Trust me, you can't trust all online casinos. All you have to do is Google online casinos, and you'll see about 5,000 pages of results coming up. Am I exaggerating? Probably, but the numbers show more than 175 registered online casinos in the UK alone. Registered is the keyword; there are tons of unlicensed and unregulated online casinos on the internet that you definitely can't trust.

Everyone loves talking about red flags, and I definitely have a few of them for you.

Read on to learn and understand which online casinos shouldn't be trusted.

Unfair Terms and Conditions

I always start by reading through the terms and conditions. Websites usually make you (or ask you) to read through and agree to terms and conditions before you sign up.

If they seem confusing or overly complicated, this is usually a big no-no for me. On the contrary, if they seem vague and basic, I also raise an eyebrow. Good sites have clear policies that are easy to understand.

For example, when bonus wagering requirements or withdrawal limits have endless fine print attached, they might not be the best. It's not necessarily that they can't be trusted; it's that it's tricky to understand whether you can trust them. Some terms demand an unrealistic amount of playthrough before you can take home any bonus winnings, which is just off-putting.

Lacklustre Customer Support

I always check how good or bad their customer support seems to be. Trustworthy platforms will provide multiple ways for players to get in touch such as:

  • Chatbots
  • Direct messaging
  • Customer support phone lines
  • Text (SMS)
  • E-mails

I test these out with queries sent before signing up myself. If I don't even get an automated response, I'm starting to think it's a red flag. If responses take forever or lack substance, I'm sorry, but no thanks - not worth the risk.

In my personal experience, reliable places will offer 24/7 support, which should be answered promptly enough considering different time zones across the globe, etc. They should also be able to demonstrate understanding and professionalism when dealing with issues.

Too Good to Be True Promotions

Have you ever seen those sites that promise huge bonuses that seem impossible? Well, guess what? Most times, they are too good to be true. While alluring incentives are part of online gambling, there is always a line between generous and scammy.

When any site boasts huge welcome bonuses or offers that don't seem like they could happen, I look closer. Usually, websites with these kinds of promotions attach terms so strict that it's virtually impossible to make anything from the bonus. Some have ridiculous wagering requirements or limits on how much you can win with bonus money.

Bad Reputation

Finally, negative feedback and blacklisting can tell me a lot about what not to trust when searching for new platforms - you can find a list of blacklisted casino websites on AskGamblers, the websites listed on their website should be avoided at all times. Forums and websites like the one linked are an excellent way to understand if:

  • A website is blacklisted
  • Why it is blacklisted

I scan through these before making my final decision because if someone has been scammed before, chances are it'll happen again!

If most people complain about payment issues or unfair practices, then clearly the casino isn't very reputable, but if most reviews say positive things and nobody seems to have many bad words...well, safe bet, right?

And (this should be self-explanatory) you should always avoid using blacklisted casinos. There are so many great ones online; why pick a dodgy one?

Transparency

If I can't tell who owns the site, its background, or its operational history in the first few seconds of visiting it, I consider this a red flag. Genuine platforms are proud and share information about licensing, company history, and other business practices openly.

I have noticed that reputable sites always give more information on their operations, such as who runs them. Where are they located? What experience do they have in this industry? The lack of these details or difficulty finding them suggests something could be wrong with the site.

Inconsistent Game Performance

However much I like playing different games online, one thing that has taught me a lot about reliability is how well they perform while being played. For example, if games keep crashing or lagging behind others in speed, this could mean such sites aren't up to standard. They might lack proper maintenance support systems, use outdated software versions, etc, which can interfere with normal functioning. And I know that one of the most common causes of cyber attacks is outdated software - definitely a red flag!

Trustworthy platforms invest heavily in good-quality, new software, ensuring continuous, frequent maintenance to achieve smoothness and fairness during gaming sessions.

Finding a trustworthy website needs investigation – and I wouldn't say stick to the well-known iGaming platforms. You can play on some of the less popular platforms you might not necessarily have heard about - simply check for its legitimacy first.