Yes, a casino can refuse to pay you your winnings. This is regardless if it is a fast withdrawal casino or not. However, if you are playing at a UKGC-licensed casino and it refuses to cash you out, there would always be a valid reason.
You may have broken some of the casino’s rules which would confiscate your winnings, or you may have to resolve an innocent matter with the casino before they can pay you out. This could be as simple as providing KYC documents for verification or withdrawing via another payment method.
If you’re playing at an unlicensed casino and the online casino is not paying out, chances are that it’s a rogue casino in question. In that case, there isn’t much you can do, which is why you should play only at legit, licensed casinos.
15 Reasons a Gambling Site Is Not Paying Out
When you create an account at an online casino, you agree to follow its terms and conditions. It’s always a good idea to spend 5 minutes browsing these through, especially through the bonus terms. This way you know what to expect and will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
Below are the 15 main reasons why a casino can decide to refuse to cash you out, confiscate your winnings or even close your account completely.
1. A Bonus Is Active on Your Account and Not Fully Wagered
If you claim a bonus at a UKGC-licensed casino, you would have to clear its wagering requirements before the money from the bonus can be withdrawn. If the bonus was tied to a deposit, you would be allowed to withdraw your deposited amount and any winnings from that.
However, if you attempt such a payout from the online casino without fulfilling the wagering requirement of the bonus, any money from that bonus would normally be removed from your account and it would never be paid out to you.
At non-UKGC casinos, you may come across rules that state that not even your deposited amount would be paid out to you under any circumstance unless the wagering requirement of the casino bonus has been fulfilled.
2. You Have More Than One Account With the Casino
Can a casino refuse to cash you out for a double account? Yes, and this is a big no-no at every online casino. You are allowed to only have one account to your name and your address. Having more is a clear breach of terms that you, unfortunately, learn when you make your first withdrawal request.
3. A Deposit Method Not Registered in Your Name Was Used
When making deposits at an online casino, you are only allowed to use payment providers which are registered in your name. If you deposit funds with a debit card that is not in your name, you can be certain it will lead to any winnings being confiscated and the deposit returned to the card. Possibly, your account could be closed as well.
4. You Try to Withdraw to a Banking Method Not Registered in Your Name
Any legit online casino would refuse to cash you out if you are trying to withdraw via a banking method that you do not own. If you attempt such a withdrawal, you can be sure that the request will be canceled by the casino and then you will need to explain your actions.
In most cases, this wouldn’t be reason enough for your casino winnings to be confiscated, unless you also used the payment method to deposit (as covered in point 3). Instead, the casino would simply ask you to withdraw again to a payment method in your name.
5. You’re Withdrawing With the Wrong Payment Method
At most UK online casinos, you’re allowed to withdraw only to the payment method you deposited with. If you don’t, the casino is not paying. In some cases, the deposit method is not available as a withdrawal method so you can be allowed to use another one, such as Bank Transfer.
If you use more than one deposit method, it may be that you have to split your withdrawal amount via several of them. Cashing out via the wrong method is a common reason for casinos not paying out and canceling your withdrawal request. However, it’s a withdrawal problem that is easily fixed by cashing out the right way.
All of this is due to a “Closed Loop Policy” that casinos are required to follow, where you need to make up the difference between your deposits and withdrawals to the payment provider. A great way to avoid withdrawal problems due to this is to use only a single payment method that you use for both deposits and withdrawals.
Find the best fast paying casinos by banking method here.
6. The Casino Has Requested Documents for KYC Verification
This is standard practice at all UKGC-licensed casinos. In some cases, you need to verify your account once you sign-up at the casino before you start gambling. This is done via an ID and proof of address. If not done on signup, these documents will normally be required when withdrawing.
You may also be asked for additional verification documents when you make a withdrawal request. This can be proof of payment, which is usually a picture or screenshot of the payment method used.
At some point, you may also be asked for proof of wealth to prove that you have the income to sustain your gambling and that the funds are legally obtained. Either way, the casino has every right to ask for the documents and you need to present them to get your winnings paid out.
Related read: KYC at Fast Withdrawal Casinos: What It Is and What to Expect
7. Underaged Gambling Has Been Detected
To be able to legally gamble at a UK online casino, you need to be at least 18 years of age. If you’re underaged and lie when you create an account, this would be noticed during the casino's verification process, if not earlier. Any winnings would be voided and your casino account would be closed. Only your deposited amount would be paid out to you.
8. Your Personal Account Information Is Incorrect
This can happen from time to time and may prevent you from being paid out. if it’s an honest mistake, it’s easily corrected. Sometimes when you create a casino account, you can miss a letter or get a number wrong and not notice it.
When you try to verify your account, the KYC team at the casino will notice. Usually, you just need to go to live chat, tell them about the mistake and they will correct it. You would then be paid out as if nothing had happened.
However, if you purposely signed up with someone else's details this would be considered a breach of the casino's terms and conditions. In such a case, the casino would not pay you out. They would close your account and only return your deposited amount.
9. Your IP Address Has Been Used by Other Players
At some casino sites, it is only allowed for one account to be created per household. This is mainly to prevent the same player from creating multiple accounts with different names, which usually is to take advantage of multiple bonus offers.
The casino sees and remembers the IP address used for each account, so if two different accounts are using the same IP, red flags are immediately raised.
Even if you are two different people using the same IP with no intention to do harm, this would be a breach of the casino’s rules. This can be a valid reason for the casino to refuse to pay you out and for your funds to be confiscated.
10. You Are Using a VPN
The use of a VPN is considered a breach of terms at many UK online casinos. You may be using a VPN to access bonus promotions or features on casino games that are forbidden for residents of your country or to disguise that several people of the same household are playing at the casino.
Pretty much the only time you are allowed to use a VPN is if you are in a country where the casino is forbidden for play, but you are registered as a resident of an allowed country. It’s also a good idea to double-check this on live chat and let them know the reason why you are using a VPN service.
11. Unusual Betting Pattern Has Been Detected
Unfortunately, online casinos are often viewed by criminals as a way to launder money. But the casinos have safety measures in place for this and if suspicious activity on your account is noticed, the casino can refuse to pay you out.
If you’re only placing safe bets, the casino will carry out an investigation and your winnings may be voided. Safe bets are considered betting on sporting events with minimum odds (such as 1.01) or betting on red and black at the same time on the roulette table.
If you do this, the casino will ask for proof of where the deposit money came from. Your winnings will be held in your account until such proof is submitted. If you fail to provide an explanation or the proof you submitted is not enough, they can close your account and confiscate your winnings.
12. Bonus Abuse Has Been Detected
Breach of bonus terms is one of the most common reasons for casinos not paying out. Before you claim a bonus and start playing, always read the terms and conditions and follow them to the letter.
You are not allowed to bet over the allowed maximum bet. You are not allowed to save up bonuses on bonus funds and open them to bypass wagering requirements. And you are not allowed to place safe bets all the time.
13. Your Initial Deposit Hasn’t Been Wagered at Least 1 Time
This is a common term at online casinos. You can’t just make a deposit and withdraw it after that. You need to play the games and wager the deposit amount at least once. At some casinos, you may be required to wager your deposit as high as 5 times.
14. More Than One Person Is Using the Casino Account
Can a casino take your winnings if someone else is using your account? Yes! A clear term at most online casinos is that only you are allowed to use and play from your casino account. If you are found to be in breach of this term, perhaps by someone who isn’t you giving their details in chat or that person is trying to use a payment method in their name, your winnings can be voided and your account closed.
15. The Casino Is Not Trustworthy
Unfortunately, despite all of the regulations, there are still rogue online casinos preying on unsuspecting players. They can cancel your winnings and close your account for no reason at all and there’s nothing you can do to change that.
This is why we strongly recommend players only join licensed casinos with the UKGC seal of approval clearly stated on the casino website. As long as you have followed the casino's rules, this guarantees that you will get paid and avoid any type of unjustified complications. Of course, all of the fast withdrawal casinos and fast paying slot sites that we recommend here at FWC are UKGC-licensed.
What Happens to My Money if the Casino Doesn’t Pay?
Basically, there are two possible outcomes to this. If you are found to be in breach of the terms and conditions at the casino, you won’t get paid. Your winnings will be nulled and confiscated, leaving only the initial deposit amount on your balance. If your account is closed as well, the deposit is returned to the original payment method.
In the other case, the withdrawal may be canceled because you failed to provide KYC documents to verify your account or for withdrawing to the wrong payment method. If this is the case, the money stays in your casino account for as long as it’s necessary to resolve the issue. Once the issue is resolved, you would get paid out.
How to Avoid Withdrawal Problems at Online Casinos?
As we mentioned early on in this article, it all comes down to the terms and conditions. When you come across a new casino, always read them through and if there’s something you don’t like, move on to the next one. If you always adhere to the terms and conditions, you shouldn’t have any problem withdrawing at the online casino.
Can I Sue the Casino for Not Paying Out My Winnings?
If you are found to be at fault for getting your winnings confiscated by breaking the casino’s terms and conditions, there’s no point to waste more money suing the casino for the money you will never see. But if you are certain the casino is at fault there are a few things you can try before hiring a solicitor.
The first thing to do is file a complaint across gambling forums. No casino likes to get negative attention and there’s a chance the issue will be resolved there. If not, you can file a complaint with the casino's licensor, the casino itself, or via Resolver, depending on the jurisdiction the casino has its license.
If this doesn't help, you can escalate the case to an Alternative Dispute Resolution Agency. If they decide you are at fault and the casino refuses to pay, that’s the final decision.
Even in this case, some players are adamant and want to know if you can sue a casino for not paying out. Naturally, you can do anything you like. You can file a lawsuit, but if the Alternative Dispute Resolution Agency determines that you are at fault there’s little chance you will win in court.
If you run into withdrawal problems with an online casino that’s rouge, there’s a big chance none of the above will work. Even a solicitor can’t help you because the casino address, the owner and pretty much everything about the casino is fake.
Will a Casino Give You Your Money Back When Terms Are Breached?
If it’s a UKGC-licensed and legit gambling site, the casino will always give you your money back no matter what happens. That is, give you your deposited money back.
If you are caught breaching any of the casino’s rules, as explained in this article, they may confiscate every single penny you have won.
However, the amount you have deposited will never be taken away from you. This will stay on your casino account or be returned to the same banking account it came from if it turns out that your casino account gets permanently closed.
At a rouge and unlicensed online casino, it is a different story. Here, the casino may not give you your money back as they don’t operate via any regulations.
Casinos That Are Notorious for Not Paying Out
You have to be aware that there are some online casinos out there that will accept UK players, despite not being licensed by the UKGC. In some cases, these casinos simply don’t want to pay to acquire the license, while still running a legit operation and paying players their winnings.
But in some cases, the gambling site is not paying out simply because it is a rogue casino. Our advice is to avoid these at all costs to save yourself a lot of headaches down the line. Here’s a list of 10 casinos we know for certain accept UK players, but don’t necessarily pay when you win.
- Red Lion Casino
- Fortune Clock Casino
- Agent No Wager casino
- FreshBet Casino
- SlotoNauts Casino
- Hustles Casino
- Sloty Casino
- Scatters Casino
- Yeti Win Casino
- Euphoria Wins Casino
