If you enjoy gambling at online casinos and are worried that you might get locked out of your favorite game or platform, you’ve come to the right place. Online casinos have strict terms and conditions, cybersecurity, and teams of compliance personnel to protect their sites and their businesses.
Even if you think you know a loophole and could get away with cheating an online casino, think again. These 5 things will quickly get you banned from your favorite casino, your account suspended, and your funds seized.
Know the Rules Before You Play
The first thing you need to do when signing up for a new account at an online casino is to read the terms and conditions carefully. It might seem like a waste of time when all you want to do is get to playing your favorite games.
It’s all fun and games when you see those reels spinning. But you need to make sure that your gambling practices are in line with what the casino stipulates in its list of T&Cs. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can outsmart a casino. Actually, that’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make. No sooner than you thought you’d cheated, the casino will flag up any suspicious behavior.
#1. Using a False Identity
Signing up for an online casino usually requires a few different steps, and players have to show ID to ensure that they’re legally old enough to gamble and that the country they’re from allows them to gamble legally.
Some tricksters have been known to use multiple aliases and even other people’s identification to create multiple accounts. Not only is this against the terms and conditions, but it’s also identity theft. Even if you open the account with your own money and they never find out, it still counts as identity theft and can be a pretty serious crime, depending upon where you live.
#2. Gambling Underage
While this may seem similar to item #1 and otherwise lying about your personal information in your online casino account, it’s important enough to warrant its own section. The legal age for gambling is 21 in the United States but varies a bit worldwide.
Underage gambling is one of the largest issues being undertaken by gambling and regulatory authorities worldwide — with agencies working hard to ensure that existing laws keep up with the forward march of technology.
#3. Using a VPN to Disguise Your Location
Virtual Private Networks or VPNs are a bit of a grey area when it comes to casinos. There are a few instances where they’re perfectly legal and their use is even encouraged. If you use a VPN to protect your data to gamble legally, then you’re doing absolutely nothing wrong.
However, if you live in an area where gambling is illegal or restricted, then using a VPN to grant access to restricted gaming sites in your area is illegal. Getting caught will earn you a permanent ban and (usually) a confiscation of all funds.
#4. Abusing Bonuses
The bonus system employed by online casinos is a nice way to try out new games or even casino platforms. The best and most lucrative bonuses are going to be sign-up bonuses to entice new players.
Trying to cheat the system by either getting multiple bonuses or cashing out the bonuses early without completing the wagering requirements is another quick way to get your name and IP address on a casino blacklist.
#5. Using Third-Party Software
Being in the comfort of your own home with an entire casino at your fingertips is quite convenient. It also can be rather tempting to use third-party software to gain an edge over the house.
Software programs that count cards or use AI algorithms to boost your chances of winning are strictly against casino terms and conditions, and online casinos keep an eye out for players that consistently win on medium to high-risk bets.
If you’re found using third-party software to cheat or boost your odds, the only thing you’ll win is a ban.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Don’t let all of these rules discourage you from trying out new online casino platforms. As you can see, unless you set out to purposely cheat a casino operator, an honest mistake will not get you into trouble.
Online casinos know the difference between dirty dealings and a genuine player who’s made an error. If you’re the latter, who’s accidentally been banned by an online casino, you can simply file a petition, attaching all of the relevant documents and proof to support your claim. Very often these kinds of bans are simply suspensions that are easily reversible with cause.