How To Avoid Online Scams When Gambling Online

26th January 2022

Gambling online can be a fun way to spend time and even make a little cash along the way. What’s not so fun, however, is getting scammed. That’s why we’ve assembled this guide with some top tips to help you avoid scammers, find reputable sites, and have fun instead.

Check the Licence

The number one way to avoid being scammed by online casinos is to simply check their licensing. A legitimate casino like this online casino Australia will be licensed for your area, and proud to let you know. Check out this 777 casino review, for example. See how they clearly and unambiguously state where and with whom they are licensed? If you have to hunt for this information, be wary.

 

It’s also good to check that the licence is in current standing. Sometimes, they take a licence for their first year, let it lapse, but continue to claim to have a licence. Then, when they scam you, you have no recourse. Remember that you can and should always check with the regulator as well as take the on-site info at face value.

Know your Bonus

Bonuses are great, right? Well, yes, but only if they’re being offered fairly in a good spirit. Some casinos will offer huge and near-unbelievable bonuses, then rig the games and make it near impossible to get a winning bet. Perhaps your browser will even mysteriously crash, or a technical hiccup will occur, every time there’s a winning bet. Some even deny payout. To avoid this type of scam, make regular use of reliable review sites to get a better sense of the casino and its fair practices.

Check Payment Types

Sometimes, having a scan through how the casino asks for you to pay them can be very eye-opening. You won’t often find PayPal, for example, because PayPal allows customer chargebacks. While it’s ok to take a little crypto in this modern era, if crypto is the only thing featured, be wary. It implies they only want no-responsibility payment methods. Look for trusted e-wallets like  Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafecard, and Euteller. Visa and MasterCard, of course, often feature too.

 

Also, make sure you aren’t being charged for deposits and having more than 3% removed in withdrawal fees.

Check out Software Providers

It’s very common in the industry to use a variety of providers, so you have many games to play from. This means you can use the use of respected developers to ‘vet’ the casino, too. Playtech, Netent, and Microgaming are all highly thought of, have been involved in no fraud schemes, and so on. Smaller developers may be honest, but they may also cooperate with casinos to rig you.

Test Other Things

Another measures of trustworthiness you can use to identify casino scams is to try their customer service. A quick, professional answer is always a good sign. Waiting for days is not. It may not be outright fraudulent, but do you want to be stuck with that if something goes wrong? The best online casinos have some kind of customer service feature running 24/7. 

 

Likewise, your browser should inform you if you’re using an unsecured website. When it comes to a service that accepts money, this is a major red flag. The site should also, under EU law, clearly display how it stores and uses your data. Lastly, it should be obvious that they take adequate provisions to avoid viruses and other forms of malware. Of course, even without malware, if you notice the site goes down a lot, or has a lot of technical difficulties, it’s probably best to step away.

 

And there you have it! These top tips will help you avoid fraudulent casinos, and keep your online gaming fun.