Fake Online Casino Ads Growing, How to Best Identify the Scams Before Making a Deposit

Online casinos are legal in just seven US states.

With the limited options, it can lead to confusion as to what is available to the public.

Currently, multiple states are experiencing advertising scams on social media that are attempting to fool their residents into signing up for an online casino that doesn’t exist.

These false ads are being perpetrated by scam artists that are looking to get financial information, or illegal online casinos that are disguising themselves as a legitimate casino operation.

These false advertisements are taking place in states that don’t have legalized online casinos, as well as states that do.

There’s important distinctions that can help you spot these fake promotions and avoid getting caught in a scam.

Michigan Commercial Casinos Targeted

One state with real money online casinos to see a scam attempt is Michigan.

Last week, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) noted that it was seeing an increase in fake casino ads circulating on social media.

The MGCB pointed out that these scams were pretending to be from official Michigan retail casinos, or the MGCB themselves.

One example provided by the board showed a Facebook announcement from MotorCity Casino announcing the launch of its online casino. Along with it is a signup promo offer of $1,500 in bonus funds and 150 free spins.

While MotorCity Casino is a legitimate commercial casino in Detroit, it doesn’t operate an online casino in Michigan. They partner with FanDuel, which operates its online casino and sportsbook.

Michigan has 15 legal and regulated online casinos operating within its borders. The state has made one online license available to each of the 15 commercial and tribal casino operators in Michigan. There are currently no licenses available for a new operator to launch an iGaming platform.

Multiple States Experiencing Fraudulent Online Casino Ads

Incidents like what is happening in Michigan are also occurring in states that don’t have legalized online casinos.

Last month, Miccosukee Casino & Resort alerted residents to fraudulent online advertisements promoting real-money gaming in its name.

The Florida casino is owned by the Miccosukee Tribe, which doesn’t offer any kind of online gaming. Miccosukee Casino & Resort GM Brad Rhines commented to Indian Gaming the following:

“These fake advertisements are misleading and potentially harmful to consumers. Protecting the integrity of our brand and the trust of our guests is a top priority. We want to be clear – Miccosukee Casino & Resort does not operate any online gambling platforms.”

Similar situations have also been reported in Washington, Kansas, California, and even in Saskatchewan. Each of these locations don’t offer legalized online casinos in any form.

What to Look For to Spot a Fake Advertisement

With a wide array of social media platforms, it can be hard to know when you’re looking at a scam online gaming advertisement.

The MGCB provided some potential red flags to look out for to avoid a potential scam. They include:

• Misspelled or slightly altered names
• Language suggesting online gambling is legal in all states
• Offers that seem too good to be true
• Use of regulatory seals like the MGCB or other state gaming regulation offices
• Links that will redirect you to another site not affiliated with the casino

Another tip if you are unsure of an advertisement is to visit the website of the official retail or commercial casino. If these casinos actually offer online gaming in any form, they will have direct links to their platforms on their official site.

These illegal online gambling sites are risky, as consumers have no protections. Should issues arise with payments or game integrity, these illegal sites do not have a regulatory body to deal with.

In states with legal online casinos, the operators are held to regulatory standards and any disputes can be settled by the state’s gaming commission, like the MGCB in Michigan.

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