Online gambling has risen from something that gambling enthusiasts only do if they can’t get to their favourite casino in person to something that millions of people all over the world choose to do just for fun. The online gambling market’s worth (worldwide) is estimated at USD 103 billion in 2025. By 2030, it’s expected to reach USD 169.22 billion (Global News Wire) – that’s a huge chunk of change in the pockets of winners, game developers, and casino owners! 

Unfortunately, with that much on the table, it’s hardly a surprise that illegal operations crop up from time to time. These online casinos cut corners, set up shop without registering themselves as businesses or casinos, or engage in simple, clear theft to get their hands on a slightly bigger piece of the pie without thought or concern for how their criminal behaviour reflects on the industry and economy and the chance at a win that they take away from gambling enthusiasts who happen to stumble upon the wrong site. DSTGAMING wants to be sure that you know how to spot the differences between these fly-by-night and downright illegal operations and the legal, safe, and reliable online casinos that provide fun and entertainment.

Differences Between Legal and Illegal Casinos

1.Licensing

This is a very simple point: a legal online casino will have a verifiable license number shown clearly on their page, usually all the way at the bottom of the landing page. This will include where the casino is registered and usually some address details to go with that as well. An illegal casino will not have a registration number or will have one that is not verifiable. Depending on the country where the casino is registered, you may have to reach out to different boards and email addresses to confirm its legality, but it should not be a complex or lengthy process. If you get the runaround when trying to ascertain if an online casino is legal or not, you may be dealing with a fishy site.

2.Location

Though online gambling is now a very normal part of society and a favorite activity for many gambling enthusiasts all over the world, not every country or state currently recognises it as legal. Take note of where the casino is registered (see above), and look for any physical premises linked to the site by doing a Google search or other research. If you find that the site operates from a location where online gambling hasn’t been legalized—even if brick-and-mortar casinos are allowed—then it qualifies as an illegal online casino.

3.Age Verification

One of the most important legal requirements put upon online casinos is to ensure that they verify the age of any gambler attempting to use their site before they are allowed to gamble. A trustworthy operation will have some way of verifying age when a potential gambler sets up an account: use of an identity number or some other thing that the casino can verify to confirm the age of the potential player. Since gambling age restrictions are different all over the world, this will vary from place to place. If you’re attempting to sign up for an online casino and they don’t request an age check in some verifiable way, they are likely operating outside the bounds of the law.

4.Unfair Gaming

Casinos operate on the premise that outcomes—except in games that involve some level of skill—are random. In games that do require skill, players can influence the results to some extent through their decisions. That said, the cards or rolls of the dice are still completely random…or they should be. While online casinos have a significantly lower number of physical cards and dice making the rounds, what they should have is a good RNG: a Random Number Generator. AN RNG ensures that, when playing games like slots, all of the spins are random enough that they give the player a good chance at winning. The house edge prevents “complete fairness,” but this is something any gambler understands is part of the package. 

5.Verifiable, Well-Known Payment Methods

Since you aren’t gambling in a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll need a way to get money into your online account and withdraw your winnings. There’s no convenient desk to go to and no one you can complain to in person if things take a long time to process, so how can online gamblers know that they’re protected from losing deposit money or winnings? IF the online casino you use is linked to trustworthy platforms like Neteller, Skrill, or DSTGAMING, you can rest assured that your money is in safe hands. If you don’t recognise any of the payment options or the way they work seems outside of the norm, it’s safer to avoid that casino altogether.

6.Measures to Deter Unsafe Gambling

Legal online casinos know that they need to keep their clients safe. This means that they are responsible for deterring unsafe gambling practices that may lead to further issues for the gambler. Spending beyond their means, excessive gambling, addictive behavior, and the like. All legal casinos have information available on their website that links to help resources, should people need them. They also have deposit limits, in some cases, to prevent overspending. An illegal casino will prioritize profit over the welfare of its clients and will not discourage any unhealthy habits. It’s also likely that they will not provide a link to any official helpline or body to avoid detection and suspicion.

Gamble Safely

If you keep an eye on all of the points above, you’ll not only be avoiding engaging with an illegal operation but also keeping your personal details and finances safe at the same time.

Ready to take the next step in your iGaming journey? Contact DSTGAMING today to learn more about our comprehensive solutions and how they can support your business growth.