Online casinos offer generous signup bonuses and promotions to attract new players. However some unscrupulous gamblers exploit these offers by creating multiple accounts, known as multi-accounting. This fraudulent practice allows them to claim bonuses repeatedly.
While the temptation exists to multi-account, doing so breaches casino’s terms and carries significant risks. As an example, for players multi-accounting at Unibet can lead to forfeited winnings, account closures and blacklisting across sites. For online gambling operators, it threatens profitability and undermines VIP schemes. Nonetheless, tackling bonus abuse remains an ongoing battle.
What Constitutes Multi-Accounting?
Multi-accounting refers to a player opening more than one account with a casino by providing different credentials each time. Common approaches include:
- Using varied personal details, like names, email addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses
- Registering new accounts from different devices and internet connections
- Collaborating with relatives or friends to sign up additional accounts
In essence, any duplicate account creation breaches casinos “one bonus per person” rules. Their terms and conditions explicitly forbid bonus abuse and multi-accounting.
Why Do Players Multi-Account?
For opportunistic gamblers multi-accounting seems a shortcut to amplify wins. Typical motivations include:
Chasing Big Bonuses
- Welcome packages allowing up to $5,000 in bonuses tempt players to open multiple accounts.
- By claiming bonuses repeatedly multi-accounters boost their starting balances for gambling.
Exploiting Free Spins
- Free spin packages give players dozens of spins on popular slots.
- Multi-accounting allows amassing hundreds of free games to increase win potential.
Manipulating VIP Schemes
- Loyalty programs offer escalating perks based on wagering activity.
- Running parallel accounts lets players advance quicker through VIP tiers.
Fundamentally, multi-accounters try leveraging casinos’ generosity through deception.
However their schemes require beating increasingly sophisticated fraud detection.
Risks and Repercussions for Players
While chasing extra bonuses multi-accounting players risk account closures, confiscated funds, blacklisting and criminal charges:
Account Closures and Loss of Funds
Once detected casinos immediately close fraudulent duplicate accounts and associated primary accounts. Any balances get forfeited often totaling thousands in rare cases.
Site Blacklisting
Detecting one multi-accounting attempt leads to blacklisting across affiliated casino sites using shared databases. Blacklisted players cannot open accounts or play at those casinos.
Criminal Charges
In some jurisdictions, multi-accounting violates gambling regulations, constituting fraud. If damages exceed thresholds casinos pursue legal action, as Crown Resorts did. Convicted players face financial penalties or even jail time in serious cases.
Ultimately, multi-accounting rarely benefits players long-term but risks severe consequences.
Challenges for Online Casinos
For internet gambling operators, multi-accounting threatens revenues through bonuses exploited rather than attracting genuine players. Estimating exact losses, though difficult, suggests the practice costs millions annually.
Additionally, devising controls against multi-accounting saps resources. Common countermeasures include:
| Control | Description |
| ID Verification | Demanding proof of identification documents like passports and driver’s licenses during account creation |
| IP Tracking | Monitoring IP addresses to detect accounts registered from the same internet connections |
| Geo-Location | Using software to trace devices physical locations while registering accounts |
Implementing these controls raises costs for casinos but cannot eliminate multi-accounting fully.
As detection methods improve cunning players adapt tactics, spurring a perpetual enforcement arms race.
Multi-Accounting Poses Growing Concerns
In summary, while multi-accounting promises shortcuts for bonuses and perks, merely attempting the practice risks severe consequences for players. Detecting and blocking bonus abuse also challenges gambling sites.
As online casinos expand globally operators attempt to reduce incentives for multi-accounting through measures like:
- Restricting bonuses for certain countries
- Lowering maximum bonuses
- Increasing playthrough requirements
- Offering free spins instead of cash bonuses
Nonetheless, stubborn multi-accounters continue exploiting weaknesses wherever found. Their evolving tactics render multi-accounting an ongoing threat to both players and casinos. Without concerted efforts little relief exists from the risks posed by this fraud.
