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How can you be sure if an online casino is real or not?

With all the new casinos that have been popping up, I mean, some of them look kind of sketchy, to say the least. I know that checking the license is the most important thing, but is there anything else I should be looking out for so I don’t fall victim to a scam? Any major red flags?

License is definitely number one on our list. If they aren’t licensed by UKGC, MGA, or at least by Curacao – well, it’s not great, but better than nothing – just stay away from those casinos altogether. If there is no “license” icon located in the footer section of a website, it’s a huge red flag; stay away from it altogether.

Yeah, having a license is important, but check out their rules for cashing out too. If they're making you jump through hoops just to get your hands on your money, then something's fishy. Bad sites will stall on paying out your money just to get you to spend it all on more games.

Mark Dash has reacted to this post.
Mark Dash

The first thing I do is always look for user reviews. Google the name of the online casino + "scam" or "withdrawal issues." If you see a bunch of people screaming about the fact that they're not getting paid, then don't play there. Simple as that.

Skim the T&Cs. Yep, it's boring, but you have to do it anyway. Watch out for crazy deposit turnover rules (e.g., you have to bet your deposit amount 5 times before you cash out). Also watch out for KYC requests. IDs are fine, but when they ask you for notarized copies of your utilities just so you can cash out your $50 winnings... shady.

Mark Dash has reacted to this post.
Mark Dash

That makes sense. I can definitely think of T&C's that looked like they were written with that intention. Gonna go Google that from now on.

The best way to know is to test it out yourself by risking a small amount of money, say $20, and play a bit and withdraw your money to see if they stall and make up excuses, and if they do, leave and play elsewhere before risking a big amount of money.



Also, watch out for "bonuses that are too good to be true" – a 500% match bonus, free spins, no bonus playthrough requirements? Sounds like they either have ridiculous playthrough requirements, or they are a scam site, so be sure to read the fine print!

Good advice, cheers mate. Will be a lot more careful.