Once upon a time, it was easy to spot a rogue website.
They often just didn’t look legit, or used language that identified them as the work of a scammer.
Unfortunately, these scam artists have become more sophisticated in their techniques in modern times, so it’s not always as simple to spot safe UK slot sites as it once was.
But help is at hand. In this Prime Slots guide, we’re going to reveal the green flags that help to identify safe, trusted and regulated slot sites, as well as the red flags that you should avoid like the plague.
There are so many casinos out there right now, but by the end of this article you’ll know how to tell if a slot site is legit and safe to join.
Red Flag #1: No UK Gambling Commission Licence
Newcomers to slot gaming may not know this, but slot sites in the UK are regulated and authorised by the Gambling Commission (UKGC).
This authority only awards operating licences to slot sites that meet its stringent criteria; most pertinently, that these are legitimate businesses with the means to provide a trusted, reliable platform for their players.
If a slot site DOESN’T have a UK Gambling Commission licence, they aren’t held to the same high standards – they may not have secure websites, they may not offer fair, tested slots and they may not have protections in place that secure your deposits.
Therefore, it’s vital that you only play at UKGC licensed slot sites. You can find out if an online casino has a licence by scrolling down to the footer of their website, where the licence number should be displayed – the image below is the licence of Prime Slots, which you can see highlighted in red.
Alternatively, you can search the Gambling Commission’s list of approved operators on their website.
Red Flag #2: No Site Security (SSL Encryption)
If you knew that a website had no security protocol in place, would you still use it? The answer, in all likelihood, is most probably not.
So real money slots sites should be considered in the same way… because if operators aren’t committed to keeping your personal data and finances safe, they should be avoided at all costs.
The gold standard in safe UK slot sites right now is SSL encryption, which is high-level technology that encrypts customer data – creating a secure connection that protects sensitive information from being hacked.
There are two easy ways to spot if a website has SSL encryption in play. The first is a padlock icon next to where you type your URLs in a standard browser. The second is where the URL reverts to the format ‘https’, rather than ‘http’. The extra ‘s’ is an indicator of a secure connection, too.
Red Flag #3: Unclear Terms & Conditions
Another way of how to tell if a slot site is legit or not is via their terms and conditions.
These T&Cs will be published on the casino’s website, determining the rules by which the slot site must abide.
These should be clear, understandable and wholly transparent; creating an environment of trust between operator and player.
Scam sites, however, will often use sketchy phrasing in their terms and conditions, protecting them from player complaints and action when things start to go wrong.
Yes, it’s boring, but we really do recommend reading these terms and conditions any smallprint that that casino has published on their website. If any of the terminology seems unfair or potentially misleading, give that particular site a wide berth.
Red Flag #4: No Trusted Payment Methods
Online casinos should offer their customers a variety of different ways to make deposits into – and withdrawals out of – their accounts.
The most trusted real money casinos in the UK will offer the most reliable payment sources, such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, bank transfer and so on.
On the flipside, slot sites that cannot be trusted will not offer these trusted methods. Instead, they may let you deposit using only obscure e-wallets or mobile payment apps that nobody has barely heard of.
An even bigger red flag is when the site only accepts payments using cryptocurrency. For those that don’t know, crypto payments are anonymous and untraceable – so you are NOT protected should your deposit or withdrawal go missing.
Why take the risk?
Red Flag #5: Untested and Uncertified Games
Scroll down to the bottom of the Prime Slots website and you’ll see an icon for iTech Labs.
They are an independent third party that audits the fairness of slot games. They will test out the slot over thousands of spins, checking that the RTP and stated volatility level are accurate and reflective of what they are supposed to be.
So, if a slot site has been approved by iTech Labs or another respected third party auditor, you know that the games you are playing are fair, wholly unpredictable and meet the stated RTP as described.
Now let’s consider the opposite side of the equation… if a slot site does not have independent authentication. Would you take the risk of playing their games, knowing that there’s a possibility they are unfair or unlikely to meet their stated RTP?
Stick to Fair, Secure Sites Like Prime Slots
You won’t find any of the red flags detailed above at Prime Slots.
We are licensed and approved by the UK Gambling Commission, offer a secure website backed by SSL encryption and welcome payments via only the most reliable methods.
Our games are rigorously tested and approved by iTech Labs, while our terms and conditions are – we think – completely transparent. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, you can always contact our support team with your queries.
Don’t take the risk of playing at unregulated and disreputable slot sites… there’s so many legitimate operators out there.
