Are you playing at a rigged online casino? Here are some ways that casinos try to trick you into losing money – from shady terms and conditions to seemingly legit manipulations of odds, gameplay, payouts, and more.
- The best way to avoid getting ripped off by an online casino is to choose your operator wisely.
- Rogue casinos use sneaky tactics like fake reviews and shady bonus offers to rip players off.
- Some casinos even rig their games to increase the house edge or outright refuse to pay out.
It’s a jungle out there. Well, not literally, but the modern online casino industry is a cut-throat environment where only the fittest survive. And when competition gets tough, some operators stoop low enough to try sneaky tactics to rip players off.
Now, this isn’t common across the board. Most online casinos are completely legit and wouldn’t dream of trying to scam you. However, it’s important to be aware of the tricks that do exist so you can spot them a mile off.
In this post, I will look at some of the most devious ways rogue casinos try to rip you off. It could be something as obvious as rigging slot machines or as subtle as hiding bad terms in the fine print of your bonus offer. Let’s dive in.
Fake Licenses & Certificates
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book but remains incredibly effective among rookie players. Basically, disreputable online casinos attempt to appear legitimate by plastering the homepage with seals from third-party organizations.
The idea is to make you think the casino is licensed, trusted, and monitored by these parties. In reality, the operator might have copied these logos from other legitimate sites or paid to use them without actually being certified.
So, how can you separate the real deals from the fakes? It’s simple – click the logo or banner. If it takes you to a verification page on the monitoring party’s website, everything checks out. If you are redirected to a broken link or the casino claims it doesn’t need to provide proof, circle your wagons.
Which Licenses and Certificates Matter?
Not all licenses and certificates are created equal, so it’s vital to know what to look out for when joining an online casino. Below, I list some of the most reputable ones in the world:
- Licenses – In order to operate legally, all online casinos must hold a valid license from a reputable regulatory body. For instance, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is considered the gold standard for operators looking to enter the British market. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) also has a strong reputation since many countries recognize its licenses in international law.
- TLS Encryption – This refers to the level of site security. All trustworthy casinos should hold SSL/TLS certification to ensure your personal and financial data is protected. You can check this by looking for a closed padlock symbol in the URL bar or starting with “https”.
- **Auditing Agencies” – There are several private firms that monitor casino games for fairness. eCOGRA and iTech Labs are the main ones, adding an extra layer of integrity to the games and platforms they certify.
- Responsible Gambling Certificates – Trusted operators take problem gambling seriously and partner with not-for-profit organizations such as GambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous. Certification from these bodies indicates the platform has tools in place plus contact information for those who need help.
How to Check a Casino’s License
You should always check a casino’s license(s) before depositing any money. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to verify if the site holds a legitimate licence.
Look for the casino’s seal of approval towards the footer of each page. Click the logo to be taken to the regulatory body’s website, which will confirm the license number and expiry date. If the links do not work or the logs look fake, sound the alarm.
Deceptive Sign-Up Bonuses
Who doesn’t love a juicy welcome bonus? I mean, free cash is basically catnip for gamblers. Unfortunately, some casinos have realized this and started creating misleading sign-up offers to entice new customers before ripping them off.
There are several types of deceptive bonuses to watch out for, including:
- Bonuses with unrealistic playthrough requirements – A playthrough requirement is the amount you must wager to clear your bonus and withdraw your winnings. Some casinos ask you to play through hundreds or thousands of times your initial deposit and bonus, essentially trapping your funds on the site forever.
- Offers with ridiculously short validation periods – Even if the playthrough reqs aren’t totally nuts, some bonuses will force you to clear the offer within two or three days. This is impossible for most games, especially slots which often require at least $25-$30 per spin to meet the wagering.
- **Tiny contribution rates– Some games may not count toward clearing your bonus at all, while others might contribute just 10% or 20%. This makes it nigh on impossible to hit the playthrough threshold before the offer expires.
- Hiding crucial terms in the small print – Ever noticed how welcome bonus pages have about seven million pop-ups, banners, and tick-boxes before you can see the terms? Some casinos will hide absolutely crucial info regarding their offers here, relying on you to tick the box and accept without reading.
These are just a few examples, but they illustrate how devious casinos can get with their bonuses. Always read the full terms and conditions before accepting. Better yet, see our guide to the for guidance on finding good value promos at safe and reliable sites.
Rigged Games
The ultimate way an online casino can suck your wallet dry is by offering rigged games. Unlike land-based casinos—which cost millions to set up and therefore tend to be trustworthy—online gaming platforms have extremely low barriers to entry. This means anyone with $40,000 can buy the software to become a .
Sure, many of these entrepreneurs abide by the rulebook. Yet others decide to rig their games in favor of the house, secure in the knowledge that most players won’t check for integrity certifications.
Now, catching a rigged game is difficult for even the most seasoned gamblers. After all, lady luck plays a huge role in betting, and one dry session does not a fixed game make. However, statistically speaking, you should achieve a certain level of success if the game is verified as fair.
If you notice your balance bleeding drip by drip despite opting for the +100 odds every time, it could be time to investigate. Check the following details first:
Where Else Are These Games Available?
One surefire way to spot a rigged game is to search for it on other sites. Of course, the casino in question will feature this title front and center. However, if you cannot find it at any other reputable venue, it could be tampered with.
For slot players, I recommend checking our because they only listing games from safe, reputable developers.
Does the Casino Hold an RNG Certificate?
As mentioned earlier, private firms like iTech Labs and eCOGRA monitor casino games for fairness. Random Number Generators (RNGs) determine the outcomes of digital titles, and certified casinos will proudly display logos from these agencies proving their library is on the level.
If your chosen site does not hold RNG certification, or the developer of your chosen game is not listed on their site, sound the alarm.
Enforcing Unfair Terms & Conditions
Let’s say you have avoided the worst of the sign-up bonuses and join a decent-looking site. You plan to make your first deposit, but suddenly remember those all-important terms and conditions. So, you grab the mouse, hovers over the tiny text at the bottom of the homepage … and runs a mile.
The truth is, the vast majority of casinos have utterly ridiculous terms and conditions. I’m talking about things like not being able to win more than $10 with your first deposit or only being able to withdraw your bonus funds in increments of $500.
Best Last Minute Staycation Ideas (2023 Staying Local)Some are downright insulting, like the old favorite, “All decisions made by casino management are final.” Um, isn’t that what appeals processes are for?
Of course, very few casinos will come right out and end your account balance. Instead, they will target specific bets, payment methods, and strategies to sap your profit margins and wear you down until you give up. Here are some of the worst offenders to keep your eyes peeled for.
Prohibiting Basic Strategy
I am a big believer in using basic strategy when playing games like blackjack. By making optimal decisions based on conditional probabilities, you can reduce the house edge to less than 1%, improving your long-term chances of winning.
However, some casinos hate winning even almost as much as failing miserably. As such, you will find clauses in the terms banning certain betting strategies or applying higher table games minimums during weekends and peak hours.
For example, the following actions could land you in hot water:
- Card Counting – This is a blackjack strategy whereby players keep track of the cards dealt to build a profile of remaining cards in the deck. By adjusting their bets accordingly, skilled players can lower the house edge to around 0.5%. Casinos hate this because it works, getting banned for doing so can be confusing for players. The technique is much harder to execute online due to RNG games using multiple decks and shuffling after every hand. Additionally, most will prohibit it explicitly in the terms. Nevertheless, some might try to ban it implicitly by enforcing crazy high minimum bets when you are on a winning streak.
- Martingale – Named after an 18th-century French scientist, the Martingale is a simple doubling strategy that newbies often flock to. Basically, you double your bet after every loss to recover losses and turn a profit. Due to having a greater chance of occurring, you will eventually see a black win and recoup some cash. Of course, it will catch up with you if you keep losing, which is why no professional player uses it exclusively. Many casinos impose a maximum table limit that will cap your winnings potential when using the Martingale.
Banning Certain Payment Methods
We have all been there – reading through the T&Cs and seeing our favorite payment method is not allowed. Skrill bonus void. Neteller excluded. No ecoPayz? Come on!
Okay, it is annoying to lose access to your preferred depositing method. However, accepting a bonus when you know you will be stuck with it later is even worse. Why? Because almost all bonus offers exclude certain payment methods from eligibility.
Skrill and Neteller are the biggest offenders here, with upwards of 90% of offers disallowing them. Again, e-wallets don’t suit everyone, so this isn’t necessarily a red flag. But when I’d say 90% of bonuses exclude them? That seems fishy to me.
Moreover, some casinos will stop you from using certain payment methods according to shady reasoning. For instance, they might claim Skrill is only available for deposits, meaning you cannot clear your bonus with the e-wallet.
Or they could straight-up ban it, claiming that the “majority of bonus abusers use Skrill,” which is ridiculous for several reasons. First, Skrill is one of the safest and most secure payment methods out there. Second, it is incredibly easy to track transactions via the site. Third, net loss from payment method abuse is bad for business. Fourth, it’s just an excuse to rip people off. Fifth … well, you get the point.
Changing the Terms Midway Through a Welcome Bonus
Ah, the infamous “anti-abuse” policy. A casino will entice you in with a tasty welcome bonus before slapping this policy down midway through, cancelling your bonus and keeping your deposit. How do they define “abuse?” Well, that would be anything they disagree with after the fact.
Naturally, actual bonus abuse like using blocked payment methods, colluding with other players, or creating multiple accounts to claim the offer multiple times is frowned upon. However, some casinos apply this term so widely that it covers natural variations in playing styles.
For example, they might state that anybody who plays certain games, or above a certain stake, is abusing the bonus. Even though this goes against the spirit of the offer, many rogue operators will simply point to their “anti-abuse” clause and take your money.
Refusing to Pay Out
Imagine spending weeks chasing after a welcome bonus only to finally hit a big jackpot on your last spin. You eagerly head to the cashier to withdraw your life-changing sum of cash only to be met with radio silence from customer support.
Unfortunately, this is a common tactic used by some dodgy online casinos. They pray that you will give up trying to collect your prize rather than launch a official proceedings.
And even if you do take legal action, fly-by-night operators can disappear into the ether, leaving you high and dry.
How Long Should It Take to Get My Winnings?
Under normal circumstances, you should receive your winnings within four to seven business days when using e-wallets for withdrawals. Debit card payouts usually take between six and eight days, while the slowpoke’s option — a wire transfer — can take up to 10 days.
free slots casino gameOf course, this assumes you are playing at a legitimate online casino. If something smells funky, I would keep an eye out for the following signs.
Ignoring Your Withdrawal Request
The most common tactic is simply ignoring your withdrawal request. You make your withdrawal, and the casino does nothing. Easy, right? Except when you check a couple of days later, you realize it never left the site. So you reach out to customer support … and crickets.
This can go on for weeks until you either give up or the withdrawal becomes stale and the money is confiscated to the house.
Asking for Ridiculous Documentation
Even if they do respond to your withdrawal request, some operators can try to squeeze another scam through by requesting absurd documentation.
For example, I once had a client who was asked for the million-year-old utility bill when providing valid photo ID. When he raised concerns, the casino froze his account and refused to answer further questions.
Common examples include:
- Failure to Provide Social Security Number – Although not required under any circumstance, some casinos will demand your SSN if you win a substantial sum of cash. While this isn’t illegal per se, it does open the door to identity theft if the site suffers a data breach. Moreover, it is none of their business!
- Endless Stream of Documentation – Some rogue operators will barrage you with requests for increasingly personal documentation until you give up. For instance, they might start by asking for a driver’s license and bank statements but soon graduate to tax returns, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and so forth.
- Expired Documentation – This ties in with the utility bill example above. If you provide a document that is even slightly past its expiration date, they will reject it and claim you have violated the terms.
Changing the Terms to Revoke Your Withdrawal
Believe it or not, some casinos will simply change their terms and condition to revoke your right to a withdrawal. For example, they might introduce a minimum deposit or playthrough requirement to activate withdrawals, conveniently forgetting that you deposited with a different method or didn’t clear the bonus.
Alternatively, they might raise the identification requirements, forcing you back to square one and delaying your payout indefinitely.
How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
Fear not! Not all online casinos are hellbent on parting you from your hard-earned dollars. In fact, the vast majority are legit businesses that want you to win because you’ll stick around and deposit more cash in the future.
How can you differentiate between the good guys and gals? Here are my top tips for avoiding scams:
Play at Reputable Casinos
This list could include dozens of names, but here are five safe and reliable online casinos to get you started.
- isa Carribean-friendly brand with a solid rep among US players. It holds licenses in Curacao and Panama and offers a great mix of slots, live dealers, and exciting bonuses. (): This well-designed mobile-first casino offers slick slots and table games plus live dealer tables and a generous welcome package. (): If you’re based outside the US, then Duelz could be the place for you. This innovative casino features a play-and-earn video game that rewards you for completing tasks and climbing the leaderboards.** _(): A leading US online casino featuring live dealers, exclusive slots, and lucrative daily promotions plus a massive welcome bonus worth up to $3,000.** _(): A top choice for players based in the United Kingdom, Ladbrokes Casino offers classic table games, live dealers, progressive jackpots, and much more in an intuitive, user-friendly lobby.** _(*): Hit up this hip online casino for innovative slots, unique live dealer games, and lucrative daily promotions.**
Again, these are just a handful of trustworthy brands operating today. If you’re unsure about a particular casino, feel free to drop a comment below or .
Kevin Roberts, previously published as Alexander Popov, is the author of over eighteen novels, all of which are based on his own extraordinary lives. He lived and worked as an ex-pat for nearly two decades, exposing him to a variety of unique peoples, cultures, and environments.
He is now a full-time writer working from his home in the English countryside, where he lives with his book editor wife, their dog, and a growing number of agricultural machines.
More Poker News
The best way to avoid getting scammed is by knowing what to expect from a legitimate online casino. On my blog, I share invaluable insider wisdom gleaned from 10+ years in the iGaming industry. Whether it’s breaking down the latest gaming legislation or explaining the nuances of , I’ve got you covered. Visit the following links for more tips and tricks.
Is online gambling rigged?
No, not if you play at a legitimate site holding an RNG certificate from a private firm like iTech Labs and / or eCOGRA. These organizations test slot reel software, table games, and instant win titles to ensure they operate on genuine random chance principles and pay out fairly. You can usually find casino RNG certificates on the bottom of the homepage or under the “About Us” section.
Do online casinos cheat?
Yes. Sadly, some disreputable sites will rig their games, inflate bonuses, or prevent you from collecting your winnings. The good news is that you can avoid these places by sticking to known, reputable brands that have built a positive reputation among players.
Can you beat online casinos?
Beating any casino, online or off, over the long run is practically impossible. Games like slots and video poker might have a slight edge, but auditing agencies verify they are genuinely random. However, smart betting strategies can give you an edge in certain games. For example, card counting in blackjack lets you predict when favorable cards are left in the deck, allowing you to boost your bets and win more.
What is vendor shame?
Vendor shame is when an online casino refuses to let you withdraw your winnings because you deposited with a restricted payment method. For example, saying you cannot use Skrill to claim a bonus although Skrill is not mentioned in the bonus T&Cs. It is a shady practice used to wriggle out of paying out.
