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Can an online casino cheat for winnings and how to avoid it

13 May, 2025

Nick Davis

The short answer is yes. And it happens more often than you think.
Moreover, deception does not always look like a direct "blocked account" or "canceled balance". Most often, these are subtle manipulations that are imperceptible to a beginner, which essentially put you in a losing position even before you make your first bet.

How exactly can a casino cheat?

Reduced RTP. One of the most common ways. Many slot providers (especially top ones like Pragmatic Play, Play'n GO) have several versions of the same slot with different RTPs. if he doesn't check it himself through an independent resource like RTPCheck.
Manipulations with Terms. Everything is beautiful on the site: "Instant payments", "No commissions".And then it turns out that if you have not wagered the deposit x3 or x5, a 15% commission will be imposed on the withdrawal.Or suddenly it turns out that you accidentally violated some rule in the user agreement, which no one warned you about.
A game with verification. As long as you lose, everything is ok.But as soon as you raise the normal amount, you are sent to the "document check", which drags on for weeks.The goal is simple: to starve the player with the expectation that he freaks out and loses the won back.
Blocking of accounts. A typical scheme: you win big, and the casino abruptly remembers that "there are suspicions of a multi-account" or "violation of the bonus rules."
Complete cancellation of the balance. Especially "impudent" casinos can cancel the balance after several attempts to withdraw money and complaints and ignore all the player's messages.
Partial payout. The casino may pay out a portion of the winnings, citing limit or delays, and then stop paying. Or come up with a reason why a player can't get all the winnings. This is especially often done if the player used a bonus.

Why regulators don't always help

There is a naïve idea: "if a casino is licensed, then it is honest, and if something happens, the regulator will help." It would be cool if it were so. But the reality, as usual, is different. License ≠ real protection Most online casinos operate under a license from Curacao or similar weak regulators. These licenses are issued not for a real check of the business, but for the payment of a fee. The regulator is absolutely purple, how you lose money there. Their task is to receive payments for licensing. Can complaints be filed there? Formally, yes.In practice, you will see the result in six months at best, and in the worst case, you will not achieve anything at all.

Who are weak regulators?

Curacao (the whole point: "pay and work until there is a mass scandal").
Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica are even more dubious licenses.
Some "subdivisions" of Malta that do not really regulate anything.

Casinos only need these licenses to put a beautiful logo on the site and give players a false sense of security.

Why letters to regulators are almost useless

The process is long: regulators can consider the case for months.
The result is often nothing: at most, the casino will receive a recommendation to "adjust the payout policy".
Many regulators don't care as long as players don't start making a fuss en masse.

In fact, you have no real protection if you have not chosen a normal casino in advance through checking RTP, reviews, and reputation.

How to Really Avoid Deception: Step-by-Step Instructions

Against the background of all this tin, it may seem that deception is almost inevitable. But in fact, a normal player has a lot of ways to protect himself even before the first deposit. The main thing is not to be naïve and think with your head, not your emotions. Here is a working scheme on how to avoid traps: 1. Check RTP and Fairness via RTPCheck While most players believe in beautiful banners, you have a specific tool: RTPChecking.There you will find out in a couple of minutes:

What is the real RTP in the casino.
What reviews are left by real people.
Which casinos constantly drain players through low RTP or murky conditions.

Ignoring the check means running into trouble. 2. Read reviews and look for alarms Don't just scroll through reviews like "casino is normal".Look for specific details:

Frequent complaints about non-payments.
Problems with verification.
Strange changes in bonus conditions.
Long withdrawal time.

If you see several identical complaints, this is not a coincidence. This is a red flag. 3. Check the withdrawal conditions in advance Before making a deposit, go to the rules section and read about payouts.

Minimum deposit turnover before withdrawal.
Maximum withdrawal limits per day/week.
The presence of hidden fees.
Available withdrawal methods (sometimes you can withdraw only through crypto, although the deposit was accepted from the card).

If there are too many "ifs" and "ifs" in the rules, it is better to run. 4. Be careful with bonuses Bonuses are not a gift, they are a trap if you do not understand the conditions:

See wagering. If it's x40 or higher, forget it.
Check if you can withdraw your winnings from the bonus at all.
Find out which games count towards wagering.

Remember: sometimes it is easier to refuse a bonus and play with your own money without any restrictions. 5. Act carefully

Make a minimum deposit for verification.
Take a screenshot of the rules before registration, especially about payouts and bonuses.
Keep the correspondence with the support service if you discuss something.
Do not rush to pour large sums until you are sure that the casino is working properly.

Inference:

If you think that a license or beautiful phrases like "we care about customers" will protect you from deception, you will lose. There is only one thing that protects you: awareness. Check. Timely caution.
Online casinos can be deceived. Regulators can remain silent.
But if you choose proven sites yourself through RTPCheck, read real reviews and do not fall for lures, your chances of saving money and nerves soar at times.