Recognize bad online casinos

There are a huge number of online casinos around in the modern world. With this large number of casinos available it can often be hard for South African players to know if a casino is legitimate or not. That’s why we have put together a collection of ways for you to spot if a casino is a bad one, as well as where to find good ones.

By Adiela de Bruyn - Updated 2024/02/08 - Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.

Table of contents

Recognize bad online casinos

Regulations

Regulations are vital in the casino industry. With so many different variables being calculated at any one time, it’s vitally important that you are able to know you can trust the casino you’re playing at. If a casino doesn’t have any regulatory licences in place, then it’s a good sign that they aren’t to be trusted. Some of the most well respected regulators on the market at the UKGC, the MGA and the Government of Curacao. If the casino you have chosen to play at isn’t regulated then that is an instant red flag and you should think about finding a new one to play at.

Bad press

The great thing about the internet is that information never really gets deleted. If the casino you are thinking of playing at has a lot of negative press than this is always a bad sign. Make sure you do some research before you start playing. That way you will know if the online casino has a reputation for not paying out to players if they grab a big win. Or if they have been found out using fake versions of games in the past. People won’t be shy about sharing these stories, so if it has happened then you will be able to find them without too much hassle.

You can also find out if there are any other stories about them out there. These wouldn’t necessarily be illegal actions like the ones listed above, but could be stories where they have perhaps behaved in an unethical manner. This could be something like not paying out a Progressive Jackpot win instantly and instead paying it out in installments. Because Progressive Jackpots are paid out by the slot developer not the casino operator, there is no reason why they should do things like this. Make sure that you look deep into the casino you want to play at, remember you are putting your financial information here, you should be able to trust them completely.

No contact information

This doesn’t mean not being able to contact them. There are casinos out there that offer an integrated web form that lets you send them an email. The problem is if there are no actual contact details for the casino available. If the web form is the only method of getting in touch with them then there could be something that they have to hide. In this situation it is a big red flag that makes it an instant worry about what could be going on with that casino. In this instance you are best to find somewhere else to use.

Spelling mistakes

The most reputable companies out there will not hire people who make simple spelling mistakes. This is the sign of a company who could be trying to take advantage. One spelling mistake isn’t a guarantee that the casino is not reputable, but if there are a lot of them then it is definitely something to get worried about.

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Poor choice of deposit options

If there is very little choice on offer in regards to making payments, then there is a chance the casino isn’t a reputable one. If Crypto currency or prepaid cards are the only way to make deposits then this should be a red flag instantly. On the other end of the spectrum, if PayPal is on offer then this is a good sign. PayPal are extremely picky about who they allow to use their services, so if they have allowed an online casino to use them it means there is a good chance that they are highly trustworthy.

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How to find a good online casino

If after you’ve looked over the checks above and are still struggling to find the right casino for you, then we can help you out. We have put together a fantastic list of different online casinos that are available out there. By checking through the reviews that we have available, you will be able to make sure that you find the best online casino for your needs. We always make sure we thoroughly vet all casinos that are on our lists and we only recommend the very best on the market.

There are also deals that we offer that you can’t find anywhere else. So if you have found the right casino with our reviews then you might also be able to grab an even more impressive bonus by signing up through us.

Author: Adiela de Bruyn

Adiela de Bruyn

Adiela de Bruyn, our founder, launched this site in 2016. Since then, she's written over 100 pages filled with crucial info to enhance your gaming experience. Her goal? To provide you with the best, most reliable online casino knowledge.

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Article published 2022/09/01