Have you come across sportsbooks on the Internet that offer bonuses, odds, and lines that are too good to be true, haphazard website design, and often delayed payouts that would use retroactive terms and specific technicalities against you? If so, then you’ve probably registered in an unlicensed online sportsbook.
Don’t be too hard on yourself since many bettors like you have also fallen victim to the dangers of these unlicensed platforms. It’s easy to get lost in the excitement and sign up for the first sportsbook you see. However, many aren’t aware of the severity of this action.
If you want to bet responsibility and enjoy better odds, continue reading to learn why you should delete your account from your online bookie fast!
Fair Gameplay Isn’t Guaranteed
One of the most common worries by bettors is about fair gameplay. Many still have the misconception that online betting is rigged. However, this is merely a misconception since there are gaming authorities that give gaming licenses to online betting sites that meet their requirements.
You should know that many reputable sportsbooks conduct third-party auditing to ensure that the odds, lines, deposits, withdrawals, and everything that has to do with an online sportsbook are checked for any biases so that consumers get to experience fair gameplay.
However, the unlicensed sportsbook doesn’t subject themselves to regular third-party auditing. It means the site probably doesn’t have the requirements to operate legally. As a result, the casino operators of these unlicensed sportsbooks can manipulate the site, odds, and lines whenever and however they want. As a bettor, this can put you in a bad position since you may be wagering without winning any money and just full of losses.
For example, you’re looking at the NFL standings of an unlicensed sportsbook and would like to try wagering on the top teams. The odds may be unfavorable because of unfair gameplay and manufacturing of odds. As such, if you want to reassure yourself that you’re wagering at a licensed casino, try to search FanDuel NFL Standings instead and wager at their website for fair and better odds.
Deposits Can Go Missing & Withdrawal Remains Unapproved
Unlicensed online gambling sites are free to do whatever they want since they aren’t governed by legal rules that they must follow when they have a valid license. These rules are intended to protect bettors like you.
When you find yourself depositing and connecting your bank details to an unlicensed sportsbook, you are risking yourself and your money. There isn’t a guarantee that the unlicensed sportsbook will give you back your money.
Unfortunately, there’s little to no options you can do when they reclaim your money since you’ve willingly handed it to an illegal bookie. You can get a possible card chargeback that can work for you to get back your lost money.
Unlicensed sites often offer highly competitive odds, lines, and other offers that seem too good to be true. They will advertise outrageous deals and bonuses without any intention of returning your deposited money or winnings. It’s possible they would just take your deposits and make you go through hoops or make it impossible to withdraw anything from your account.
Stolen Identity Issues & Data Protection
The sad reality is your financial information and safety isn’t the only thing at risk when you sign up on an unlicensed website. Once you sign up with these websites, you’ll enter your data since it’s required when creating an account. Thus, there’s a high chance that this unlicensed gambling site would hand over your information and sell it to an unregulated provider.
As you can see, you’d be putting yourself in a risky position. Despite this, you can’t do anything to stop the website from selling your personal information. That’s why identity fraud is the most significant risk with an unlicensed website.
Reading this makes signing up on a licensed website much more important, doesn’t it? Licensed gambling sites have protection measures to stop ill-intentioned people from accessing your personal information. They would also use encryption systems to ensure that viruses or other parties aren’t accessing your data, deposits, and withdrawals.
It’s because legal sportsbooks have an official license that ensures the site upholds high levels of security for the safety of consumers and their personal information whenever they create an account and wager at different sports.
If you opt for an unlicensed sportsbook, you should remember that they don’t follow these measures and rules, so your money and privacy are at risk. Don’t underestimate the risks since ill-intentioned people can abuse your personal information.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the dangers of unlicensed sportsbooks, doesn’t it just make sense to register in a licensed betting site that’s safe and secure?
You might think it’s fine to lose your $6 withdrawal since it’s extra money, and you don’t want to go through hoops to get your money back. However, now that you’ve finished reading this page, you know that there’s more to it than losing your money.
Bettors are also putting their data at risk, and there’s a higher chance that they might lose their bets and experience unfair odds. If a betting site seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be sure always to stay vigilant when sports betting.
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
