There are undoubtedly some unpleasant people in the world. People who steal other people's hard-earned money with the intention of making a fast buck. It's also a fact that some of those dishonest people use fake casino websites to achieve their goals.
Every step of the way, the online gambling sector is scrutinised by licencing authorities, RightCasino, and other websites that closely monitor the operations of online casinos. We make every effort to update our website often, adding trustworthy online casinos to the list and promptly removing those that don't.
As a player, you should have the ability to recognise a rogue casino as it could save you money and headaches in the future. Here are some pointers on how to spot shady casino websites on your own.
How does one define a rogue casino?
A casino may be classified as rogue for a variety of reasons, and occasionally the most egregious websites commit many of these transgressions simultaneously.
Not paying someone is a big no-no. Some casinos list the length of time that players may have to wait in their terms and conditions before they may withdraw their winnings; some set that time at thirty days. That's all well and good; after reading the terms and conditions (which they always should!), a player will know what to anticipate, and they agreed to these terms when they chose to play at the casino.
When there is never a withdrawal, a problem occurs. Delays after delays that irritate the player and rob them of what is properly theirs. Look out for this warning sign when you visit player forums. It could be wise to stay away from that specific casino if you find multiple reports of nonpayment that are comparable.
Whether it's slots, blackjack, or poker, we play casino games under the assumption that they're random and fair. Reputable casinos will make sure that independent, external testers evaluate and certify each of their games. However, dishonest casinos have a history of using shady strategies and even shadier software to rig games in their favour, taking advantage of gullible players who are unaware that the odds are always stacked against them.
As an individual player, it can be a little difficult to identify this misconduct. To establish without a doubt that a game is unfair, specific testing is required. As much as we'd all like to think so in order to preserve face, hitting a few losing streaks in a succession does not indicate that the game you are playing has been tampered with.
Many casinos will proudly display their fairness certifications so take a look at the footer of the site, where you can see the logos of fairness testing organisations like eCOGRA. These testing companies supply data that player-focused websites like RightCasino use to assess whether a casino is not operating fairly.
Casinos might also find themselves on a blacklist by engaging in activities that aim to annoy or take advantage of players. Even while licencing bodies like the UKGC have very stringent guidelines about how casinos manage players, dishonest websites will nevertheless attempt to get away with unethical practices.
Actions that can and do result in casinos being banned include misleading players about casino bonuses, bombarding them with promotional materials, purposefully hiding their terms and conditions or making them utterly unfindable. Not only is this type of activity irritating, but it may also be criminal in some situations, particularly when children or other vulnerable individuals may be the target of these aggressive strategies.
Checklist for rogue casinos
With this knowledge at your disposal, we have created a list that you can refer to if you think a casino may be dubious.
Verify the licence.
So this casino says it is licensed by the UKGC or the MGA or another authority but you are not convinced. Go check out the website of the relevant licencing authority.
All of them maintain public databases of their license holders so it’s just a matter of finding the company name, usually in the footer of the casino site, and typing it into this database.
Move on if it doesn't seem to have a licence from that organisation.
Make some research
If you’re playing at an online casino, then you are currently using one of the most powerful tools known to man – the internet. Do you want to learn more about a casino? Use a search engine and type in the casino’s name followed by the word ‘complaints’.
See what turns up – if a lot of people are complaining about the same thing (particularly something important like non-payment or unfair account freezing), those players might be onto something and your money would be better spent elsewhere.
Watch for little details
Some casino operators want the cash without the effort and will stoop as low as ripping off other, respectable casinos. If you spot artwork that features another casino’s name or mascot, then you might be looking at content theft.
Really sharp players can also sometimes catch casinos who have stolen text from other sites, usually because the thief was not particularly meticulous and left in a reference to the original site somewhere.
While content theft is not directly related to the gambling experience, it does speak to the kind of operator in charge of that casino. Do you really want to play somewhere that can’t even be bothered to write its own text? Nah, we didn’t think so.
Scour the terms and conditions
Yes, we know that literally anything is more fun than reading casino terms and conditions but making this a habit will help you avoid problems while you play.
Reading the T&Cs is particularly important if you suspect a casino may not be 100% kosher. Casinos that use vague terminology to describe the extent of their capabilities or ones that leave out really important information should be questioned at the very least or avoided entirely.
Test the service
Here we mean the customer support service. Shady casino sites often don’t really want to put the effort or funds into maintaining a support service – they’re only after the money after all, player satisfaction be damned.
Ask some basic questions through the live chat or email support functions, questions that even a trainee support agent on their first day at work would be able to answer. Do this during the stated support hours, if they appear anywhere, so you can be sure that someone is meant to be available.
If your simple questions are poorly answered or, after 24 hours, not answered at all, you can safely assume that the casino has some pretty large holes in its understanding of the customer experience. Approach with caution.
Remember, if you get a bad feeling about a casino and the site seems to pass this little test, don’t be afraid to walk away. There are plenty of first-rate, player-focused casinos out there that have a lot to offer. If you are not completely convinced about a casino, move on and save yourself the trouble.
