How to Avoid Online Casino Scams

Security should be one of the top priorities for every gambler. Unfortunately, even the most experienced casino players can fall victim to online casino scams. These scams not only cost you money, but they make you feel unsafe gambling in the future.

Gambling sites can be a fantastic way to pass the time and earn extra cash. Scams are one of the biggest concerns of anyone who has to use their personal banking information online. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid scams and safely gamble at online casinos for real money.

How to Avoid Scams at Casinos Online

Most players will only use a handful of casinos that offer games and bonuses that they enjoy. Limited the venues you play at is a terrific way to stay safe. However, this can lull you into a false sense of security.

Whether you are playing at a new gambling site or one you have used for decades, you can be scammed. Here are some tips for avoiding an online casino scam.

Know the Types of Online Casino Scams

One of the best ways to stay safe is to know the common types of online casino scams. There are dozens of scams, and you do not need to know all of them. However, being familiar with the most common scams can help you in the long run.

Here are some common casino scams to watch for:

Biased casino games are exactly what they sound like. Online gambling sites are supposed to use random number generators (RNGs) and other methods to ensure their games are fair. However, some venues rig their games to increase the house edge and make it harder for players to win.

Speaking of withdrawals, another common scam is delaying payments to customers. Scamming sites may not have the funds on hand to process payments to players. This can result in players having to wait months to receive funds from their accounts.

Only Use Safe Online Gambling Sites

One of the best ways to avoid any online casino scam is to only play at safe gambling sites. Of course, every player would choose to only play at safe casinos. But, how do you know if a casino is safe or not?

Checking a site’s security rating is not as difficult as it sounds. Many reputable sites will advertise the security methods that they use. For instance, you want to look for sites that have SSL encryption software.

This software will encrypt your personal information so hackers cannot steal it. Without SSL software, it is easier for scammers to steal your personal banking information. Make sure the site is using the most up-to-date SSL software available.

You can also find out about a site’s security measures from other players. If there are a lot of complaints about a site being unsafe, it is probably best to avoid that casino. You can easily find customer reviews about different casinos online.

Do Your Research Before Making a Deposit

One of the best ways to avoid online casino scams is to do your research. There are too many nefarious operators around to not research a site before making a deposit. Luckily, most information about reputable sites is readily available.

Trustworthy casinos have no reason to hide information from potential players. Some of the common areas to research are:

You should read the terms and conditions before making your account a casino. Also, you should read the restrictions for any bonuses before accepting them. Otherwise, your funds may be locked behind high rollover requirements.

One of the best resources available to players is the experiences of other players. You can find player reviews for just about any casino online. Reading about other players’ experiences can help save you from casino scams.

Of course, players are not the only ones who review gambling sites. Sites like ours also offer reviews of casinos. Our reviews are written by casino experts who know how to spot potential casino scams.

Watch for Warning Signs

You will not spot every potential scam before making your account. As a result, it is important to also be watching for warning signs of an online casino scam. If you find yourself thinking “Is this online casino a scam?” then you may need to find a new site.

One of the biggest warning signs to watch for are policy changes. Most venues will send emails to notify players of any changes to their policies. If a casino makes changes without telling players, it could be a sign of nefarious activity.

Another sign to watch for is how frequently a casino is making major changes. For instance, if a gambling site changes its banking options frequently, that could be a sign of a scam. Expanding banking options is a good thing but reducing them could leave players without a way to withdraw their funds.

Players should also be on the lookout for longer than normal payout times. Let’s say you normally receive your payout in three days, but it has been two weeks and you are still waiting. This could be a warning sign that the casino lacks the funds to pay players.

Also, be careful of casinos that bombard you with bonus offers during the withdrawal process. This is a tactic used to tie up player funds for longer, so the casino does not have to pay. Gambling sites are betting on you running out of money by the time you hit the rollover requirement.

Avoid Offers That Are Too Good to Be True

Finally, one of the best ways to avoid scams is to stay away from offers that are too good to be true. Most of the time, these casinos are writing checks they cannot actually cash.

No gambling site is going to just give away free money. If they did, the casino would not be able to stay in business for very long. Bonuses will have plenty of strings attached such as rollover requirements.

Players should also be wary of bonuses that require multiple deposits. You often see this with welcome bonuses that claim to offer thousands in bonus casino cash. Most of the time these offers are actually several bonuses grouped together.

By themselves, offers such as these are not scams. However, you should be prepared to play for extended periods of time to hit the rollover requirements for each bonus. Also, you will need a bankroll large enough to make multiple deposits.

Safe Casino Sites to Use

As we mentioned above, one of the best ways to avoid scams is to play at safe casinos. You need to do a lot of research to determine whether a casino is secure enough to use. Luckily, our casino experts are here to help.

They have spent hours researching each casino we review. You can use the fruits of their labor to expedite your search for a safe casino to use. Our experts grade every aspect of a casino, including its security measure and terms of service.

We do not stop there, either. We also grade each casino we recommended based on their casino bonuses, banking methods, and user interface. Our experts also check user reviews and test a site’s customer service options.

According to our gambling experts, here are the casinos that are the best to use:

Unfortunately, gambling laws may restrict access to some sites. But fear not, we have reviewed dozens of online gambling sites and have recommendations for players around the world. If you cannot use any of the sites listed above, check out our review section for more great options.

Conclusion

Internet gambling can be a fun pastime, but you also need to watch out for online casino scams. There are several steps players can take to remain safe, including researching any site they want to gamble at. For other safety tips, check out this list of the safest online casinos our experts have found.

Also, learn more about online gambling with these other casino blogs.