Online casinos’ popularity has prompted more people to look for legitimate platforms to gamble for fun and real money. Online gambling offers many advantages, including convenience, a vast selection of casino games, and simplicity. For example, when gambling at an online casino, you select from different games that may include poker, slots, roulettes, progressives, and much more.
Currently, the internet is awash with sites that purport to be the best online casinos. However, not every site is a legit online casino. Some are scam sites that cybercriminals use to defraud innocent people or collect their identity information. For that reason, gamblers should know how to check the legitimacy of online casinos.
These 10 tips should help you determine whether an online casino is legit before signing up to start gambling.
Before registering with an online casino, check whether it’s a licensed platform. Each country has unique regulations that govern online gaming platforms. In most cases, a casino must meet specific requirements to get a license. Therefore, licensing means a casino has fulfilled the necessary regulatory requirements, making it a legit gambling platform. Being certified means a player can sue a casino if it doesn’t adhere to its governing laws.
Legit online casinos are strict with their legal permits and rules. On the other side, fake sites do not have any licensing. They are sites that shady operators use to play tricks on innocent people and steal their hard-earned money. Therefore, register and gamble at an online casino only if it has a license from a relevant, recognized authority. Some of the reputable online casino regulators that issue gambling licenses to legit gaming platforms include:
- The United Kingdom Gambling Commission
- Gibraltar Gambling Commission
- Government of Curacao
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Nevada Gaming Commission
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gambling
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- New Jersey Casino Control Commission
Licensed casinos pay fees to these authorities, and they must meet and maintain minimum fairness, security, and reliability standards for their licenses to remain valid.
2. Software
Online casinos run on software that enables users to play different games. The software that an online casino uses can tell you whether it’s a legit platform or a fake website. So check the software that the online casino allegedly uses before you sign up and start playing. Some of the reputable gaming software providers include:
- RealTime Gaming
- Evolution Gaming
- NetEnt
- Visionary iGaming
- Play’n Go
- Big Time Gaming
- Microgaming
- Playtech
If a casino features software from such companies, it could be a legit gambling platform. That’s because these are reputable gaming software developers with a proven track record of delivering superior and safe gambling platforms. Therefore, find out more about the provider of the software that a casino uses before registering. Then, register with an online casino only when you are confident that it runs on software from a reputable provider.
A casino that works with different gaming software providers features a vast selection of games from which a player can choose. Thus, you will find progressive slots, jackpots, roulette, and poker games when playing at a legitimate casino. Additionally, legit casinos work with companies that supply games to top-rated casinos.
That’s because they are experienced and licensed. Also, reputable authorities audit their casino games regularly to ensure they meet the highest quality and fair gaming standards. So, besides enabling you to play casino games with ease, legitimate casinos use software that ensures fair play and a better overall gambling experience.
3. Payment methods
The payment methods that a casino accepts for deposits and withdrawals should also tell you whether it’s a legit gaming platform. Most banks and credit card companies require casinos to meet certain conditions before they can process their payments. Therefore, accepting more payment methods means a casino is legit. Here are standard deposit and withdrawal methods that most legit casinos accept.
Deposit | Withdrawal |
Debit cards | Credit cards |
Credit cards | Debit cards |
E-wallets | Skrill |
Prepaid cards | Bank transfer |
Bank transfer | Neteller |
As a gambler, you want to deposit and withdraw funds to and from your online casino account faster and safely. That’s why you may even look for a Neosurf casino that allows you to fund your account using cash. Essentially, Neosurf is a secure and straightforward method for paying online without disclosing personal information. But before depositing a significant amount of money into a new casino account, try a small amount.
That way, you can determine the speed with which a casino processes deposits and withdrawals. A legit casino will process your deposits and withdrawal faster. And you won’t have to endure any hassles to withdraw the money you win while gambling at a legit casino. On the other hand, illegitimate platforms will take weeks or even months to process your payment.
4. Background
Companies with good backgrounds own and run most legit casinos. For example, if a company has been operating online casinos for years and has a sterling reputation, it is unlikely to run a fake gambling website. Therefore, research the owner of an online casino before registering with it. Also, examine the duration for which the casino has been around and whether people have complained about its operations. If you can’t find information about an online casino’s ownership, contact its support department.
And if you don’t get feedback, proceed cautiously or go somewhere else. It’s also essential to find out whether a casino has closed any account in the past. If yes, find out what mistakes the gamblers committed for the casino to close their accounts. Additionally, research whether the casino you want to register with has a history of delaying or failing to process payments. All these factors should tell you whether a casino is a safe and trustworthy online gaming platform.
5. Reviews
Legit online casinos have positive reviews from gamblers and experts. Reviews share the experiences of other casino users. They tell you what you can expect once you register and start gambling on the platform. On the other hand, illegitimate casinos don’t allow gamblers to share reviews about them. That’s because they know that customers are unhappy with their services. A legit casino has nothing to hide. Therefore, it allows players to review its services and platforms.
Some casinos will even share reviews from some of their gamblers. However, not every review about a casino is genuine. Some illegitimate casinos write and post reviews about their platforms. Such fake reviews can lure a player into registering and depositing money into their account. Therefore, take your time to read as many reviews as possible to learn more about a casino before signing up. Also, check websites that publish reviews about different casinos. That way, you can determine whether the casino you want to register with is legitimate.
6. Bonuses and offers
A gambler can choose an online casino based on the available bonuses. However, not all bonuses and offers are genuine. Some illegitimate casinos use lucrative offers and bonuses to lure unsuspecting gamblers into signing up with them. Unfortunately, these offers are mere traps that unlawful casinos use because they know most players look for favorable deals when gambling online. Therefore, avoid rushing to register with a casino that offers you lucrative bonuses without determining whether it’s a legit gambling platform.
Ideally, don’t join an online casino only because it provides enormous welcome bonuses. Instead, sign up at a casino that promises you fair deals. That’s because shady casinos entice new gamblers with high rewards. Dubious casinos know that people want to earn massive profits with minimum capital or a minor stake. Therefore, they use enormous bonuses or offers to trap new gamblers.
Legitimate online casinos offer test bonuses to new players. That means you can sign up and claim a welcome bonus in the form of a no deposit offer or free spins. However, check terms like the wagering requirements you’re supposed to meet before withdrawing your winnings. A legit online casino allows new players to withdraw money upon fulfilling the wagering requirements.
On the other hand, a fraudulent platform will only frustrate you when you attempt to withdraw your winnings. For instance, an illegitimate site can reveal additional requirements that it didn’t disclose during the registration process. It can also claim that you’ve not met the wagering requirements or lie to you so that you can eventually give up.
7. Rankings
You can find information about a casino’s ranking online. Check a website that ranks different casinos to find out more about the online performance of a gambling platform before registering. The best sites rank online casinos based on customer reviews and legitimacy. Essentially, the basis of online casino rankings is a detailed analysis of the available platforms. This analysis includes the available games and the overall experience that a casino gives its players.
And this can hint at the legitimacy of an online casino. In addition to online casino legitimacy, some websites provide detailed reviews to explain the ranking factors for different gaming platforms. Thus, casino rankings and reviews can give you insights into the overall gaming platforms’ legitimacy. Avoid registering and gambling at a casino with poor, low, or no ranking at all.
8. Customer support
No matter how fancy a casino website looks, you won’t enjoy playing if it doesn’t have a reliable customer support team. Therefore, a legit casino has a dependable customer support department that you can reach via phone, email, or live chat. Moreover, the support representatives of a legitimate casino know how to treat every player. Therefore, don’t sign up for an online casino that doesn’t have customer service. Also, avoid a casino whose customer support representatives do not respond to your questions on time.
If you notice that the casino’s customer support is not available whenever you try to contact the casino, avoid the platform altogether. That’s because it means you might not get immediate assistance if you need it while gambling at the casino. Customer support availability is vital because you want instant assistance if you encounter difficulties trying to deposit or withdraw funds. Therefore, a legitimate online casino ensures that it always has representatives ready to answer all questions from customers.
9. Third-party verification
Third-party verification is another factor that can hint at the legitimacy of an online casino. In simple terms, check whether external sites or organizations have rated and reviewed a casino before registering with it. This verification will tell you whether a website is a real online casino or a fake platform. It will also give you an idea of what it’s like to play at a casino. Third-party verification can also hint at the reputation of the casino. That’s because verifying an online casino entails researching its games and the experiences of gamblers with the platform. Thus, such verification can help you determine whether to register with a casino or go somewhere else.
10. Demos
Most illegal casinos rush new players by forcing them to fund their accounts to start playing. Thus, you can’t test an unlawful casino without risking your hard-earned money. On the other hand, legit online casinos feature demos of free games that help you check out the management and internal structure of the gaming platform.
Ideally, practice rounds enable players to check an online gaming site before spending money on the available games. Instead of investing in a site you know nothing about, you can try practice rounds free of charge when you register with a legit online casino. And you also choose the free games to play from a vast selection of slots, poker, and even specialty games like fish shooting.
Final thoughts
No gambler wants to sign up at an online casino, deposit money, start playing, but not get their rewards. Although you can find many legit casinos online, some platforms are mere websites that criminals use to steal money from unsuspecting gamblers or collect personal information. Unfortunately, you can’t identify an illegitimate website that purports to be an online casino by looking at its URL. That’s why you need these tips to differentiate legitimate online casinos from untrustworthy platforms. By identifying legitimate online casinos, you can avoid channeling time, energy, and money into the wrong places.
