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How to spot a fake or unlicensed casino site

Fake casino sites copy real brands, promise huge bonuses and then don't pay. A few quick checks catch most of them.

Updated 24 October 2026

The short answer

Check the web address letter by letter, find the licence in the footer and confirm it on the regulator's register, and be wary of bonuses far bigger than the market. In the UK, any bonus above 10x wagering is a sign the site isn't UK-licensed.

Five-minute check

  1. 1Read the address bar. Clone sites add words, swap letters or use odd endings.
  2. 2Find the licence in the footer. In the UK it's the Gambling Commission; in Sweden, Spelinspektionen.
  3. 3Look the licence up on the official register. Here's how.
  4. 4Compare the bonus with real offers on our UK and Sweden pages.
  5. 5Search the site's name with 'complaints' and 'withdrawal'.

Red flags

  • No licence, or a licence number that doesn't match the register.
  • Wagering above 10x on an offer aimed at UK players.
  • No identity checks at all before you play.
  • Pressure to deposit fast: countdowns, 'last chance' pop-ups.
  • Being asked to send crypto to a personal wallet, or to install remote-access software.
  • Support that only replies on chat apps.

If you've already paid

  • Stop depositing and keep screenshots of everything.
  • Contact your bank or card provider straight away.
  • In the UK, report it to Action Fraud. In Sweden, report it to the police.

Questions

Are casinos licensed in other countries fake?

Not necessarily, but they don't give you UK or Swedish protections such as GamStop, Spelpaus or the UK complaints service.

Can a fake site copy a real licence number?

Yes, which is why you should check the number on the regulator's own register, not just the site's footer.

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