As more countries throughout the world allow their residents to legally gamble online, there seem to be fewer concerns about rogue online casinos scamming customers. With that being said, these concerns still exist at some level for online gamblers who are forced or choose to use offshore online casinos because of limited access in their countries. Are those concerns warranted?
Do Rogue Online Casinos Exist?
Only a misinformed fool would proclaim there is no such thing as online casinos that are scamming people and operating outside the law. The reality is there are such online casino sites out on the internet. However, it would be a mistake to think and claim it’s a material problem. It’s not.
With the proliferation of online gambling in general, it has become a normal adult activity. This has resulted in a larger population of online bettors who have a solid understanding of how to spot rogue operators. It’s for this reason that many of the rogue operators of the past have gone out of business. No customers, no employees. No employees, no casino.
How Licensed Online Casino Operators Contribute to the Fear of Offshore Gamblers
It’s true that offshore online gamblers are not usually afforded the same protections as gamblers who live in the countries out of which many gambling sites are operating. That does create a higher level of risk in the minds of offshore online gamblers.
As an example, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the strictest online gambling regulator in the world. All UK operators have to be licensed in order to legally offer online gambling services to UK residents. Most operators comply because the UKGC will go after unlicensed sites and seize assets.
Under its guidelines, the UKGC offers lots of protection for its residents. They’ll actively mediate disputes, which serves to keep operators more in line. Unfortunately, that level of protection is only available to UK residents because both parties of a given dispute are accountable to the UK government. That’s not the case with offshore online gamblers who reside in countries where the UKGC has no jurisdiction. If offshore gamblers have issues, they won’t have a government regulator advocating for them. That does empower a few rogue operators to scam when they can.
This isn’t unique to the UKGC. The Malta Gaming Authority and the Curacao Government handle disputes the same way. The same goes for regulators in America where online casinos in the United States are not permitted to offer access to non-U.S. residents.
Therein lies the mistaken concept that offshore casinos are scamming players. When offshore gamblers feel something has gone wrong, whether right or wrong, they have no recourse. They feel helpless and end up playing the scam card.
The reality is most offshore gamblers are too lazy to read the terms and conditions when choosing online casinos. They jump right in with the expectation everything is going to proceed as they want. It’s their own misunderstandings that often create the disputes that lead to unwarranted complaints and claims of scamming.
How You Can Avoid Getting Scammed as an Offshore Gambler
If you decide to take your online gambling activities offshore, it’s your responsibility to protect yourself. As demonstrated above, you won’t be getting much support from regulators in countries from which you don’t reside.
Since rogue operators do exist, you need to be careful where you put your money. We would like to offer you a couple of suggestions that should help you stay safe from scammers.
Only Use Online Casinos That Are Licensed By Top Regulators
If you are going to use offshore casino sites, restrict your choices to sites that are heavily regulated by a top regulatory body like the UKGC. This will help you minimize your risk no matter which country you call home. How?
If an online casino operator is licensed by the UKGC or Malta Gaming Authority, they have been through a very robust vetting process and paid significant fees for a license. It will always be in their best interest to play it straight and not risk their license for a few extra dollars.
Do Your Research Before Using Unlicensed Operators
Sometimes, online casino operators will skate around licensing requirements, choosing to operate illegally. They might do it because they are new or can’t yet afford the license fees. It doesn’t mean they will be acting as scammers.
The reality is there are plenty of unlicensed online casinos all over the world that run clean operations. They do so as to not draw unwanted attention from regulators in their countries of origin. You can locate these reputable sites by reading reviews and visiting “watchdog” online casino websites like Casinomeister.
Remember, all online gambling requires risk-taking. It’s your responsibility to protect yourself by being cautious.
