Online Casino Scams And How To Avoid Them
Unfortunately, there are some bad actors among the 18+ online casinos that serve American customers. This guide to online casino scams and how to avoid them details not only the potentially fraudulent activities that irreputable gambling sites employ but also the tactics that other players may use against you.
Here, we unpack the various scams, schemes, and frauds to be on the lookout for when playing real money casino games online or in a local venue. Keeping these potential hazards in mind is the key to safe online gambling and ensuring you get paid your winnings.
What Are Internet Casino Scams?
There are two varieties of casino fraud – those committed by the casino and those committed by the gamblers.
Scams By The Casinos
- Lack Of Legitimacy – Operating an unlicensed online casino without the intention to issue a payout.
- Rigged Casino Games – Offering real money games that do not adhere to ethical payout percentages.
- Account Cancellation – The deletion of accounts and the withholding of all cash winnings after a large win has been rightfully earned.
- Negation Of Winnings – Cash is removed from accounts after the site rules that a large win has been negated due to vague terms and conditions.
- Online Hacking – Unsecure casino apps or sites that are merely designed to infect your computer or mobile device with malware.
Casino Schemes By The Players
- Account Theft – The theft of an account and its monetary holdings by stealing another member’s personal information. This is typically done by someone hacking into a member’s computer and using their online casino login.
- Impersonation – Similar to account theft, this is where a membership is created using credentials that do not belong to the creator. This doesn’t require breaking into anyone’s computer and can be done by gaining access to their smartphone, identification, and credit card.
- Multiple Accounts – The creation of more than one membership by the same party. This practice is especially troublesome in games of online poker where two spots at the table can be taken up by the same person. This allows one to dump chips and direct wins to the other account.
- Bonus Abuse – This is a scheme involving casino bonuses that reward promo cash each time you refer a friend. The fraud occurs when members pose as other people to enact the promo numerous times. Referral bonuses are usually unlimited, but if a casino notices inordinate activity from a specific region or account, they’ll likely enact an investigation into whether fraud is occurring or not.
- Credit Card Fraud – Using a stolen card to deposit funds or to create a new account.
- Gambling Bots – These are robotic apps that use scripted odds calculations and gamble on the players’ behalf without their direct involvement.
Examples Of Online Casino Fraud
The MrBeast Casino App Scam
This case serves as a great example of a non-licensed casino app stealing the identity and logo of a popular celebrity and using it to defraud gamblers. This downloadable application is available through major stores but has not been endorsed or supported by MrBeast in any way.
It turns out that this MrBeast Casino scam intends to lure players to download and join but never pay out their winnings. There have also been reports of rigged games that rarely award a win, negating any funds that have been uploaded as soon as they’ve been risked.
We use this app as an example for doing your research before signing up and depositing money with an online casino.
“You’ve Won” Phone Call Scams
These are fraudulent phone calls that intend to attain your personal login credentials and other pertinent information to steal your account and cash holdings.
The calls let you know of an outstanding win you’ve just achieved, and they only need your personal data to ensure its you and credit your account.
No online casino will ever call to notify you of a win. If you receive a call similar to how we’ve described, notify your local gaming commission.
Best Methods For Online Casino Fraud Prevention
The first item you should look for when checking out a new online casino is their operating credentials and licensing. This is usually listed on the homepage at the bottom but may be further spelled out on their terms and conditions page. The online casinos you find on this page and throughout this website have all been vetted for legitimacy. You will find them listed below.
Some countries regulate online casinos and allow them to operate without licensing. Others issue credentials that will be listed out, often with the certification linked somewhere in their details.
Online casino reviews are a great way to determine who is operating faithfully. Web-based reviews are all user-based and will detail any issues they had regarding gameplay and payouts.
Most sites will list out what security protocols they have in place for keeping the bad guys away. These should always include SSL or higher web protection, personal information privacy, and the option for deposits and payouts using cryptocurrency.
Common Casino Crimes
Online
- Account Fraud – Sometimes gamblers that are underaged or have had their account revoked will create another login using someone else’s credentials. Fraudulent accounts are often discovered during the payout process because of the additional identifying elements required.
- Using A VPN – When an online casino states that they only allow gambling within certain regions, they mean it. Using a virtual private network makes it appear as if players are in the same location as the VPN. While casino sites may not have the tech to locate the player using the VPN, they’ll simply revoke the account once the network is detected.
In-Person
- Casino Voucher Theft – This is a common crime often reported in land-based casinos. Gambling vouchers are either directly stolen, or found, but casinos are heavily secured and usually capture footage of the theft or discovery. Whether found or stolen, cashing in a voucher that isn’t yours is a crime and it will be prosecuted in most cases.
- Money Laundering – Some criminals attempt to use casinos to launder illegal money. This is a bad idea because gambling venues review incoming cash in the same manner that banking institutions do, and usually catch any suspect serial numbers within minutes.
- Assault – Tempers often run hot in casinos due to losses. Combine that with alcohol intake and a mix of all elements of modern society, and it can create a violent atmosphere. No matter if you are winning or losing, keep the gloating to a minimum and try not to engage with any suspicious characters. If violence breaks out, get away and find a security guard immediately.
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FAQs
Are Casinos Rigged?
Technically, yes. All gambling machines that offer randomly generated results are considered games of chance. Each one is geared to win and lose by a certain ratio. Gambling commissions offer routine inspections of these sites and machines to ensure adherence to these standards.
Is Cheating In A Casino A Crime?
Yes. Local casinos often handle theft and gaming irregularities on-site if they catch and retain the culprit before they leave the venue. These situations can often result in criminal charges should the casino decide to press them. Any fraudulent online activities are considered criminal regardless of when or where they are occurring.
Was There An Ignition Casino Scam?
Years ago, there was a fake social media account that posed as an official Ignition Casino entity. The fraudsters successfully stole money from followers by convincing them to stake them for online poker hands. No legit casino site will behave in this manner. Their social media accounts are designed to direct followers to their website.
Are Casino Machines Rigged?
Yes. Real money casino games that are mechanical or computer-controlled are set up to award a certain number of wins to the player and the house. This is to ensure that casinos make a profit. While this scenario doesn’t favor gamblers long-term, random wins can work in your favor if you move to machines at just the right time.
Are Online Casinos Rigged?
Much like the machines at local gambling spots, online casino games are also engineered to award more wins to the house than to players. Most gamblers are aware of this fact and employ strategies to find the “hot” machines that haven’t paid out in a while.
Are Casino Slots Rigged?
Yes, online slots at 18+ casino sites are pre-programmed so that the house does not take a loss. With the advent of electronic gaming, the ability to add pay lines and tweak the odds to the player’s favor now exists. You can up your chances by risking more money per pull and adding vertical, horizontal, and diagonal pay lines to your winning potential.