How to Avoid Blacklisted Casinos

March 10, 2011
Categories: Online Casino Guides

Playing a game of chance is risky in itself; the other risk of online gaming is falling victim to shady casino operations that try to pass themselves as reputable brands. These casinos usually lure players in and then take their winnings. There are some steps players can take to avoid these types of “blacklisted casinos”, and it’s basically just being aware of the signs and knowing what to look for.

The first thing any player should do before signing up to an online casino is to explore their options. USA players do not have as many options as international players, and USA residents are unfortunately left with a majority of rogue or blacklisted casinos to choose from. Players from other countries have many choices however; these tips outlined in this article will help all players stay away from less than desirable casinos.

The process to finding a reputable casino is much like how to avoid blacklisted casinos. Use the internet as a tool to help avoid rogue casino operations. Online gaming portals have dedicated their time and energy in warning players about these certain casinos, and there is a wealth of information available for players to use to their advantage. Check out forums and message boards. If a casino has numerous complaints against them, chances are it’s not a good idea to invest your time or money into that casino or its sister sites.

Blacklisted casinos usually operate in groups. Casinos like Virtual Casino, Cool Cat etc. are all run by the same company. They are essentially the same casino with different skin. Their promotions support and even terms and conditions are identical so make sure the casino you are choosing is not one of these shady casinos. You can usually spot a rogue casino by their website, or promotions. If the promotion looks too good to be true, in most cases it is. They use these fantastic looking bonus offers to lure in unsuspecting players, and once the player makes and plays the deposit using the promotion, the terms attached to the offer make it next to impossible for the player to follow.

If for some reason they do manage to payout, expect to wait months, and in some instances years to see your money. If you come across a bonus that looks like it’s too good to pass up, ask yourself; “Why would they offer such a good deal?” The answer to that is they get away with it and will continue to do so until there is regulation in the industry.

Licensing is another way to tell if a casino is blacklisted. Check their licensing information, and if it looks suspicious or fictitious do not spend your time there. Reputable casinos are licensed in reputable jurisdictions, so make sure to do your homework on licenses and what they mean to online casinos. Not all licensed casinos are good casinos. There are rogue licensing jurisdictions just like casinos, so again do your research.

Stay away from “Banner Farms”. These are sites that are covered with numerous banners promoting online casinos. More times than not, these sites will be promoting blacklisted casinos which is not helping players. If the player should use these banners and then have a dispute, these websites will do nothing to help. It’s best to avoid affiliates that promote blacklisted casinos altogether. There are some super affiliates that still choose to promote these brands.

Subscribe to watchdog sites. These sites will list blacklisted casinos by software, and the reasons they are blacklisted. Check the site and lists often as there are many rogue casinos added to the blacklist frequently. Also, the forums will usually have numerous warnings, complaints and issues from other players just like you. These players learned the hard way, so don’t make the same mistake and do your homework on rogue casinos.

Last but not least, if they spam your inbox with tons of unwanted emails, that is a good sign that they are not a great casino. Reputable casinos need not spam or use trickery to lure their players in. It may seem like a lot of work just to play online, but research and educating yourself with what to look for can make a world of a difference in your online casino experience.

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