How to Avoid Rogue Casinos

Any game of chance is risky, couple that with playing online and it becomes even more of a challenge for online players. Not only are they gambling with their online casino games, playing online in general is a gamble in itself. Falling victim to bonus traps or other “rogue casino” practices can be quite the learning experience for online players, and knowing what to look for can make the difference in a quality gaming adventure, and a hassle filled headache.

So how do you know what to look for? There are many tell all signs that will help you spot a rogue casino, and know how to tell the difference between those that are less than desirable and those that are worth your business.

A quick Google search will turn up a wealth of information just by searching the casinos name. Players will find other player grievances, complaints or other related issues to the certain casino. Also, a web search will point players towards message boards where they can read about personal player experiences at the casino.

Check out the website. If it looks cheap and in bad taste, it is better to take your business elsewhere, and look for a better option. Also checking the casino for licensing information will help. All legitimate casinos will have their license and relevant information regarding the licensing authority in an easy to find place on the website. If you can’t find the information, support should be able to tell you what you need to know. If they refuse to answer the question about where they are licensed, or talk around the question, that is a sign to walk away. Casinos should be licensed and regulated by a reputable jurisdiction, and tested for randomness by a third party on a regular basis.

Rogue casinos usually operate in groups, and it can be hard to figure out what casino belongs to that group. Online casino “watch dog” sites will usually list all the rogue casinos and which group they belong to, which can be an important tool when playing online.

Check the banking options and how long it takes to receive cash out. If it’s an unreasonable amount of time to process withdrawals, there are casinos available that can and will process almost instantly. If there aren’t many banking options available; that may be another sign to walk away and continue your search.

Finally, there should always be a dispute mechanism in place, just in case an issue should arise during your play at the online casino of your choice. While the casino may be reputable, there still may be a chance that you will not be happy or you will have an issue that you need help with. It’s always good to have a third party to mediate between the player and casino.

While it seems like work, it will payoff to do your research before signing up and spending your hard earned money at a casino online. Players all over the world have many choices to play, and it only makes sense that they go above and beyond to find the perfect casino for them.

I have done the required research for all of the online casinos featured on this site, and have played at pretty much all of them myself. The only casinos on this site that I haven’t played at personally, are owned by casino groups that I have experience with.