With so many casinos operating online, it’s a sure bet that some of them are scams. While online gambling scams can come in a lot of forms, one of the most common is a casino bonus scam.
Why are bonus scams so common?
The reason there is so much bonus scamming is because there are so many bonuses. Here’s just a small list of the more common bonuses:
- No Deposit Bonus
- New Player Bonus
- Reload Bonus
- Match Deposit Bonus
That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Online gambling is big business and casinos compete fiercely for customers. One of the most competitive methods for getting those customers is the bonus. Players flock to the casinos that offer the biggest and best bonuses, which is why you see such a huge variety of bonuses.
But how can you tell is a bonus is legit?
There are a few ways to tell if a bonus is legitimate. The first is to verify that the online casino offering the bonus is licensed by a governing body and regulated by an oversight organization. Online casinos are licensed by a variety of countries and territories, not all of which are considered reputable.
The most trusted licensers are:
United Kingdom – The UK Gambling Commission was established in 2007 and are responsible for regulating all gambling based in Great Britain.
Isle of Man – The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Committee was established in 1962 and is one of the first jurisdictions that offered licenses to online gaming companies.
Alderney – The Alderney Gambling Control Commission was established in 2000 and ensures fair play at all online gambling operations based in their territory.
Kahnawake – Established in 1999 in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Canada, the organization oversees all gambling on their tribal lands.
Oversight and regulation is handled by third-party organizations that audit many aspects of an online casino, such as the Random Number Generator, player deposits and withdrawals, and all financials. There are many regulatory agencies, but the largest is eCOGRA.
Reputable online casinos display the logos and contact information of their licensers and regulators. If you don’t see this information, it’s a good sign the casino is not reputable and you should find another online casino. Even if the logos are visible, that still doesn’t mean the casino is reputable. One tip I picked up in a gamblers’ chat forum is to try clicking on the logos to see if they’re active logos or just images meant to convince you the casino is legitimate.
Finally, always check gamblers’ chat forums if you have any doubt about the legitimacy of a casino bonus. Players talk and they’ll definitely let you know if they’ve been scammed and by whom, so it pays to join a few gamblers chat forums.
There’s nothing worse than getting scammed out of your hard-earned bankroll, so be safe and follow this advice.