Red flags to look for when choosing an online casino
The online casino industry is fiercely competitive, with many casinos vying for the attention of players, especially newcomers. However, not all casinos are created equal. In fact, some should be avoided completely – but they can sometimes be difficult to spot.
This guide highlights what to look out for to ensure you don’t sign up to a dodgy online casino.
When choosing a casino, there are many features and qualities that we look for. But we mustn’t overlook the red flags.
Newcomers and first time players, particularly, should familiarise themselves with the warning signs. Meanwhile, experienced players should make sure they’re on the ball and up-to-date with how casinos are presenting themselves. And of course, everyone should be keeping a close eye on the small print! The key things we're going to cover:
Licensing
This is always the place to start. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is a world leader in gaming regulation, and does some great work protecting British gamblers. Much of this work revolves around issuing licences, or revoking them when necessary.
Respectable casinos treat their UKGC licence as a badge of honour. It indicates several things:
- Players’ funds are properly stored
- Games are fair
- Terms are transparent
- They are operating legally
Other regulators, such as the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) and The Curaçao Gaming Control Board, are unable to help British players if something goes wrong.
Look for the casino's licence number, which is usually at the bottom of their homepage. Then check it against UKGC records. Legitimate, licensed sites will often have a link, making it easy for the player.
Heavy-handed marketing
Regulations around direct marketing to players changed on 1 May 2025. To receive direct marketing now players must opt-in. This of course means that unsolicited direct marketing – and likely excessive in volume – is a red flag. Legitimate, trustworthy casinos won’t do this – they will adhere to considerate marketing methods. This means not filling up your inbox with spam, and offering an easy unsubscribe option. You should not be receiving promo or marketing emails from anyone you haven’t heard of, or subscribed to. If you do, you can blacklist sites which use these ham-fisted strategies.
It can get worse though: Certain illegal sites have even been guilty of specifically targeting self-excluded players – an obvious indicator that the operator should be avoided. When successful, this kind of cynical marketing can be devastating to vulnerable individuals. A big red flag!
Choose a site whose ads align with British gambling advertisement law. There are restrictions which stipulate who and what can appear in a gambling advert, as well as when and where it can be shown. If a site violates these rules, which exist to protect young and vulnerable people, avoid it – they're flouting their disregard for their current, and potential future, customers.
Unrealistic bonuses
Having bonuses that are enticing to players yet financially viable for casinos is a tricky balance to strike. We love no wagering bonuses, but it’s crucial that players avoid anything that seems suspiciously over-generous.
For instance, if a site offers you 1,000x your deposit, or 1,000 free spins with no wagering, consider how they could afford to be doing this. Consider also that the more generous looking a bonus the more likely it is to come with stiff wagering requirements and stringent T&Cs – the biggest and brightest red flag of the lot.
Weigh up the overall value of the bonus, including per-spin values, minimum deposits, eligible games, wagering and the full T&Cs, then decide if it seems too good to be true.
Weak or illegal banking terms
Making payments to gambling sites using a credit card is illegal, so don’t go near a site which accepts credit cards.
Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum remain unregulated, occupying a legal grey area. The UKGC has additional licensing and anti-money laundering measures for operators who wish to accept crypto, and the majority of legitimate casinos still won’t accept it. So tread carefully, or maybe not at all.
There’s much debate about whether or not crypto will be addressed in the near future. But, for the time being, acceptance of cryptocurrencies suggests that casino operates within the black or grey gambling markets.
Sluggish payments should also throw up a red flag. Good casinos will publish their typical payment processing times, and anything more than a couple of days should be considered slow. Note that it will normally take longer than this for the payment to hit your account. The processing time is what matters, and it’s best to avoid sites which drag their feet.
Poor customer support
This is a big one. Reliable casinos, like all decent businesses, know the importance of good customer service. If you find that it’s difficult to get in contact with a real person, or if you can’t get past that awful chatbot, take note – a definite red flag. Equally, if the people you do reach are rude, unhelpful or slow to respond, take a step back and do some digging.
The quality of customer support can vary quite a bit, even for legitimate sites, so don’t expect perfection every time. That said, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
If there’s no live chat or email, or if the person at the other end seems unprofessional, you might want to give that casino a miss.
Inadequate or confusingT&Cs
The UKGC is strict about fairness and transparency. All licensed casinos are required to ensure that the terms they offer are easily understood. If they’re too dense, or too vague, tough to wrap your head around or even just badly written, this may be a sign that something’s wrong.
Pay attention to the content of the terms too. Some less-than-trustworthy sites use them to catch players out, with unreasonable limits, requirements and restrictions. Reading bonus terms and conditions isn’t anybody’s idea of fun, but it’s well worth taking the time, especially when signing up to a new casino.
Pay attention to longer paragraphs where something important may have been 'buried'. And if something doesn’t make sense, ask customer support to clarify.
Obscure games and unknown developers
You don’t need to spend much time browsing casino sites to notice patterns in what’s offered. There are certain well-known games which crop up again and again. It’s worth checking to see which you recognise. A few of the most popular slot games include Big Bass Bonanza, Starburst and Book of Dead. These are just examples, but you may wish to use them to test new casinos you're considering.
Similarly, avoid sites which aren’t partnered with any of the major developers. Smaller developers are great, but if you don’t see any names you recognise, you’ll want to steer clear of the site. Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Blueprint and Games Global are some of the biggest names in slots development, so these might be a good place to start.
This isn’t to suggest that unfamiliar games and developers are a bad thing. However, if a site has absolutely no recognisable names on it, this could suggest that they shouldn't be operating in your area.
Player reviews
Player reviews can be interesting but should be considered with caution:
- Glowing or positive reviews may be fake – posted by the site itself or their associates and friends
- Negative reviews – may not be a true reflection, but have been posted by someone who has lost and is simply looking to vent their frustration
At No Wagering we pay close attention to player feedback and will only recommend a casino we know has a loyal customer base.
Poor website design, usability, spelling mistakes etc
A casino’s outdated website design may be mentioned in a negative player review. If so, likely another red flag. However, you can also come to that conclusion yourself with just the barest of research or investigation.
So, what does a poor or outdated website likely mean about that casino?
- Lack of resources / investment on the part of the operator
- Lack of customer focus on the part of the operator
- Lack of vision for their brand
- A warning sign that other key elements might not be up to scratch
It’s definitely a red flag.
If in doubt...
We’re here to help! At No Wagering, we only vouch for sites which are properly licensed, above board and trustworthy.
Our purpose is to direct players to the best sites, bonuses and games, and we take it seriously. And should you come across something dodgy we'd like to hear about it.
So, if you’re on the look out for a new casino, and you’re struggling to identify which ticks the boxes, just pick one from our list of the best. Not only will this ensure that your funds and personal details are safe, but also that you’re getting the best bonuses with the most agreeable terms and the lowest wagering requirements!
Research your new casino carefully, then get playing!