How to Spot a Dodgy Online Casino

While Vegas 365 recommends that you only gamble our list of recommended online casinos and poker sites which are those listed here, for those of you who venture off the beaten track, here is a list of things to look out for.

Software provider - who is their software provider? Know the difference between good and bad software providers.

Licensing jurisdiction - where are they licensed? Know the difference between good and bad jurisdictions.

Customer service - Test their customer service and see how quickly they respond. Uncommunicativeness or slowness is a bad sign.

Community feedback - What does the player community have to say about them? While one can take individual reports from disgruntled gamblers with a grain of salt oftentimes, is there a pattern of dodgy behavior or incompetence?

Watchdog groups and organizations - Are they members of legitimate watchdog groups and organizations, are they member of fake watchdog ones or do they display logos to which they are not entitled?

Terms and conditions - What do their terms and conditions say? If they mention terms like "bonus abuser" or "real player" run away, don't just walk away.

Overall presentation - Are there grammatical errors on their website and in their written communications? If they can't get these fundamentals right, how well do you think they are managing their casino?

How to Avoid Online Casino Scams

Stick to known, recommended casinos. Your 're already risking your money on the games, don't risk it twice by choosing a dodgy operation. Avoid casinos not well known to the player community.

Avoid casinos with proprietary software, unless well-known and trusted.

Avoid casinos licensed in places like Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Eastern Europe as these jurisdictions are often the last resort for casino licensing.

Be aware that small, independent casinos can go bankrupt and disappear with your money or more frequently may incur cash flow issues and be very slow to make payouts.

Online Gambling is Pretty Safe

At the end of the day, most player issues have nothing at all to do with cheating but with perhaps equally frustrating issues resulting from sloppy management, slow payouts, and poor customer service. This is not optimal, but it's important to put these things in context. Online gambling has proven to be very safe for players all things considered.