Avoid Online Casino Scams

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Online gambling offers many advantages for both players and casino operators. This type of gambling is readily accessible any time of the day, wherever you are, so your favorite game is just a few clicks away. The relatively low costs of running such a site have attracted many companies, and nowadays there are hundreds of online casinos you can choose from. However, some of these are just out there to steal your money and defraud you, and it's your responsibility to make sure that you don't fall for one of their scams. The most common problems that can arise when gambling online are identity theft, slow payouts or no payouts at all, and the lack of proper customer support.

If you are gambling for the first time, or you have just found a new casino and you are all excited about playing their games, here are a few things you should check first.


Casino & Software licenses

Any trustworthy casino has to be licensed and regulated by the gambling authority of the country where it's based. This information, along with the name of the company that owns the casino, should be found on the homepage. You can check whether the license is still valid by accessing the licensing authority's list of approved casinos. That fact that the casino is licensed gives you extra safety, and in case you feel you have been treated unjustly, you will have the opportunity to file a complaint against them. If you cannot find the license information anywhere on the site, you have probably come across an illegal operation, and you shouldn't start gambling there. The anonymous nature of the internet provides a golden opportunity for those who want to set up illegitimate gambling sites, and then rip your off, so you should be very careful about this.

The casino's payouts should be audited by an independent firm, which verifies that the winners are determined by a random number generator, and that the outcome of the games is fair. Good casinos also provide their payout reports on the site, listing the overall payout percentage and the percentages for the available game categories as well.

Another important detail that you should check is the type of software the casino uses. Casinos operating with software from the major names in the industry, like Microgaming or Playtech are the most reliable ones, because they offer fair games, with reasonable gambling odds. As a player, you have the right to know what kind of software the gambling site uses. If you can't find any information about this, or the provider is some obscure company, then you might be at risk. Certain casinos have been known to use software that favors them, or, more plainly put, cheats. So if the casino is unwilling to divulge details about their software, it's best to choose a different place to play at.

Your personal information details

One of the most important safety issues is the fact that you will have to give the casino personal information, like your credit card details, in case you play for money. If you are playing for free, then you shouldn't give out such details, and there's no reason why the casino would require it. If it does however, it should be a warning sign. There have been a number of frauds related to internet banking, and it's only natural that people feel uneasy when they need to disclose such information. Most casinos have a secure page for the transactions, with SSL encryption to prevent any data theft. Honest sites also include a 'Privacy Policy' statement clarifying that your details won't be sold or given to third parties. This statement should be on the home page or provided as a link from the registration forms.

All the online casinos state that they have a support team ready to answer all your questions, but this is something you should test yourself. There are several contact methods they can provide, like live chat, a toll-free telephone number or email. Try contacting them before you start to play, and see if you get a prompt reply. If they never pick up the phone, or your email goes unanswered for weeks, that's probably the kind of treatment you'll get when you have a problem too.


Casino reviews

Before entering and depositing any money at the site, look for casino reviews about it, and see if they are favorable. Gambling forums are also a good source of information, because you can find out other players' opinions, and whether someone has had problems at the casino before. Many review sites and casino guides also offer a blacklist of the rogue casinos. If you find the name of the site you planned to play at on one of these lists, then you should stay away from it, for your own sake.

Losing some money at the casino is a risk that every gambler takes, but being cheated out of it can be quite a frustrating experience, especially given the fact that you can avoid it with a few hours' research. So make sure that you do your homework before starting to play, and this way you will surely have the most pleasant stay at the online casinos, and with a bit of luck, take home a big winning as well.


Best Regards,

The Costa Rican Bookie