Avoid These Offshore Sportsbooks

These sportsbooks made it onto the blacklist because of a mix of shady practices, mostly around not paying players their winnings or dragging their feet on payouts. Some of these sites are notorious for either refusing to pay players outright or setting up impossible hoops to jump through with bonus rules. Then, when people win big, they find their accounts locked or their winnings canceled. A lot of these sites have suddenly shut down with no warning, leaving customers with no way to access their money. Others have links to well-known scammy operations, so if one site goes under, another sketchy one usually pops up in its place.

Another big reason these sportsbooks get blacklisted is that they just aren’t reliable. Some don’t have enough cash on hand to pay everyone, so if you win a lot, good luck getting it. Others are caught up in legal troubles, like BetOnSports, which got shut down in a big legal case. Plenty of these sites just went offline, taking people’s money with them. The bottom line is, these sportsbooks can’t be trusted, and it’s way safer to stick to well-reviewed, legit sites that pay out quickly and have licenses to back them up.

How to Spot a Fishy Sportsbook

1. Check the License

Legit sportsbooks should have a gambling license from a recognized authority like the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. If you can’t easily find licensing information on the website or it’s from an unknown source, that’s a major red flag.

2. Read Reviews and Ratings

Make sure to read reviews from sites like MTopSportsbooks, where you can see they have a wide-ranging and trustworthy team. We are transparent about our editorial policy and review methodology.

3. Examine Their Terms and Conditions

Look closely at the bonus terms and withdrawal policies. If the bonus terms are extremely restrictive or the withdrawal limits are unclear, the site may be setting you up for disappointment. Complicated or vague terms are often a sign that they don’t plan on paying out easily.

4. Test Customer Service

Good customer service is a must. Try reaching out to their support team with a simple question before you deposit. If they’re slow to respond or seem evasive, it could be an indicator of how they’ll handle any real issues down the line.

5. Look for Unrealistic Promises

If a sportsbook is offering huge bonuses or unrealistic odds, it may be trying to lure in unsuspecting players. Be cautious—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

6. Check for Secure Payment Options

Reputable sportsbooks offer a variety of secure payment methods, like major credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. If the only options are obscure or if they’re pushing you to use cryptocurrency, it might be worth looking elsewhere.

List of Blacklisted Sportsbooks

Here’s our list of sportsbooks that you should avoid signing up with. These sportsbooks have made it onto our blacklist for a reason.