The online betting world is filled with a plethora of betting websites, and since the bogus sites look just as professional as the legit ones these days, it can be a bit difficult to tell the difference. Many scam betting websites are constantly devising new ways to scam bettors out of their money, so if you do not do your due diligence, you might end up losing a lot of money to these betting sites. Below are a few tips you can use to verify the legitimacy of a betting site.
Contact information
Legitimate betting websites always provide all the necessary information about their establishment (you can check their ‘About Us’ page). From their contact information and address to customer support contacts, which users can use to report issues or ask questions about the use of their site. A bogus betting site will most likely not have any of this information on its website, and even if they do, the phone numbers and address could be either wrong or bear limited details. So always ensure to verify phone numbers and contact info before signing up or placing bets on any betting site.
Licenses and Certifications
Most scam betting sites often operate against the local laws or make use of invalid licenses, so always ensure to check that your favorite betting site is properly licensed. If you do not know how to check for their license, a good recommendation would be to use the verification website as they usually have a list of verified betting companies available.
Website user interface and layout
Another useful verification tip is to take a look at the user interface, layout and overall look & feel of the betting site. Legitimate betting sites are always updated and have an excellent user interface that gives you a smooth and enjoyable betting experience. The majority of the scam betting sites out there tend to look crummy with a poor website design.
Online reviews
Another way to verify the legitimacy of a betting site is by reading online reviews and comments left by users. However, when searching for reviews, ensure that you look for the ones that are fair and unbiased. The review should provide you with important details about the betting site, such as; its safety and security features, payout options, bonuses, available games and the overall user experience.
If the review mentions issues with the betting site, such as; cancelation of winning bets or players having problems receiving their payouts, then you should consider it a red flag. An overall good review probably means the betting site is legit. However, if you still have doubts, read several different reviews before making your decision.
Unrealistic offers
This has to be one of the biggest red flags when it comes to online betting. Any betting site that offers deposit bonuses of as high as 100% should be treated with suspicion. Some scam betting sites may go as far as crediting your account with a deposit bonus, but such money is usually used as a placeholder, and you may never see it or be able to withdraw any wins you get from it. Also, avoid any betting site that claims to have access to match-fixing information, as they are most likely scammers.
Conclusion
With so many betting sites out there, it is very easy to fall victim to scam sites that offer enticing promotions and bonuses. Thankfully, the above tips can help you verify the legitimacy of any betting site.
