As a typical gambler plays, there are many risks they are prone to, but there is one huge question many players fear may happen to them and can be common when gambling crypto – what happens to your funds when a crypto casino either freezes your withdrawals or just shuts down altogether? Understanding how to withdraw is one thing, but not being able to is a completely different risk players take when gambling.
Common reasons for casinos freezing withdrawals
There are many typical reasons your funds may be frozen, but let us go over the most common reasons for you to factor in and when you should start to get worried. Many casinos show warning signs, and these reasons can make your withdrawal experience frightening.
Platform maintenance or issues
Most causes for frozen withdrawals are due to updates happening on the platform, either within the casino itself or within the wallet you are using. Due to high demand and timing of your withdrawal, there could be congestion within the blockchain, causing slower or frozen transactions.
An example of this happening was the popular Binance freeze in 2023 that left users wondering what was going to happen. Even though they resumed shortly after, any users had questions that surrounded the halt of the platform.
AML or KYC account reviews
Many casinos have AML protocols set in place for their platform, and KYC triggers can come at any point. They can suddenly require and demand identity verification that will freeze your funds altogether unless you comply with their level of standard.
Beware of this though, because some casinos can use this as a factor when players win too much and can take advantage of you, making players jump through hoops and long waiting times on verification or responses back.
Legality / regulatory issues
Some casinos run into the issue of investigations pending to their casino regarding their licensing or lack thereof. Making sure a casino is properly licensed is crucial to know before you make any deposits or withdrawals.
In some cases, the casino can shut down, and your funds may be not only frozen but stuck forever. Just like the saying says for your crypto funds, “Not your keys, not your coins,” the same applies when you transfer your crypto into these casinos. Always factor in the risks before playing.
Liquidity Issues
This is where players should really be worried. Some crypto casinos may end up not having enough crypto on-hand to pay out the winners, even if you can see it in your casino account. This can be commonly caused after a huge win or if the crypto market crashes.
There have been cases in the past when the market drops drastically, and players are left stranded with their crypto unobtainable. One case was the 2022 crypto winter, when the long downfall of the cryptocurrency led casinos to shut down and users out of their earnings.
Rull-pull/ Exit scams
The absolute worst-case scenario is when everything goes quiet and nothing is done. Scam casinos can leave players with their withdrawals being frozen, the support team becomes silent, stops responding to your significant issue, and the site goes away as if it never existed.
Many players face this tragedy of exit scams, and there is nothing that can be done about it. It is a quick way casinos earn their money and vanish as if they didn’t just steal thousands from hard-working people.
There are many cases of this happening, but a popular one was the 2021 Squid Game rug pull that left investors out $3.38 million and in the pockets of the developers.

Steps to Follow
These reasons can cost players thousands, if not millions, and can last up to days, weeks, or even forever. If this happens, it is best to follow these steps:
Stop all deposits no matter what the casino might say
Why deposit more money if you can’t access what you have already gained?
Record and screenshot all transactions or conversions
This leaves room for proof and no excuses later on (if there is a later on).
Check what others are saying
See if other people within the community are experiencing the same issue or if the platform has posted any updates regarding the issue.
Simply try withdrawing smaller amounts
Some casinos have withdrawal limits due to AML and security reasons, so maybe the amount you are trying to withdraw may be too much at one given time.
Stay consistent and act fast
Consistently talking with support or the community helps you, and acting slow helps the casino, so stay on edge and keep your currency close.
Conclusion: The Hard Truth
The hard truth to all of this is that crypto casinos are not well regulated as for any online casino, so many do not have insurance to cover what they did not owe you. It is also good to keep this in mind since if they don’t want to pay you, there is no true enforcement for them to.
Reputable casinos will do their best to keep withdrawal freezes to a minimum, but it is best to be wary of all casinos and make sure you are choosing carefully. So whether your funds are frozen or the casino shut down, you can be in danger, and it is best to be aware of what may happen before it does. Staying informed creates better decision making in crypto trading and gambling.