3 Casino Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

1. Casinos With No Licence

The rule on this one is pretty straightforward – if a casino isn't regulated by a respected body, like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, walk away.

The UKGC is one of the strictest regulatory bodies worldwide, and it's an organisation that makes sure all casinos in the UK are operating according to their standards.

These are standards of fairness, security and responsibility, with the UKGC making sure of the following things:

• Players are protected
• Play is fair
• Transactions are secure
• Responsible gambling tools are available

If a casino does not have this licence, this is a major red flag, and one not to be ignored.

You can check if a casino is licensed by visiting their website and checking in the footer, where all regulated sites will display their licensing information – this can be cross-referenced with the UKGC site.

For players outside of the UK, the Malta Gaming Authority does the same job, alongside other authorities like the Irish Revenue Commissioner and Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.

2. Uncertainty Around Bonus Terms

In life, if something looks too good to be true, it often is – and this can be applied to casinos and gambling too.

There are casinos on the market that will present better than average bonus offers, but the terms and conditions are murky or complicated.

Unclear and unfair bonus terms include very high wagering requirements, hidden restrictions, unreasonable playing limits, abnormally short time limits, and withdrawal caps that are not made clear from the start.

Watch out for terms that are hidden under layers of fine print and other legal jargon, and instead join and spend your money at casinos that are upfront about their T&Cs, with support staff willing to clarify them for you.

Properly managed casinos will have a set of clear terms and conditions, easily understood and fair in line with the value of the bonus.

3. Withholding Payouts

Casinos that are organised and well-run will have a system of quick and reliable payouts – this is one sure sign of a trustworthy site.

However, if a casino is asking for over the top identification (beyond normal KYC and SOW checks), or are finding excuses to delay payment, this is a sign that you should avoid them.

A good casino will have a strict verification process that is laid out from the beginning and in line with industry standards.

You can read player reviews online to find casinos that delay payouts for no good reason – but remember that these reviews can be biased, so we also recommend reading casino reviews written by experts alongside player reviews, and balancing the information you learn from both.

Check, Check, and Check Again

Ultimately, be wary of being dazzled by any one casino.

See past the big bonuses, games, and the elegant settings, and look for the most important thing – trust.

The good news is that accredited licensing bodies do a lot of this work for us – if the casino you are contemplating joining has a UKGC or MGA licence, you can trust that it will be well-managed and fulfil the expectations you expect it to.

Still, you should continue to exercise common sense when searching for a new casino, reading reviews and checking policies before spending any of your own money there.

Always keep these red flags in mind, and if any are apparent, walk away and find a casino that values its players instead.