A fake version of your casino’s website? How to check the correct web address 

A familiar casino logo proves nothing. Learn how to recognize copied brand names and misleading advertisements, and how to verify a domain with the Belgian Gaming Commission. 

You search for your casino’s name, click on a result and see the familiar logo. The colors look right. The games seem recognizable. There’s even a licence number at the bottom of the page. Yet you could be visiting a website that has nothing to do with the real casino. 

Sometimes, the difference is just one letter, an extra hyphen or a different domain extension. If you only look at the brand name, it’s easy to miss these details, especially on a smartphone, where the full address isn’t always immediately visible. 

Before logging in, check the exact web address and compare it with the website listed in the official licence register. A familiar design, an advertisement or a secure connection is no substitute for this verification. 

A familiar casino name doesn’t make a website genuine 

A brand name is easy to copy onto a webpage. The same applies to logos, live casino images and responsible gambling messages. Even the details of an existing company can be copied. 

As a result, a website can appear trustworthy without the real operator being involved. Sometimes, the brand is used to redirect visitors to another gambling website. In other cases, the page is designed to collect login credentials, documents or payments. 

Not every illegal gambling website is a copy of a well-known brand. Likewise, a fake login page doesn’t necessarily contain a functioning casino. As a visitor, your verification should always begin with the same question: who controls the address currently displayed in my browser? 

Our article about gambling websites with domain names resembling PepperMill that appeared on the blacklist also illustrates how similar brand names can cause confusion. Those addresses should not be mistaken for the licensed brand. 

Check the address bar, not just the webpage 

Your browser’s address bar shows which website you’re actually visiting. This is different from the large heading on the page or the name displayed above a search result. 

On a smartphone, tap the address bar to reveal the full URL. Do this before entering any personal information. Pay attention to the exact spelling: a missing letter, an added number or words such as “bonus”, “login” and “Belgium” may indicate a different domain. 

Take the fictional brand name Example Casino. An address containing that name along with the word “official” doesn’t automatically belong to the company. That word is simply a claim made by whoever operates the website, not confirmation from a regulator. 

A .be address is not, by itself, proof of a Belgian gambling licence either. The domain extension does not establish that the Belgian Gaming Commission has authorized the operator. You need to check the official registration. 

How a brand name can appear in a misleading web address 

A web address contains several components. The domain name is the part you need to verify, while additional pages, folders and parameters may appear after it. A brand name can appear in several places without the domain actually belonging to that brand. 

The following examples use only the reserved .example domain. They are fictional addresses, not actual casino websites. 

Fictional address	What should you recognize?
casino.example/login	The domain is casino.example; /login is a page path.
casino.loginservice.example	The domain is loginservice.example; “casino” is a subdomain.
loginservice.example/casino	The casino name appears in the path, not in the domain.
casino-belgie.example	This is a separate domain; “belgie” does not prove that it is licensed.

The practical lesson is simple: don’t just look for the brand name somewhere in the address. Compare the complete relevant address with the official listing. If you’re unsure, you don’t need to analyze the URL technically yourself. Close the page and start again from the regulator’s website. 

Safeonweb explains how an organization’s name can be incorporated into a misleading web address in its guidance on recognizing suspicious links and phishing attempts. 

A sponsored search result is not a licence 

An advertisement may appear at the top of search results. That doesn’t mean the destination is the official website of the casino mentioned. Advertising placement and a gambling licence are two entirely different things. 

Even when using a trusted search engine, check the final destination address. The search result may mention a familiar casino name, but clicking it could take you to a different domain. 

The same applies to social media advertisements. A recognizable profile picture, enthusiastic comments or a video featuring a well-known person do not prove that the genuine operator published the advertisement. Assess the destination independently of the message used to attract you. 

If you’re unsure, don’t look for confirmation through another advertisement. Visit the Belgian Gaming Commission’s official website and check which website is associated with the licence. This allows you to verify the information independently of the advertiser. 

Check the domain in the official licence register 

Offering gambling services in Belgium requires an official licence from the Belgian Gaming Commission. A reference to a foreign licence does not replace Belgian authorization. 

Start with the Belgian Gaming Commission’s official lists of legal gambling operators. For online casinos, the A+ and B+ categories are relevant. Check the category corresponding to the services you’re investigating. 

Then follow these steps: 

1. Find the operator. Use the brand name, operating company or stated licence number as a starting point. 

2. Read the website listing. A matching company name or an existing licence number alone is not enough. 

3. Compare the addresses. Check letters, hyphens, numbers and domain extensions. A similar-looking domain is still a separate address. 

4. Check the current information and licence status. Don’t rely on an old screenshot of a licence. 

5. Stop if you’re unsure. Request clarification using independently verified contact details. 

An official listing may contain several websites associated with one entry. However, don’t assume that additional domains are covered by the licence. Check exactly which addresses are listed. The official tables include details such as website addresses and operator information. 

Our overview of legal online casinos in Belgium can help you get started. However, the regulator remains the authoritative source for current official registrations. 

Why a licence number in the footer isn’t enough 

A licence number can be genuine and still appear on the wrong website. Copying that number does not transfer the licence to another domain. 

Think of a shop displaying another company’s registration number on its door. The presence of that number doesn’t tell you who actually operates the shop. 

That’s why you should verify the combination of website address, operator and licence details. An image of a certificate, a regulator’s logo or the words “officially recognized” do not provide independent confirmation. 

For broader warning signs, you can consult our guide to recognizing online casino scams. When checking a website address, the key factor is whether the website you’re visiting matches the official registration. 

A padlock and HTTPS don’t prove a website is trustworthy 

A secure connection is important when transmitting information. However, HTTPS doesn’t tell you whether the company behind the website is honest or holds a Belgian gambling licence. 

Even a fraudulent website can use a valid security certificate. You may therefore have an encrypted connection with the wrong party. Encryption protects information during transmission; it does not verify the recipient’s intentions. Safeonweb warns that an HTTPS website is not automatically safe. 

Never treat the padlock symbol as your final verification step. A page with HTTPS, a familiar logo and a convincing live chat feature can still be hosted on the wrong domain. A website’s appearance and technical security answer different questions from its licensing status. 

Not being on the blacklist doesn’t automatically mean a website is legal 

A blacklist is useful for identifying known illegal websites. However, the absence of an address from the list doesn’t prove that it has been approved. A new domain may simply not have been added yet. 

Instead, look for positive confirmation in the official licence records. The question isn’t just whether a website has been identified as illegal, but whether the specific address belongs to an authorized operator. 

If you cannot establish this, don’t enter any information. If the official website is temporarily unavailable, postpone logging in or making payments. A chat agent on the suspicious domain cannot replace independent verification. 

Check again if you’re redirected 

Sometimes, clicking a link takes you to another website. This may happen during registration, identity verification or payment. A redirect is not necessarily evidence of fraud, but it deserves attention. 

There is a difference between a casino’s domain and an external payment provider. A payment provider doesn’t need to appear in the gambling licence register as a casino. However, you should check whether the step matches the payment procedure described by the genuine operator. 

If the entire casino interface suddenly changes its name, or you’re asked to enter your existing password again on an unfamiliar domain, stop and verify the situation through the confirmed website. Don’t simply accept a claim that this is the “new address” or a “backup website”. 

What if you’ve already entered your information? 

Close the suspicious page and don’t provide any additional codes or documents. If you’ve used a password that also protects other accounts, change it immediately through the genuine websites. Start with your email account if you use the same password there. 

If you’ve shared payment details or transferred money, contact your bank immediately to discuss appropriate measures. If your bank card has been compromised, blocking it may also be necessary. In cases of financial loss or extortion, file a police report. 

Keep the suspicious address, messages, payment receipts and any screenshots you already have. Don’t log in again just to gather more evidence. You can forward suspicious messages to suspicious@safeonweb.be. However, reporting something there does not replace contacting your bank or filing a police report. 

Our guide on what to do after gambling at an illegal casino provides further information. Don’t pay any additional amount to someone claiming it is necessary to release your balance or process a refund. The Belgian FPS Economy specifically warns against requests to pay fees to receive alleged winnings. 

Bookmark the website only after verifying its address 

Once you’ve independently confirmed that you’re visiting the correct website, save it as a bookmark. This reduces your reliance on search results, advertisements and links in messages the next time you want to access it. 

Even then, remain cautious about unexpected changes. A message announcing a new domain, mandatory re-registration or a blocked withdrawal should prompt you to verify the information again through a trusted contact channel. 

Taking a moment before logging in can prevent many problems: check the address, compare it with the official registration and only then enter your information. Recognizing a brand is the starting point of verification, never proof that the website is genuine.