If there’s anything that staying at home taught us, it’s that driving to a casino and spending the night gambling isn’t worth it most of the time. Sure, having a few drinks with the lads and smashing the slots is great fun. But if you’re really looking for convenience, then online casinos are the way to go. Fortunately, this is the best time to start playing. As a result, there are more games and casinos than ever before.
However, this also means there are more scam sites too. Despite all the rules set forth by the UK Gambling Commission, scammers still want your money and personal information. That’s why we talked to both industry experts and players and put together a list of the 5 most obvious signs that an online casino is fraudulent.
You don’t recognize any of the games
There are tens of thousands of different casino games available online. So, you will surely encounter a couple that you don’t know. Nevertheless, every site worth something will include the most popular releases, such as Live Monopoly by Evolution. If a game is known to attract players, there’s no reason for a casino not to include it.
A lobby full of unknown providers and games can signify that something is wrong. Either the site is trying to cheap out, or there’s a reason why suppliers won’t sell them their games. Regardless, always conduct your own research. Search online to see if the provider is partnered up with the casino.
The very best online casinos will provide guides to help you, for instance, here you can find articles about the best Monopoly Live strategy. But unfortunately, scam sites just gather a couple of games to lure unsuspecting victims.
No Licence
Any industry as profitable as online gambling is ripe with individuals looking to abuse the system. That’s why regulators, such as the UKGC, have implemented strict guidelines on how sites should operate. Everything has to be followed to a tee, from banking and customer support to the games themselves.
This also includes regular audits, financial monitoring, and other security measures. If an online casino isn’t licensed – don’t even consider signing up. Not only do they not follow the rules, but you won’t get legal assistance if something goes awry.
Whenever a UK online casino obtains a licence, they agree to be legally liable in case of their own wrongdoing. For unlicensed sites, though, the authorities can’t do anything. Since the operator is mostly based abroad, the authorities won’t be able to do anything about it.
Bonuses seem too generous
Bonuses are a rare case when both the player and the casino benefit. Casinos are always looking for more customers, so they’re willing to speed things up by rewarding more bonuses. However, this doesn’t mean you get free money.
These sites have an array of tricks up their sleeves. That’s why every legitimate bonus must have conditions and limits. It might not be written in big letters, but it’s in the Terms & Conditions. Don’t hesitate to contact customer support and ask them to clarify something.
Every now and then, you might see banners with things like £5,000 NO DEPOSIT BONUS – SIGN UP NOW. But, ask yourself, why would a casino that’s looking to make money just give out five thousand quid like it’s nothing?
More often than not, this involves some irrational conditions. If it’s a deposit, and you’ve been promised something like a 500% match, it’s most definitely a scam. Don’t let your greed get the best of you. There are good deals, don’t get us wrong, but they hardly ever seem life-changing.
- Reviews Are Overwhelmingly Negative or Positive
No casino in the world will openly advertise its mistakes or flaws. That’s why every new player should always consult online reviews. By hearing what others have been through, you know what you can expect.
If there’s a problem that’s mentioned over and over again, that’s a big red flag. It means that the operator doesn’t care since they’ve been refusing to tackle the issue for quite some time. The best reviews to look at are 2 or 3-star ones. They contain the most objective explanations and highlight the problems. On the other hand, 1-stars are often a result of spite and aren’t that objective.
But too many positive reviews can also signify that the site is pulling something funny. Take a closer look. When have the reviews been posted? Do their usernames look alike? How does their language sound? If every review is of similar length and uses similar words, that means the site is most likely creating fake accounts to boost its own ratings.
- It’s Difficult to Withdraw Money
Make no mistake – a casino’s primary goal is to make money. And that’s okay if they’re ethically going about their business. If they’re nice and generous to you, you’re more likely to come back and spend more money, right? Of course. It’s business 101 – if you do good, you will get good in return.
The only problem is that some online casinos aren’t willing to put in the effort needed for a good product. That’s why they often resort to scammy tactics, the most common of which is to make withdrawals difficult.
There are several signs that a casino is messing with its Banking section. First, high withdrawal limits are often very telling. If, for instance, you can withdraw £10 or more with PayPal, why would a casino set the minimum limit to £500?
This is a predatory tactic designed to force you to play more. Slow processing is another technique online casinos use. If withdrawals are unavailable during the weekend, there’s certainly a percentage of players that waste their would-be withdrawals before Monday.
Always read the fine print. The moment you start feeling uncomfortable or pressured to do something, find a different online casino. It’s your fun and free time, and you deserve to have it without any sort of pressure.
