8 Telltale Signs of a Sketchy Online Casino
Despite being a minority compared to reputable, trustworthy online casinos, there are some online gambling providers out there that simply cannot be trusted. They appear legitimate but are often fronts for scams that leave players without winnings—or even the money they’ve deposited.
Contrary to popular belief, these sketchy online casinos don’t only prey on new players who may not know how to recognize a safe operator. Many also prey on seasoned gamblers.
Whether targeting newer players or veterans, almost all illegitimate online casinos have specific telltale signs that give them away. If you want to ensure you’re not duped, keep reading for the red flags to watch for.
Vague or Non-Existent Licensing
The best way to evaluate a site’s trustworthiness is to check its gambling license. This license is issued to an operator by a governing body (such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the NZ Gambling Commission) and shows that the online gambling platform has been vetted to ensure it follows all necessary regulations.
As a result, reputable online casinos almost always prominently display their license information in the footer of every page. The noticeable lack of this information should immediately raise a red flag.
Although a lack of a license is a clear cause for concern, many sketchy sites get around this by displaying fraudulent license information. Therefore, verifying a site’s license information with the issuing authority is always best. This can usually be done by searching the license number on the governing body’s website.
Any site without a valid license to offer gambling services should be avoided.
Bonuses That Are Too Good to Be True or Have Vague Terms and Conditions
One of the tried-and-tested ways that legitimate online casinos attract new and existing players is by offering welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. Those operating unlawful casino websites know this and do the same, but with a marked difference.
To encourage impulsive behavior and encourage players to look past other red flags, sketchy online casinos often offer bonus rewards that are far better than those offered by competitors. In many cases, these are available for a very short period, urging users to claim them as quickly as possible.
These bonuses offer more than any sustainable casino reasonably could and are paired with vague wagering requirements that don’t fully explain how to utilize the bonus, what requirements fall upon you as the player to claim it, or any other items typically outlined within these terms.
To avoid this scenario, always review all bonuses and their wagering requirements carefully. If the deal seems too good to be true or if the terms and conditions don’t make sense, it may be best to find an alternative operator.
Violation of Clear Laws or Regulations
One of the more blatant and easily recognizable red flags of an illegitimate online casino is if it clearly violates established laws. This is particularly noticeable in terms of operating within areas where online gambling, or gambling as a whole, is illegal.
An example of this is if you’re a Kiwi player looking to pick the best NZ casinos to gamble with. Suppose you come across one that is operated from within New Zealand. In that case, it is best to avoid it, considering local laws dictate that no local company may offer gambling services to residents.
While many operators work in legal grey areas to provide services in territories where gambling is illegal, it is often up to you to ensure the service is legit and offers its services legitimately in other regions where the activity is legal. Failure to do so could cause you to select a dodgy casino operator.
Missing or Delayed Deposits or Withdrawals
A hallmark of scam online casinos is that they are quick to take your money but slow to give it back. Therefore, any online casino with a reputation for delayed withdrawals, missing deposits, or even unusually long processing periods should be avoided.
To find information about these particular details, a simple search of user reviews will often reveal if a casino is diligent in making payments. Processing times and the like should also be readily available in the casino’s help center, on its banking page, or within the general terms and conditions of the site.
Customer Support That Offers Little Aid
Since online casinos handle people’s hard-earned money, you should reasonably expect to access helpful, efficient, and speedy support if you have a problem. For many reputable online casinos, this is the case. For those looking to scam others, it is not.
As such, a major red flag of an online operator is a lack of support. This can come in the form of the site not having accessible support options, support that simply doesn’t respond, or support offered only by AI chatbots, which rarely solve problems.
Inferior Game Catalogue
Vetted and licensed online casinos often have long-standing relationships with the best casino software developers, such as Evolution and NetEnt. As such, their catalogues are typically extensive and offer the latest games and established gaming options.
Scam online casinos rarely pass the top developers’ requirements to include their games in their catalogues. As such, sketchy websites often have fewer games available to players. The quality and popularity of available games are also usually a significant step down from the norm.
Unfamiliar or Limited Payment Providers
Online casinos that aren’t above board often struggle to link their platform to reputable payment providers like PayPal, Skrill, and Apple Pay. In place of these popular options, they tend to accept very few deposit and withdrawal payment methods or provide ones that may seem unfamiliar.
In either event, it is best to look for an online operator that allows you to make deposits and withdrawals with a payment provider you know and trust.
Lack of Basic Security Practices
Incredibly, some scam online casinos go to great lengths to make their websites look legitimate but fail at the most basic steps—security practices. These include not ensuring every page of the site has SSL protection and failing to provide basic policies like a privacy policy or terms of use.
Any online casino that lacks basic security or doesn’t have the necessary protocols or policies to keep you (and it) secure should be avoided.