Can Online Casinos Be Rigged? (And How to Spot It)
Online casinos are becoming more and more common; after all, who wouldn’t want to gamble from the comfort of their own home? That being said, many individuals are hesitant to gamble online for fear that online casinos may be rigged.
Sadly, this is a valid concern, and it’s important to investigate an online casino thoroughly before playing. Read on to learn how to spot the signs that an online casino is rigged and ensure you aren’t scammed out of your winnings.
Can Online Casinos Be Rigged?
In general, it is very difficult for online casinos to be rigged, especially if they are properly registered. That being said, it does, sadly, still happen.
Some casinos may be rigged to ensure you always lose. Others may allow you to play normally (winning and losing), but then not allow you to withdraw your funds. We’ve got some tips and tricks to ensure you aren’t playing at a rigged casino below.
How to Spot a Rigged Casino
There is no exact science for spotting a rigged online casino, however, there are many red flags that can indicate a rigged casino. Below is a list of the red flags. If a casino you are playing on only has one, it may be rigged, but it may also be legit. However, if you are playing at a casino that exhibits two of the following flags (or more), then it is likely rigged and you should stop playing and go through the proper channels to report it to the authorities.
1. Does The Casino Have a Valid License?
Any legitimate mobile casino will have a license and be registered with a governing authority. When you first get to an online casino website, scour it for licensing information. The website should provide a license number, as well as a location where the license is registered. Though it can be tedious, we recommend checking this license number with the provided authority to ensure it is legit.
Do note that some websites don’t publicly post this information, but they should provide it when asked. Send an email to customer support requesting licensing information if you can’t find it.
2. Is There Customer Service?
Continuing on that thought, every legitimate online casino should have customer service. While not all have chat boxes on the website, most do, and those that don’t should provide a customer service email address.
Compose an email, contact support, and take note of their customer support hours. If no one answers you in 7 days, run.
3. Do They Explain Their Process?
Any legitimate online casino has no issue explaining its process to you. Most will point you to a random number generator they use to find their outcomes. Usually, this information is out in the open and listed in the FAQ.
If you cannot find where an online casino gets its outcomes, that’s okay, just email customer support and ask. If they do not reply or reply that “the information is private,” then the casino may be a scam, as this information is required by most licensing authorities to be provided to customers upon request.
4. Where is the Website Based?
There are many countries in the world where gambling is legal as long as the website is registered with the proper authorities. That being said, you should always check where the license is registered, as certain countries are known for their scams, or if they state they are registered in a country where gambling is illegal, this could be a sign that the online casino is only a front for more nefarious business purposes.
Additionally, you should avoid online casinos based in countries where scams are common. Below are some examples of both.
Countries Where a Registered Online Casino is Likely Legit
· United States
· Anywhere in the EU (Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, for example)
· The Caribbean
· Mexico
· Japan
· Taiwan/Hong Kong
· United Arab Emirates
Countries Where a Registered Online Casino Might be a Scam (Proceed With Caution)
· African Countries (Namely Nigeria, Algeria, and Ethiopia)
· India
· Russia
· China
· Pakistan
· Brazil
· Indonesia
Obviously, if there is a casino registered in Pakistan, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s a scam; it just means you need to proceed with caution, especially if the casino has other red flags on this list.
5. Can You Test the Games?
Most legitimate casinos offer some sort of free play to test the games. This is always a green flag. If the website does not allow free play, this doesn’t mean it’s a scam; it just means you need to proceed with caution.
One recommendation we have is if the casino does not provide free play to test the games, deposit the minimum amount, test what you would like, and then attempt a withdrawal. If there are any issues with the games or the withdrawal process, don’t deposit any more money.
6. Is the Website Encrypted?
This one is a bit of a given, and you should do it for any website you intend to use. Before putting any information, check that the website is protected by encryption. If it is not, we recommend not using the website.
7. What Do Reviews Say?
The last line of defense we have for finding a scam website is simple: just Google the name of the website followed by the word reviews. Generally, you won’t be the first person to be suspicious of a specific website.
Remember, though, bad reviews don’t always indicate the website is a scam, as people who are angry often leave bad reviews in anger. However, if there are a bunch of bad reviews, and the website is registered in Nigeria, then it is likely that the website is a scam.
Overall, there is no sure way to know an online casino is a scam, however, if you go through everything on this list and the website passes each one, you are likely gambling on a legit casino. That being said, if you ever have a bad feeling about a website, don’t be afraid to trust your gut. There are so many online casinos—too many to spend time playing on one you don’t trust.
