A ranking is only useful if the platforms on it will pay you. The blacklist is the other half of the Ranking Protocol: the list of operators that have shown, with verifiable evidence, that they do not. A blacklisted platform is removed from every brand guide, review and comparison on CasinoTrust regardless of its previous score.
Currently blacklisted platforms
| Platform | Reason | Status | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| No platforms currently listed | Investigations in progress are not published until verified | — | — |
Criteria for blacklisting
A platform is blacklisted when we verify at least one of the following. 'Verify' means we have seen primary evidence — account records, transaction logs, regulator notices, signed correspondence — not only a complaint.
| Criterion | What it looks like | Evidence standard |
|---|---|---|
| Non-payment pattern | Withdrawals delayed beyond 30 days without a stated, lawful reason; 'pending' status with no response; closing accounts with balances | Three or more independent, documented cases within 90 days, or one case above €10,000 that the operator refuses to explain |
| Licence revoked, suspended or fabricated | Displaying a licence the regulator has withdrawn, or a licence number that does not match the register | Regulator register or public notice |
| Rigged or unauditable games | RNG with no third-party certificate; modified-RTP game versions undisclosed; provably-fair system that fails verification | Test results reproducible by our desk, or a provider's statement disowning the game build |
| Bonus-term abuse | Retroactive terms; voiding winnings under undefined 'irregular play'; max-bet rules applied to bets placed before the rule existed | Terms archives and dated account evidence |
| Identity and data misuse | Demanding KYC documents only after a win and then refusing to pay; sharing player data with unrelated third parties; ignoring self-exclusion | Documented timeline with the operator's own messages |
| Impersonation or clone sites | Sites using another operator's brand, logo or licence number | Domain records and the legitimate operator's confirmation |
Slow support, a stingy bonus or a limited game library are not blacklist criteria. They lower a platform's score under the protocol; they do not make it a scam.
How an investigation works
Intake
A report arrives at contact@casinotrust.org or is triggered by a regulator notice or a pattern in public complaints. We log it, assign a reference number and reply within 2 working days.
Evidence review
The Compliance Desk checks the evidence against the criteria above: account screenshots, transaction IDs, support transcripts, dated terms. Anonymous reports are accepted, but unverifiable claims cannot progress alone.
Corroboration
We look for independent cases showing the same behaviour, check the regulator's register and enforcement notices, and where relevant re-test the platform ourselves with a real account.
Right of reply
The operator receives a written summary of the findings and 10 working days to respond with evidence. We publish a fair summary of that response, or note that none was received.
Decision and publication
Two editors independent of the reporting desk confirm the criteria are met. The platform is removed from all rankings and listed in the table above with the reason, status and date.
Review and removal
A listing is reviewed every 90 days. Removal requires verified remediation — players paid, licence reinstated, terms corrected — and a full re-test under the Ranking Protocol. Removal cannot be purchased.
How to report a platform
Email contact@casinotrust.org with 'Blacklist report' in the subject line. You can report a platform we review, one we do not, or one that claims to be listed on CasinoTrust. Include as much of the following as you can:
- The platform's exact domain and the company named in its terms.
- Your account username or ID (never your password).
- A timeline: deposit dates, withdrawal request dates, KYC submission dates, responses received.
- Screenshots of the withdrawal status, the account balance and any support conversation, with dates visible.
- Transaction references — bank, e-wallet or blockchain transaction IDs.
- Copies or archive links of the terms as they appeared when you signed up, if you have them.
- Whether you have already complained to the operator, the regulator or an ADR body, and with what result.
What to do if you have been scammed
Act in this order. Each step creates a record that strengthens the next one.
Complain to the operator in writing
Use email or the support ticket system, not live chat, so you have a dated record. State the amount, the dates and what you want. Give them 7 days. Most regulators and ADR bodies require this step first.
Escalate to the ADR body or regulator
Licensed operators must name an independent dispute-resolution provider. Common ones are eCOGRA, IBAS (UK), ADR Group and, for MGA licensees, the MGA Player Support Unit. If the operator will not name one, complain directly to the regulator on its register. Unlicensed operators have no regulator — which is the problem.
Ask your bank or card issuer for a chargeback
Card deposits can often be disputed under scheme rules if the service was not provided as described. Act quickly: time limits are typically 120 days from the transaction. Bank transfers and crypto are usually unrecoverable, so preserve the evidence for the regulator instead.
Report to the authorities
File a report with your national fraud agency (Action Fraud in the UK, the FTC and IC3 in the US, Scamwatch in Australia). It rarely recovers money directly but feeds enforcement.
Tell us
Send the full file to contact@casinotrust.org. Your case may be the one that completes a pattern.
Protect yourself
Change passwords reused elsewhere, watch for follow-up 'recovery' scams that ask for fees to retrieve your money, and if the episode was part of a wider gambling problem, use the tools on our responsible gambling page.
Warning signs before you deposit
Most blacklist-worthy operators can be spotted in ten minutes. Walk through this before funding any account that is not on our rankings.
- The licence number is missing, or does not appear on the regulator's public register under the company named in the terms.
- The terms include 'irregular play', 'bonus abuse' or 'professional player' clauses with no definition.
- Withdrawal limits are low (under €1,000 per week) while deposit limits are unlimited.
- KYC is not requested at sign-up or first deposit — a sign it will be demanded after you win.
- The operator's company name, address or ownership cannot be found anywhere on the site.
- Games load only from unknown studios, RTPs are not published, and there is no third-party testing certificate.
- Support is live chat only, with no email, no complaints procedure and no named ADR body.
- Reviews elsewhere are uniformly positive, recent and vague, while complaint forums show unresolved payout threads.
- The domain was registered within the last 12 months and mimics a known brand's name.
Compare these against what a properly run platform looks like in our online casino reviews and crypto casino reviews, and read bankroll management before you decide how much any platform deserves to hold.
Frequently asked questions
What does it take for a casino to be blacklisted by CasinoTrust?
Verified evidence of at least one criterion: a non-payment pattern, a revoked or fabricated licence, rigged or unauditable games, retroactive bonus-term abuse, identity or data misuse, or impersonation. A single unverifiable complaint is not enough; three independent documented cases, or a regulator notice, usually is. The operator always gets a right of reply first.
Why is the blacklist empty?
CasinoTrust launched in August 2026 and only publishes listings after the full investigation process, including corroboration and the operator's right of reply. Open investigations are not published until verified. Unlicensed platforms are excluded from rankings automatically and do not require a listing.
Can a blacklisted casino pay to be removed?
No. Removal requires verified remediation — affected players paid, licence reinstated, terms corrected — followed by a full re-test under the Ranking Protocol and sign-off by two editors independent of the commercial team. Our editorial policy prohibits any commercial influence on listings.
A casino won't pay my withdrawal. What should I do first?
Complain in writing to the operator and give them 7 days. Then escalate to the ADR body named in their terms (eCOGRA, IBAS and others) or to the regulator on whose register the licence appears. If you deposited by card, ask your issuer about a chargeback within the scheme's time limit. Send the full timeline to contact@casinotrust.org.
Can I get money back from an unlicensed casino?
Rarely. Without a regulator there is no complaints route, and crypto or bank-transfer deposits are usually unrecoverable. Card deposits may be disputed through a chargeback. Report to your national fraud agency, keep the evidence, and be alert to 'recovery agents' who ask for fees — they are a second scam.
How do I check whether a casino's licence is real?
Find the licence number and company name in the site's terms, then search for them on the regulator's own website — the UKGC, MGA, Curaçao Gaming Control Board and others all publish registers. The company on the register must match the company in the terms. A footer badge or a PDF certificate hosted by the casino proves nothing.