I stay at casino hotels when I go to conferences, but I never spend more than $20. I’ve never tried any of the online casinos which are popping up everywhere, but not all of them are what they seem. A growing number of fake ads are appearing on social media, luring people into depositing money on casinos that don’t actually exist. These scams often mimic real casinos or even state regulators, making them especially tricky to spot.
Take Michigan as an example. The Michigan Gaming Control Board recently warned that scammers were creating ads pretending to be from Detroit’s MotorCity Casino. The ads offered eye-catching promotions like $1,500 in bonus funds and 150 free spins—except MotorCity doesn’t even run an online casino. In Florida, the Miccosukee Casino & Resort faced a similar issue. Fraudulent ads claimed the tribal casino offered online gambling, when in reality it doesn’t.
These fake ads aren’t just annoying—they’re dangerous. They’re designed to steal your personal and financial information or steal money when depositing funds for fake credits, and because they’re not regulated, you have no protections if something goes wrong.
So how can you stay safe? Look for red flags:
- Misspelled or slightly altered casino names
- Promises that gambling is legal everywhere
- Promotions that seem “too good to be true”
- Fake seals from regulators like the Michigan Gaming Control Board
- Links that redirect you to shady websites
When in doubt, always check the official website of a legitimate casino. If they really do have an online platform, you’ll find direct links there.
The bottom line: stick with state-licensed online casinos. They’re regulated, held to high standards, and give you a place to turn if you run into problems. Don’t let flashy ads trick you into handing over your money and data to scammers.
