How to Spot a Rogue Casino in Three Steps

Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, July 29, 2022

It has been reported that the global iGaming market will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.7% over the course of the next seven years, delivering a value worth in excess of $100 billion by 2030 (up from $63.53 billion at the end of 2022).

At the heart of this growth is the UK market, which recently evolved to become the world’s largest regulated iGaming niche with total gross revenue of $12.5 billion recorded in 2022. However, this growth has also created a burgeoning and popular black market, especially in light of the recent gambling review and increasingly stringent regulatory measures.

The number of people who use black market casinos in the UK has more than doubled in recent times, so it’s more important than ever that you’re able to recognise fraudulent sites and those that may be unlicensed. Here are some steps to consider when comparing and reviewing operators!

#1. Ensure That a Site is Licensed

This is the single most important consideration, as a casino that’s licensed by an accepted and relevant authority is fully regulated at all times. This also means that players are protected when wagering at licensed casinos, as they can raise official complaints and challenge operators in instances where bonus terms are misrepresented or winnings are withheld.

For example, every reputable casino in the UK should be licensed to operate by the UKGC, who take full responsibility for regulating the market and ensuring compliance among brands.

But how can you tell whether or not an online casino or remote sportsbook is licensed? Well, this information should be highly visible and displayed on the operator’s home page, while it should comprise their official license number and details of their headquarters. In many cases, the license number should also be hyperlinked, so that you can click through and confirm the details through a third-party portal.

If you visit a casino that either doesn’t display its licensing credentials or play at a UK site that isn’t regulated by the UKGC, the chances are that it’s a rogue operator that should be avoided at all costs. You can’t afford to take any chances here, as wagering at a rogue or unlicensed site will make it impossible to contest lost winnings or challenge improper terms and conditions.

#2. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Predatory Terms and Conditions

Often, you’re attracted to specific casinos and remote betting sites as a result of their respective welcome offers, which may offer a combination generous deposit matches, free spins and complimentary bets. Similar structures may apply to reload bonuses and promotions, while each will be subject to specific terms and conditions.

T&Cs tend to vary from one promotion to another, especially in terms of their total value, time frames and wagering requirements (the latter of which dictate how much you’ll have to play through before withdrawing any winnings). However, unlicensed or scam casinos will leverage this uncertainty to unfair confiscate winnings and illegally access your bankroll.

These predatory T&Cs can take numerous forms, but perhaps the common red flag is excessive wagering requirements. At licensed casinos, wagering requirements will typically range between 10% and 40% of the total bonus value, while some casinos may increase this to 50% when promoting lower value promotional offers.

However, scam casinos may combine overly generous promotions with much higher wagering requirements, sometimes in excess of 100% the total bonus value. This is obviously unfair and forces you to wager disproportionate amounts to access your winnings, while it’s clearly indicative of an unlicensed and rogue betting site.

The key here is to check the T&Cs associated with any bonus or promotional offer, ensuring that they’re fair, transparent and clearly worded. Remember, vague and ambiguous terms can often be exploited by predatory casinos, making it even harder to contest lost stakes or the decision to withhold winnings.

#3. Keep an Eye on the Site’s Payment Methods

Today’s casinos and sportsbooks offer access to a broad range of payment methods, from traditional options (such as Visa debit or MasterCard) to e-wallets, cryptocurrencies and prepaid entities such as the Paysafecard. While this is largely good news for players, it also makes it harder to browse your range of options and choose fast, secure methods.

This can be particularly problematic at scam casino sites, which will often process deposits through targeted platforms that are either insecure or not accepted in your relevant jurisdiction. In the latter case, you won’t be able to dispute lost payments or winnings, as such instances will fall outside of the regulator’s control and cannot be pursued.

Although it can be hard to pinpoint specific payment methods or ewallets that are unfit for purpose, there are clear red flags when comparing casino sites. For example, any UK site that continues to accept credit card payments will be unlicensed and unregulated, as this method was outlawed by the UKGC and UK government in April 2019.

So, any betting brand that offers this payment method will operate outside of the relevant laws and regulations in the UK, while it will also sit outside the scope of the UKGC. Once again, this makes it hard for the regulator to intervene where necessary, as it remains each individual player’s responsibility to safeguard themselves and their bankroll when wagering online.

Ultimately, look out for casinos that offer a range of recognisable and trusted payment methods, such as Visa debit, PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. Most reputable platforms also enable you to complete deposits using the Paysafecard, which is secure, prepaid and ideal from the perspective of controlled and responsible gambling!