From a sea of options, choosing a trustworthy and regulated casino site can be a task. There are still several fishy virtual casinos that are conducting unlawful practices. Hence, the fear of scams loom among gamblers while playing online. Well, it should be.
As per reports, the gambling industry experiences vast variations in the volume and type of fraud happening worldwide. Check out five common scams on casino sites to avoid disaster. Identifying the red flags can save you financially and mentally alike.
Fund Deposit Theft
First up and most common is casino deposit theft. Imagine you stumble upon an incredible casino with an exciting game portfolio and offers. You’ll instantly sign up trusting the site with its flashy appearance.
However, here comes the twist. You deposited funds that never reflected in your casino account only to realize the platform painted the rosy picture.
The casino operator either freezes your account or closes it. You won’t be able to contact customer care for grievances. Or the gambling site will vanish from the Internet.
Forget about earning a few bucks; you’ll lose your hard-earned money. The biggest tragedy indeed! So, make sure to check the casino’s licensing and online testimonials.
Identity Theft
The Internet has become a pot of gold for malicious actors. The evolution of technology also created a path for scammers to use the identities of many unsuspecting victims through hacking techniques. Hence, identity theft is a serious issue that impacts various e-businesses, including online casinos.
You add your personal and financial details to open an account on a gambling site. It includes your legal name, date of birth, SSN, email address, and banking information. However, online scammers can easily hack unsecured casino platforms to steal valuable user data.
They can use stolen data to commit various scams, such as opening credit accounts. Besides, scammers can play using your identity and quickly drain all money from your debit/credit card.
Hence, only sign up on a gambling site that uses advanced security technologies like a firewall and SSL encryption. Look for “HTTPs” and a padlock on the site’s URL. It ensures your data won’t be vulnerable to online breaches.
Too Good to Be True Bonuses
Gambling sites attract new players to sign up by releasing a range of promos. It can be a Welcome Bonus, Match Deposit Bonus, or Reload Bonus. Say you discovered a generous No Minimum Deposit Casinos Bonus with jaw-dropping free funds.
You’ll be unable to resist this offer to enhance your online gambling experience. Right? However, there can be a catch that you may need to notice.
Every casino promotion also has a rollover requirement that a gambler must fulfill to cash out the winnings. One of the prevalent scams through online bonuses is difficult-to-complete playthrough terms, such as 60x over No Deposit Bonus. You can withdraw your payouts if you meet this casino requirement.
These steep wagering requirements will force you to bet more than your set bankroll. It means the stake amount will be higher than your winnings.
So, don’t forget to read the bonus terms under the microscope to safeguard yourself from bonus abuse scams.
Unfair Game Outcomes
Online casino game uses Random Number Generator (RNG) software to provide unbiased bet outcomes every time. It ensures gaming fairness to all gamblers playing on a particular site.
However, fraudster casino operators can manipulate this RNG system to provide fake betting results. They increase the house edge by altering the software. Hence, it becomes impossible for players to win the game.
Whether playing slots, roulette, video poker, or keno, ensure that the casino undergoes third-party audits. These regulatory authorities frequently test the game’s RNG software to protect the market from hoaxers.
A fully licensed and regulated online casino will always display the RNG test certificate on the site’s homepage or terms and conditions page. It ensures the operator provides a fair gambling experience to everyone.
Impersonation Scams
Commonly known as phishing, this type of online casino fraud is also an attempt to steal your money. Scammers will exploit your bank information by impersonating a legitimate payment processing system.
They’ll impersonate the casino’s logo and customer email address to send you a phishing mail or message asking for your account information. It may seem the mail came from your favorite casino at first glance, but you must be extra cautious. If you add payment details via the malicious URL link, the fraudster will instantly extract your valuable data.
Never share sensitive data with anyone via email, such as banking details, account passwords, and PINs.
FAQs
- How do I know if a casino is safe?
The best way to check the online casino’s authenticity is by reviewing its license, RNG certificate, and security systems. You can interact with customer care to understand the responsiveness. Besides, read online casino reviews and user testimonials on community forums.
- Do casinos get hacked?
Yes, online casinos are susceptible to a cyberattack like any other industry.
- How to identify phishing attacks?
There can be suspicious attachments. A scammer will email through a public address like Gmail or Outlook. No legitimate operator will do this. Besides, email can have poorly written messages with spelling errors.
In a Nutshell
As tech becomes more sophisticated, fraudsters will also find more loopholes to scam casino players. So, double down your safety defenses when playing real money games. Pick a credible, licensed online casino with proper security systems. As an adage goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”