In this guide:

• Identify the most common online casino scams
• Learn tips how to avoid becoming a victim of cybercriminals

Scams are everywhere these days. There’s a growing number of people who want to steal from honest people. Some do it by sending fraudulent emails, posing as your bank. Or you might get a text message telling you that your parcel has arrived. And to get your parcel, you just need to click a link and key in some data. Online casino scams are no exception.

But how can you spot a scam coming from a fraudulent online casino? Are there any red flags you should look for? These are the questions I’ve set out to answer on this page. It’s a guide to help you identify the various tactics used by scammers to steal your money or personal information.

I’ll start off by listing the most common types of scams related to online gambling. There may be more, particularly because scammers are always inventing new ways to get hold of your personal info or funds. I’ll go into more detail on each scam further down the page. For now, I just want to make you aware of these scams. Because awareness is the first step to protecting yourself.

• Phishing
• Fake Gambling Websites Or Online Casinos
• Bonus Scams
• Manipulating game outcomes
• Identity Theft
• Payment Scams

Now, let’s explore each type of scam in detail. I’ll describe the method used by scammers, and give you tips how to avoid becoming a victim.

Phishing For Personal Information

Phishing is a kind of scam aimed at capturing valuable info. The scammers send you some type of communication. It could be an email, sms or WhatsApp message. These will appear to be coming from a legit casino. As bait, the message usually contains some kind of offer (one that is irresistible). Or you might be asked to take some immediate action, otherwise your casino account will be closed. All this is aimed at making you key in sensitive or private details.

What are cybercriminals after? Well, they harvest information. It could be credit card numbers or other banking info. It could be passwords, personal details, such as your email or home address. Once they retrieve confidential data, they will use it, or sell it.

To avoid phishing:

You know how the saying goes. When an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t click links blindly. Does the sender's address look ok? Or is it suspicious? Is the message coming from a reputable source? Are you being asked to key in personal information? Why the urgency?

Ask yourself all of these questions. If it’s a phishing attempt you’ll know.

I also suggest using two-factor authentication for your online accounts where possible.

Fake Online Casinos

A fake website, one that mimics an online casino, is a common scam. The fake online casino will look EXACTLY like a legitimate casino. It will have a lobby with games and promotions featured on the main page. The aim here is to make you create an account and deposit. This way, the scammers can steal your money. They will also record your username and password. If you use the same credentials on other casinos, they can log in and make withdrawals.

So, how can you identify a fake online casino?

Before creating an account, ensure the casino has a valid license. Look at the bottom of the main page – this is where legit online casinos display the licensing information. Most licenses are issued by the Malta Gaming Authority or MGA, the UK Gambling Commission, or UKGC, and the Curaçao eGaming Control Board.

If there’s no license info, don’t trust it. But can an online casino put a fake license number? Of course, it can. But you can perform a simple search to verify the license number.

Another telltale sign is the absence of secure payment methods. Legitimate casinos offer you the facility of payment providers, such as PayPal, VISA and other trusted options.

Bonus Scams

Perhaps the easiest way to get scammed at an online casino is through bonuses. And sometimes, this can happen even at legit online casinos. It’s all a question of terms and conditions. Bonuses are the best way for a casino to lure in new players. You might get double what you deposit for free, and hundreds of free spins on top of that. Which is super nice. But then you discover that to withdraw any winnings you made using that bonus money or free spins, you’ll need to wager the bonus amount 40, 45 or 50 times. What?! Such conditions make it nearly impossible to withdraw any winnings.

To avoid bonus scams:

I know you hate reading. Especially boring Terms and Conditions. But at least, check the brief ones, those that casinos call ‘significant terms’. You’ll find these exactly underneath the offer (if they are not, be wary). Significant terms state the wagering requirements and bonus expiry period. In the case of Free Spins, they should state the eligible slot game and value of each spin. Then, if you open the full terms and conditions, you can have a look at which games count towards the wagering requirement. 

You may be asking yourself, what’s an excessive wagering requirement? Well, this is subjective. But for me, above 40 times is steep. Check out our very handy Wagering Calculator to calculate exactly what you’re expected to spend.

One more thing - always pay attention for how long your bonus will be valid. The shorter the validity period, the more difficult it is to meet the requirements.

Rigged Games or Software

While legitimate online casinos offer only fair games that have been certified by gambling authorities, fake casinos use rigged games to steal money. By manipulating the game’s software, the scammers ensure you’ll lose much more than you win. 

To avoid rigged games:

Play only games from reputable software providers (NetEnt, Play’n GO, Games Global, Playson, Evolution, to name a few). Read game reviews before jumping in. See what the experts say. Check for the eCOGRA badge - this is one of the auditing agencies that certify real money games as fair. Finally, your best bet is to play only at reputable online casinos.

Identity Theft and Data Breaches

This one here gives me the creeps. Whenever I’m keying in my personal details online, I’m, always on edge. Cybercriminals are always looking at new ways on how to get their hands on sensitive info that they can then use or sell.

But how do they do it? Online casinos need your personal information to create an account and verify your identity. Cybercriminals might find a way to capture your credentials or credit card details during the input stage.

To protect yourself against identity theft: 

There are several ways to protect yourself against identity theft. Firstly, play only on secure sites. I prefer online casinos that let me use advanced authentication methods. They should also offer security measures, such as SSL encryption. Secondly, don’t use one password for all your accounts, but use different ones. And make sure your passwords are strong (so, more than 8 characters, with special symbols and numbers mixed in with letters).

Payment Scams

Online payment scams have become an everyday occurrence. These types of scams are common in all industries, and online casinos are no exception. With so many people shifting from cash to digital payment methods, online payments have become a major target for scammers. To carry out these scams, cybercriminals impersonate a legitimate payment processor. You’ll see an interface that looks exactly liek what you expect to see from the payment provider – however, the payment information you key in is captured by the cybercriminals.

To avoid payment scams:

To protect yourself from payment scams, do not enter any payment information on websites you don’t trust. Double check the URL of the casino, and check that the info in the page looks good. If the casino looks safe, verify that your payment provider is legit. The best casino payment providers use secure encryption technology to protect your payment information. Online casinos will not send you emails with links to enter payment information. So if you receive any suspicious emails or messages, do not click teh links or open any attachments.

Do you check reviews when you’re buying from Amazon or other online stores? I bet you do. Treat online casinos the same. Check what other players have to say about the site. Read online casino reviews written by experts. But always check that they are recent, or at least, that they are updated frequently. If you spot a lot of negative reviews, steer away.