Blacklisted Sportsbooks 2024: Guide to Unsafe Betting Sites to Avoid

Wagering on sporting outcomes is a risky enough business without your sports betting site adding to the uncertainty, so I’ve put together a list of blacklisted sportsbooks to avoid.

These betting platforms all claim to offer a superb betting experience, but they absolutely cannot be trusted. It’s not always easy to sort the wheat from the chaff, so I’ve put in some research and come up with the following sportsbooks to avoid at all costs, along with the reasons why.

The pros and cons of playing at a blacklisted betting site

What do you get at blacklisted sportsbooks?

• Big deposits are welcomed
• Impressive bonuses are promised

• No player safety or security
• You won’t see your money again
• You’ll never benefit from the bonuses
• Your personal information could be compromised.

Avoid these blacklisted sportsbooks at all costs!

I’m fully aware that choosing an online sportsbook is a matter of personal taste as much as anything, even where all the options offer a reasonably similar wagering experience. But although there are plenty of great, safe and reputable sports betting platforms to choose from, the following sites have failed to pass the strict criteria set out here at Dunkorthree.com. And when I say they’ve failed, it’s not just over one or two points – these are all scam operations that require a full body swerve!

Here’s what it takes to become a blacklisted sportsbook

I don’t know much at all about you – what your wagering budget is for sporting events, for example, or your attitude to risk. But we all have a love of basketball in common, and I’m pretty sure you share my expectation of a safe, secure and legitimate betting experience. There are way too many scammers out there just waiting to get their hands on our hard-earned dollar – and I’m on a mission to make sure that doesn’t happen!

To give you an idea of what’s involved in tracking down unsafe sportsbooks, these are the main points I watch out for, as set out in the Dunkorthree.com criteria for identifying blacklisted betting sites.

Licensing and security red flags

All reputable sportsbooks are proud to show off their credentials, so it’s customary for licensing information to be displayed at the foot of the home page. For bettors in the US, each state has its own regulatory body which oversees the awarding of licenses, and this information will always be available within the platform’s terms of service.

There’s no excuse for not making these details readily available, so if I don’t immediately find proof of a valid license, I’m instantly on alert. I’m aware of licenses that are awarded in return for a generous payment too, so although they might look the part, they don’t offer any player protection whatsoever.

Data security is another subject close to my heart, so state-of-the-art security measures are an absolute Must Have. Once again, if a betting site isn’t clearly demonstrating its commitment to player safety, then it’s heading straight for this blacklisted betting sites page.

Payment issues

All reputable sportsbooks make sure they offer a broad range of payment methods and low minimum deposits so that bettors can easily keep to a budget. High minimum or maximum deposit limits signal to me that the platform is more interested in grabbing large amounts of our money than anything else. Add on any deposit fees, and there’s no way I’m signing up, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else should do so either.

Even where a sportsbook seems to offer a smooth and fee-free depositing service, I still want to know how it performs when we want to withdraw any winnings we’ve accumulated. I take a deep dive into sports betting forums and subreddits to find out what sort of problems are being reported.

Some negativity is always to be expected, particularly from bettors who haven’t complied with a platform’s terms of service, but I keep going down the rabbit hole to build up a complete picture. And if a sportsbook is withholding customer funds or otherwise acting unfairly – onto the list it goes!

Unfair odds

We all recognize that the house always has the edge at casinos, and sportsbooks also calculate odds to ensure they make an overall profit – otherwise, what would be the point? But reputable platforms are never greedy, which certainly can’t be said for the scam betting sites. Once again, I’m on the search for complaints about odds that seem to suddenly change after bettors have made their pre-game selection, and without due warning.

I sometimes come across voided bets, which I acknowledge as being something that’s bound to occur from time to time, but I’d expect this to be before the commencement of the event. Voiding a winning bet is inexcusable, and if I find any substantiated reports of a sportsbook indulging in this activity, that’s a major fail for the platform in question, which won’t be receiving any recommendations from me.

Lack of customer care

Every online sportsbook claims to put its customer first – but then why wouldn’t it? Even the shadiest of platforms can give a good initial impression, but words are cheap and 24/7 support staff cost money! The lack of a live chat is another big red flag I watch out for, and online complaints about unhelpful, and even rude staff paint a truer picture than a platform’s own claims.

By the same token, some sort of responsible gambling guide is included as a matter of course by all safe and reputable betting sites. We all know that a small minority of bettors can develop problems connected to their wagering, and that’s something every genuine platform is aware of, offering tools and resources for anyone who needs them. If those tools aren’t there, such as the ability to set deposit and time limits, or if there’s a lack of support available for bettors who think they’re in need of it, that’s another fast-track to the sportsbook blacklist.

Unrealistic bonuses and promotions

All sportsbooks tend to offer some sort of introductory bonus, whether that’s a deposit match offer or a no-sweat bet. These offers are designed to add extra value to your initial experience, and some of them can seem exceptionally generous. I say ‘seem’, because there can sometimes be ridiculous terms hidden away in the fine print.

Even the best sportsbook promotions have terms attached, such as minimum odds, but the scam sites have outrageous rollover requirements that nobody could reasonably be expected to fulfill. I’m not impressed by the need to play through your deposit and bonus numerous times before being able to make any kind of withdrawal either. And if I’m not happy with a sportsbook’s bonus offer, I’m definitely not going to be recommending it to you.

Now you’re aware of the blacklisted betting sites, why not choose a safe and reputable sportsbook?

Now I’ve given you insights into the sportsbooks you should steer well clear of, how about I show you some safe and reputable sites to explore?

Along with the rest of the team here at Dunkorthree.com, I’ve been reviewing and rating the top sports betting sites, making it super easy to find the one that matches your requirements. Look out for some generous introductory bonus offers too, with helpful insights into how to make the most of them – and even a few special promo codes to give your wagering an extra boost.

Blacklisted sportsbooks FAQ