Online casinos have taken the world by storm in recent years. Thanks to new and continuously evolving technologies, the online casino world is thriving and is continually offering new and innovative games that keep new customers coming in their droves. In fact, today’s online casino industry is predicted to be worth $63.53 billion dollars and continues to grow at a rapid rate.
While the industry is thriving and there are many great casinos out there; of which you can explore more, the market is also heavily saturated and there are a lot of mixed providers for consumers to choose from. One of the issues with this is that not all online casinos act legitimately, and many can turn out to be scams. While this should not deter players from trying out online casino games, you should be aware of how to spot an online casino scam.
Below, we will take a look at some of the most telltale signs that an online casino is operating under a scam.
Read casino reviews
One of the best ways to check up on a new casino you are considering using is to read what other people’s experiences have been like. Be sure to find a trusted review platform where you can be sure that the reviews are legitimate, then this will give you a good indicator of how customer friendly and trustworthy the casino is.
While it is normal to come across a few bad reviews when conducting your research, know when to spot a customer that likes to complain and when there is really a problem which shows up as a pattern in the reviews.
Look closely at the terms and conditions
We can already hear the eye rolls for this one but it really is important to check the terms and conditions before you sign up to any service as if there is an issues then you won’t be supported if it is in the terms and conditions.
While it can be difficult to understand all of the terminology in many terms and conditions, have a skim read of them and see if anything sticks out that seems unreasonable. While not many of us have the time to comb through them word for word, it is important to at least scan them.
Look up the software developers
The software developers used in an online casino can make or break the online casino experience. In order to incorporate games from popular software providers, online casinos must meet a certain set of standards. Therefore, a telltale sign that a casino is operating under a scam is that they don’t use a well-known software provider. All games on their website should at least be traceable to a software provider that you can look up, and if not then you best start looking at another casino.
Check the payment methods
Online payment methods are critical when it comes to an online casino and users should be very vigilant about how their personal information is being processed and stored. You should be able to use reliable methods of payment, such as PayPal, credit or debit, or cryptocurrency.
While credit cards are no longer an option under the law with some online casino providers, it is always the best option if you are able to use it as your money is protected. However, you should never use funds beyond your means.
Another great option is cryptocurrency as it provides more security and anonymity to a player. However, cryptocurrency is virtually untraceable so if there was an incident, there isn’t much chance of getting your funds back.
PayPal is another great payment option as your funds are protected under PayPal’s terms and conditions. It also means that the site has met a certain amount of safety criteria to be able to use the PayPal platform.
Ensure the casino is licensed
Online casino players should never use a casino that isn’t licensed, no matter how attractive it looks. All online casinos are required to be licensed by their local or regional authority. Sometimes this can be based offshore as many online casinos have HQ’s in places like Gibraltar to avoid tax downfalls.
In order to check an online casinos license number, head over to their about page or check the footer at the bottom of the website where this information should be displayed.
Overall, looking for an online casino can be difficult when there are so many out there. It can be easy to become overwhelmed and not know which ones are best to place your money. However, by following the above advice, you should now be able to safely and easily identify a scam casino and enjoy the best of what the online casino industry has to offer.
