How To Tell If An Online Casino Is Legit? 7 Verification Steps

Step 1: Locate the Casino’s License Information

A legitimate online casino should clearly display licensing details, usually in one of these places:

• Website footer
• “About Us” page
• Terms and conditions
• Responsible gambling section

You should be able to find:

• The licensing authority name
• The license number
• The jurisdiction (where they’re regulated)

If licensing information is missing, vague, or buried, that’s a major warning sign. Legit casinos don’t hide their regulatory status.

Step 2: Verify the License on the Regulator’s Official Website

This is the most important step.

If the casino lists a license number, you should be able to confirm it through the regulator’s official website. Most legitimate gambling authorities have searchable public databases where you can verify:

• The license number
• The casino operator name
• The license status (active, expired, suspended)
• Sometimes even the approved domain name

If the license number doesn’t show up, or the operator name doesn’t match, assume the casino is either unlicensed or using fake credentials.

And yes, some scam casinos literally copy license numbers from other companies and paste them into their own footer. That’s why checking the regulator database matters.

Step 3: Check for SSL Encryption and Secure Connection

Before you even think about creating an account, check the site’s security basics.

Look for:

• A padlock icon in your browser bar
• A URL that begins with https:// (not http://)

If you click the padlock, you should see certificate details. If the certificate is expired, invalid, or issued to the wrong domain, that’s not a good sign.

A casino without proper encryption is basically telling you they don’t care if your personal information gets intercepted.

Step 4: Verify Third-Party Game Testing Certifications

A legit casino doesn’t just claim their games are fair. They usually back it up with third-party testing certifications.

Common testing agencies include:

• eCOGRA
• iTech Labs
• GLI (Gaming Laboratories International)

These seals often appear in the website footer. In many cases, they should be clickable and link to a verification page or certificate.

If a casino claims it’s “certified” but the seal is fake, unclickable, or doesn’t match a real testing organization, that’s a red flag.

No testing certification doesn’t automatically mean the casino is a scam, but it does mean you should dig deeper before depositing.

Step 5: Test Customer Support Responsiveness

A legit casino should have real customer support that can answer basic questions quickly.

Before depositing, test them by asking something simple, like:

• What license are you operating under?
• How long do withdrawals typically take?
• Do you require KYC before the first withdrawal?

Try contacting support through multiple channels if available:

• Live chat
• Email
• Phone

Strong casinos respond quickly and clearly.

Bad casinos respond with vague copy-paste answers, dodge licensing questions, or take forever to reply. That’s often a sign the operation is poorly run or intentionally shady.

Step 6: Research the Casino’s Reputation and Player Reviews

This step is where most people get lazy, but it’s one of the best ways to spot a casino that doesn’t pay.

Search the casino name on independent sources like:

• Gambling forums
• Complaint databases (AskGamblers, Casinomeister, ThePogg)
• Reddit threads (not always accurate, but useful for patterns)

When reading reviews, don’t obsess over one angry player ranting about losing money. Look for patterns like:

• Multiple reports of withdrawal delays
• Repeated bonus confiscations
• Accounts being closed after winning
• Customer support ghosting players

Also, if the casino has zero presence outside their own website, that’s suspicious. A real casino operating for years will leave a trail, even if the reviews are mixed.

If you only see glowing reviews on their site and nowhere else, assume those testimonials were written by someone who works there.

Step 7: Review Terms and Conditions for Red Flag Clauses

Terms and conditions are where shady casinos bury the fine print.

You don’t need to read every word, but you should check key areas like:

• Withdrawal rules
• Bonus terms
• Maximum cashout limits
• Account closure policies
• “Bonus abuse” definitions

Here are some common red flags:

• Wagering requirements above 40x
• Vague withdrawal restrictions (“withdrawals may be delayed at our discretion”)
• Rules that allow the casino to confiscate winnings for subjective “fraud”
• Confusing rules around withdrawing with bonus funds
• Requirements to deposit with one method but withdraw with another

A legit casino may have strict rules, but the difference is clarity. Legit casinos spell out what’s allowed and what isn’t. Scam casinos keep things vague so they can deny withdrawals later.