In 2018, the Supreme Court made a major change to legislation, enabling each state to regulate sports betting by overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Since then, more than 30 states have legalized this form of gambling and allowed people to engage in it online. Sports betting isn’t the only form of online gambling Americans turn to; several states allow online casinos, and there’s also a wide range of bingo games and lotteries available online.

In all its forms, online gambling offers excitement and entertainment, but there are also a few things to be wary of. It’s important to watch out for red flags to protect yourself from unregulated online gambling options that aren’t looking out for players’ best interests. Do not provide your personal information to or place wagers on such sites, as any red flags could mean your information isn’t secure. They can also be a sign that fair gameplay standards aren’t adhered to or that any payouts you’re entitled to will be withheld.

Avoid sites with any of these eight red flags to protect your information, gameplay, and potential payouts.

1. No Gambling License

Regulated online gambling platforms are required to be licensed to operate legally within a state. Ensure that any platform you’re considering using has a legitimate license from your state’s licensing authority. To obtain a license, the gambling platform has to adhere to regulations and policies that enable fair gameplay, protect players’ personal information, and offer safeguards for problem gambling. A gambling operator’s license signals that you can trust them, so regulated sites make it easy to find their licensing information. If you cannot easily find it on a site, this is a serious red flag.

2. No ID Verification

Regulated sites must ensure that players can legally partake in their gambling offers. To do this, they require that players provide identification, such as a passport, upon registering. If a platform doesn’t check your ID while registering, it’s a sign that it is not a trustworthy gaming option.

3. Unclear Terms and Conditions

While terms and conditions can be intimidating to read through, they’re essential for protecting online gambling platforms and their users. Because of this, they should be relatively straightforward to follow and outline any information you need to partake in betting or playing games, including rules, game odds, how to withdraw and deposit funds, and bonus or wagering requirements.

4. Negative Reviews

Negative reviews can be a sign that there is something off about the credibility of a gambling site. Before registering at one, look at player reviews or visit review websites to assess the general sentiment towards the provider. Doing this will help you identify any concerns or red flags you have missed on your own.

5. Few Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Online gambling operators want their users to enjoy the gaming experience, and part of this is providing various ways to make deposits or withdrawals so that users can use the option that’s most convenient for them. They also make sure that these options are reputable and secure. If a website has very few options for this, it may mean that its users’ best interests are not a top priority, or it could indicate a more serious privacy or security concern.

6. Inadequate Customer Service Options

Another concern that signals users’ best interests aren’t a priority for a gambling provider and that a site may not be regulated is if there aren’t many customer service options. Finding ways to talk to someone about your questions or concerns should be easy, especially if something related to your deposits or withdrawals comes up. There should also be more than one way to contact the gambling operator.

7. Bonuses That Are Too Good to Be True

If an online gambling provider offers a bonus that seems too good to be true, it is probably best to avoid it. Conversely, another red sign is if bonuses have incredibly high wagering requirements. Trustworthy gambling providers will make bonuses or offers with transparent and manageable wagering requirements and will be clear about any other restrictions for using them.

8. Lack of Responsible Gambling Tools

Regulated online gambling providers must provide tools to users that help protect against problem gambling. These tools usually include self-exclusion options, deposit limits, wager limits, and timers, each of which users can set or adjust. Responsible gambling tools should be easy to find; if they’re missing, this is a serious indicator that the site can’t be trusted. In addition, sites should also provide users with resources for addressing problem gambling, such as contacting the National Problem Gambling Helpline (800-522-4700), your state’s helpline, or other online resources.

How to Find Regulated Online Gambling Providers

While you should always double-check that a site is providing safeguards for you as a player or better, there are ways you can make this easier for yourself. A great place to start is to turn to your state’s regulatory authority, as many will include a list of licensed regulators. You can also visit trustworthy sources that review and recommend online gambling options, such as casinos.com, where slot websites are reviewed and ranked.

Finding a Reliable Online Gambling Provider Offers Security and Entertainment

Taking the time to search for a regulated and trustworthy online gambling option may not sound like the most glamorous activity, but it can help you have a far more enjoyable time afterwards. You won’t have to worry about the security of your personal information and whether or not the games are fair—allowing you to fully enjoy the gambling experience.

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