The value of the online gambling industry has grown significantly. Statistics show an increase from $30 billion in 2011 to $50 billion in 2017. This tendency was enhanced since 2020 due to the Covid-19 breakout. The world is moving to complete virtuality, and this doesn’t exclude the gambling industry.
The IT development has led to great advances but also to new ways of deceiving. Swindlers can find a variety of methods to steal a person’s information or even their money.
The importance of playing safely
For this reason, online gamblers must be extra careful. Digital fraud can make little damage and go unnoticed. But it can also harm a person or company. Some online-casino-related scams can be:
- Money theft
- Rigged games
- Identity theft
- Ransomware
- Withholding of bonuses, rewards, and winnings
Luckily, certain guidelines help gamblers to spot potential fraud not only in Pennsylvania but also in other states. Thorough research before entering a new online casino it’s worth the time. From blacklists to regulatory pages, from reviews to customer support, there are ways to avoid scams.
Reliable websites usually publish updated lists of the casinos registered in a jurisdiction, so that gamblers can check their reputation. One example is the list of safe Pennsylvania online casinos provided by Scams.info.
This article features 5 suggestions that will help users spot scams before it’s too late.
Five ways to spot online casino scams in Pennsylvania
Statistics show that online casinos have become more popular due to the lockdowns. Although their income was significantly depleted, overall players gambled more during the pandemic. 1 out of 3 surveyed individuals signed up for a new online gambling platform, while 1 out of 20 took up online gambling for the first time.
In 2021 the landscape looks different. In April of the said year, president Biden reached his goal of implementing 200 million vaccines. The White House is optimistic regarding the development of the inoculation plan. They expect to be able to vaccinate all the US population. Yet, this depends on the supply and the number of shots needed.
We can’t foresee the development of anti-Covid-19 measures, but the gambling statistics may increase if new lockdowns were to be implemented.
One way or the other, users need to be aware of the potential dangers that might be hiding behind online gambling.
Check the casino’s license information
Every casino whether online or offline must be duly licensed. If you can verify that the casino has a proper license, you’ll go a long way. Regulated casinos must comply with a set of regulations and are under supervision. They can be subject to fines or even license removal if they breach the law. Thus, if a proper license is in place, the fewer the chances to be scammed.
Online casino licenses differ from regular ones. Besides the due diligence processes and confirmation of income sources, they need to present solid evidence that the platform is secure. It must meet certain conditions and assure confidentiality. All casinos must have a valid KYC process in place. They are responsible for making sure they work with reputable gamblers and that the money is sourced legally.
Checking the license and its authenticity
But how to know whether we are dealing with a duly licensed casino? The licenses are usually placed through links at the bottom of the page. However, faking these documents is not that difficult. Crooks can slap an official logo and throw some text to make it look real.
We recommend double-checking this information. The links on the page usually lead to the regulator’s official website. You can also search the casino directly at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Note: Make sure that you are searching on an official site by checking the domain. It should end with ‘.gov’.
Make sure the casino is regulated in your jurisdiction
Casinos are supervised by the Gaming Authority of each state. Make sure you look for gambling sites that are regulated in Pennsylvania. This state approved online gambling through a bill passed in October 2017 making it the fourth state to legalize online casinos in the US.
Don’t fall for attractive bonuses
Many gambling platforms offer attractive bonuses. No matter how tempting this may sound, think twice before gambling.
The goal of every casino is to make profits. Yet, they must pay for regulatory fees, platform maintenance, support, etc. If they would offer such generous bonuses, their profit margin wouldn’t be as big. This is something worth considering.
Many reported never having received the promised rewards. To claim them, one must submit several inquiries that usually go unanswered. Eventually, they will ask you for screenshots and solid evidence, which not many people gather.
Online casinos use this as a strategy to lure gamblers, knowing that most of them won’t have the patience or the time to claim their bonuses. It’s highly recommended to research the gaming platform before entering one of these deals.
Find out the Casino’s payment methods
When looking for a safe gambling platform you should look for transparency. If you feel that the casino is hiding something, it’s better to stay away.
A good guideline to detect scams is checking the payment methods available. The platform must have at least two or three mainstream payment options like a credit card, bank transfer, Stripe, or PayPal.
If the casino offers only unknown platforms and cryptocurrency payments, you should be suspicious. These transactions are usually untraceable and can be used by scammers.
Read online reviews and do research
Compare online gambling with building a house. You wouldn’t put a roof over your family’s heads that you wouldn’t know to be safe. If we learned something from the Surfside building tragedy is that safety is a priority.
You would check the background of a construction company, revise the property titles, and check the land for liabilities before building a house. In the same way, you should research your online casino before making a deposit.
Online reviews are useful if you know how to read them. Don’t be too confident if all the reviews are good: they can also be faked. Also, don’t expect a 5/5 score because it’s impossible to please everyone. A couple of bad reviews doesn’t necessarily mean that the casino is a scam.
Pay attention to what types of reviews are there, what people complain about, and what are their suggestions. Gamblers can balance this information and decide whether this is the casino to place their bets.
This process must be supported by proper research. There are blacklists and gamblers’ communities where to get feedback and read other users’ opinions.
Test the Customer Support
Before choosing your gambling platform it might be a good idea to test the support team. A strong online presence speaks well of a business. Bettors can ask questions and assess the staff’s answers. Thus, they’ll know the level of expertise, the response time, and the customer service provider. In general, casinos with qualified support personnel are less likely to be deceitful.
Final thoughts on online gambling safety
All in all, virtual safety is vital for Pennsylvanian online gamblers. The best protection is achieved by combining these five guidelines. Moreover, the lockdowns and ‘stay at home’ philosophy are making online gambling more popular. Although there might be tens of alluring offers out there, take your time and do your research. This approach will bring you benefits in the long term.