Rotten apples exist in every industry, and the gambling world is no exception. Especially where huge stacks of money are involved, corruption is bound to be even more rampant. This is why various trusted authorities around the world have measures in place to address the threats posed by rogue casinos. But what exactly are rogue casinos and how can you avoid them?
Before going on any further, isn’t it fine to skip searching about the casino, especially when the site seems to look good on the whole? Of all the dos and don’ts when playing at an online casino, this one is by far the one thing you should avoid. Not only will your overall gambling experience be negatively affected, you’ll also be increasing your risk of losing your funds. And you obviously don’t want that to happen! So don’t fall into the trap of overlooking certain tell-tale signs. You might be shocked to discover that the operator you’re about to sign up to might not be what it’s cracked up to be. But it’s better to find this out sooner rather than later, trust us on this. Let’s go through the warning signs and what you can do to prevent yourself from getting into trouble.
No Evidence Of A Licensing Authority On the Website
A legit operator should have a gambling license, which would mean that it is regulated and monitored by a trusted licensing jurisdiction. If there is no evidence that the casino is licensed, then that might be sign that the casino is not a trustworthy one.
What can I do to make sure I don’t play with an unlicensed casino?
Check The Operator’s Website – At the bottom of the website’s homepage there should be the logo of a trusted gambling jurisdiction such as Isle of Man, Alderney, Gibraltar Gambling Authority, Malta Gambling Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.
This is key because if the operator is indeed licensed by one of these trustworthy authorities, then you can put your mind at rest that games are fair and that they use valid RNG software. Knowing that the operator is licensed also guarantees that your personal data is safe. Additionally, a licensed casino tends to have KYC (Know Your Customer) policies in place – to prevent identity theft – as well as AML (Anti-Money Laundering) measures to prevent fraud.
Website Not Encrypted
If you realise that a website is not encrypted, then make sure you share none of your personal data on that site. SSL encryption secures your data, both personal and financial, but if the website is not secure, then any data can get leaked in the blink of an eye.
How can I check that a website is secure?
Look Out For A Closed Padlock Symbol In The Address Bar – If on the left-hand side of your browser’s address bar you see a closed padlock, then that means that any information you send to the server (including financial data) is secure. Casinos that do not have adequate security measures in place should not be dealt with.
Fairness Of Games Is Fishy
This has to do with the randomness of games which is usually regulated through RNG (Random Number Generator) software to ensure fairness. Although the house will always have an edge, with a rogue casino your chances of winning would be minimal and this goes against the whole purpose of gambling.
What should I do to ensure that an operator’s games are fair?
Search About The Casino’s RNGs and RTPs – You can make sure that a casino uses fair and authentic RNGs by looking for suitable badges the casino uses for the RNG software. Playing with a licensed casino also guarantees that RNG software is regularly audited to ensure fairness.
RTP (Return To Player) is another factor to take into account. The higher the RTP, the more likely that you spin a winning combination. It is recommended to choose slots with an RTP of 96%, or higher.
It might be a good idea to google the RTP of a particular game before you give it a go, to make sure it’s worth trying your luck at it.
Lack of Responsiveness
If the customer service team is not responsive or plain unhelpful, then you might be dealing with a rogue casino. With a quality casino, your query if often attended to in a helpful way within a maximum of 24 hours.
How would I know if a casino attends to customer’s queries efficiently and effectively?
Test The Waters – If you’re suspecting that you’re dealing with a rogue casino, it’s a good idea to contact the customer service with a query (even if you already know the answer) just so that you can get a clue of their level of customer service. The operator’s social media might be another indicator as to how they respond to potential and current clients.
Talking The Talk But Not Walking The Walk
When the casino’s promises are too good to be true, that’s already a red flag. While promotions and no deposit bonuses are legit, you should beware of overblown offers such as a 400% match bonus, hundreds of free spins or boatloads of money to be won from bonuses.
What can I do to avoid falling into this trap?
Read Unbiased Reviews – Read about the experiences of other punters with that casino as well as advice from trustworthy casino guides. You can also ask around about the reputation of the casino and other useful details that can help you make a final decision.
