Protecting yourself From Scams and Fraud While Playing Online

Signs of Online Sports Gambling Scams

When fraudsters make websites for gambling, they are as professional as the most legitimate websites. To help you understand how fraudsters operate and what to look for, this section explains the common traits of fraudulent casino websites and what they should provide to help you detect fraud.

Lack of Explanations in Payments and Withdrawals

This section covers the importance of clear payment terms and the risks associated with vague financial promises.

Words like “quick payments”, “no fees”, and “instant deposits” might sound good, but as long as payment conditions like numbers, limits, or options are absent, your first deposit will most likely be your last as there will be no way for you to get your money back.

Bonuses That Do Not Make Sense

This section explores how scammers use unrealistic offers to lure inexperienced players into fraudulent schemes.

Offers like these are obviously fake. An inexperienced gambler is easy to hook with “welcome cash” deposits and free spins that come in huge numbers with no required wagering. Even before you register, make sure to read the wagering info, max cash out limits, and the restricted games.

Absence of Player Support

This section outlines the communication standards required for a legitimate casino and how to identify evasive support tactics.

Real casinos offer various communication options like live chat, email, and phone, in addition to having an easily accessible support page. If you cannot reach someone at all, or if the live chat just gives you scripted answers or is evasive, that website will more than likely abandon you when you need help.

Quick Methods for Risk Assessment

This section provides simple, actionable steps to quickly verify the credibility of an online gambling platform.

• Check for spelling or grammatical mistakes on the website, as they are often a sign of a “fly by night operator”.
• Look up the name of the casino game and add the words “complaints”, “withdrawal issues”, and “scam” to see what other players are reporting.
• Assess the potential risk of a name that is brand new along with big promises.
• Check who owns the domain and see how long it has been registered.

Common Models of Online Casino Scams

Often the building of a website is just the tip of the iceberg. While you can use the long way around or the shortcuts, the easiest route is to just leave it to the experts, and keep in mind that the top platforms also have things to hide. Scammers usually only rely on a few models and knowing them will give you a better chance of not getting caught.

Fake Websites Impersonating Well-Known Brands

This section describes how fraudsters clone legitimate brands to deceive players through visual imitation.

Scammers will clone well known and popular casinos or will use similar logos and names to confuse the players. The company will even go as far as getting fake license badges. Always check the domain of the official brand before verifying license numbers.

Phishing Scams for Personal Information

This section details the methods scammers use to steal sensitive data through deceptive communication.

It is common to receive emails and get instant messages purporting to be from a casino asking you to ‘verify your account’ by providing your username and password or documents to a site you do not know. If you get phishing emails, be aware that legitimate online companies never request information on your account or payment information. If you provide this, you have likely given away your personal information.

Impossible Wagering Requirements

This section explains how fraudulent sites use hidden terms to prevent players from ever withdrawing their winnings.

Some of these online casinos offer bonuses but in reality are scams with impossible wagering requirements or other obscure and almost hidden requirements such as exclusions of games or tiny contributions to wagering. In the end, it is not possible to cash out any winnings no matter how much you play.

Sudden Account Freezes and Locked Access

This section addresses the practice of locking accounts following large wins to avoid paying out players.

Sudden account freezes are very common where you suddenly hit a large win. These sites will nag you with document demands and find “violations” of the terms and conditions resulting in refusal to payout. Online gaming in itself is frustrating, but having spent time and money only to be logged out of your account after a successful withdrawal is the worst outcome.

Rigged Games and Fake Live Streams

This section covers the use of pre-recorded footage and rigged outcomes to ensure players cannot win.

There are other types of fraud in online gaming sites, ranging from lazy and easy to spot to rather crafty. Sites with fake live dealer streams use pre-recorded lobbies while the outcomes of the game are rigged. The outcomes of the game are pre-determined, making it impossible for players to win. Fraud of this type is everywhere, even on good and licensed gaming platforms.

Best Security Practices for Players

You do not need to be a rocket scientist to remain protected. A few habits is all it takes to ensure the majority of casino accounts and payments are secure, and a non-negotiable attitude towards the following steps can help go a long way. They are simple and practical, and can significantly improve your security.

Verifying Website Connection and URL

This section highlights how to identify secure connections and recognize suspicious characters in a website address.

Always ensure that a website is secure and uses HTTPS for connection. It takes little to identify scammers for the first time visiting a website; always look at the URL to see if it is generic. Expect to see random characters which are either letters or numbers between words, or other typographic oddness that looks out of place. This is often a mark of a scam site that is attempting to impersonate a legitimate brand.

Caution Regarding Links and Two-Factor Authentication

This section discusses the dangers of clicking external links and the benefits of adding an extra layer of login security.

Be cautious of links offered through emails and social media. If offered a “verifiable bonus” or “quick verification,” don’t click. Visit the website by typing in the URL or using a bookmark. Additionally, always use two-factor authentication. Entering a second code each time you log in is a small price to pay for protection. Use app-based two-factor authentication or SMS codes whenever they are offered.

Researching Casino History and Reputation

This section explains how to use third-party feedback and regulatory forums to vet a casino’s track record.

Look up the casino’s history beyond its marketing. Search for feedback and complaints on regulators and other gambling forums. While a casino may have a lot of great reviews, complaints and missing reviews should raise red flags. These best practices are simple, fast, and effective at eliminating common scams.

Internal Verification and Player Protection

We don’t list a casino without full verification. This entails a rigorous verification process where we perform the following actions.

1. Compare the operator provider’s company name to corporate registry documents.
2. Cross-validate the license number to the regulator’s publicly accessible list.
3. Validate the payment providers and payment processors listed in the checkout page.
4. Validate game offerings, from slots to live dealer options with actual play and demo play.
5. Check for independent crypto audits and visible crypto gambling regulations.

Ongoing Security Monitoring

This section explains the continuous efforts made to monitor platforms even after they have been initially verified.

Security is always ongoing. Once a site goes live, we follow up by looking at player complaints, checking player forums, reviewing issues at stake, and re-checking the licensing and player stake payment flows. If a casino changes ownership, removes their license, or builds a growing pile of complaints regarding their outstanding withdrawals, we flag and edit our reviews.

Choosing Licensed and Audited Casinos

Being licensed and audited are the best practices to ensure some degree of responsibility is in place. If the casino has a license from a respected authority, you have protection, as there are minimum regulatory requirements that have to be met around player protection, payments, and how complaints are managed.

Essential Transparency Indicators

This section lists the specific information that must be visible on a casino’s website to prove its legitimacy.

• An explicit statement of the license with the license number and name of the operator.
• A link that corresponds to the license number for the regulator’s license lookup.
• Audit reports or a certificate from a reputable testing agency.
• Transparent policies.
• Responsible gambling features.

Verifying Registration

This section addresses the concern of fake badges and provides guidance on how to confirm a site’s registration status.

Fake badges are a huge concern for those who are unaware. There are easy ways to check if a site is properly registered, such as using the regulator’s official website to look up the license credentials provided by the casino.

Reporting a Scam or Suspicious Activity

If something feels off, don’t hesitate. Collect information as it can truly help the matter. Collect as much as you can to support your report.

Necessary Documentation for Reports

This section details the specific types of evidence required when reporting fraudulent activity to authorities or the community.

• Website screenshots along with any emails or chat messages.
• Bank, card, or wallet transaction receipts, including the date, time, and amount.
• Any messages stating there was an error or when a deposit or withdrawal is unsuccessful.
• Screenshots of any denial screens.

Community Contribution

This section emphasizes the value of sharing your experience to help protect other players from similar scams.

If it’s a scam site you can help your fellow players. Your experience will help the community. If it is a legitimate site, any information you have will be helpful to you and the platform to resolve the issue.

Helpful Resources

These are the resources you can actually use if something goes wrong.

Regulatory and Reporting Bodies

This section lists organizations that handle scam alerts, cyber security, and game fairness audits.

Support and Self-Protection

This section covers resources for responsible gambling and financial security measures.