Don’t place that bet: Sask. gov’t warns of fake casino ads

It’s best to think twice before making an online bet. Ahead of the CFL’s regular season, the province is warning online gamblers to be wary of fake casino ads on social media.

Scammers often use these ads to defraud people by stealing credit card numbers and other banking information, according to the Government of Saskatchewan.

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In a Wednesday media release, the province reminded people that PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling platform in Saskatchewan.

The release said the scam ads typically copy the names, logos and exterior images of actual land-based casinos.

“If you see a social media ad for an online version of Casino Regina or any other land-based casino in the province, don’t click on it,” said Steve Tunison, vice president of gaming of Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS).

“None of Saskatchewan’s land-based casinos have an online version where you can bet on sports or wager on a casino-style game, and neither does the province’s VLT program.”

If residents come across one of these fraudulent ads, they’re encouraged to report it promptly to the online platform where it appeared, such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.

The province also encourages people to report suspected fraud and cybercrime to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or through its 1-888-495-8501 number.

“LGS has contracted with a brand impersonation takedown service to identify these types of threats and help remove them from the Internet,” Tunison said.

“In the first six months of using this service, it has identified and helped remove more than 140 fraudulent ads that were targeting Saskatchewan people by impersonating one of our province’s casinos.”

According to the province, these types of scam ads are an ongoing issue for casino operators across North America.