Playing at an online casino encompasses a range of different criteria, but as with any online activity, we must stay safe and keep our sensitive information away from the prying eyes of cybercriminals.
Online casinos, despite their innovations and incredible success, remain a constant target for shady online operators who seek vulnerabilities in websites that can be exploited. It’s the job of security experts, site designers, and casino bosses to stay one step ahead of the criminals and to protect your money and your data.
However, there are measures you can take that will keep you safe while playing at an online casino, and they will help to add another layer of protection between you and these rogue digital operators that lurk in the shadows.
Using e-wallets and alternative payment options
Companies such as PayPal and Trustly enable casino gamers to connect their bank accounts to a casino without having to directly enter the types of information that are often targeted as part of a breach, or personal details that are immediately valuable to cybercriminals. They allow customers to sign up, verify, and connect their bank accounts; however, if they subsequently want to use this login to deposit funds into a casino, it provides an extra level of protection.
The rise of e-wallets has shifted many of the goals of online casinos, but it has also further influenced the potential of alternative payment options. Experts at CasinoTopsOnline have spent years reviewing and deconstructing the possibilities of innovative fintech like Trustly – https://www.casinotopsonline.com/payments/trustly – which is one of many ways to combat the rise of data breaches and cyberattacks that have occurred in online casino gaming.
Still, from an end-user perspective, it boils down to one thing: it means we don’t have to have all of our card details alongside all of our personal information, stored on a server, as a casino spends enormous amounts of capital stopping hackers from gaining access to it.
Staying up to date with the latest technology
E-wallet payment options were highly innovative 20 years ago. While they still have millions of customers and are the payment method of choice for casino gamers, fintech companies have continued to seek out even more secure and unique ways to attract newer generations of gamers.
For those casino gamers drawn to the concept of innovative payment methods, the rise of cryptocurrencies in the form of Bitcoin and altcoins has ushered in a new era for the gambling community, while blockchain technology has been touted as a game-changer in the worlds of business, real estate, traditional finance and record-keeping.
In casino gaming, it works particularly well, because despite all transactions being logged and recorded on the blockchain, there are no other identifying features that are publicly accessible. In the event of a breach, hackers will aim for the wallet of the crypto provider, where they store their funds.
Yes, they may also attempt to gain personal information, but given the dynamics of a crypto casino, it actually shifts the target away from the type of data criminals usually look to obtain, and they instead focus on draining the wallet that holds the platform’s funds.
Do your research
With so many different gambling platforms all looking to appeal to a fresh audience, it’s vital that you are able to decipher which platforms stand out from the crowd. Safety can take many forms, but aside from keeping your information safe via alternate payment methods, there are many other aspects that companies can consider when designing their websites and mobile apps to keep your information more secure:
- Integrate high levels of SSL encryption, such as 128-bit and 256-bit.
- Implement effective firewall encryption.
- Ensure 2FA (two-factor authentication) is set up for every login and deposit.
- Integrate biometric ID for logins or withdrawals over a specified amount.
Ideally, a brand will tick all of these boxes. It’s information they will have readily available on their home page or “About Us” section. Those brands that neglect these non-negotiables of customer security will ultimately come unstuck at some stage.
Research also includes what other people have to say about a brand. I’ll be the first to admit that if I see somebody writing a negative review about a brand on a site like Facebook – which is obviously where all intellectuals voice their concerns – that I’ll take it with a pinch of salt.
However, if it goes from a handful of bad reviews to pages and pages of trends saying the same thing, as well as negative news stories and bad expert reviews about a brand, then don’t be surprised if you sign up for that service and learn that they overlook security that pertains to both the mechanics of their site and your personal information.
Determine their approach to responsible gambling
Those casinos that prioritize shielding problem gamblers from their own harmful activity demonstrate that they’re putting their customers first. If a brand has a clear signpost to their responsible gambling helpdesk, including self-exclusion and cooling-off options, then the chances are they will also have a better approach when it comes to handling customers’ data safely.
Now, this isn’t always the case, and you should combine your research with the other factors we have discussed today. However, the point remains: if a brand is serious about protecting problem gamblers and is vocal about it, this is usually a business ethos that will also trickle down into their overall approach to keeping customer data secure.
Final thoughts
As you can see from the points we have covered today, staying safe while using online casinos is a multi-faceted approach. Some of this responsibility lies with the brand you use, but there’s a decent chunk of responsibility that falls into your lap, too.
Listen to what the expert reviewers have to say, and familiarize yourself with the variables that determine how safe an online casino actually is. Once you have done so, you will be able to identify what you need to do to keep yourself as safe as possible.
