Fraudulent activity is on the rise and has been as we have advanced more technologically. Online casinos are a great target for scammers, due to the huge deposit amounts, prizes and appeal to consumers.
These days, fraudsters think they can pounce on the opportunity to create fake casinos, fake marketing campaigns and fake newsletters around online casinos to send to vulnerable customers who are simply seeking some online gaming enjoyment and hopefully a profit.
By understanding what the most common cases of online casino fraud are, you can keep yourself well protected. So that is what our aim is within this article.
Account takeovers
This type of fraud is one of the most cunning as hackers are able to gain access to a player’s account resulting in theft of funds, bonuses and personal information. Similar to how you might receive a suspicious email, they usually execute through phishing schemes, malware or as simple as weak password protection. Once they have access they have control and there is nothing you can do to stop them at this point. However, there are preventative measures such as using two-factor authentication when logging in and always checking your statements regularly for anything that looks unfamiliar.
Collusion and Cheating
When it comes to multiplayer games such as poker, cheating through collusion is one type of fraud to be aware of. These types of scams involve two or more players communicating outside of the platform by sharing their hands, gaining them an unfair advantage over the other players. They can team up in a sense to drain players’ funds and also give the platform a bad reputation should this go on on their watch. However, by sticking to reputable online casinos you are much safer as they are regularly monitoring for suspicious gameplay, some even utilizing advanced AI algorithms to detect abnormal patterns or irregular betting behaviors.
Rigged games
This is perhaps one of the biggest fears among online casino players, is the game itself rigged? This fraud is mostly common with unregulated or unlicensed platforms that don’t use random number generators for their games. It would be hard to detect upon first glance as slots or table games would appear as usual, but the odds are altered so that players are significantly less likely to win than in a normal regulated game. As this type of automation goes on behind the scenes it can be incredibly hard to detect this type of fraud. However, again by sticking to regulated platforms, they are legally obliged to provide RNG certificates to prove they are operating correctly.
Money Laundering
Though casinos are required to comply with anti-money laundering regulations, not all do, therefore criminals can use casinos to clean ‘dirty’ money by making deposits, playing games and then withdrawing the funds. To avoid sites that seem to turn a blind eye to this, find ones that comply with AMl laws and require identity verification before allowing large withdrawals.
Choosing Safe Casino Sites
The easiest way to choose a safe casino is literally just to choose a licensed one. Casino licenses automatically prove that these casinos have been through testing and then approved by industry experts. The casino license will be visible on the platform, if you can’t find it anywhere then contact support and ask for proof.
Another way you can tell whether or not a casino site is safe is by reading reviews from expert comparison sites. These websites have analysts whose job is to try and test many platforms, giving them an overall rating and verdict. These sites are highly reputable and their opinions can be trusted.
Editor’s Casino Review Choice
One of the best ways to look for a safe site is to view trusted review sites like Sweepstakescasino.net to see which sites offer strong safety options. Their review of the hit gambling site Gambino Slots is a prime example of their great reviews.
They outlined all of the best parts that the site has to offer like their unique XP features, which go up as you play games and can earn you free G-Coins, and their great bonuses, like the 100,000 G-Coins you get for signing up to the casino!
They also offer a range of great slot games, including some free ones, and they are one of the most generous when it comes to loyalty schemes. They have a great referral friends feature which gives you and your friend 22,500 G-Coins when they sign up using your link.
They have a section of the review which mentions the pros and cons of each casino they review, for example, in their review of Gambino Slots, they mention that slots are available on mobile and desktop but also mention that the site has too many pop-ups. This is great as it keeps the reviews unbiased and fair.
I learnt all of this information from Sweepstakecasino’s review of the site which shows how in-depth they go with each review.
They shared the company name that owns this particular Sweepstake casino site and you can go on their website and find many of their brands and the legitimacy of the company. This was extremely helpful and reassuring that this casino platform is safe.
Other methods that you can use to find reputable casino sites and choose a legit one include not clicking on any links that seem to be suspicious, checking RTP rates, ensuring a secure connection, enabling two-factor authentication, not exposing your personal information, regular account monitoring, use safe payment methods and much more.
Casino Scams Are Real
In a recent gambling news story, it was made evident an online casino scam affected thousands of users across the globe as the unregulated online casino was exposed for rigging games, changing players’ wins and withholding payouts.
Whilst they were eventually found out, it highlights that despite their entertainment appeal, fraudulent operations exist to prey on players and therefore it is important to understand some common examples of how they operate to help ensure you’re gambling safely.
Whether you prefer traditional casinos or newer models such as sweepstakes casinos, always prioritize security above all else when choosing a site to play on. By understanding some of the most common forms of online casino fraud, players can protect themselves and enjoy the gaming experience.
