Foreword｜Win City
Gambling scams have been around since the dawn of gambling – and despite the best efforts of regulators and providers to improve safety and security, the reality is that scams aren’t going away anytime soon.
For gamers and providers alike, though, a more pertinent question is not whether scams exist, but whether they’re widespread — despite evidence that efforts to combat them are increasingly successful.
With brick-and-mortar casino revenues plummeting this year, it’s in the best interests of reputable operators and users to continue to crack down on scams wherever they appear.
For various reasons, reliable information on the prevalence of gambling scams in the United States is not widely available. But the information that does exist suggests that the rate of “gaming abuse” is declining. This, combined with the existence of anti-scam review sites and better regulatory frameworks, suggests that anti-fraud forces are on the rise. This article will delve into the ins and outs of this topic.
Facts and figures｜Win City
Before looking at the state of safety and security in the gaming industry in more detail, it is worth considering what authorities have to say on the subject. Data on gambling scams in the US is somewhat difficult to come by, possibly due to the relatively fragmented regulatory environment: states, for example, have different rules and laws regarding gambling, and gathering information from such diverse locations can be difficult. hard.
But the limited research on the topic does offer some positive perspectives. A survey in Innovation’s 2019 Gambling Industry Report found that while cheating and “gaming abuse” grew by 55% in 2017, the growth rate slowed to just 12% the following year – suggesting gambling can take Some extra steps were taken by the company to minimize weak links in the system.
More aggressive regulation?｜Win City
The good news, however, is that regulation of gambling sites has proliferated in recent years, adding another layer of protection for consumers looking to wager. In fact, in the United States, online sports betting was until recently so heavily regulated that sports betting was almost impossible. The existence of PASPA, or the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, has ensured that almost all sports betting in the United States is banned, except in very specific locations.
PASPA was repealed in 2018, which certainly opened up sports betting to a wider audience. But the culture of regulating gambling in the U.S., arguably created by PASPA, has persisted. In many jurisdictions, companies must take certain steps to ensure the safety and security of their websites – including maintaining strong accounting systems, filing comprehensive reports from time to time, and more.
Review site｜Win City
In a sense, the internet puts gamblers at a disadvantage given the increased risk of fraud in a relatively lawless online environment. But it’s also true that gamblers now have more resources than ever to deal with fraud. The existence of review sites is a good example that gamblers can now play with more confidence on online gambling sites. These sites have sprung up in recent years to alert gamblers to potentially scam sites. Often, these review sites are user-maintained – meaning people who have had the unfortunate experience of being scammed can share their knowledge in submissions and reduce the risk of others falling victim to the same fate.
Furthermore, gamblers can easily find information on how to contact the authorities in case of fraud being done to them. For example, at the touch of a button, they can call up information about their state’s online crime-fighting or anti-fraud unit, while they can also easily contact the relevant regulators in their jurisdiction. While the opportunities to gamble may have been more limited a year or two ago, the opportunities to find out how to get remedies if a scam occurs and to fix the industry’s problems are equally limited.
Conclusion｜Win City
Overall, gambling scams certainly still exist. Unfortunately, they are likely to exist no matter how regulators and companies try to stop them. But it is also a fact that the gambling scam epidemic is solvable. Thanks to the efforts of governments, providers, regulators and anti-scam review sites, gamblers can play with more confidence that someone will be on their side to protect them and their hard-earned cash.
