Millions of websites are on the blacklist. There’s no specific total number, but Google blacklists roughly 10,000 suspicious websites daily for issues such as malware or phishing (Patch Stack).
And it’s not only Google: security software companies like Norton and McAfee or internet service providers such as Mozilla and Apple can blacklist websites.
A blacklisted website means you won’t be able to access the webpage. A blacklisted casino, unless it’s removed by Google or one of the other companies we mentioned, doesn’t mean you can’t access it.
What it does mean, however, is that blacklisted iGaming platforms are untrustworthy and unacceptable for players. They constantly and deliberately fail to protect customers.
The issue is that regulatory bodies such as the UK’s Gambling Commission can’t directly remove these malicious online casinos from Google. They can recommend it, but they can’t enforce it.
To help you avoid them, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to spotting blacklisted online casinos you need to avoid.
What is a Blacklisted Casino?
“Blacklisted casino” is an umbrella term. Any casino harming or behaving maliciously towards users could qualify as one that needs to be blacklisted.
Some of the common reasons a casino might be blacklisted include:
- Permitting unfair or rigged games
- Using biased algorithms
- Manipulating game outcomes
- Refusing payouts
- Slow payouts
- Committing payment fraud
- Dishonest terms and conditions
- Poor affiliate management
- Operating without a valid license
- Unresolved complaints
- Hostile management
Blacklisted casinos will lead players to their platform with exciting bonuses and a promise of a big payout.
The reality is that if a player uses a blacklisted iGaming platform for a few free spins, there’s a risk of compromised player privacy, theft of financial details and money, and a complete loss of trust in the online casino market.
How to Spot a Blacklisted Casino?
As we said, there’s no official list of every blacklisted casino or an official blacklisting service that removes harmful online casinos from search engines. Instead, online casino platforms will list unsafe websites to avoid—the CTO’s blacklist, for example, is an excellent source.
As well as lists of casinos to avoid, knowing how to spot a malicious platform keeps your online experience safe.
Licensing or offshore “licenses” with no oversight
We would always recommend going with officially licensed and regulated casinos. Some examples of common licenses you might see displayed include:
- Malta gaming license
- Isle of Man gambling license
- Alderney gambling license
- Gibraltar gaming license
- UK gaming license
Any official online casino will clearly display its license details. You can double-check if it’s legitimate by going to the licensing body’s website and searching for the name of the casino. Always be wary of expired, revoked, or unverifiable licensing.
Withdrawal issues
An official online casino should state the average payout times. It’s worth noting that this does vary depending on the payment method you’ve selected. For example, if you select a digital wallet payout for one withdrawal, and the next time you select a bank transfer, it will be slower.
However, for a casino to be blacklisted, it will continuously prolong the payout period or simply never pay out at all by outright refusing to make a payment to players. They might blame terms and conditions or issues with payment systems that don’t exist.
Exploitative or deceptive bonus terms
The terms and conditions should always be clear, with all the relevant information for depositing, withdrawing, and wagering rules.
Blacklisted iGaming platforms will attract players with lucrative bonuses, with the terms and conditions essentially saying there will never be a payout. Major red flags are:
- Unrealistic wagering requirements of 50-100x
- Maximum cash-out limits are applied after large deposits.
- Confiscation clauses that void wins for minor rule violations
- Bonus structures that essentially trap deposited funds
- Bonuses applied without player consent.
Suspicious game behavior
If a game isn’t behaving how it should, it could be a pirated or modified version of a legitimate game with malicious software that alters payout tables and probabilities. Essentially, they’re using software that means players never win. Some of the common signs of this include:
- Unusually low RTP
- Patterns that appear non-random
- Constant disconnects during winning streaks
Games should perform effortlessly and always follow the predefined terms and conditions.
History of player complaints
A history of player complaints, especially unresolved player complaints, is one of the best ways to find out if it’s a blacklisted casino or not before needing to deposit any money or play any game.
Legitimate casinos will have a long list of positive customer reviews and will always be responsive to negative ones.
It’s not that a casino can’t have a negative review; naturally, no platform is perfect. Whether the platform is actively responding to and rectifying issues is a sign of a good casino.
There are so many safe, fun online casinos. That said, much of the market is still unregulated, and blacklisted casinos are common. Always find and use registered and regulated online casinos for the most secure online gaming experience.
