Quick Navigation
- Study Shows Gambling Scams Are Surging, Especially on Offshore Sites
- Viral Post Claims Betting Apps Are Worse Than Drug Addiction
- TikTok Video Calls Out Stake, Influencers, and Hidden Gambling Deals
- Gambler Questions Monthly Fees on Dormant Casino Accounts
- Yield Sec Reports Majority of Brazil’s Online Betting Still Illegal
- Post Calls for Online Gambling to Be Banned in the Constitution
- TikToker Calls Out Influencers for Promoting Gambling to Young Audiences
- Player Suspects PlayNow “Resets” Jackpots Instead of Paying Winners
- Estonia Cuts Online Gambling Taxes
- X User Claims All Sports Are Scripted and Rigged
- Player Calls Out Casinos for Refusing Payouts After Bonus Rollovers
- Conclusion
This week, the gambling world had one theme: trust is crumbling. Scam casinos are stealing winnings, influencers are pushing gambling to young audiences, and frustrated players believe jackpots and even major sports are being manipulated.
😄 Didn’t get a chance to read last week’s edition? Catch up here!
😎 More interested in updates on industry developments? Visit our Weekly iGaming News Recap!
Below you’ll find each post, followed by my candid commentary. The opinions expressed in this article are my personal views and do not reflect the official stance of Gambling ‘N Go or its other contributors.
Study Shows Gambling Scams Are Surging, Especially on Offshore Sites
Derek Longmeier shared new data from the Better Business Bureau showing more than 10,000 complaints tied to online gambling and gaming scams. These reports include cases of stolen deposits, hidden terms that block withdrawals, and scam operators that disappear when players try to cash out.
We’ve covered this in Opinion Corner many times, and it’s only getting worse. The players who end up on offshore casinos are usually the most vulnerable: people chasing bonuses, fast payouts, or “no KYC” promises.
Addicts don’t think in terms of safety; they think in terms of the next chance to win. All it takes is hearing about a promo, and suddenly, people are trusting sites that would set off every red flag in the world. As long as these sites operate with zero oversight, scammers will keep cashing in. And as long as players are desperate for a win, they’ll keep falling for it.
Ballout Boomin wrote that scientists say sportsbook apps are “300% worse than drug addiction” because they’re always accessible and have no betting limits.
This is one of those posts that sounds powerful but completely misses the point. First, there’s no named researcher or study. Second, comparing gambling addiction to drug addiction like they’re interchangeable is not only inaccurate, it’s dangerous.
Most problem gamblers aren’t out here betting $50,000 on one ticket. They’re wagering small paychecks they can’t afford to lose. The real conversation should be about regulation that stops the worst harm: mandatory ID, daily or weekly loss limits, and faster intervention when someone is clearly spiraling.
A TikTok creator reacted to a lawsuit targeting Stake, Drake, and Adin Ross, accusing them of promoting gambling to a young audience and potentially using platform-provided money instead of their own.
He’s not wrong about Stake. Long before this lawsuit, Stake was aggressively marketing through Twitch and Kick streams, and a lot of streamers were far from transparent. Saying “don’t gamble” while spinning $50,000 bonus buys with house money isn’t a warning; it’s an advertisement.
If the gambling platform gives you money to lose, you should have to say so, clearly and repeatedly. Because to a 19-year-old watching Drake rip $100K spins, it doesn’t look like addiction, it looks like a blueprint for getting rich.
Gambler Questions Monthly Fees on Dormant Casino Accounts
A Reddit user noticed that some online casinos quietly start charging monthly “maintenance” fees if an account goes unused for 12 months. They’re asking whether this is normal, why some casinos do it and others don’t, and whether it’s just a loophole to skim player balances.
Yes, this happens, and it’s exactly the kind of fine-print move that makes players feel like casinos are out to squeeze every last cent. Some operators justify the fee by calling it “account administration” or “security maintenance,” but in reality, it’s just a way to drain leftover balances.
Most reputable licensed casinos either don’t charge dormant fees or clearly disclose them. When casinos bury these rules, it’s a red flag. It’s not illegal everywhere, but it’s bad business and terrible optics.
Yield Sec Reports Majority of Brazil’s Online Betting Still Illegal
Yield Sec shared data showing that about 51% of Brazil’s online betting market is still controlled by illegal operators, even after regulation began in January 2025. Billions of Reais are flowing outside the legal system.
The numbers look alarming, but Brazil’s legal online gambling market is barely a year old. It takes time, new platforms have to launch, regulators need enforcement power, and players need to actually trust the legal options.
If Brazil expands licensed operators, improves the user experience, and keeps cracking down on illegal sites, that percentage will shrink. It’s the same pattern we’ve seen everywhere: when legal options are accessible and fair, players migrate away from the black market.
Post Calls for Online Gambling to Be Banned in the Constitution
A user on X wrote that online gambling is a “pox” and should be banned through a constitutional amendment, a dramatic claim with no argument, data, or reasoning behind it.
Posts like this don’t solve anything. They offer outrage without solutions. But the frustration behind them is real; online gambling has gotten out of hand, and too many operators act like the law doesn’t apply to them.
Between predatory bonuses, hidden terms, and people losing their savings on their phones at 2 a.m., it’s no surprise public sentiment is turning hostile. But an outright ban wouldn’t fix the problem. The answer isn’t prohibition, it’s regulation that forces casinos to treat customers fairly, limit harm, and pay what they owe.
TikToker Calls Out Influencers for Promoting Gambling to Young Audiences
A TikTok creator blasted influencers who promote PrizePicks, Stake, and online casinos to teenagers. He says creators know their audience is 13–17, but still take gambling sponsorships.
He’s right to be angry, especially after the Adin Ross and Drake controversy. A lot of young viewers see gambling streams as entertainment and copy what they watch. But there’s a painful truth behind the outrage: online casinos are the highest-paying sponsors on social media.
Smaller influencers don’t take these deals because they believe gambling is good, they take them because rent is due. We can judge the ethics, but we also shouldn’t pretend creators are living on gym affiliate links and protein powder codes. The real problem is that gambling companies specifically target creators with young fanbases.
Player Suspects PlayNow “Resets” Jackpots Instead of Paying Winners
A long-time PlayNow user says they’ve chased progressive jackpots for 1.5 years, earning 450,000 reward points (meaning massive wagers). They believe the casino might be resetting jackpots without actually paying anyone.
The theory might sound far-fetched, but this kind of mistrust is common, and casinos create the environment for it. When a player bets that much money and sees only four published winners (all in one province), of course, skepticism grows.
Online casinos could solve this with one simple move: public winner verification. Not the cheesy “first name, last initial” graphics, but actual audits. If you’re running a licensed, legal platform and paying real jackpots, then transparency is your greatest marketing tool.
Estonia Cuts Online Gambling Taxes
Estonia will reduce online gambling and betting tax rates from 6% to 4% by 2029. The government believes lower taxes will attract operators and increase total revenue.
This is a bold move, and honestly, a smart one. Europe has spent years pushing harsher taxes and tighter restrictions, and the predictable result has been players and operators fleeing to the black market.
Estonia is trying something different: win the market by being competitive instead of punitive. Lower taxes mean more licensed operators. More licensed operators mean better oversight, safer gambling tools, and more tax revenue over time.
X User Claims All Sports Are Scripted and Rigged
A user insists that every professional sport is fixed, comparing the industry to scripted wrestling and questioning why anyone still bets online.
A few years ago, this would sound like classic tinfoil-hat paranoia. But after the recent NBA gambling scandal, this kind of skepticism isn’t coming out of nowhere. When athletes, referees, and staff are caught up in gambling investigations, fans naturally start questioning the integrity of the game.
Is every sport scripted? No. But corruption doesn’t have to be universal to destroy trust; a few public cases are enough. There’s a fine line between entertainment and exploitation, and if professional sports don’t protect the integrity of the game, posts like this won’t sound crazy; they’ll sound justified.
Player Calls Out Casinos for Refusing Payouts After Bonus Rollovers
A Reddit user said Platinum Reels and similar casinos offer sign-up bonuses and rollovers, but refuse to pay withdrawals once players actually meet the requirements.
This connects directly to the first LinkedIn post: scam sites thrive because desperate gamblers are willing to gamble with shady operators. Casinos advertise “free” money, then bury impossible rollover rules in the terms. And when someone actually beats the house? Suddenly, there’s “fraud detection,” “policy violations,” or surprise KYC checks.
It’s predatory by design. Until regulators crack down and players stop depositing on unlicensed platforms, these casinos will keep stealing money, because the business model depends on it.
Conclusion
The same pattern repeats every week: the legal market moves slowly, and the illegal market races ahead. As long as vulnerable players chase bonuses and “easy money,” scam operators will keep taking advantage, and influencers will keep getting paid to help them do it. The industry doesn’t just need new rules. It needs honesty, transparency, and consequences for platforms that treat customers like disposable wallets.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial or legal advice. Please consult a professional if you have concerns about gambling or its effects on your well-being.
