Though few and far between, rogue online casinos do exist in the world of online gambling. While you want to avoid them like the plague since we're talking about the transfer of your money to these sites, the good news is that, by taking the necessary steps, you can learn to spot a rogue site.
Over time, you will also learn to stick to sites powered by trusted brands such as Microgaming and Playtech, so that you can go about your online gambling sessions with complete peace of mind.
Listen to Your Gambling Peers
The best source of information about an online casino's reputation - rogue or not - is to ask your gambling peers. Thankfully, there are thousands of gambling forums on the internet, some of them more active than others. Look out for stories about streaky software, strange odds and other such incidents. If the name of a suspicious online casino comes up again and again, the chances are you will want to avoid it.
The Ability to Dispute
One of the "tricks of the trade" of rogue online casinos is to accuse online gamblers of bonus abuse and then refuse to pay out their winnings after blocking their account. If this happens, then you will want to have a chance to dispute the charges - especially if you aren't a bonus abuser!
Before signing up with an online casino, check to see what your dispute options are. If the site declares that its complaints handling procedure doesn't "do" disputes, this is a risk.
Stick to online casinos that are licensed by a trustworthy authority such as Gibraltar or Malta, where you have a complaints avenue, which you know will be addressed. A great many online casinos in the Microgaming family carry the eCOGRA seal which allows them to make use of the fair and objective disputes channel at no charge.
Also, check that the casino has a Live Chat option so that if you want to dispute something, you will have the chance to do it immediately and get an instant response.
Check your Country Regulations
It may not be "roguish" of a casino to create complex rules for players of specific countries, but it is nonetheless frustrating for the player. To make sure that you won't be slapped with impossible wagering restrictions just because you come from country A and not B, check if there are any restrictions on your place of residence before redeeming a bonus.Player Verification
Rogue casinos will most likely make it very difficult for players to get their winnings paid out. Their policy to is to make the withdrawal process as longwinded and complicated as possible, so that a percentage of players will eventually drop their efforts.
Before redeeming a bonus, check what the player verification process is like. Will you be asked to produce more than the standard documents required to identify yourself? 'Standard' is considered a scan of a passport or driver's license, as well as a current utility bill and a scan of your credit card if that is your form of funds transfer. However, some casinos may demand extra documentation, phone calls, notarized papers and more - in the hope that you'll give up and drop your check out request. In many cases, the cost of producing this extra documentation is much higher than the amount you want to withdraw, and it makes more financial sense to drop the request.
Promotions That Are Too Good to be True
While online casino bonuses, especially new player bonuses, are considered very generous, sometimes the offers are simply too good to be true. Unrealistic offers that are much higher than the competition's should send alarm bells ringing. Even if the terms and conditions don't seem worrisome, it may be a good idea to trust your gut and give these kind of offers a wide berth. Rogue casinos have been known to slap on additional restrictions and requirements even after the bonus has been redeemed. To avoid this happening, stick to well known brands and casinos with good reputations.