iGaming profitability is the main factor that motivates unreliable iGaming operators to remain active in the market.
In addition to the general dangers of gambling, being scammed while playing at a casino can adversely impact your budget, social and romantic life, and overall well-being.
Even so, you can avoid these consequences as long as you keep an eye out for the following:
License
Casinos that aren’t licensed by any gambling authority, be they trustworthy or not should be avoided at all costs: this is the first indicator of a scam iGaming platform.
Even so, having one or more licenses mentioned in the website’s footer does not guarantee safety because:
- Scam websites can provide fake license information;
- The license may not have been renewed, in which case the provider operates illegally.
To see whether the platform’s documentation is legit and up-to-date, search for the license details on the gambling authority’s official website to see whether the platform’s documentation is legit and up-to-date.
Terms and conditions & Policies
There are countless T&C- and policy-related scams that can go unnoticed, but here are the most common ones:
- Unfair clauses can be strategically placed between standard online casino rules so that people who only skim the page don’t notice them;
- The T&Cs are too short, or the rules are too ambiguous, suggesting a lack of transparency that is often rooted in malicious intentions;
- The website’s policies and T&Cs mention opposite or distinct rules for the same situation, especially regarding withdrawals and KYC documentation.
While the latter isn’t always a scam (it can also indicate that the casino’s activity isn’t managed very well), it should still be a cause for concern.
Game providers
The services of renowned game providers such as Evolution Gaming or Red Tiger Gaming aren’t exclusively available for highly reliable online casinos.
However, it’s almost impossible to find them on scam iGaming platforms. This is because:
- Their reputation would suffer greatly if their partners were unreliable;
- To avoid this, most mainstream game providers impose certain standards that must be met by the entities that want to collaborate with them.
Payment methods
Scam casinos don’t usually have mainstream deposit or withdrawal methods available, such as Visa or Mastercard.
Thus, you should inquire further if you access a website that has:
- Only one or two available payment methods, as regular platforms have at least three or four;
- A short payment method list, out of which most (or all) seem unreliable, or you’ve never heard of them;
- An extensive payment method list that doesn’t feature at least one or two mainstream operators, such as Skrill and PayPal.
Remember that some websites don’t permit you to see their withdrawal methods until you’ve completed your first deposit or sent your verification documents.
If this is the case, players should find out more details about them via live chat.
Customer service
While some of the iGaming platforms that function legally have inefficient customer service, it’s not difficult to tell them apart from those that are scams.
In some cases, a website must display more than one of the following indicators to be suspected of malicious activity:
- The chat service is described as “live”, but it only has bots;
- The agents give significantly different answers to the same question, especially if it’s related to transactions or personal details;
- You are placed in a queue every time you try to access the live chat, but the service isn’t available even after several hours;
- There is no live chat available, and you receive no reply via email or phone;
- The phone number is out of service, and there are no other ways to get in touch with the casino’s team.
Scam gaming platforms and how to recognize them
While most of the rules above also apply to gaming platforms, they have two particularities worth mentioning.
Firstly, malware is one of the most common dangers that gamers are exposed to. An unsafe gaming platform will often disrupt your session with pop-ups that redirect you to unverified pages.
You have to look out for hidden fees as well. These can be withdrawn when making a purchase or when trying to access something that’s marketed as free.
Either one could facilitate data theft, so pay attention to any sort of request or offer you may receive.
Listen to the experts’ opinions
Companies specializing in iGaming operator reviews provide researched lists where you can find reliable platform recommendations.
Unless you’re an expert, consulting such companies’ websites is highly recommended for both gambling and gaming providers.
This is because:
- Casual players may not be aware of all the factors that indicate whether an iGaming platform is a scam or not;
- There are specific programs and tests that only experts can access to check the validity of a platform. For instance, RNG verifications usually are conducted by specialized parties.
Conclusion
Regardless of the scam type, you should always be highly cautious when providing your personal information online.
This is because fraudulent behaviors become more subtle as technology evolves, making it progressively more difficult for players to enjoy their hobbies safely.
