Online betting has grown so much in the last decade and you know what else has joined in this growth? Yes, fake betting apps. 

This guide explains how fake betting apps work, the warning signs to look out for, and the practical steps you can take to stay safe and know the right soccer betting app to use.

Before we go into the steps to avoid fake betting apps, let us define what one is. 

What Is a Fake Betting App?

A fake betting app is simply another version of a recognized betting app or a created platform that is made to swindle and deceive bettors. 

Sometimes, you will see that these fake betting apps copy the name and logo of other well known betting companies. 

They’d just tweak it differently. Like Sportybet for instance could become Sportybett or Sportybets. Someone who’s not looking closely would see a name like that and not realize it is scam site. 

Others that do not try to steal the name and logo of established companies attract unsuspecting bettors by offering them huge bonuses and unrealistic promotions.

Before we go into the steps on how to avoid fake betting apps, let’s look at some of the reasons why bettors today fall for these apps. It could already help you to know what to do to avoid them. 

Why Bettors Fall for Fake Betting Apps

The reason fake betting apps are everywhere is because of the hope and promises they offer bettors. These guys capitalize on the psychology of punters today and they do so through the following means:

1. Attractive Promotions

Scammers know that if they advertise their platform as a place to get “instant cashout bonus” or “500,000 on your first deposit” a lot of bettors are going to jump on it. 

2. Social Media Advertising

Constantly putting themselves in the eyes of punters is another way they get users. With social media advertising, these scammers can reach a large number of bettors with ease. 

3. Fake Reviews

They pay for reviews and even use bots to give themselves 5-star ratings which is why many people fall for them. 

4. Lack of Awareness

Many bettors do not know how to spot these fake betting apps and it is surprisingly easy to do so. 

How to Identify a Legitimate Betting App

The following are ways that you can know fake betting apps from real ones:

1. Check the Licensing and Regulation

The first way to know fake betting apps is to check for their licensing and regulation. A legitimate betting app must be licensed by either:

• UK Gambling Commission

• Malta Gaming Authority

• Curacao eGaming

• National regulatory bodies

If you check the site and you did not see any form of a license, then they are probably very fake. 

2. Download Only from Official App Stores

Scammers rarely use official app stores to place their apps. App stores have strict regulations for apps that are uploaded on them. 

So if you cannot download the betting app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App store, then they are most likely fake.

We could have said downloading the app from the official site works but then you could be using a platform that is a clone as well. 

In addition, please do not download apps from Telegram or WhatsApp. If it is not on the app store of either Android or Apple, then it is most likely a fake betting app. 

3. Review User Feedback and Ratings Carefully

See what other people are saying about the app on the app store and in Google reviews. 

Find out how payment feels like, what the customer support is, how fast withdrawals are processed, and how smooth the app is. 

You have to check for details and do not fall for apps that the reviews are one lines and everything is perfect with 5-star ratings. 

4. Check for Secure and Recognized Payment Options

A good betting app is going to let you use recognized payment methods like:

• Visa / Mastercard

• Bank transfers

• Paystack

• Flutterwave

• Apple Pay / Google Pay

• PayPal

If the only method to accept payment by an app is through crypto, then there is a problem. 

5. Evaluate the App’s Interface and Features

Fake betting apps are never designed well. They could try but you will still see and experience things like:

• Poor graphics

• Slow load times

• Missing betting markets

• No live chat support

• Unusual pop-ups or redirects

Once you notice that something is off with the site, please do not use them. 

Trusted Betting Apps You Can Use Safely

There are some established betting apps that you can use at least we can trust these ones:

• Betway

• Bet365

• SportyBet

• Bet9ja

• Melbet

• 1xBet

Also, for soccer prediction sites to rely on, there is an established reliable  platform like soccervista betting site and football prediction. These sites are accurate in their analysis and very trusted. You can see that these apps are licensed, available for download of app stores and are designed properly.

Conclusion

The growth of online betting has caused the rise of fake betting apps but as you can already see, it is easy to avoid them. 

Above all, you have to deal with being greedy. 

For so many people, greed is the reason why they fall for some of these fake betting apps and scams. 

You have to know that betting is supposed to just be a way to entertain yourself and have fun and not another money-making venture for you.