
What Are Blacklisted Crypto Casinos?
These are crypto casinos that have been banned because of shady practices or a lack of security, among other things. However, the blacklist itself may not be official. Anyone can create a blacklist for gaming platforms. How reliable they are is another thing altogether. Essentially, you have two main sources:
- Regulatory authority. Blacklisted casinos are usually those that didn’t meet the regulatory requirements but are still trying to enter the local market. Even if a platform was originally licensed, it can get on the blacklist if there are a lot of legitimate reports against it.
- Casino information sites. Info sites like ours are free to set criteria that will land a brand in our crypto casino blacklist. These may be stricter or more relaxed than those set by a regulatory body.
- Community platforms. Players can also create their own list of rogue online casinos to avoid. Here, the list is usually based on experience instead of a process.
In any case, one thing is always true: there are some serious standards that have not been met.
How Does CoinGambling Determine Which Crypto Casinos Go on the Blacklist?
With so many shady platforms out there, most regulatory bodies wait for complaints to come in before a bad casino gets prioritized for the blacklist. And since we’ve been in the industry for a while, we know how dangerous this approach is.
We don’t wait for something bad to happen before acting. We’re actively looking for shady gambling platforms to warn you about them. Here are a few red flags:
Lack of Licensing
Not having an e-gaming license is a huge no-no in the industry. It’s like going to a doctor that didn’t pass the medical boards! So, the lack of licensing is practically a scarlet letter indicating that the gaming platform deserves to be blacklisted.
Online casinos usually put their regulatory information at the bottom of the page or on the About Us page. For example, let’s say that a platform claims to have a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. We’re going to verify this straight from the regulator’s site.
Even if they don’t have that information on their homepage, we still pursue other avenues to confirm that they really don’t have a license. The most important thing for us is to exhaust all means possible. After all, we wouldn’t want to accuse an operator of running an unlicensed casino without any proof!
Unclear Terms and Conditions
Having unclear terms and conditions is usually another red flag. A gaming platform that exists just to con you out of your money will not put a lot of effort into writing clear terms because it doesn’t plan to stick to them. Remember, the T&Cs are a binding agreement between you and the casino operator.
Blacklisted casinos usually have predatory terms for bonuses and withdrawals. For example, a site might set the wagering requirements of all its promotions at 200x. These conditions are just not realistic, even for those who play all the time! Think of it this way: if someone offered you $100 to do a somersault over burning hot coals, would you attempt it?
Another thing that we pay special attention to is how they define bonus abuse. The terms should clearly state the gaming activities that they classify as such. If it’s open to interpretation, you’re on the losing side already. They can just claim that what you did is considered abuse.
Negative Reviews and Player Complaints
In itself, a negative review isn’t an issue. As much as a quality casino tries to avoid errors, they may still happen from time to time. The issue may just be a simple miscommunication. What’s more concerning for us is what the operator is doing (or not doing about it). We look for these signs when identifying rogue casinos:
- Similar player concerns. For example, if a lot of players are saying that the crypto casino isn’t honoring its bonus terms, we know to look a little bit closer.
- Unresolved issues. Just because players have concerns, it doesn’t mean that the platform deserves to be blacklisted right away. We also look at how they respond or if they answer at all.
- Player satisfaction with the resolution. This is balanced with how reasonable and logical their response is.
If the management usually goes MIA on players, then they’re probably bad news. We assess others based on the general merits of the case.
Nonexistent Customer Support
For this, we try contacting the customer support team. For example, if they say that they have email support, then we expect someone to respond by email. It shouldn’t take 2 days for them to get back to you!
From our experience, you can usually detect right away if the customer service team is legit. Whether it’s a crypto casino or not, most decent online platforms have live chat functionality. You should be able to connect to someone quickly who’s capable of helping you with your issue.
Unrealistic Promotions
Did the promotion offer the possibility of getting as much as 10 BTC in bonuses? We promise you, there are traps under the hood that will make this reward more of a liability. Essentially, if you see an offer that’s too good to be true, then its source is most likely unreliable.
Unsecure Platforms
If Google itself is already warning you not to go to the site, then it’s practically guaranteed that it’s a blacklisted casino. This usually happens when there is no SSL encryption. Look for https in the address bar instead of http.
A quality and legit crypto casino will not let its SSL certificate lapse. Even though when you use cryptocurrency, you never have to share any identifiable financial information, encryption will still minimize the chance of your data being exposed.
How to Identify and Avoid Blacklisted Crypto Casinos
Deciding whether to trust a casino should be based on reliable research. There are many approaches to the same end, but we suggest using at least two of the ones we’ll talk about here. This way, you can be more confident about your decision to pursue or avoid a gaming platform.
Use Trusted Watchdog Lists
If you want to identify blacklisted casinos quickly, the quickest way to do so is by referring to the information provided by trusted and unbiased watchdogs. If you ask us, this should be your first step. After all, why would you waste time doing your own research if it’s already been done for you?
But again, the reliability of this method depends on the trustworthiness of the source. Look at how they decide whether or not to add a certain platform to the list. We’ve told you how we do it, but everyone has different standards. For example, if a country bans the use of cryptocurrencies for betting, they may even blacklist a quality crypto casino.
Research the Casino
In the end, you don’t have to trust a watchdog. You can always do the research on your own. Start by looking up information about the operator and its licensing. Here’s how we suggest you go about it:
- Look up the name of the casino operator. This information will be necessary for the next steps. But here, try to look at any other casino brands that they operate.
- Check their licensing information. At a legit crypto gambling platform, you’ll already see this at the bottom of the homepage. But if it’s not there, try looking it up with a search engine.
- Verify license. If you found information about the license, you should verify it using the regulator’s website.
If everything goes well here, then the platform will probably be legitimate. Take note: we’re saying it’s PROBABLY legit. Some regulators are more thorough than others.
Read Reviews and Player Feedback
When evaluating player feedback, make sure that it’s coming from real players. After all, who knows if it’s just some shady competitor trying to shake things up? As you’re reading, try to do the following:
- Look for patterns in the feedback
- Assess the response of the operator, if any
- Determine if it crosses the threshold for being worthy of a blacklist
Of course, we encourage you to test everything yourself. Still, you should look at what others have to say. Some issues could just be a fluke!
Verify Security Measures
As we mentioned in the previous section, the most important thing here is the SSL encryption.
However, just for kicks, why not check which other security measures they support? Two-factor authentication, firewalls, and passwordless signups are all great signs that you’re not using blacklisted online casinos.
Test Customer Support
Let’s say that you sent a message to their live chat support (yes, this is a must-have). Did you experience any of the following?
- It took too long to get an answer: There’s no reason for blacklisted Bitcoin casinos to take queries seriously. So, they don’t have a great system for making sure you get an answer right away.
- Low-quality response: The chances are that the person answering your question is a scammer! Since they’re in the business of keeping costs low to squeeze the most profit out of their victims, they may not hire an agent at all.
- No response: Rogue casinos may also not respond at all. If this is what happens, it’s practically a guarantee that the site is blacklisted somewhere.
Still, even if the customer support team is excellent, it doesn’t mean that the platform is definitely not blacklisted. Read testimonials to evaluate the customer experience!
Start Small
If everything looks good but you’re still a little suspicious, start small... as small as you possibly can. Check the wagering requirements for the deposit. After you’ve met this prerequisite, then try to withdraw your money into your crypto wallet.
So, why do all this? This is your chance to spot any issue or potential red flags with the minimum investment possible.
What Should You Do if You Encounter a Blacklisted Bitcoin Casino?
Sadly, even when they have access to information about blacklisted crypto casinos, many people still fall victim to them. We can’t promise that this won’t happen to you. However, it’s also not the end of the world! By doing these things, you’re helping minimize any harm to you AND the others who may encounter these untrustworthy platforms:
Stop Playing Immediately
Yes, even if you’re seeing the biggest casino winnings that you’ve ever had. But why should you stop playing even if you’ve technically already spent the money by transferring it into your casino account?
- You want to limit your exposure. The longer that you play, the more of your personal and financial info you’re exposing. Even the device itself may be at risk if you keep on using blacklisted casino sites!
- There may be no point to it. If you’re using a brand from a Bitcoin casino blacklist, you may not be able to cash out your money anyway.
- You need to protect your winnings. After all, you can’t lose if you can’t play!
But just stopping gaming activities isn’t enough. This should just be your first step.
File a Complaint
If the casino has a license, then try to see what its process looks like. For this part, we suggest that you:
- Thoroughly document any bad experience that you have with the site
- Keep images or videos to complement your documentation
Most importantly, make your complaint as clear as possible. This is your clearest shot at getting the resolution that you want. But (surprise, surprise) a lot of blacklisted casinos don’t have an active license. In this case, go to the authority in your area instead.
Warn Others
The main reason a lot of shady crypto casinos exist is that they’re successful in scamming people. So, the more aware players are, the less of a problem these blacklisted casino brands will be in the future.
Please don’t worry about the stigma of being conned. These scammers are relying on that to keep their operations going. By talking about your experience, you prevent others from sharing the same fate. After all, wouldn’t you want to contribute to cutting their funding source?
Recover Funds
Depending on the standards of what makes it into the blacklist, there may not even be an issue with cashing out your funds. So, if you still have money in your account with them, just try to withdraw it like you normally would.
For this, we’d use your crypto wallet. The last thing you want is to give any information that can compromise your safety.
Seek Help to Get Your Money Back
Don’t you want to go down swinging? If you haven’t managed to get your cash from the platform, try these things before giving up:
- Try to get a chargeback. If you used a card on the site, you may be protected against fraudulent activities. Try talking to your card provider and see what they can do.
- Mediation services. Some sites may have mediation services that may compel them to help you out.
- Blockchain tracking tools. If you plan to go after them legally, it pays to know who or what exactly you should target. Tracking tools can help you find this out.
The chances of getting your money back are very small. However, at this point, you don’t have anything to lose! So, why not try anyway?
Responsible Gaming: It’s More Than Just Avoiding Blacklisted Bitcoin Casinos
If you’re taking active measures to avoid blacklisted crypto platforms, then you’re already on the right track. That is part of your duty to ensure you gamble responsibly, BUT it’s not enough on its own. Even at the most trusted online casinos, there are steps you should take to make sure that you’re one hundred percent safe:
- Only use the official site and app. As a player, it’s your responsibility to take care of your login credentials. This includes doing your part so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
- Set limits. Even before you pick a game, decide how much you’re willing to lose over the course of the gaming session. Make it last by going for smaller bets.
- Don’t get emotional. You’re supposed to have fun, but if you get too engaged, stopping may be harder. If you get too frustrated about your losses, you’re more likely to make mistakes.
Most legit crypto casinos will also have responsible gambling tools. Try to use them too!
Avoiding Blacklisted Casinos? It’s Easy!
The reason they’re blacklisted is that they’ve failed to meet the most basic prerequisites to be considered a decent crypto platform. These requirements are what separates legitimate platforms from rogue casinos. If you want to avoid them, looking at blacklists is a great place to start. But remember that just because a platform isn’t there, it doesn’t mean that it’s completely legitimate.
New crypto platforms are launched all the time. So, it’s important that you also know how to identify these shady sites. When in doubt, just go back to what we talked about here. We’ve given you everything you need to know to avoid them altogether. Stay safe!
FAQ
What should I do if I already signed up for a blacklisted crypto casino?
If you’ve just signed up, it’s possible that their damage is fairly limited. So, just stop playing and send a report to the local regulatory authority. If possible, remove any personal information that you’ve shared.
However, if you’ve already deposited money and played online games, stop immediately. If you’ve linked your crypto wallet, unlink it immediately. Make sure to report the casino as well.
Can I get my money back from a blacklisted casino?
Sadly, you may not be able to get your money back because crypto transactions are irreversible. However, if you used your card to buy crypto on the site, you could try to ask the card provider to reverse the charges.
At this point, the safety of your financial information is the bigger concern. If you used a card, try to have it replaced. However, if you funded the shady crypto site using your wallet, then do everything possible to make sure it’s secure.
How are crypto casinos added to blacklists?
It usually starts with complaints from verified users of those platforms. Then, they’re investigated by looking at the license, fairness, security, and other things. The ones in charge of the investigation may even try to listen to the side of the operator. Whether or not a casino will be added to the blacklist will depend on the outcome of this investigation.
However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be followed. For example, crypto gambling sites that are known for their not paying out wins may be included right away.
Can a crypto casino be removed from a blacklist?
A regulatory body may have a process for this. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the site will be removed. It still depends on the authority.
If there’s a removal process, it’s going to be very effort-intensive and time-consuming for the platform. After all, they still have to rebuild customer trust through sustained efforts.
What should I look for in a trustworthy crypto casino?
The most important thing is an active and verifiable license from a respected gaming authority. Look at what other players have to say about the site, too.
Security is also very important, especially because you can’t unsend crypto. So, you have to make sure that you are using a trustworthy and reliable site from the get-go.