Almost every aspect of our lives has moved online with the advent of digitalization and technological advancements, so it’s no surprise that one of mankind’s most longstanding and beloved pastimes — betting — has also made its way into the virtual world. The UK online betting market is projected to produce $4.2bn in revenue by the end of 2023. By 2027, the market size will have grown to a sizeable 14.8 million users. This has also been driven by increased access to high-speed internet and the fact that 87% of Brits own a smartphone. This makes it possible to access online entertainment, including betting sites, on the go.
Of course, just as online shopping holds certain risks for users, so does online betting. From scams to security breaches, it’s important to be aware of the risks and know how to stay safe when using online betting sites. To help you, we’ve put together a handy guide on finding and enjoying safe betting sites, so you never need to worry about falling prey to scams.
The dangers of unsafe betting sites
Online betting sites get an unfairly bad reputation. In reality, they’re no more dangerous than any other online entity. You are no more susceptible to an online scam when visiting online betting sites than you are shopping online. In fact, it’s probably much easier to fall prey to buying goods from fake stores than it is to place wagers through a dodgy betting site. However, here are some of the common dangers to be on the lookout for when betting online:
- Scams and misleading information: There are a handful of scammers out there who pose as legitimate betting sites in order to harvest users’ login credentials or credit card information.
- Risk of personal data leaks: If you place bets on a site that isn’t properly secured and encrypted, you may have your personal information exposed to hackers in the event of a data breach. Legitimate betting sites put significant effort into their security to ensure your information stays private.
- Loss of money: Of course, one of the worst things that could happen is that you get swept up in the moment and end up losing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to a scam website. They will often rig games to make it seems like you’re on a winning streak so that you bet more, only for you to never receive your winnings. Often, before you can follow up, they disappear without a trace.
Recognizing the features of safe betting sites
Luckily, as good as some of these scammers are at imitating legitimate sites, there are still many ways you can weed out the dodgy sites from the good.
Licensed and regulated: The very first thing you should look at when vetting online betting sites, is whether they are licensed and regulated. In the UK, all online casino operators are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. Licensed betting sites are subject to strict rules and are required to undergo regular audits to assess factors such as randomness of games and betting outcomes. This ensures online platforms are safe and fair for all users.
Secure website encryption: You probably know a bit about SSL encryption already, especially if you’re a keen online shopper and aware of online safety. SSL is an internet security protocol that encrypts data that is transmitted between users and websites. It ensures that sensitive personal and financial information isn’t vulnerable to hackers or scammers who can then steal your identity or blackmail you. You can verify a website is SSL encrypted by looking for a lock next to the URL in the browser. Right-click the lock to see how long the SSL certificate is valid for and who it was issued by.
Reputation among users: Your first port of call when assessing a website is checking user reviews. This will give you a good idea of what the general user experience is and whether there is anything to be concerned about. Some red flags may include users complaining of delayed payments, failure to pay or poor customer support. Check reviews from multiple online review sites to ensure the site is not posting fake favourable reviews.
Transparent payment methods: Legitimate online betting sites will offer a variety of secure payment options. This may include PayPal, Bitcoin, Apple Pay and other popular payment methods. If the site is vague regarding the payment methods available or you feel uneasy — trust your gut! There are plenty of other sites where you can place your bets safely.
Avoiding the temptation of too-good-to-be-true offers
While we’re all for cashing in on sign-up offers and deals, be aware that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. While a 100% deposit match bonus is not out of the ordinary, if the limit is £30,000 or you’re being offered a 700% bonus, something’s fishy. Legitimate betting sites are operating for the purpose of making a profit. While they will offer some kind of welcome bonus, if they offered every new player some unbelievable sign-up bonus, they’d run at a loss. For scam sites, this is purely a bait tactic to get you to make a deposit, and unfortunately, you won’t see that money again.
Carefully read the fine print before signing up for welcome offers. Check what you need to do on your end to be eligible for the bonus and how long you’ll have to wait for your payout. If there are absolutely no terms and conditions at all, run in the opposite direction.
Staying updated and vigilant
If online betting is your thing, it’s in your best interest to stay abreast of the latest industry news. Part of this is keeping your ear to the ground for information about new betting site scams. By staying vigilant and on top of the evolving nature of online scams, you can avoid falling victim to them in the first place.
Your checklist for safe betting
Let’s do a little recap on what we’ve discussed. We’ve thrown in a few bonus points to keep you extra safe online!
- Verify the site’s license and confirm they’re regulated.
- Verify the website is SSL encrypted and evaluate the security measures in place
- Check online reviews to get a general consensus regarding their offering
- Evaluate the payment method selection
- Choose sites that are professionally designed with high-quality graphics
- Test customer service response times and the quality of responses received
- Avoid falling for unrealistic, click-bait bonus offers
- Do not explore sites based on unsolicited emails or phone calls
- Avoid sites undergoing frequent name changes or changes in ownership
- Avoid sites that regularly delay withdrawals or avoid paying out winnings
- Review the terms and conditions to ensure they are realistic
- try bookmakers without verification
- bitcoin betting without registration
Conclusion
While we can all do our very best to avoid online scams, sometimes despite our best efforts we can still get duped. While this is rare if you’ve done your due diligence, try to forward any digital evidence to your local authorities to have the site shut down. You can also report suspicious betting sites directly to the UK Gambling Commission. However, if you follow our steps above, you can enjoy online betting sites safely and continue being a part of the digital online betting revolution.