Online casino red flags US players should know to identify problematic sites
There are thousands of online casinos available for players from the United States. This is the good news. The bad news? Among these is a good number that you simply cannot trust. It is quite possible to avoid them if you are smart about it – however, the trick is that you have to be smart about it before you sign up.
Once you have created an account and transferred money into it, all you will see are the casino’s good points, while the bad ones get conveniently swept under the rug. It is best to spot the warning signs early so that you can avoid the whole headache.
Missing licensing and regulation
A truly problematic online casino will often stand out from the crowd with its lack of licensing information. Any legitimate online casino will always prominently display its license details at the bottom of its homepage. This shows that it operates under a given set of laws and a higher authority that can police its activity. You will have to know which states allow regulated online gambling and which don’t.
So, if a casino cannot or will not tell you who licenses them, that should be a strong warning signal for you. Problematic online casinos usually prefer to operate without a license because they are not being regulated by any state commission. This means that there will be nobody to whom you can turn if the casino starts giving you problems. Casinos that are properly regulated by competent authorities often come with special seals of approval that you should look out for.
The best and easiest way to find out whether or not an online casino is licensed is to look at review sites. For example, if you live in Michigan and don’t want to spend hours trying to find a safe casino, you could go on a site like AskGamblers and take a look at some of the top casino sites, along with their reviews, ratings and features.
Problems with payouts and delays
The best online casinos tend to have no problems processing payouts. In contrast, problematic online casinos are notorious for making any number of excuses, and stalling you for weeks or months on end.
Their reasons are often frivolous and can change from lacking documentation to awaiting security checks that never existed in the first place. If a player has to resort to leaving bad reviews of a casino online for them to receive their money, then the casino is a problem site best avoided.
Poor website security
Protecting your personal details is of utmost importance when it comes to online casinos. The best online casinos will offer you advanced encryption on the pages where you deposit money or provide personal information.
The easiest way to check for this is by looking at the security lock symbol in the browser bar. If it is not present on all pages of the casino, that is a major warning sign. A lack of website security will also put your personal details at risk of being shared with third parties, like hackers and identity thieves.
Bonuses and promotions with strings attached
Bonuses are among the best and most sought after features of online casinos. Problematic casinos will try to lure you in with the biggest bonuses and then place such severe wagering requirements on them that they become unachievable.
A bad casino will often offer a huge bonus but make you place an unrealistically high wager in order to get it. The experienced player will always be able to tell a real bonus from a predatory one.
Negative player feedback
Online reviews of casinos from real players can be found on every corner of the internet, making it much easier to research a casino beforehand. There are many websites where players have the ability to leave feedback and reviews about casinos.
If a casino has a history of many complaints, particularly about the payment system, customer service or the games, you are better off staying away. If a casino has a limited or non-existent online presence, that is also a bad sign for you as a player. The best casino will have a strong and healthy online reputation that is independent of its own marketing.
Customer support services
The quality of customer support services is one of the first things that players notice about a casino. A legitimate and good online casino will offer you a number of ways to contact their support team. Furthermore, their replies to your inquiries will be prompt and helpful. On the other hand, dodgy online casinos will have slow or even completely unresponsive support services.
If you send an inquiry and do not receive a response within a day, then the casino is problematic. If a casino does not have strong and active customer service team, it is unlikely that it will come to your aid should you need help with your account.
Promoting safe gambling behavior
Legitimate online casinos have responsible gaming measures in place to promote safe gambling for their players. If the casino in question actively pushes its players to gamble beyond their limits, or to deposit as much money as possible, or if it does not allow you to self-exclude from the platform for a period of time, it is a major warning sign.
Casinos are required to allow their players to self-exclude, and failure to do so, or not having adequate systems in place to ensure proper money management, is a telltale sign that the casino may be problematic.
Know the risks and think twice
Online casinos can be a lot of fun – but only when you visit sites that are safe and secure. Unfortunately, many problematic sites do exist, and some of them are quite proficient at appearing legitimate until it is too late. With this in mind, knowing the telltale red flags of problematic gambling sites, such as missing licensing and regulation details, strange bonuses, bad reviews and poor support will help you steer clear of them in the first place.
The most important thing is for you to do your research before you gamble at a new casino. Check its licensing, read reviews from players and look for the subtle warning signs that the casino may be shady. The best online casinos have no need for subterfuge, as they are transparent and secure, and care about their players. If a casino you are considering falls short of any of these factors, then it is likely time for you to walk away. After all, your safety, your money and your fun are at stake here.
The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Casinocenter.com do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine’s management. All content is intended solely for entertainment and informational purposes. Gambling may be illegal in some jurisdictions—it is the responsibility of each visitor to check and comply with local laws before participating in online gaming. Always read the terms and conditions, and gamble responsibly.
