You don’t have to be scammed when playing online casino games.
Every year thousands of unsuspecting players are tricked into gambling on fake casinos sites.
These websites mimic real casinos with the intent to steal players money, personal information…or both.
Here’s why you should care:
Detecting these scams is becoming increasingly difficult.
Casino scammers have learned how to create fake websites that look and operate just like legitimate casinos.
The good news is…
If you know what to look for spotting a gambling scam is pretty straightforward. There are several red flags that can alert any player that a casino may not be legitimate before they even make their first dollar deposit.
In this article you’ll learn:
- Why You’re Seeing More Fake Casino Sites
- 6 Warning Signs of a Scam Casino
- How To Ensure A Casino Is Legitimate
- What To Do If You’ve Fallen For A Scam
Why You’re Seeing More Fake Casino Sites
Online casino gaming has grown in popularity significantly over the last few years.
This large pool of new players has lead to an influx of scammers trying to take their money.
Recent research has shown that online gambling fraud increased by 64% in 2024. Over $1.2 billion was lost worldwide to online gaming scams.
That’s BILLION with a B.
Since online transactions can be made anonymously, it makes the perfect opportunity for scammers.
They set up professional looking websites, offer big bonuses to attract players, and then abscond with the players deposits.
Learning how these online casino scams work will help you spot them. Remember, where you choose to play should be the first thing you consider when gambling. For a reliable resource on safe online gaming selections, visit https://mtgal.com and bookmark it.
Let’s get real…
Chances are you’ll never see that money again. Tracking down these online criminals is nearly impossible.
6 Warning Signs of a Scam Casino
Scam casinos often have tell tale qualities that others don’t. Here are the most common characteristics of casinos that aren’t legitimate.
Knowing what to look for can help you avoid being scammed if you gamble online.
Bonuses That Are Too Good To Be True…
…They probably are.
Fake casinos often entice new players with large welcome bonuses and extravagant free spin offers. But once players meet the wagering requirements they find the terms make withdrawal nearly impossible.
Look for these specific offers:
- Welcome Bonuses that exceed 500%
- Claims of “no wagering requirements”
- Promotions that guarantee wins
- Pressure to deposit and play immediately
Legitimate casinos offer competitive bonuses in reasonable amounts. Also take the time to read the terms before accepting any bonus.
No License Or Verification Can Be Found
All real online casinos must be licensed by a gambling authority.
This license should be visible on their website, typically at the bottom. Research shows that 25% of scam casino sites claim to be licensed and registered in countries that do not exist.
To check if a casino is licensed:
- Find the license number on the casino website.
- Go to the licensing authority’s website.
- Look up the casino by the name or license number.
- Verify that the license is valid.
If you cannot find verifiable licensing information, do not play there.
Low-Quality Website
Running a legitimate online casino costs a lot of money.
Operators of scam casinos will often skip investing in their website. Here are some things to look for if their website seems suspicious.
Some indicators include:
- Spelling or grammar mistakes.
- Broken websites links or missing pages.
- Not secured with HTTPS (padlock icon in address bar).
- Stock images used on site.
- Non-working phone numbers or email addresses.
These are all signs the website was thrown together by crooks.
Untrustworthy Payment Methods
Real casinos use established payment processors.
They accept major payment options from all players, especially new players. Fake casinos will promote hard-to-track payment methods that offer no protection if something goes wrong.
Scammers love using:
- Cryptocurrency as the only form of payment
- Wire transfers straight to their bank account
- Payments via gift card codes
Make sure the casino has safe payment methods that offer options to dispute transactions. If they don’t you’ll be unprotected if scammed.
Unable To Contact Customer Support
Give the casinos customer support team a call or send them an email.
Legitimate casinos have real people who work at their support centers. While waiting for a response, navigate the site and see if other questions come to mind.
If you’re unable to reach a real person pre-deposit, FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO PLAY AT.
Reasonable response time is expected. If you do not get a response within 24-hours, that’s another red flag.
How To Ensure A Casino Is Legitimate
Don’t ever rush yourself into depositing and playing at a new casino.
Here are some extra steps you should take to verify that a casino isn’t a scam.
Do Your Research
Type the casinos name into Google with the word scam or complaints afterwards.
Check review sites and casino forums for feedback left by players. This is by far the best way to learn about a new casino you’re interested in playing at.
Things to look for include:
- Consistent positive reviews across all platforms
- How the casino handles disgruntled players
- How long the casino has been operating
- Any news of fines or regulatory action
New casinos are not necessarily scams. However, older established casinos can usually be researched to verify claims.
Look For Responsible Gambling Tools
If a casino doesn’t care about your gambling experience then…
Why should you?
Real casinos want players to gamble responsibly and will offer tools like deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion.
Unscrupulous casinos don’t care about your bottom line.
Verify The Game Provider
All real online casinos partner with software developers.
These companies program the casino games you play on their site. Some of the biggest names in iGaming you should look out for are NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech.
If you can’t find anything about the game provider online…it should raise suspicions.
What To Do If You’ve Fallen For A Scam
Unfortunately some players still get taken by scams every year.
If you find yourself the victim of a scam casino, take the following steps.
Immediately:
- Document everything (take screenshots)
- Report the casino to gambling authorities
- Contact your bank or payment processor about chargebacks
- File complaints with consumer protection websites
- Share your story in reviews
You may never see your money again, but helping others not fall for the same scam is always your best bet.
Wrapping Things Up
Fake casino sites are becoming more and more prevalent as online gambling grows in popularity.
But if you know what to look for you can spot a scam casino site. Remember warning signs like ridiculous bonuses, no license information, poor website quality, sketchy payment options, and poor customer support.
Scam casinos are designed to steal your money and identity. By doing your research and playing only at legitimate casinos you can greatly reduce your chances of being scammed.
Final checklist:
- Double check the casinos licensing and license number.
- Research the casino online ahead of time.
- Verify the casino has responsive customer support.
- Use safe payment methods with buyer protection.
- Trust your gut, if it feels like a scam it probably is.
Online casino gaming is big business. Unfortunately so are online casino scams.
Taking a few minutes to do your homework can save you a lot of money and headaches down the road.
