In online casinos, there are unscrupulous people that exist who would like nothing more than to rip players off. These casino scammers would steal your money without sending you anything in return. The best way to protect yourself is to know what signs indicate a site may be corrupt before trying it out.
If you enjoy playing casino games online but don’t want to spend time sifting through bogus or fly-by-night online casinos, here are some red flags (warning signs) of a dubious casino.
“Free” Casino Bonuses
Most online casinos, such as the likes of online gambling singapore-based sites, offer new players a free casino bonus just for signing up. This can be in the form of a no-deposit free cash bonus or free play bonus that you can use to hit the tables before deciding whether to deposit.
These are typically offered as part of an incentive program designed to bring in new players, essentially giving them a “test drive” before making an investment. However, some online casino sites offer what appears to be the same no-deposit free cash bonuses or free play bonuses, but these are actually offered with certain terms and conditions that only become apparent once you click the “click here” link to open the terms and conditions.
Once you open them, you find that the wagering requirements are so high for this “free” bonus money, it will take months at a minimum to clear these bonuses before being able to withdraw any winnings.
Hidden Wagering Requirements
This is where online casino sites try to entice players with the promise of huge payouts, but with wagering requirements so high it can take months to meet them and clear your winnings.
For example, you may see a slot machine that offers a progressive jackpot for hitting five “Scatters” on any spin, which will award you $1 million. Sounds great, right? However, if the wagering requirements for this prize are 60x your deposit and the wager amount before you can cash out is typically 1/3 of your deposit, you’ll need to bet $100,000 on each “free” spin to clear this particular bonus.
Unlicensed Sites Offering Real Money Games
Since online gambling is unregulated in most countries (including the US), it’s easy for scammers to set up their own online casinos using offshore servers. These sites are typically unlicensed by any regulatory body and do not have to answer to anyone if they choose not to pay you or run off with your money overnight.
You will find many of these bogus casino sites on spam email lists and questionable web directories, and while your family members or friends may tell you they had a “great time” on the site, be aware that these sites typically run unlicensed software using random number generators to select winners and losers.
Bogus Slot Machine Games
Online slot machine games offer some of the best opportunities for bogus casino scams. First, you’ll see a link with the words “Play Free Slots” and when you click on it, a full-screen slot machine with spinning reels and music. You usually have to hit the “spin” or “play” button in order for the game to start so you can begin wagering.
But what you don’t see is the bogus window that’s hidden behind the slot machine, where you can only enter your credit card information to continue playing. Of course, if you do get “lucky” and win some money back, there’s no way to cash out because they’ve already taken your credit card number.
Disconnects During Play
Another common online casino scam, especially on casino poker sites, is to disconnect you from the server just as you’re about to win first place in a tournament or all-in on your Aces.
If you want to play at an online casino that’s fun and fair, check with the country’s gaming authority for complaints on shady online casinos before you deposit any money with them.
Unresponsive Sites
If you come across an online casino that looks too good to be true, one red flag is a lack of responsiveness on the site. Some bogus sites may even tell you to email customer support (which will likely return your scripted response) if there’s a problem or issue with your account.
It may take five or ten minutes for a “live chat” operator to respond, and even then they may not be able to address your concerns fully.
Inability to Withdraw
Some casinos never give out winnings if you’re lucky enough to beat the house edge! Even worse, some casino sites will only allow you to withdraw your winnings in the form of a check that can take weeks or months to clear.
Playing at fair and reputable casinos will give you instant access to your winnings, which you can then transfer to another online casino site with less red tape.
Takeaway
If you want to play for real money online, visit reputable gaming platforms such as online gambling singapore-based sites or those recommended by a local consumer protection agency or the state gaming commission where you live. A little homework goes a long way in protecting yourself against online casino scams and finding more reliable casinos with better odds of winning something!
