Betting sites sometimes go offline. We know that this can be a source of concern, as you could lose your bet or even a prize.

High traffic and several other issues can cause websites to become unstable. And this can happen to any portal, whether it is a betting portal or not.

But we understand that it is important for bettors to find out the reasons and know what to do to resolve the situation.

Why do betting sites go down?

A number of factors can cause betting sites to go offline.

If you have already checked your provider and concluded that the problem is on bet’s side , the next step is to analyze what may be causing the instability.

We remind you that websites rely on internet services, hardware, servers and software to function.

So at some point something might go wrong.

Among the most common errors are:

• Server or DNS failure;
• Website that doesn’t open, doesn’t load or closes suddenly;
• Hacker attack.

Technical problems

A few months ago, the Bet365 website became unstable and stopped automatically updating football match scores.

On social media, users also reported that the site did not load or did not allow bettors to follow the games .

Generally, when there is this type of problem, bookmakers notify users through their official networks.

Increased access

A large volume of accesses can cause an overload on the servers , leaving a website temporarily offline.

When there is a major sporting event, such as the finals of major competitions, betting sites may experience a high number of users accessing the site at the same time.

This volume can slow down the site or cause it to go offline.

This is what happened in 2022, during the Champions League final , when Betano received hits from thousands of users, causing the site to go offline.

The same happened in 2023, in the Libertadores final .

According to the platform, they had periods of instability , which left the site unavailable for a few moments.

Website maintenance

Occasionally, bookmakers carry out maintenance to offer a better service to users.

This is a common procedure, but it limits access for a certain period of time.

Maintenance usually occurs to update the website, eliminate bugs, improve security and user experience.

In these cases, the bookmaker communicates the procedure directly on its website or on its social networks.

For example, a few years ago, Betfair went offline for maintenance and posted a notice on its homepage and social media.

Closure of activities

With hundreds of betting houses operating in Brazil, the fierce competition can lead a brand to change its focus, ending its activities.

This happens because the sports betting market is quite volatile , especially since it is not yet regulated in the country.

Spin Sports , for example, began operating in Brazil in 2017, with sports betting and online casinos.

However, in March 2022, the house decided to end sports betting , keeping only Spin Casino.

It was a one-off decision, which could be reversed in the future.

Legal suspension

Bookmakers involved in fraud or financial schemes may also have their website suspended.

Even though they have been authorized to operate in Brazil since 2018, there is still no specific regulation on which security and integrity mechanisms authorized betting houses must adopt.

And in September 2023, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) requested that the Blaze website be taken offline .

The Agency complied with a request from the São Paulo Court, as the betting house is the target of the CPI of Financial Pyramids.

What are the impacts for the bettor when this happens?

With the betting site down, bettors may face a number of problems.

Not being able to place bets, follow games, use cashout or having difficulties with withdrawals and deposits are the most common complaints.

Another point exposed by bettors on complaint sites is that some bookmakers carry out maintenance without prior notice , leaving players without any access.

What to do when you can’t access the website?

First of all, stay calm and check if the problem is not with your internet connection or your mobile device.

The choice of what to do will be determined after finding out what the problem is!

Log in on another device

Start by checking your internet connection. Try accessing other websites and apps and see if they work normally or if you have any issues.

Take the opportunity to clear your browser’s cache and cookies.

This stored data often causes conflicts and can interfere with the functioning of websites.

If possible, try accessing the bookmaker’s website on another device, or using the incognito tab in your browser.

Browse without logging into your account and check if the site is still unstable.

If the problem persists, it’s time to look for another solution.

Contact website support

Look for contact and support alternatives available on the website, whether it be email, telephone, chat (if it is working within the website) or the bookmaker’s official social networks.

This way, you can know if there is really something wrong with the platform.

Getting in touch can also be a solution if you suffer any losses due to the website’s instability.

Wait for the solution

If none of these options solve the problem and the site remains offline, wait a few minutes for the bookmaker to return the service.

Sometimes you have to be a little patient, as it may be temporary.

Seek specialized help

If the instability of the betting house’s website has harmed the bettor, he can resort to justice.

If you are unable to resolve this situation directly with the bookmaker, one option is to make a complaint to IBAS – Independent Betting Adjudication Service.

This is an English Alternative Dispute Resolution platform, which is approved by the Gambling Commission to carry out conciliation or mediation between bookmakers and their customers.

If this does not work, it will be necessary to seek a lawyer to take legal action against the company, which may not be very successful under current Brazilian regulations.

But we can tell you that in Brazil, there are lawyers specialized in suing betting houses.

How to avoid the problem?

Bettors can look for some ways to protect themselves in this situation.

One suggestion is to follow the brand on social media and assess how it is operating on the day, including analyzing comments from other bettors.

Also make sure that the betting site is trustworthy .

Research the origin of the bookmaker, which country the company is based in and what the legislation of the country in question says about betting and gaming on online platforms.

Another important tip is to search for the company on the main complaints platforms and check its reputation.

Other measures can be taken as attempts to solve problems with betting sites, even though the solution rate is low, precisely because the company is not subject to national legislation.

The first is to file a complaint on the platform itself. If there are no results, you can register the incident on complaint websites.

If there is still no solution, the next step is to try to take the incident to court through the civil court.

Although there are ways to prevent it, instabilities can occur on the internet, regardless of the reputation of a betting house.

The important thing is that the user knows how to identify the problem in order to adopt the most appropriate and quickest solution possible.