more than a few days and the payment systems used by the casino are popular and public.
- Transparent bonus policy – bonuses seem beneficial to both players and the casino itself, and do not have high wagering requirements.
- Support Service – Users can contact support agents 24 hours a day and in any easy way.
- Positive Reviews – Good online casinos have positive reviews on multiple independent sites.
More Scam Examples
Bet 100 Times Your Deposit
The player deposited $20 and started betting. Having won $300, he asked them to withdraw. They asked him for documents for verification. First, the player sent a passport scan, then a selfie with the passport, and finally a utility bill (confirmation of the residential address). When the verification was finally accepted, the technical support forwarded the security request to the player. It turns out that in order to receive your winnings, you need to bet on the amount “only” 100 times more than the deposit.
Not Our Responsibility
The player made payments with the Ethereum cryptocurrency. When the winnings approached $ 150,000, withdrawal requests began to be rejected. The casino administration mentioned that the payment system was to blame and advised to write to Ethereum technical support.
Only With Notarization
After winning, the player requested a withdrawal, but in response, he received a verification request. The player sent a photo of his passport, driver's license, bank statement, utility bills, but, the verification did not pass: the online casino deceivers demanded that all these documents be certified by a notary.
Stay Honest While Playing
Now that you know the features of a scam online casino, we hope that you will play on reliable and trustworthy casino sites. Gambling is, first of all, a pleasant pastime that allows you to have fun and earn a certain amount of money. But, remember to be careful and honest. Even if you have a huge desire to win or an urgent need for money, never cheat. Modern online casinos have effective security systems and it will be very difficult to deceive the institutions that monitor all transactions made there. Practice, try free games, learn strategies instead of looking for tricks that make you lose your bets. Otherwise, you will be kicked out of the casino with the mark of a fraudster.