Numbers are hard to deceive. In 2024, the global online gambling industry exceeded $92 billion, with the share of the shadow sector estimated at 8% to 15%. The numbers speak for themselves — every tenth deposit falls into the hands of scammers.
Identifying a safe platform is no longer a matter of luck but a matter of thorough verification. Therefore, the key skill remains understanding how to check the honesty of a casino before clicking the “play” button.

How to Check the Fairness of a Casino: Jurisdiction and License
A license is not just a formality but a real tool for protecting funds. Reliable operators cooperate with jurisdictions where requirements for gambling platforms include software audits, provider checks, data encryption, and arbitration procedures.
Regulators whose licenses are recognized in 90% of cases:
- Curacao eGaming — a mass market, weak customer protection, low requirements.
- Malta Gaming Authority — high control, EU recognition, complaint verification.
- UK Gambling Commission — strict requirements, detailed customer verification.
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission — focused on North America, fast procedures.
To check a casino for a license, you need to compare the registration data with the official regulator’s registry. Any discrepancies are a signal of a fraudulent scheme.
Software and Server: Fairness in Code and Mechanics
A legal operator uses licensed software from verified providers. These games are stored on independent servers, and random number generators (RNGs) undergo certification by technical laboratories like iTech Labs, GLI, eCOGRA.
How licensed software works in a casino:
- The provider (e.g., NetEnt or Playtech) releases a slot.
- The provider places it on a secure server with unchanged code.
- The casino accesses the game without the ability to change the RTP.
- Certification confirms that the coefficients match the stated ones.
- Any attempt to tamper with the server or code is automatically detected.
Checking fairness starts with simple things like provider logos and independent laboratories. Their absence is a reason to stop playing before the first spin.
Reviews and Ratings
No regulator can protect against greed, but the experience of other players can save your budget and nerves. To understand how to check the fairness of a casino, simply look through reviews on independent portals. Aggregators with open comment verification systems like AskGamblers, Trustpilot, CasinoGuru form high-trust ratings.
Repeated negative feedback from different sources indicates a systemic issue. However, it’s important to distinguish complaints from emotions — professional reviews highlight facts, not speculations. A high rating without real comments is another signal for verification.
How to Distinguish a Fair Casino from a Fraudulent One: Signs
A platform that hides contact information, ignores complaints, and manipulates software rarely operates within the law. Assessing reliability starts with a comprehensive analysis.
Checklist:
- Absence of a license or indication of a fake jurisdiction (e.g., Antigua without a verifiable number).
- Reviews mentioning issues with withdrawing winnings, bonus manipulations, account blocks after large bets.
- The platform offers “original” slot machines without mentioning the provider.
- Refusal of verification after winning or delays in payouts exceeding 72 hours without reason.
- No information about the regulator, no legal registration address, no license number.
These signs allow recognizing scammers in 80% of cases even before creating an account.
Deposit and Withdrawal Verification: Mathematics of Fair Play
A reliable platform uses transparent deposit and withdrawal schemes. Checking the fairness of a casino involves analyzing payment methods: licensed operators only connect official processors — Visa, Mastercard, bank transfers, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller). Third-party crypto wallets without KYC, shady payment gateways, and absence of terms of service are signs of unreliability.
A fair platform processes withdrawals within 24–72 hours, doesn’t delay payments without explanation, and doesn’t require re-verification for each win. Deposit and withdrawal conditions are always outlined in the rules and don’t change without notice.
How to Check the Fairness of a Casino: Rules, Bonuses, and Verification
Checking fairness is impossible without analyzing the bonus policy. A legal platform discloses terms in full: wagering requirements, betting restrictions, list of excluded games, promotion validity period.
For example, a fair establishment offers free spins with a x30 wager and 7 days for wagering — this is standard. Scammers set x100 requirements or hide restrictions altogether. Changing conditions after activating a bonus is a common trick.
Customer verification is another criterion of fairness. Requesting documents on the first withdrawal, complying with KYC rules, protecting personal data according to PCI DSS standards, and not requesting re-verification without reason are signs of a sound security approach. Refusing to process a win under the pretext of an “incomplete profile” is a scammer’s trick.
Certification and Data Protection
The technological foundation of a fair casino is platform certification and encryption. SSL protocol, two-factor authentication, data storage on encrypted servers, regular security audits are standard for major operators. Certificates from Cloudflare, Comodo, DigiCert confirm connection security and data integrity.
Example: the operator Betsson uses 256-bit encryption and undergoes annual security checks by Deloitte. These measures prevent access to customer data and ensure the protection of winnings and deposits.
How Regulators Work: Protecting Players’ Rights
A regulator doesn’t just issue a license — it provides a feedback channel. Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC, Curacao allow filing complaints on their official websites. In case of a conflict with an operator, a player submits a complaint, attaches screenshots and details, and the regulator initiates an investigation. If a platform violates the license, it loses the right to operate.
Regulators also monitor software providers, check rules, control payouts, and monitor reviews. This completes the security chain where each element is verified.
What a Fair Casino Means: Example in Practice
In 2023, the independent audit eCOGRA checked 54 licensed operators. Only 38 received a fully compliant mark. Among them are LeoVegas, Mr Green, Casumo. These platforms are certified, maintain direct communication with regulators, use licensed software, and promptly handle complaints.

In contrast, 30% of establishments refer to fake jurisdictions or create pseudo-sites with data substitution. The scam scheme includes software manipulations, refusal to pay out after winning, fake ratings, and counterfeit licenses.
Conclusion
Understanding how to check the fairness of a casino means building a system of filters that won’t let any dubious projects slip through. License, jurisdiction, providers, review verification, terms analysis, and a real regulator are key factors. A reliable platform always operates by the rules, uses certified software, ensures data protection, respects customers, and their winnings.