Esports betting tips: How to check the legitimacy of betting websites

The world of online betting is unfortunately filled with deceitful sportsbooks and operators. Most scam sites look just as professional as legitimate sites on face value, and promise to give bettors a great experience. But the reality can often be very different..

Scam books go to great lengths to mislead and defraud bettors, and without proper due diligence, you may end up losing more than just a bad bet.

When looking to place a bet of any sort, the most crucial thing to do is to figure out the individuals behind the curtain. Reputation is vital in the online gambling space, so brands with established names can offer a better sense of security. Branding holds a lot of strength in the world today, whether those brands are viewed in a positive or negative light.

Although there are hundreds of dishonest bookmakers out there, it doesn’t mean that you should not sign up, make a deposit, and bet with confidence. There are countless legitimate and duly regulated sites, but you need to find a way to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Here are some important tips to help you identify risky bookmakers who are out to prey on you and your hard-earned money.

Shoddy and cluttered website design

Professional, functional, and fast UI and UX are two of the essential qualities of legitimate betting sites. This should be the case regardless of whether you’re using a tablet, laptop, or mobile phone to access one. If you find some pages to be unresponsive, it’s a signal that you could be treading dangerous waters.  Legitimate sportsbooks will go through the effort to create professional websites that operate and run smoothly.

Slow or unresponsive customer support 

If your numerous phone calls or emails to a sportsbook’s support have gone unanswered, it could be a clear sign that you’re dealing with a scammer. A well-furnished customer support department is indispensable for a legitimate bookmaker like vulkanbet.com/en/esports. Although responses may get delayed due to overloads, you should get an answer within a day or two.

Customer care’s response time plays a huge role in determining the accountability and reliability of a betting site. A sportsbook that lacks a capable customer care department is often going to be operating in their own interest.

Unrealistic bonus offers

Unrealistic bonus offers and reloads are some of the biggest red flags in the world of online betting. Deposit bonuses as high as 100% should be treated with some suspicion. The rewards may look attractive, almost as if they present an opportunity to exploit the bookmaker. Although some scam sites may credit your account with a deposit bonus, the chances are the money will be used as a placeholder. You may never see it or withdraw any winnings you parlay from it. Also, betting sites that claim to be privy to match-fixing information are almost certainly potential scammers.

Delayed payouts

A sportsbook that uses delay tactics to hold on to your winning is not to be trusted. Be wary of sites that give excuses to delay payment, or those claiming that your account needs some form of auditing. These techniques are meant to prevent you from withdrawing funds.

No license 

A scam book will often operate against your local laws or hold an invalid license. Be sure to check whether your favorite betting company is duly licensed.

While you may not access a betting company’s original operating license, you can still obtain a copy of the license. It is vital to check if a license was given by respective sports betting regulators. A good and legitimate betting site will have their company licensed before hitting the market.

Missing contact information

A legitimate gambling site will always provide all of the necessary information about their establishment. This information may include their contact information and customer support contacts, which can be used to raise queries or report problems associated with the use of a site.

With a scam book, you won’t easily be able to find any of this information on their website. Where phone numbers are included, they could be wrong, or bear limited details.

Negative reviews

There’s no reputable company that lacks interest in gaining the trust of its customers. A legitimate betting site will not deceive its clients to their advantage for any reason. When you want to sign up with a sportsbook, it is best to check their ratings online or to view their reports once you’ve accessed the site.

Generally, a sportsbook with a score of below 4 stars is not worth your time and money. A good betting website should have a rating of 4.5 stars or higher.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to fall victim to scam bookmakers because of their enticing promotions and bonuses that seem too good to ignore.

If you’re unconvinced about the legitimacy of a betting site, take the time to be certain about its standing. A genuine bookmarker should be able to help you with any issue right from the onboarding phase. Be sure to call a bookmaker’s customer support team, or connect with them through digital means to ask any questions that you might have.