Red Flags to Watch for When Choosing an Online Gaming Platform

Prevent Online Gaming Scams With THESE 7 Tips

Online gaming scams are nothing new.

Each year thousands of players fall victim to rigged platforms and lose their hard earned money. It’s a huge problem that often seems overwhelming.

According to TransUnion, gaming had the highest rate of suspected digital fraud in 2024 (10.9%) throughout the United States.

But here’s the crazy thing…

Most of these players could have avoided fraud if they knew what to look for!

What you’ll learn:

  1. Why Online Gaming Scams Are More Prevalent Than Ever
  2. Biggest Red Flags To Avoid With Your Eyes Wide Open
  3. How To Verify A Site Is Legit Or Not
  4. Tips to Protect Yourself And Your Money

Why are Online Gaming Scams so Prevalent?

Online gaming scam detection has become more important than ever.

The global online gaming market has been on the rise for quite some time. As you might imagine, scammers are enjoying the influx of players just as much.

With millions of new players signing up to online gaming platforms every day, scam artists around the world see nothing short of unlimited opportunities to take your money.

Here’s the issue…

Players don’t know how to spot these platforms before it’s too late. They create an account, make their first deposit and then figure out the platform wasn’t legitimate.

This where online scam detection tools come in handy. Korean players have taken numerous steps to protect themselves from fraud. 먹튀픽 (which means “scam pick” in English) is a great example. 먹튀 is Korean for “eat and run”. Essentially these websites are taking your money and running. There are a handful of different sites like these in Korea to help gamers verify the platforms they play on are legit. You can think of these websites as your due diligence.

This isn’t speculation. Sumsub recently published a report detailing the growth of iGaming fraud. Their data shows fraud in iGaming increased 64% year-over-year.

Scary stuff right?

Don’t sweat it. Below are the 7 red flags you should know.

Biggest Red Flags To Avoid

Figuring out if a gaming platform is legit isn’t hard at all.

Once you learn what to look for, you’ll start seeing them everywhere. Below are scam gaming sites dead giveaways…

Bonus Offers

If a platform is offering bonuses that make you raise an eyebrow…

RUN!

I cannot stress this enough. Legitimate gaming platforms offer fair bonuses. Sure, some of them might be better than others. But downright scams will offer bonuses in hopes you jump on them right now.

Keep an eye out for…

  • Bonuses over 500%
  • No wagering requirements disclosed
  • Unclear terms to withdraw bonus amounts
  • High pressure to deposit ASAP

Licensing Information

All legitimate gaming platforms will list their license front and center.

Seriously. If you have to dig around to find the license, don’t use the site. End of story.

If you aren’t able to find the licensing information within 30 seconds of landing on a site…

MOVE ON!

Fraud sites will often display fake licenses (which you can check) or not mention one at all. Double check the license directly on the regulatory bodies website before depositing a dime.

Low-Quality Website

The moment you land on a gaming sites home page…

You should have a good idea if it’s professional or not.

Legitimate operators have money to throw around. They know how important it is to provide a great experience for their players when they first arrive. Scam sites often try to cut corners by…

  • Having tons of spelling errors
  • Missing pages and broken links
  • Super outdated designs
  • No mobile website
  • Using stock images

Professional gaming sites simply do not have these characteristics.

Unclear Contact Information

How can you contact a gaming site if you have a problem?

Legitimate businesses will offer you several ways to contact them. Whether that be through live chat, email support, or even a phone number. Scam sites will make it difficult for you to reach someone.

Their only support method will be a contact form with no guarantee they will get back to you.

Real companies want to help you. Fraud sites don’t.

Withdrawal Issues

We all love receiving payments quickly right?

Gaming sites make depositing money super easy. Instant deposits. No problems. But when it comes time for you to withdraw funds from your account is where many sites try to scam you.

Here are some red flags to watch out for with withdrawals:

  • Take over 7 days to process
  • Verification requirements that change week to week
  • Minimum withdrawal amounts that rise each time
  • Fees that were not disclosed when you signed up

If you see players complaining about this online, believe them!

3 Ways To Verify If A Site Is Legit

There are a few smart things you can do before joining any online gaming platform.

Here is a quick 3-step process to help you weed out the bad apples from the good ones…

Read Online Reviews

Google the sites name with the word “scam” or “complaint”.

Make sure you dig deep and read reviews from various sources. Also, don’t just look for reviews on the gaming site itself. These can be manipulated very easily. Try to find reviews on independent gaming forums and websites dedicated to consumer complaints.

Verify Their License

Head over to the license provider’s website.

Enter in the license number provided on the gaming site. Make sure it matches up! Taking 2 minutes to verify a license can save you thousands. Trust me.

Contact Customer Support

Throw customer support a question before you deposit any money.

How long does it take them to respond?

Is the response helpful or generic as hell? If it takes them a few days to respond or you get a stock response that doesn’t address your question, this platform isn’t legit.

Deposit A Small Amount

If everything checks out…

Deposit a small amount of money. Then try to withdraw it. If the process goes smoothly you should be good to go. Just don’t deposit a ton of money right away.

Tips to Protect Yourself (& Your Money)

Online scam detection should include protecting yourself from shady platforms.

Equally as important as not joining a fraudulent site, you should follow these tips to help protect your personal information and financial assets.

  • Use unique passwords for each site
  • Enable 2 factor authentication when available
  • Never share your account info with others
  • Use safe payment methods (that offer buyer protection)
  • Keep records of all your deposits/withdrawals

Another thing to remember is

Your personal information is worth money to these scammers. Just like your bank account.

Final Thoughts

Picking a safe online gaming site is pretty simple.

As long as you know what red flags to look for, you’ll be able to avoid almost all scams. Remember to take your time before joining a new site and don’t ever feel forced to deposit immediately.

Let’s quickly review what we talked about…

  • Verify the gaming sites license
  • Be wary of outrageous bonus offers
  • Contact customer support before depositing
  • Look up the sites reputation online
  • Test withdrawals by starting with a small deposit

Online gaming is supposed to be fun and exciting. Don’t let scammers take that away from you. If you use these tips, you’ll stay safe and keep your money in your pocket where it belongs.

Stay safe amigos.

 

Written by: MKAU Gaming

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