Everyone has watched Ocean’s Eleven and maybe that has coloured your views of what you traditionally think of as a casino scam. An online casino scam in 2022 is a very different thing and for us as players, one that is easily avoidable, once you know what to look for.
The worldwide gambling industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, this of course as with any industry that has seen rapid growth, brings the attention of scammers and other criminals looking to steal a quick buck.
These scammers have nothing in common with the Ocean’s Eleven crew and are simply ruthless criminals feeding on legitimate industries, whilst hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.
It’s easy to see why the industry attracts scammers since the growth during the Covid-19 lockdowns was nothing short of incredible. Many traditional gamblers who would have visited land-based gambling venues, had they still been open, joined a new segment of online gamblers in their droves.
This influx of new and willing customers embraced the online gambling industry and gave it the biggest boost in popularity that it has ever experienced in its 20-year history. For the industry with small beginnings, this popularity increase has driven the value of the online gambling industry to $565 billion according to the research firm Technavio. As more and more countries and jurisdictions legalise online gambling this figure can only rise.
The Internet has brought with it, easy accessibility to online casino games, so easy players now are just as likely to enjoy a quick game from their office as they are from their homes.
The technology and software that supports the industry have rapidly evolved to keep pace with the demand.
Sadly without a quick heads-up, honest gamblers can find themselves in hot water. Thankfully, the chances of this are constantly being minimised by an industry that works hard to fight this external source of fraud.
The industry is quick to adopt the latest technology as it develops, with this in mind some online casinos are employing the latest AI identification technology and data analytics to further reduce fraud and keep customers safe.
Signs of a Scam
Unfortunately, the small rogue element that exists alongside the industry requires some vigilance to be shown when choosing an online casino.
It’s important to read all of the information before deciding to gamble with any new casinos in the UK. Making use of the vetting skills pre-applied by a casino comparison site like topratedcasinos gives you all the information you need to make a safe choice all in one place. This is one of the keys to finding legitimate online casinos, never trust random emails leading you to sites you have never heard of. Here are a few of the most common early indicators that something isn’t right.
Payment Problems
Understanding what are reasonable payment times and spotting issues is a good indicator of a casino’s honesty and transparency. Processing times do differ between payment methods, sometimes significantly, so it is to be expected that an online casino will operate with a fixed pending period before completing withdrawals. Usually, this is around 48 hours and gives players a chance to change their minds and continue to play. A fraudulent casino will likely take an extended period to complete withdrawals, or worse fail to complete them at all. Of course, mistakes can happen, but scammers will either offer endless excuses to players or just ignore their communication completely. Some players may receive a part payment, others simply receive nothing.
Obviously, this creates bad feelings and the inevitable poor reviews online. Searching reviews on social media sites and forums can be a good way to make an informed check. But bear in mind negative comments may have been deleted, or positive reviews may be false. This depth of dishonesty means it is often best to narrow your choices first by using a site like topratedcasinos have done the hard work for you.
Licensing And Registration
It’s clear that you should never consider an online casino that is not registered and regulated properly. Knowing the lows these scammers descend to, it’s obvious that simply seeing the regulatory authorities logo on an online casino is insufficient to guarantee all is above board. Fraudulent casinos can be registered correctly, but in jurisdictions where the rules applied to online casinos are minimal. The licensing and registration status of an online casino is one of the first things a savvy gambler will check.
Pirated Software
The software supporting the online casino industry is some of the most secure infrastructures within the gaming industry. Of course, this does not stop scammers from tampering with, or completely faking software from trusted sources. Fake or tampered software can have altered payback ratios, something legitimate casinos will never do. Again this can be very hard to spot and is something that the industry itself is constantly checking for, so trusting the relevant registrations and licensing can be your best defence against this kind of online casino scam.
Unrealistic Offers
Some fraudulent online casinos will choose to take the stance of offering very large “free” sign-up bonuses, but on closer investigation, the small print will require substantial play-through requirements. Often this leads to the free bonus being very far from guaranteed. Always study the terms and conditions of a prospective online casino, paying special attention to the conditions of any sign-up bonuses offered. An offer of $1,500 can only be legit if it comprises a series of match bonuses, so pay extra attention if something seems too good to be true.
Check If Casinos are Blacklisted
Fraudulent casinos attract the attention of blacklisting casinos quickly, the lists are easy to find with a quick Google search and can be worth checking to make a fast assessment during your selection process.
Of course, the vast majority of online casinos are genuine and offer a fantastic experience for their customers, making these few simple checks means you are assured to be in the hands of some of the gambling industry’s most trusted companies.
