Want to play games at an online casino but are worried you’ll end up getting scammed? It’s true there are quite a few shady sites out there, and if you don’t want to end up losing your money you need to avoid them and choose a legitimate online casino instead.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to do that. Here and now we’re going to take you through the important signs of a legitimate online casino, as well as red flags that indicate you should steer clear when you see them.
Green Lights: Signs an Online Casino is Trustworthy
If you’re looking for an online casino that is trustworthy, there are a few things that you should keep your eyes peeled for:
- Valid license from reputable authority
Legitimate online casinos are always licensed with a reputable gambling authority such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Curacao eGaming, or Malta Gaming Authority. Having this license shows they are regulated, and must comply with certain standards of fair play and protection.
In most cases you should be able to find the license information in the website’s footer. If you want to be extra careful you can verify the license number with the gambling authority in question.
- Transparent ownership and contact details
If a casino is above board it will be open about the operating company that runs it. Typically it shouldn’t be hard to find a physical address as well as contact details such as a phone number or email address.
- Security features
Legitimate casinos tend to invest in security to protect both the data and money of players. For example, Vavada uses SSL encryption with HTTPS protocols on its website as well as all of its mirrors. It also has two-factor authentication to ensure that accounts are less likely to be compromised.
- Positive reviews and reputation
Player feedback is a great way to identify legitimate online casinos. By looking up a casino and seeing what players have to say about it on review sites, forums, or social media – you can see what players like and dislike about it.
Keep in mind that having a few negative reviews is normal, but if it is a consistent pattern you should be concerned. Be on the lookout for casinos that are praised for fast payouts, fair games, and good customer service – a definite green light.
- Reputable payment options with clear terms
Find out if the casino has reputable payment options and whether its terms for deposits and withdrawals are clear.
For example, Vavada supports payment by bank card via Visa or Mastercard, e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller, and major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. It also has a clear deposit minimum of $1, withdrawal minimum of $15, and is upfront about the fact that transactions via bank cards are much slower than e-wallets or cryptocurrencies.
Red Flags: Signs an Online Casino is Suspect
On the flipside, there are several warning signs you should watch for when checking out online casinos. If you see any of these, you may want to give it a pass:
- Vague information
Online casinos that have vague information regarding their license, operating company, place of business, and terms and conditions are definitely suspect. The fact that they are unwilling or unable to provide specific information indicates they may not have it – which is a sign you should avoid them.
- Frequently delayed or denied withdrawals
If you see an online casino that has lots of complaints regarding payouts being delayed or even denied – be wary. Shady casinos often stall payments with various excuses, or even try to make players jump through hoops and provide excessive verification documents just to have a reason to deny them.
- Unrealistic bonuses and promotions
While legitimate online casinos often have great bonuses and promotions – shady casinos take it a step further and have bonuses that are way too good to be true. In most cases these bonuses actually end up being too good to be true, and may be a scam or have hidden ‘wagering requirements’ that are impossible to fulfill.
- Poor functionality
Legitimate casinos take a lot of care to ensure their website an app runs smoothly. On the other hand, shady casinos rarely invest too much into design and functionality – and their websites and apps are often clunky, bug-ridden, and slow.
Conclusion
If you pay attention to these green lights and red flags, it should be fairly easy for you to immediately identify shady betting platforms and avoid them completely. More importantly you’ll feel a lot safer knowing that the online casino you’ve chosen is trustworthy and reliable. That in itself makes it worth taking the time to check out each platform before deciding which one to play at.
