How to Protect Yourself from Online Gambling Scams

Jamie Larson

Apr 1, 2026 — 6 min read

Online casinos and betting platforms are rapidly gaining popularity, and according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global online gambling market is expected to reach $153 billion by 2030. Consequently, this has led to a rise in increasingly sophisticated casino fraud. Sumsub's 2024 Online Gaming Fraud Report shows that online gaming fraud increased by an average of 64% year-on-year between 2022 and 2024.

Here we will explore common types of online casino fraud, how to avoid gambling scams and fraudulent sites, what to do to protect yourself, and a step-by-step guide on what to do if you transferred money to scammers.

Common online gambling scams

Here are five of the most common online casino scams that players should be aware of.

Fake online casinos

Scammers often create fake versions of well-known casinos, imitating their URLs and designs to deceive users. Fake platforms prompt visitors to create an account and make a deposit, often promising a generous bonus. Once users deposit, the funds are immediately transferred to a fraudulent account. Victims find themselves with no genuine games, payouts, or support, facing a convincing facade designed solely to steal funds, and ultimately, they lack any means to recover their losses. The major step to avoid being scammed at a fake online casino is to verify domain names and ensure HTTPS encryption before logging in.

One Reddit user reported being scammed after reading "an article suggesting it's another stake.us Drake casino. Follow the link and get a $2,500 bonus." The user detailed how, out of financial desperation, he made two $150 deposits in the hopes that the $2,500 promise would be true, but of course, he never received any funds.

Source: Reddit

Rigged or non‑licensed platforms

Online casinos display gaming licenses (such as Curaçao) from regulatory bodies with which they don't actually cooperate, or display logos from bodies that have never verified them, falsifying their legitimacy to gain user trust. As a result, when disputes arise, such as unfair games or blocked withdrawals, players have no real recourse.

Typically, regulators are responsible for verifying and ensuring the legitimacy of gambling platforms, but not all oversight is flawless, especially when new digital platforms can emerge rapidly. In some cases, the gambling community itself can intervene as an informal layer of defense against suspicious websites, creating scam warning pages on Reddit or similar review sites.

Phishing websites and fake email promotions

Phishing is one of the oldest types of online fraud, and it's gaining momentum in the online casino industry. Kaspersky Security Network reported that, during the first ten months of 2025, more than 20 million attempted phishing attacks were made on gaming platforms, including 18.56 million targeting Discord.

This involves impersonating legitimate online casinos or bookmakers to trick victims into revealing personal or financial information, including account logins. This scam involves fake emails or messages, supposedly from customer support, asking users to "confirm" their wallets or log in via a malicious link. After entering their credentials, the scammers can easily withdraw the user's funds.

Group-IB has discovered a large network built on fake gambling websites and false advertising. The investigation uncovered over 1,300 malicious domains and over 500 ads across several regions. The scammers used AI-generated voices in various languages to make the ads sound local and trick users into downloading fake apps promising easy money in seconds before stealing their data and funds.

Bonus or payout scams

Registration bonuses are a common practice used by casinos to attract new players. Some dubious platforms lure users with exaggerated or false bonus promises, then change the rules as soon as players attempt to withdraw their winnings. In some cases, withdrawal requirements are either impossible to meet or constantly change, making withdrawals virtually impossible.

The website Fortuneplay.top advertised large cryptocurrency registration bonuses of up to $10,000 simply for registering and using a promo code.

Source: Malwaretips

Initially, players were able to play and seemingly win using the bonus funds. However, as an investigation by Malwaretips revealed, when players attempted to withdraw funds, they were asked to "verify" their accounts by depositing additional funds. After these deposits were made, the site continually created new obstacles, delaying or rejecting withdrawal requests. As a result, many users reported losing everything.

Manipulated affiliate programs

A common scam tactic involves citing famous entrepreneurs, such as Elon Musk, or athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo, as being involved in a project to capitalize on people's trust in these figures. Online casinos across the globe make dubious claims that they are created by various influential figures.

To appear credible, advertisements use social media personalities like Mr. Beast to promote fake gaming platforms. One ad featured a fake BBC website with an article written by a real BBC reporter, James Chater. The headline read: "World-famous YouTuber MrBeast is launching an exciting new challenge! He's unveiled a unique promotional offer on his new website, VEGAWEX.COM. Use promo code 'BONUS' to instantly receive $2,500."

Source: YouTube

The VEGAWEX website remains active and features an image of MrBeast on its homepage in an attempt to deceive unsuspecting users. However, there is no evidence that MrBeast actually endorsed or was associated with the website.

How to spot online gambling scams

Here are a few precautions that can help to spot internet gambling scams:

Beware of fake endorsements. Celebrity images or endorsements without verified affiliations are red flags.
Question inflated statistics. Claims like "50,000 active users" could be fabricated.
Beware of withdrawal requirements. Sites that block withdrawals until a confirmation deposit is made are usually scams.
Check for licenses and regulations. Legitimate platforms clearly display legal information.
Avoid unrealistic promotions. Offers of free loans of $2,500 to $10,000 are usually scams.
Use security. Antivirus software and ad blockers can help prevent malicious pop-ups or access to fraudulent sites.

How to avoid gambling scams

Protecting yourself from online casino phishing scams and other malicious schemes requires vigilance more than specialized knowledge. Here are some practical tips to avoid online casino scams.

Use trusted platforms. Choose reputable casinos with a strong online presence and a good reputation. Avoid new casinos without reviews.
Check domains. Always check URLs before logging in. Mark trusted sites and avoid clicking random links in suspicious emails or messages.
Avoid suspicious bonuses. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Read bonus terms and conditions carefully and be wary of unknown platforms.
Enable two-factor authentication. 2FA provides an additional layer of security, helping prevent unauthorized access even if someone obtains your login credentials.
Use separate cards. Create a separate card for deposits and keep a small amount of money on it.
Don't share PINs. No legitimate platform will ever ask for your card PIN.

Report any impersonating scammers to the relevant platform and share the information on social media to warn other users.

What to do if you get scammed

If you've lost money due to online fraud or cybercrime, this guide can help.

Step 1: Report the incident to the police

It's important to report the incident to the police as soon as possible. Having the police case number will be necessary when contacting your bank and other relevant authorities.

Step 2: Contact your bank

If the incident was with your bank account, contact your bank and explain what happened. This will initiate an investigation. The bank has 15 days to investigate and provide a report stating whether they will return the money.

If you know the recipient's bank, contact them as well. If you do this quickly, they may freeze the money if it's still in transit, and both parties should begin a fraud investigation. Fraudulent transfers can often be reversed if detected early enough.

Step 3: Filing a complaint

If you don't receive a full refund, you should file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service or the court. They may side with you, believing the bank's warnings were insufficient, ineffective, or that the bank should have acknowledged the highly unusual transactions.

Step 4: Refund

There are three refund options:

Full refund - your bank admits it didn't take sufficient steps to warn you during the transfer, so you'll get your full money back.
50% refund - you could have done more, and the bank could have done more; this is referred to as "joint liability." You get half your money back.
No refund - your bank concludes its warnings were sufficient and believes you ignored them or were "negligent" in your own checks, so that it won't offer you a refund.

Conclusion

While online gambling can be exciting and profitable, safety and awareness are non-negotiable. Scammers prey on users' desire to make quick and easy money, but ultimately seek to steal personal information and funds. Following strict security guidelines and exercising caution online remain the most effective ways to protect yourself from threats. The next time you see a celebrity endorsement on a website or a random link on Discord, be wary. Remember, you don't have to click the link or interact with the site at all.