If you’re new to betting, it can be confusing and overwhelming to navigate the world of online gambling. One of the biggest concerns you may have is falling victim to betting scams, which unfortunately are quite common. These scams can take many forms, such as offering unrealistic bonuses, making it difficult to withdraw your winnings, and using unclear or contradictory terms and conditions.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and ensure that your betting experience is safe and enjoyable. In this article, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you identify betting sites that may be trying to deceive you, and we’ll provide you with actionable steps you can take to avoid falling for betting scams. With our help, you can bet with confidence and peace of mind.

Let’s talk about the most common sports betting scams that you should be aware of. These deceitful sites usually use one or more of these tactics to try and trick players. But the good news is that most of these tactics are pretty obvious. Unfortunately, to spot some of them, you may need to open an account and start playing. Here are the six most common sports betting scams:

• Extravagant Bonuses: If a sportsbook offers a bonus that seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is especially true for new bookies trying to attract unsuspecting players.

• Withdrawal Delays: If a bookmaker is consistently delaying your withdrawals for no reason, stay away from them. Some sites will claim that your bank or payment method is the cause of the delay, but the truth is that they’re trying to make you lose what you’ve won so far. Some brands may also demand additional documents for large withdrawals to slow down the process further.

• Not Paying Won Wagers: Some scam bookmakers refuse to pay out winnings, usually for ridiculous reasons. Their go-to excuse is a mistake during the live odds update. Sometimes, they don’t even give you a reason; they just void your winning wagers.

• Frequent T&Cs Updates: This is often done to avoid awarding bonuses or winnings. For example, imagine claiming a welcome offer that requires you to roll over the bonus five times before you can withdraw. You do that but still can’t cash out your winnings. When you check the bonus terms again, it now says that you must wager the deposit and bonus eight times.

• Constant Maintenance: While not a clear sign of fraud, it’s how some bookies try to limit suspicion before they shut down. This is more apparent in the casino section, but ask yourself how often the bookie’s website has been down for maintenance if you’ve been playing there for a few years.

• Poor Regulation: Not all betting sites are regulated by strict authorities. If you’re worried about losing your money, it’s best to avoid such bookmakers. However, not all sites with a Tier 2 license are untrustworthy.

To avoid falling prey to sports betting scams, there are four main ways to protect yourself. First, opt for a strictly regulated site if reliability is your top priority. The most reputable iGaming authorities are the MGA, GLA, and UKGC. However, it’s important to exercise caution when playing on Curacao betting sites, as not all of them are trustworthy.

Secondly, read reviews from other players to get an idea of their experiences with a particular sportsbook. But be aware that not all player comments are honest, and some may be influenced by frustration over losing money.

Another way to protect yourself is to check the ratings of bookies on our website. While we only host trustworthy sites, we still grade them on reliability, with brands that have strong operating licenses and years of experience generally performing better.

Lastly, building your own experience can help you recognize worrisome signs and make informed decisions. Watch out for suspicious behaviour, such as bookmakers contacting you with lucrative promotions via phone or email. If you’ve shared your personal information with the operator before, there may be no cause for alarm. However, many fraudulent sportsbooks use illegal methods like phishing or email address harvesting to obtain your contact information and entice you to make a deposit.

How can I report a betting scam?

If you have been a victim of fraud, don’t blame yourself. You can try the following steps to report it:

• Notify the gambling authority under which the bookmaker operates, such as UKGC or MGA, by filing a complaint on their website.
• Contact customer protection agencies who can evaluate your claims and act as intermediaries between you, the bookie, and the licensing authority.
• Warn other players by leaving comments on forums and rating pages to help them avoid falling victim to similar scams.

Looking for a trustworthy MGA licensed sportsbook? We recommend one of the safest out there; Betstro.