After reading about a bettor who was scammed out of a nice chunk of his balance by a unknown book for what they called pyramid betting I thought it might be a good idea to help those new to online casinos to get caught up in messes like this poor guy who happened upon a rogue sportsbook.

Here are a few tips I found on various sites to keep unsuspecting players from signing up and depositing with scam casinos,poker rooms and sportsbooks.

If you're from New Zealand and looking for a great casino to start, I recommend you Ruby Fortune casino since it's beginner friendly and has great bonuses.

Crucial notes to consider before making deposits

Read their Terms and Conditions and make sure you understand them. These are usually posted at the casino's website or as you are downloading their software. If the terms and conditions are sloppily written - avoid this casino. When casinos are struggling with the English language, they ought to be avoided. Language difficulties will eventually lead to problematic situations.

Make sure you are allowed to play. US citizens, Canadians, Danes, and citizens from Eastern Europe or Russia may be excluded at the casino. Many of the casinos listed here do not accept wagers from US based players.

Make sure you are old enough to play. If you are between the ages of 18 - 21, contact the casino support to ensure they will honor your winnings if you win. Get this in writing.

Understand the rules for bonuses. Most online casinos apply bonuses to first time customers; some to returning customers. Nevertheless, there are limits to the amount that the bonus may be. For instance, if they offer to apply a 35% bonus to your first deposit, make sure you understand whether or not there is a limit to how much the bonus is applied to. Make sure that you are playing the games that the bonuses cover, or the bonus play may be forfeited. Read the terms and conditions!

Fight Online Casino Spam! When opening an account at a casino, use a unique email address for each account. This way, if you receive any spam emails to this account, you'll know who is responsible.

You are responsible for the use of your computer. When you sign up, you are agreeing that you are responsible to keep your username and password private from third parties. Don't let your teenagers, ex-husbands, and drunken friends use your computer! They'll screw you over!

Before opening an account, make sure you have a copy of your passport/drivers license handy as a jpg. Also, scan a recent copy of a utility bill that includes your address as well as a scanned copy of your credit card (if a credit card is being used). Have these documents saved as JPG files, so you can simply attach them to an e-mail. No need for international faxes and "unclear" documents. When you open a new account, get these documents approved via e-mail before depositing. You should not need to send credit card information, or banking information if you have not or do not plan to use a credit card for deposits. Many players are disappointed at having to produce these items once they have made a large win. It is common for casinos to request this sort of information before sending your winnings. But never fear, it's usually a one-time-only process. Once you are in their system as a real player, you should have no problems.

Read the banking terms. Some casinos limit cash outs to x amount per month or week. If a casino has stipulations that limit your cash outs unless you play back a certain amount, DO NOT SIGN UP.

Things you should avoid

• Playing at sites licensed in Belize, Venezuela, Eastern Europe.
• Playing at sites with unknown or undisclosed software.
  
• Playing at sites that hide licensing information.
  
• Playing at sites that use the phrase "real gambler" or "bonus abuser" in the rules.
  
• Playing at sites that use the phrase "Legally licensed and fully insured".
  
• Forgetting agreements over the phone. Get them in writing.
  
• Forgetting to keep copies of all chat sessions.

Some Great Casinos to Play at:

• Ruby Fortune
• Jackpot City
• Fortune Jack
• Bob Casino
• 32Red

NZ-Casinos stands behind every site endorsed here and none of these casinos would ever try to rob a player out of winnings or a bonus as long as the player lives up to the rules posted on each site but you will find many sites will do anything to keep from paying a player who happened to win a good amount of money so always check a site thoroughly and read their rules before sending any site any of your hard earned money.