Busted or Trusted? My Checklist for Spotting Scam Casinos

As a veteran gambler, I’ve seen it all. The flashy welcome bonuses, the fake reviews, and the cloned slot games. And yeah, I’ve been burned too. Lost money I never saw again. No replies. No refunds. 

That’s when I built this anti-scam checklist. Now, I run every new site through this list before joining. Read on to pick it up!

And if you want a solid example of how things should be done, check out Casino Starvegas IT. They hit all the right marks—licensed, full of top-tier slots, and even offer €100 in no deposit bonus plus 100 free spins. Smooth layout, strong support, and real Evolution games included.

An Anti-Scam Casino Checklist

1. License or Leave

First thing I do? Scroll to the bottom. Always. I check for a license badge. If I don’t see one, I leave. No matter how good the bonus looks.

But even if there is a license badge, I don’t trust it blindly. Scammers fake those too. I click it. If it leads to a real licensing site—like the Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao, or UKGC—I breathe a little easier. If it’s just an image that goes nowhere, I’m out.

And if the license is from some random country I’ve never heard of? For me, that’s a red flag. 

2. Real Games or Ripped Slots?

Scam sites often use fake versions of real games. Same title, same layout, but the payout? Rigged.

Now, I look for names I trust: Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’n GO, and Evolution Gaming. If I see “Hot Spin by iSoftBet,” for example, I Google it. I open the game on two different sites and compare.

If the layout looks off, the sounds are weird, or the game lags strangely, I back out. No real provider lets their games be altered like that. 

Also, if all the games are from some sketchy provider—big nope.

I keep a few trusted lists handy, and when I’m unsure, I just visit website that hosts legit picks from trusted devs.

3. Terms & Conditions: Read or Regret

I scan the T&Cs for landmines. Stuff like:

• “Max withdrawal: $100 per day” (I saw this once after hitting a $2K win)
• “Bonuses must be wagered 80x before payout” (ouch)
• “Dormant fees after 30 days” (yes, some charge you for not playing)

I use Ctrl+F to search for “withdrawal,” “bonus,” and “fee.” That way I spot the worst bits fast.

If the terms are too long, full of legal talk, or sound shady, I don’t even sign up.

4. Payment Methods: Fast and Familiar

For payments, I want real options: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Binance Pay, or TRC20/USDT. If all I see is “CryptoPayGo.biz” or some sketchy third-party gateway, I’m gone.

Also, I check if they list their withdrawal timeframes. Some sites hide that info. If it’s buried in a vague paragraph, it usually means slow or no payouts.

One trick I use: I sign up, deposit a small amount (like $20), then try withdrawing $5. If it gets stuck or rejected—red flag.

5. Customer Support Test

I always test support before playing. I hit up live chat and ask something basic (like withdrawal times).

If I get no reply in 15 minutes, I leave. If the response is a robotic script or doesn’t answer my question, I leave. If support isn’t even available—why would I trust them with my money?

Good sites reply fast, give clear answers, and don’t dodge questions. It’s not hard. But scammers never bother with real support.

6. Community Check

The last thing I do is snoop around online. I search:

• Site name + “scam”
• Site name + “Reddit”
• Site name + “Trustpilot”

I look past the star rating and go for the actual reviews. If I see lots of users saying “delayed payout,” “account locked after the win,” or “no response from support,” I stop right there.

One bad review? Fine. A dozen of them, all saying the same thing? No thanks.

Forums like Reddit are gold. People there don’t sugarcoat things. If a site’s shady, someone will say it.

Final Word: Skip the Flash, Trust the List

I know it’s tempting to chase that big welcome bonus or try out a shiny new casino with neon lights and spinning jackpots. But if it fails even one item on this list, I don’t play.

I’d rather be a little cautious than lose my cash to some site that vanishes in two months.

So next time you’re eyeing a new casino—slow down, pull out this checklist, and give it a run-through. Took me years (and a few bruises) to figure it out. Now it’s yours.