Hundreds of new online casinos are popping up every year, and while most of them are legitimate operations, there are also a growing number of rigged or rogue casinos that you want to avoid at all costs. The good news is that there are some tell-tale signs that can alert you to a potential problem before you deposit your money and get committed. Here’s a checklist with red flags to look out for when researching an online casino.
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Important! The first thing you should always check is whether the casino holds a license from an reputable gaming regulatory agency such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Gaming Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao eGaming, or Kahnawake Gaming Commission. If it doesn’t have any licenses displayed on its webpages, consider it a red flag and move along.
🎁Betfair Casino Promo Code 2023 ❕NJ Support - SoftGamblingHow to Spot a Rigged Online Casino
Here's our list of cautionary signs about a potentially malicious online casino:
1) No Audits by Independent Test Labs
Most reputable online casinos engage the services of third-party testing agencies like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI (Gaming Laboratories International), TST (Technical Systems Testing), and GLI Africa to perform regular audits to ensure the integrity of the RNG software that's used to power their games. RNG, in this case, stands for "Random Number Generator", and it's a term used to describe the inner workings of software-driven games like online slots, video poker, and virtual roulette.
These private companies employ teams of engineers, mathematicians, statisticians, and computer software experts who examine the coding of the casino's RNG software to make sure it's functioning properly and producing accurate results. Among other things, they verify that the game payouts match or exceed the advertised average return-to-player rates (RTP), and there's no evidence of cheating.
You can often see logos of these audit organizations on the casino website if everything is on the level. They usually appear on the bottom of each webpage – just like at . Reputable test labs include eCOGRA (E-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), iTech Labs, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), Technical Systems Testing (TST), and GLI Africa. It's okay if a casino only has some of these seals on their site, but lacks one or two others. It simply means they've only had certain games tested by specific organizations. However, if a casino claims to be licensed by an unknown or illegitimate testing agency, that could be a red flag. A bogus example is the "Continental Testing Laboratory," which is not a real organization operated by only a handful of people and shouldn't be trusted.
If an online casino doesn't display any third-party audit certifications whatsoever, that's definitely a red flag. After all, they should want to prove to their customers that their games aren't rigged. Of course, there are some small, boutique casinos who may not be able to afford the cost of external audits. But in general, it's a bad sign.
best casino uk3) Poor Reputation
As with anything else, word-of-mouth carries a lot of weight in the online gambling world. If multiple players have had poor experiences with a particular casino, the likelihood increases that you too will run into trouble. That's why it pays to do some research before signing up. Nowadays, it takes just a few minutes to search for an online casino name on Google and various forums to see what others are saying.
There are many reputable casino review websites where you can find firsthand accounts detailing positive and negative aspects of playing at certain sites. You can also visit forums dedicated to online gambling to read about real-world experiences from actual participants. Watch out for online casinos with numerous complaints of delayed or confiscated withdrawals, unfair treatment by management, and failure to adhere to stated policies. While it's true that you'll find at least a couple of disgruntled patrons at any large establishment, a preponderance of negativity is certainly a warning sign. On the plus side, you'll also find many casinos praised for their prompt payments, generous bonuses, and overall quality.
Another way to gauge reputation is through various watchdog organizations that monitor the industry and report on questionable operators. Websites such as Poker Listings, WizardOfOdds, and Casinomeister act as ombudsmen between players and casinos, attempting to resolve disputes in a fair manner. An operator that ignores the advice of these mediators or has a history of consumer abuse may face blacklisting and loss of credibility within the industry.
4) Unrealistic Bonus Offers
On the surface, it might seem like a good thing when an online casino offers a huge signup bonus or ongoing promotions that promise large cash returns. After all, who wouldn't want to receive hundreds or even thousands of dollars in free chips? The reality, though, is that legit casinos have legal and financial limitations on the size and scope of promotional offers they can extend to customers.
Casinos That Pay Out Real Money Right Away (2023)In the regulated US online marketplace, bonuses are tied to a player's initial deposit and can normally range from 10% to 50% of the amount funded, up to a maximum limit. For example, a 50% match bonus up to $2,000 would be awarded to a new customer putting $4,000 into his or her account. In this scenario, the player would receive an additional $2,000, for a total balance of $6,000.
In unlicensed or offshore casinos, it's possible to find bonuses of 100%, 200%, 300%, or more. Some even dangle figures as high as 10,000% or more. These offers are simply unsustainable from a business standpoint unless they're attached to unreasonable playthrough requirements. Playthrough refers to the amount of wagering needed to convert bonus funds into withdrawable cash. These thresholds can easily reach 30x to 50x or higher at rogue sites, forcing players to gamble an excessive amount of time just to qualify for cashing out.
Simple Tips on How To Choose A Promo Code Site 🥇2023Furthermore, shady casinos sometimes attach restrictive conditions to their bonuses that give them wide latitude in determining whether you've complied with the terms of the offer. This opens the door to arbitrary decisions by management to deny bonus payouts to deserving customers.
It's important to remember that online casinos aren't charities or foundations; they're for-profit businesses seeking to make a healthy profit for their shareholders. Any bonus offering that seems too good to be true probably is.
5) Withholding Withdrawable Winnings
One of the biggest horror stories you hear from online casino patrons involves making a big bet, hitting a massive jackpot, and eagerly requesting a withdrawal –only to have their payment inexplicably denied. At this point, nightmarish excuses are offered by casino management, such as breach of terms and conditions, violation of jurisdiction restrictions, cheating with a second account, or simply a mysterious “management decision.” In some cases, the player may be pressed to dispute the charge with their credit card company or file a chargeback with their bank, which can take several weeks to resolve. By that time, the casino has covered its tracks and disappeared with your money.
Reputable online casinos pride themselves on promptly paying out customer winnings. They view it as the best form of advertising and understand that happy players will bring in more business through positive word-of-mouth. As regulated entities, they're also subject to audit by government authorities to ensure that payouts are being made in a timely fashion.
While delays can occur under certain circumstances – like pending anti-fraud checks for large transactions or problems verifying your identity– you should expect to receive your funds within 24 to 72 hours using eWallets and cryptocurrency methods, and within one week for checks and bank transfers. If an operator has a rash of customers complaining about confiscated winnings, that's certainly cause for concern. And if it happens to you, don't hesitate to file a complaint with the licensing regulatory agency, other watchdog organizations, or the media.
Reasons Why Online Casino Brands Need Aviation-Inspired Names6) Shaky Financial Support and Security Measures
Before proceeding to make a deposit at an online casino, you're typically asked to login and enter the cashier area using your account credentials. Once there, you'll be presented with a variety of deposit methods from which to choose, along with relevant logos from issuing banks, payment processors, or electronic wallet services. If some of those symbols are fake or the banking method isn't actually offered by the featured financial institution, you're dealing with a sketchy operation.
This happened back in 2011 with the now-defunct Ultima Games casino when players discovered that the MasterCard and Visa logos on the deposit page were simply cut and pasted from official websites and weren’t authorized uses of the trademarks. Both banks issued statements clarifying that these transactions weren’t sanctioned and advised customers to refrain from doing business with Ultima Games. Ultimately, the casino shut down and disappeared.
Additionally, beware of casinos that fail to employ standard security precautions to protect your sensitive personal and financial information. At minimum, you should see references to data encryption protocols utilizing Secure Socket Layering (SSL) technology and firewalls maintained by trusted third parties like GoDaddy or Symantec. You can usually see the logo of the certification authority on the deposit page or checkout process.
After all, you'll be transmitting your name, mailing address, date of birth, social security number or full Social Insurance Number (SIN), credit card numbers, expiration dates, and three-digit CVV security codes –all of which can be valuable tools for identity theft if intercepted by hackers. If there's no mention of encryption and trust logos are absent, you may be setting yourself up for fraud.
7) Unfair Game Rules and Payouts
Online casinos license games from top software developers like Microgaming, Playtech, Realtime Gaming (RTG), and Williams Interactive (WMS). They then package these games into downloadable or instant-play formats and present them across various platforms like mobile and desktop. Reputable operators abide by industry standards for game payouts and adhere to published odds and house edges for games like blackjack, baccarat, craps, and various types of poker. They also follow local laws concerning legal gambling ages and jurisdictional restrictions on access.
Dishonest casinos may alter these fundamental elements of gameplay to gain an unfair advantage over players. They could increase the house edge on table games, change blackjack rules to disadvantageous levels, widen house advantages on single zero or double zero spaces on the roulette wheel, skew video poker pay tables, or conceal game RTP percentages. Some may even program slot machines to payout lower than normal or not at all. Rogue operators may also attempt to trick players into believing they’ve won a large progressive jackpot when in fact, the actual prize is much smaller.
As mentioned earlier, regular audits by third-party testing agencies help ensure that game software is operating correctly and reporting accurate results. You can usually find Probable Payout Report (PPP) certificates from these organizations on the casino website to verify reported RTP levels for various games. For example, eCOGRA provides monthly PPP reports showing average payout levels for all games offered at its licensed casinos.
Best Las Vegas Casinos to Work For (And 5 Worst)8) Failure to Adhere to Established Policies and Procedures
When you sign up at an online casino, you'll typically be asked to download and install software applications onto your desktop or laptop computer, or you can elect to use the no-download version accessed directly through a web browser. Either way, you'll normally have to accept a pop-up box outlining the terms and conditions for using the software and indicating that you've read and understood them. Similarly, when you redeem a bonus or participate in a special promotion, you'll likely have to click an "I agree" button to confirm compliance with any related terms and conditions.
Honest online casinos rigidly adhere to the provisions spelled out in these documents and will punish violators with confiscations of wagers, forfeiture of winnings, account closures, and possibly, lifetime bans from the premises. Common infractions include bonusing abuse, collusion, use of charging cards for online casino purchases, duplicate account operation, and multiple bonus redemptions.
If it seems like the casino turns a blind eye to policy violations by favored players or constantly ignores infractions by its employees and managers, that's a definite red flag. Such inconsistency undermines basic concepts of fairness and creates an environment where cheaters thrive at the expense of law-abiding patrons. Any casino that tolerates this type of behavior isn't worth your time or money.
9) Misleading or Inaccurate Information
Every respectable online casino goes to great lengths to polish its public image and portray itself in the best possible light to prospective customers. This includes investing heavily in glossy advertisements, high profile sponsorship deals, and lavish sign-up bonuses. They want to present an air of success, stability, and reliability so players feel comfortable depositing their hard-earned money. However, some less scrupulous operators resort to deception to achieve these goals.
For instance, they may misrepresent their licensing status by implying they hold licenses from prestigious jurisdictions like Malta, Gibraltar, or the Kahnawake Mohawk Tribe when, in fact, their sole source of accreditation comes from a P.O. Box located in the Caribbean or the Dutch Antilles, which should raise red flags. Bogus examples in this category include Panama, Curacao, Costa Rica, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Kitts & Nevis. Most legitimate casinos make their licensing information readily available on their websites, so it shouldn’t be difficult to verify.
Casino No Deposit Bonus, Promo Code & Bonuses Review (2023)They may also stretch the truth when describing the experience and qualifications of their dealers and gaming personnel, employing buzzwords like "former Las Vegas dealers" or "casino consultants to major resorts worldwide." Or they could claim erroneously that their random number generator software has been certified as fair by outside firms like eCogra, which requires a contractual relationship to issue trust seals.
10) Inadequate Customer Service
Any legitimate online casino understands the value of providing friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive customer service representatives to assist patrons with questions, concerns, or issues that arise during play. These establishments invest resources in staffing live chat rooms, staffed telephone banking sections, and email response departments to handle inquiries around the clock or during extended shifts.
Free Spins No Deposit Bonus Casinos in the UK for 2023Shoddy operators, on the other hand, either forego these expenses altogether or provide minimal coverage during limited hours. Those that do have customer service reps available may not answer the phone after a patron is placed on hold for an exorbitant length of time or simply disconnect the call. Live chat room operators may ignore patiently waiting typists or provide nonsensical answers to questions posed to them. Email messages may go unanswered for days or receive terse, nonresponsive replies.
The existence of customer service contact details alone shouldn’t reassure you completely. It’s incumbent upon players to actually test these resources to satisfy themselves that assistance is truly available when needed. Setting up a dummy email account and placing test calls to telephone support lines are simple ways to evaluate response times and efficacy. You might consider yourself lucky to escape with a lost deposit, but unscrupulous casinos may try to extort further payments or face harassment from collection agents if they publish your credit card number online.
About the Author
William Corrigan
William "Mal" Corrigan has been writing about gambling since 2008. He's not just an authority on gambling and the casino industry, but he's also connoisseur of food, wine, beer, spirits, and cigars.
At GamblingSites.com, Mal focuses on covering the latest news and updates relax Gulf Coast casinos, including places to enjoy slot machines, table games, and poker.
