Many online casinos do their best to incorporate the best security protocols to make users feel as protected as possible. It would be great to say this was true for all casinos, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. Some casinos use unethical practices to rig games, refuse players their winnings, or leave personal information vulnerable. These casinos go on our blacklisted casinos list, which means we advise that you avoid them.
If you are new to online gaming, we understand that you might not know how to recognise a blacklisted casino. That’s why we wanted to create this guide to help you stay safe. As an established casino review site, JohnSlots is always here to protect you and provide transparent information on popular casino platforms. To learn more about the practices that leave some casinos blacklisted, stick around!
What is a Blacklisted Casino?
Blacklisted casinos are casinos that have been deemed unsafe for a specific reason. There are many reasons why a casino might end up on such a list – the absence of a valid gambling licence, inaccurate licensing information, rigged games, inaccurate bonus information, problematic withdrawal processes, and lack of security protocols are only some of the reasons why you should avoid blacklisted casinos.
Why do Casinos get Blacklisted?
At JohnSlots, we have completed hundreds of casino reviews. We have firsthand experience with dangerous and unethical casinos, so we know a thing or two about why casinos end up on blacklists. Here are only some of the reasons a casino’s name might pop up among the casinos best avoided:
- Trouble with withdrawals: Blacklisted casinos have a history of problematic withdrawal processes. Whether it’s delayed withdrawals or refusal to pay out winnings, such reports cause casinos to gain a negative reputation.
- Bankruptcy and non-payment: Similarly to what we’ve mentioned before, non-payment of bonus funds or winnings can cause a casino to end up on the blacklist. If the casino declares bankruptcy and cannot pay any player, that could also land the casino on the blacklist.
- Fake or unreliable licensing: Casinos without a valid licence can go rogue and scam players out of their winnings or leave their information vulnerable. That’s why we always recommend sticking to casinos that have a valid licence from a popular regulatory agency.
- Poor customer service: Online casinos don’t have land-based locations you can visit in case of a problem, so they need good customer support. If the customer service is not up to standard, you might be left with many unanswered questions. Poor customer service can even land a casino on a blacklist, especially if the agents are unwilling to provide the needed assistance or if players report multiple queries without any response.
- Rigged or unfair games: A game lobby filled with non-RNG games means that the casino can rig the games and turn the outcome in their favour. Such practices can easily land a casino on a blacklist, so it’s essential to check whether the available games are RNG-based.
Is There a Risk to Play at a Blacklisted Casino?
Playing at casinos that are mentioned on numerous blacklists across review platforms comes at a certain risk. Even if the casino is well-thought-out and seems legit, we don’t recommend registering and sharing your personal information.
For one, we’ve found that many blacklisted casinos don’t have the needed security protocols to protect your information. That means whatever information you share can be misused, especially personal information like your address, bank information, and phone number.
Another thing that’s worth mentioning is that blacklisted casinos are often associated with problematic transactions. You might deposit money only to find it never gets to your account, or even if it does and you use it to play casino games, you might be scammed out of your winnings. Moreover, you might even find that your transactions include hefty fees that are not disclosed upfront.
For all these reasons and more, it’s risky to attempt playing at a casino that’s already been blacklisted. We recommend sticking to casinos with a stellar reputation, like the ones we’ve reviewed on our platform!
List of Blacklisted Casino Sites to Avoid 2024
We constantly update this list of blacklisted operators as we review UK casinos each month. So keep an eye on it when you’re trying to find a reputable gambling platform and wonder what you should avoid.
⚠️ Blacklisted Casino | Why You Should Avoid It |
---|---|
❌ Wolf.Bet | Questionable practices |
❌ Greenplay | Unresponsive |
❌ Tiger Riches | Questionable practices |
❌ Lucky Creek | Unethical business practices towards affiliates |
❌ Betfred | Scam complaints by players, and fined by the UKGC due to social responsibility and AML failings. |
❌ The Phone Casino | Unethical business practices towards affiliates |
❌ Slotster | Not Trustworthy |
❌ Royal Bets | Not Trustworthy |
❌ Slotsmoon Casino | Denied payments to players |
How to Recognise if a Casino is Blacklisted or Not?
There’s a common issue we’ve come across when trying to browse blacklisted casinos – there isn’t a single place where you can find all blacklisted casinos. Different review platforms cover different blacklisted casino sites, so we recommend that you also learn how to spot potential red flags and determine the validity of a casino yourself. Here’s what to look out for:
- Check the website’s footer for licensing information. The regulatory body should be mentioned there, whether it’s the UKGC, MGA, Curaçao, Gibraltar, or others. The casino should include the licence number and a direct link to the regulatory body’s registry for easy licence verification.
- Review the casino games and look for popular software providers with RNG-based games. If you can’t determine the provider, try looking up the game’s name online to determine whether the game is fair and the provider is reputable.
- For any promotions you are eligible for, look into the bonus details and determine whether everything is fair and transparent. If you find any discrepancies between the advertised terms and the ones on the website, it’s best to avoid the casino.
- Check the website’s security protocols. First, look for SSL encryption to protect user information. Then, check whether the casino requires KYC and 2FA for all users. Only proceed with the casino if these security protocols are present.
- Look into the available customer support channels. Test them to see whether the agents are willing to help and how long it takes them to respond. Note that a live chat response should come within minutes, while an email response takes around 24 hours. If you don’t get an answer within 48 hours through any channel, you might be looking at an unreliable platform.
- Last but no less important is to read online user reviews and determine whether anyone complains of a problematic transaction process. Missing or confiscated deposits are a serious problem, but so is withdrawal refusal. If you find multiple comments about this, it’s best to avoid the casino.
How Does JohnSlots Determine if a Casino is Blacklisted or Not?
At JohnSlots, we have a team of expert reviewers who do their due diligence on each platform we want to review. As part of our reviewing process, we pay close attention to several important factors:
- The number and quality of casino games available and the providers that create the games.
- The available deposit and withdrawal methods, along with the withdrawal process timeframe.
- The availability of bonuses and promotions for all players and the fairness of their terms.
- The customer support channels, the competence of the agents, and the average response time per channel.
- The security protocols integrated into the casino platform and the dedication to player safety.
- The presence of a valid gambling licence from a trustworthy regulatory agency.
Following the review and testing process, we deem the casino safe or unsafe. We only recommend casinos that pass our assessment with flying colours and achieve a positive consensus on all features noted above.
🛡️Alternatives to Blacklisted Casinos: Reputable Sites To Play At
MrQ – UKGC Licence and no wagering requirements
LeoVegas – Award-Winning mobile platform
21 Casino – Regulated & licensed by both the UKGC and the Malta Gaming Authority
Casumo – Unique gamification experience, secured by an SSL encryption technology
Lottomart – Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
Winomania – Verified payment methods
PlayOJO – Fairness guarantee and no wagering requirements
Bally Casino – Fair and transparent, backed by Bally Technologies
🔔 Report a casino
Even though we do our best to tell our users about all the blacklisted casinos they should avoid, some platforms might fall between the cracks. That’s why we want you to help us! If you find a platform you believe should be blacklisted, don’t hesitate to share your experience with us and help us determine if it should be on our blacklist.
FAQ
Blacklisted casinos can become reputable again if they fix the issues that got them banned in the first place. However, it will take a while before we can deem the casino safe for users, as we need to ensure the same issues don’t arise again after a short time.
Casinos are not likely to ban you for winning if you use accurate information to sign in and follow all the casino’s protocols while gaming. However, blacklisted casinos might refuse to payout winnings, which is why we don’t recommend spending time on such platforms.
If you’ve signed up for a blacklisted casino without being aware, you can deactivate your account from your account settings. You can also ask customer support to delete your account and all user information you’ve provided.
Not all blacklisted casinos are rogue. A casino might end up on a blacklist due to problematic employees in the support centre or processes it has no control over. If it works towards improving these processes, it can redeem itself.
References
- 📖 Gambling Commission. (n.d.). The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism: Part 6.13 Documentary evidence. Gambling Commission. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/guidance/the-prevention-of-money-laundering-and-combating-the-financing-of-terrorism/prevention-of-ml-and-combating-the-financing-of-terrorism-part-6-13-Documentary-evidence
- 📖 Gambling Commission. (n.d.). Online gambling licence: Restricted countries. Gambling Commission. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about-us/freedomofinformation/online-gambling-licence-restricted-countries