Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
What to Look for When Evaluating an Online Betting Platform's Credibility
Are you able to tell if a betting site is legit?
Fake betting sites are on the rise. In fact, online gambling fraud increased 64% in 2024. That means knowing how to spot a credible platform is more
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important now than ever before.
Many people don't know what to look for when choosing an online betting platform. They'll simply go where advertisers and other bettors tell them too. Then they end up losing their deposits.
There are a few tell-tale signs you should know about.
Below you'll learn:
- Spotting Legit Online Betting Platforms
- Beware Of…
- How to Check for Licensing & Security
- User Reviews: What You Need To Know
Let's get started.
Spotting Legit Online Betting Platforms
Real betting platforms will always be upfront about who they are.
You know how restaurants are required to display their health score? Well reputable betting platforms feel the same way about their licensing.
Look for these things:
- Valid licensing information on their site
- SSL encryption to keep your data safe
- Easy to understand terms and conditions
- Secure payment options from trusted providers
Stick with betting platforms that take precautions to keep your money safe. If they don't bother investing in security features, why should you trust them with your money?
Fraud prevention experts have even created entire communities around identifying legitimate betting platforms. South Korea, home to many illegal betting sites, has started helpful verification websites such as 먹튀픽 (mtpick.com translates to scam pick/fraud selection in English). This trusted resource allows users to verify the legitimacy of online betting platforms before joining and depositing funds.
Legit Betting Platforms Have Valid Licenses
Licensed gambling authorities issue every credible online betting platforms a license.
It's as simple as that.
Some of the most common licenses include:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- UK Gambling Commission
- Curaçao eGaming
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
If you can't easily find the license number and provider, move on to the next platform. Period.
Beware Of…
Now that we know how to spot credible betting platforms. Let's talk about sites you should avoid.
A record 219 suspicious betting alerts were recorded across 2024 by the International Betting Integrity Association. That's a 17% increase year over year.
Fraudsters are evolving, and so should you.
Here are a few things to avoid:
- Bogus bonuses with unreasonable wagering requirements
- Withhold withdrawals for "verification"
- Unable to contact customer support
- Site looks shady
- Lack of "Responsible Gambling" features
…but keep in mind there's always exceptions to the rule.
New age scammers can create professional websites that look 100% legit. You'll need to dig a little deeper than surface level details.
Run a Withdrawal Test
Speaking of withdrawals. If you have a difficult time withdrawing your funds, you're probably on a scam platform.
Any reputable betting platform will process your withdrawals within their posted time limits.
Here are a few tricks some use to delay your withdrawals:
- Continuously ask for "documents"
- Claim your account is being "reviewed"
- Make up "technical difficulties"
- Change your withdrawal limits
If it's easy to deposit funds, but near impossible to withdraw them. Don't join.
How to Check for Licensing & Security
Checking for licensing and security isn't hard. It does mean taking a few extra minutes to do your research.
Follow these simple steps:
- Locate the betting platforms license number
- Verify the number with the betting authority it claims to be from
- Ensure the website uses SSL encryption
- Read through the privacy policy
Many licensing authorities offer public listings of issued licenses. You can cross check to ensure the license number matches as well as the betting platform is actually licensed.
Security Features To Look For
New and improved security measures are implemented every day.
Here a few of the basics:
- 2 factor authentication
- Encrypted payments
- Third party security audits
- Defined Responsible Gambling policies
Stick with betting platforms that prioritize your safety. If they don't include these features, where is their money going?
User Reviews: What You Need To Know
User reviews can tell you a lot about betting platforms.
Unfortunately, not all reviews are truthful. There are a ton of fake testimonials on the internet these days. So how do you know which ones are genuine?
Aspects of genuine user reviews include:
- Specific details when talking about their experience
- Checking more than one website
- Recurring issues across multiple sites
- Too good to be true? They probably are.
The best way to use user reviews to identify credible betting platforms is to pair them with dedicated verification communities. Next, look for reviews across multiple independent websites. You will start to see patterns after reading multiple reviews from individual users.
Don't Overlook Community Resources
Online communities have been fighting fraudsters for years.
Whether it be through dedicated verification platforms or community driven forums. These places exist for users to share their experiences with betting platforms. Both good and bad.
Fraud prevention groups will often track complaints history. Payment issues and even licensing concerns.
Here are some places to check before joining any betting site:
- Verification communities
- Independent forums
- Social media
- Consumer protection sites
It may take you 10-15 minutes to verify, but could save you thousands.
Creating Your OWN Betting Site Evaluation Checklist
Don't leave your safety up to chance.
Take matters into your own hands by creating a checklist for every new betting platform you come across. Removing emotions from the equation is key.
Here is what your new checklist should include:
- Verify Licensing
- Check for SSL Encryption
- Confirm Payment Methods are secure
- Look For User Reviews
- Read the Withdrawal Policy
- Make sure Responsible Gambling features are available
Run through this quick checklist before ever depositing funds. If the platform fails one reason, skip it and find another.
Final Thoughts…
Figuring out if a betting site is legitimate isn't brain surgery.
But it does require you to pay attention to details. As gambling fraud continues to increase, it's up to you to stay ahead of the scams.
Remember: Legitimate betting platforms have nothing to hide.
As long as you can easily verify their licensing and security features. Read about other users experiences, and the site offers responsible gambling features. You should be good to go.
The easiest bet you will ever make is sticking to credible betting platforms only.