Online Casino Spotlight

One of the best things about the burgeoning online gambling market is all the payment options available to the player.  Prepaid cards are among the latest and most secure methods you can use to pad your casino account.  This option is taking off fast as more casinos are embracing it.  Players love these cards because they offer numerous advantages over credit cards.

Hassle-Free

Prepaid cards are easy to obtain.  Most of them can be purchased at retail stores for the dollar value of your choosing.  For the most part, a prepaid card works the same way as a credit card, mainly because the transfer of your money is essentially instantaneous.  The major difference is that credit card transactions can often be rejected if a player exceeds the limit allowed by the card issuer or for various other reasons.  This is not the case with prepaid cards because the issuing institution already has your funds, meaning there is no reason for them to block your transaction.

More Secure

Another reason prepaid cards are catching on so fast is because they are far more secure than credit or debit cards.  Sure, online casino operators take a variety of security measures to protect the sensitive information associated with credit and debit cards, but that does nothing to deter a motivated cyber criminal.  Hackers are drive to thieve credit card data because they can either use it to make purchases it or sell it off to someone else.  Prepaid cards have fixed amounts and the moment you enter the number at your online casino, that entire amount is transferred to your player account.  At this point, there is nothing for the hacker to gain and the prepaid card is essentially worthless.  These cards are not linked to your bank account number or any other sensitive details, which should help you sleep much easier at night.

More Discreet

Credit and debit card payments are typically facilitated through a bank account.  Online payment services usually require you to fund your account with a bank account or credit card.  This documentation creates a trail that leads right back to the online casino.  With a prepaid card, this is something you do not have to worry about, making it a perfect alternative for players who would prefer to gamble online in a discreet manner.

Helps Stop Problem Gambling

Prepaid cards can be very effective in preventing compulsive gambling.  For example, players can simply buy the card for the exact amount they are able to afford and halt temptation in its tracks when playing at an online casino.  As we touched on before, once that money is transferred into your account, the card is useless.  This means that no matter how much you are tempted, you can’t replenish the card and risk more money.  In order to play again, you must go out and purchase another one, which could prove to be very inconvenient.  With credit cards, giving into temptation and taking out more money is generally much easier, providing some players with the leeway that puts them on the road to problem gambling.  You can avoid this by playing at an online casino that accepts prepaid cards.

Despite the surging popularity of online gambling, there is still a large number of individuals who do not feel safe enough to gamble at the many available internet casinos.  Many of them believe that these websites exist solely to contribute to problem gambling, underage wagering and money laundering.  What makes it worse is that these issues are a reality in various areas of the world.  In fact, unlicensed and illegal internet casino sites are currently operating in China, Korea, Japan and many other countries.  One major reason this occurs is because of the online gambling laws enacted in certain areas.  Some countries have simply chosen to make this activity illegal and forbid their citizens from partaking.  While all jurisdictions have their reasons for being for or against online gambling, it does nothing to sooth the fear of individuals who are spooked from all the security horror stories.

Security Conscious Casinos

Interested yet hesitant parties should be comforted to know that reputable online casino operators understand their concerns regarding security.  These companies work diligently to prevent issues of fraud and hacking from occurring within their gaming environment.  The online gambling industry is prevalent in the UK and to no surprise, this area is home to internet casinos that offer players some of the best protection available.  At the same time, they realize that no website is ever 100% safe, so many are now working to improve their level of security to ensure players even better protection.  UK operators are currently working with internet security firms to enforce security protocols and verify identification.  Casinos are putting emphasis on mechanisms that prevent underage gambling as well as unauthorized account access from parties that are not validated.  These efforts are being made to better ensure that player casino accounts and most importantly, their funds, are protected.

PartyGaming and PKR.com are two of several online casinos in the UK that have decided to ramp up their security efforts.  They have let it be known that it is their obligation to keep the security systems up to date and also make sure underage gamblers are not participating.  When asked if these efforts were being made to eventually tap into the American market when and if regulation is introduced, both stated while they always look to expand, they are more concerned about providing a secure gaming environment.  In the eyes of PartyGaming and PKR.com, the potential of the U.S. market isn’t nearly as important as protecting the players.

Conclusion

If an online casino cannot provide dependable security, there is no way they will survive in this fiercely competitive market.  However, operators must be aware that the evolution of technology opens up the door to more security woes.  Every time a viable security tool or method is introduced, the criminals always seem to find a way around it.  Therefore, security systems need to be updated on a regular basis to keep the player community protected.  Thankfully, many online casinos in the UK and other areas realize this and do their best to ensure security for their players regardless of where they reside.

It can be easy to understand why many players exploring the notion of using an online casino may be hesitant to do so. There are many options to choose from but it can be a gamble in more ways than one. Players want to feel confident that there transactions are being completed in a secure manner. Since online casinos constantly process credit card transactions, they are a major target for computer hackers. Encryption security is critical to the operation of an online casino.

The Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a must for any reputable online casino. This technology filters transmitted information through codes to protect all of the transactions. The SSL ensures that the information being sent back and forth cannot be intercepted by a third party.

A SSL certificate encompasses both a private and public key. The public key is encrypted while the private key deciphers the information. When a Web browser contacts a secured domain, a SSL handshake authenticates the server and client. An encryption method is initiated with a unique session key, at which point the secure transmission will commence.

Banks and credit institutions use the same technology

The technology tool being used by online casinos is the same one that is being implemented by most banks and credit institutions. In other words, online casino transactions with SSL are as safe as a standard ATM withdrawal. Most online casinos use the latest 256 bit SSL encryption tool. Also, these casinos will display a valid SSL certificate at their website.

Firewalls also play a key role

While the Secure Socket Layer protects transactions, there is another avenue that hackers can attempt access to. The online casinos store plenty of valuable data on their servers. Firewalls are used to keep all of this information secure for online casinos. Most online casinos entrust companies like VeriSign to implement the security software that protects the data that is stored on the servers.

The basic software of the casino is also geared towards security. An online player can operate his casino account using the log in name and password that they select. Also, most online casinos provide an account number or pin number that has to be produced while asking for withdrawals. Generally, online casinos automatically log out the player when he exits from the casino. The software at some casinos remembers the log in name and password for automatic log in, but allows members to disable this facility.

Payment options

After finding a secure casino to handle the transactions, the player still needs to make sure that the casinos accept a variety of payment options. Obviously, most will accept credit/debit cards from Visa and Mastercard. However, there are many players who will need to use other forms of payment in their transactions. It is important to make sure that secured casinos provide other payment options for their clients beyond credit cards. Payment options like PayPal and Netseller are becoming more popular for a variety of online transactions.

2009 has been a busy year for the community of internet hackers.  It has also been one of major concern for the online gambling business.  The latest issue for the industry is gambling sites being compromised through a technique known as web scraping.  According to a report published in SC magazine, internet hackers are frequently using bot programs to capture information from online casino sites to fix the odds to reveal pattern payouts and ensure larger winnings.  After gathering the information, hackers can then use their arbitration systems to determine which bets are most likely to win.  When bets are involved, this malicious technique is incredibly difficult to detect, prevent and track because the programs run off automated scripts designed to simulate the play of a live human gambler.  This also leads security experts to believe that money laundering is still a possibility within the realm of online gambling.

How Web Scraping Works

Also referred to as web harvesting, web scraping is a technique performed by a software program that extracts data from a website.  In some cases, the program is intended to simulate human exploration of the web or a particular site.  This is typically done by implementing a lower level version of HTTP or even embedding entire browsers such as Mozilla FireFox or Internet Explorer.  The technique of web scraping is quite similar to web indexing, which involves a bot crawling the web to index pages for search engines.  Though it can be used in a benign manner when it comes to web research and data integration, this technique is very dangerous in the hands of a hacker out to wreak havoc.

Virtual Casinos a Perfect Target

The fact that online gambling is entirely based on the web makes this prosperous industry a prime target for web scraping.  Knowledgeable hackers can use the method to extract the necessary details from a casino site and use their arbitration systems to play the odds at a level that virtually guarantees huge winnings.  They can use these tools to manipulate the odds in a way that improves their winning margin and also monitor the site to determine when it experiences the most traffic.  All of this is done in stealth manner, leaving the casino to believe they are dealing with a real human player while the criminal skates off undetected.

Analysts are predicting that the online gambling industry will be worth an estimated $125 billion by the year 2015.  If that is true, hackers and techniques like web scraping could become even bigger problems for the industry.  Security experts warn that web scraping occurs quite frequently, stating that a savvy hacker can easily steal data from a website, host it on another and redirect unknowing players.  Something this manipulative could lead to phishing, fraud and even identity theft.  While there are some preventative measures that can be put in place to minimize the risk, expects are concerned that far too many casino operators do not have the time or knowledge to implement them.

Online gaming is a fast moving industry that offers advantages to the player and casino operator alike.  Today, there are literally thousands of casinos located at virtually every corner of the web.  Sadly, some of these operators simply exist to steal your hard earned money and leave you in a world of financial debt.  What can happen if you fall for a scam employed by a shady a casino?  Well, you could find yourself receiving no payout at all or the latest victim of identify theft, both of which are being more common.  If you are indulging in the online gambling experience for the first time or venturing to a new casino, keep the following in mind before diving in head first.

1.) Look for Valid Gaming Licenses

All respectable online casinos should be licensed and regulated by the gambling authority from the jurisdiction in which the operator is based.  A valid license provides you with added security because if you ever become the victim of shady business practices, you will have your chance to file a complaint and possibly take action against the casino.  This information should be published and easily accessible so if you can’t find it, this could be a sign that you have encountered an illegal operation.  The ambiguous nature of the internet allows crooks to claim to be anything they want, even casino operators.  Unfortunately, this gives criminals the ammunition they need to create fraudulent gambling sites and steal from players who do not expect a thing until it is too late.  Keep your eyes peeled for legitimate licenses and get some validation before laying down a wager.

2.) Play with Reputable Software

Finding out the underlying software platform of an online casino is just as important as checking for a gaming license.  The best casinos are those powered by industry leading solutions by vendors like Microgaming, Playtech and Vegas Technology.  These firms have established solid reputations by offering fair and secure casino games with reasonable odds.  If you are new to all of this, it is important to understand that you have every right to know what software platform the casino operator is utilizing.  This is something that cannot be stressed enough because some casinos have been known to use software that operates in their favor and flat out cheats the player.  If a casino will not spill the details about their gaming platform, you would be better off playing elsewhere.

3.) Know That You are Protected

The fact that you have to provide personal information such as credit card numbers and your home address could make playing at an online casino very scary, and rightfully so.  However, keep in mind that if you are just playing for free, there should be no reason to give out such information.  If a casino tries to pump you for these details unjustifiably, it should be a warning sign you need to take seriously.  Should you decide to play for real money, only place your wagers with operators who employ SSL encryption to prevent sensitive data from being stolen and offer a Privacy Policy stating that your personal information will not be sold or supplied to third-parties.  Fraud has been a tremendous problem in the internet world and if you do not know how you are protected, you could learn the hard way that you were given no shield at all.

Where ever money is involved, you better believe that con artists are lurking and looking to steal it from the unsuspecting.  This especially holds true for the internet and the realm of online gambling.  Although there are several legitimate gambling sites to be found, there is also an alarming number of imposters running scams and praying on less informed players.  Because the industry is loosely regulated to the say the least, these crooks often go unpunished for their illicit deeds.

Popular Online Gambling Scams

Players who are not cautious may encounter numerous gambling scams online.  Some of the most scams include:

Rogue Sites – You have probably noticed gambling sites with the flashing lights and adverstisements claiming that you can win big and secure huge payouts.  These are the very types of websites you need to be aware of.  Web criminals these days are very savvy and have the ability to clone an entire site with relative ease.  From duplicating legitimate logos to implementing phoney payment forms, these sites often look so much like the real deal that even the most experienced of players can be duped.

Fake IGC Logos – Con artists are infamous for copying IGC (Internet Gaming Commission) logos and placing them on their sites.  While this coveted seal is supposed to represent credibility and legitimacy, it could just be a trick that sways you into a scam that puts your funds at risk.

Phony Casino Reviews – Online gambling scammers are known for luring players into their traps through casino reviews.  These reviews typically praise a particular online casino only to give players the false sense of security needed to get them to a rogue site and sign over their sensitive financial information.

Protecting Yourself from Scams

Eluding an online gambling scam can be difficult for the new player, but there are a few ways to keep yourself protected.  When shopping for a casino site or poker room to play at, keep the following tips in mind:

- Never put your faith in a gambling site you are not familiar with.  If you have never played there, give the free games a shot before trying your luck with any real money.

- Don’t automatically fall for the IGC logo.  If you have any doubts about the logo you find on a gambling site, shoot the IGC an email and ask if the operator is a certified and legitimate member.

- Find yourself a reliable review site or newsgroup that recommends trusted gambling sites and stick with it.  The gambling community knows more about online scams than any other party.

- Lastly, find several websites you can trust to provide online gambling scam alerts.  There are some sites out there that monitor the industry and make a great source for staying informed on the latest scams.

Conclusion

Always keep in mind that online gambling industry is not controlled and barely regulated.  Therefore, if you fall for a scam, there is no guarantee that you will be able to redeem your stolen money.  This could be a long drawn out process in which your winnings make you the biggest loser of all. 

Essentially since inception, the online gaming industry has been plagued by rogue sites and scamming casino operators.  While many have been identified and shut down, quite a few still exist in some form of another, simply waiting for unknowing players to pay them a visit.  To help keep you protected, we have provided details on some of the most notorious fraudulent and untrustworthy gambling groups and websites.

Blacklisted Networks and Sites

Crystal Palace Group - This network of casinos has a received a number of complaints from players claiming that their winnings were confiscated.  It was also deemed by CasinoMeister as the “Worst Player Experience of 2006″.  The casinos to avoid from this group include the following:

- American Circus Casino

- American Grand Casino

- Casino Peru

- Golden Nile Casino

- LuckyPalm Casino

- Ringmaster Casino

- Royal Circus Casino

- Silver Sands Casino

- Vegas Frontier

- Vegas Riches

Wager21 Casinos – This network of online casinos has found itself on the blacklist for a number of reasons.  Perhaps the biggest issue is that players tend to win a lot more and receive bigger payouts with their free games than when playing with real money.  There have also been several complaints regarding non-payments.  The casinos to avoid in this group include:

Bet-Search

Casino Lucky Dog

Diamond Gal

Eazy Pay

Grand Casino

Lady Dream Casino

Largocasino.com

Luckydogsports

Player Vegas

Futurebet Network – Though it has gone by many names, the overall perception of Futurebet Network has always been the same – bad.  This network has a reputation of being horrible operators with some sites don’t even pay their players or affiliates.  The sites to avoid from this group include:

- 300chips.com

- AceCity.com

- BeachHousePoker.com

- BigDaddyCasino.com

- DonPoker.com

- DukesPalace.com

- LuckyRiverPoker.com

- PodiumPoker.com

- PokerSyndicate.com

- PokerPoka.com

- StarOnlinegaming.com

- TexasHoldemRoom.com

- The PokerClub.com

- WantMyPoker.com

- XtremeBluff.com

Blacklisted Online Casinos

Absolute Poker – Though incredibly popular, Absolute Poker is a room you want to think twice about playing in.  This site was blacklisted in 2007 for the infamous “Hole-Card Scandal” and the operator’s denial following the incident.  The scandal turned out to be a huge security risk and the fact that Absolute Poker denied it makes these guys very suspect.

Arcada Casino - You can try your luck with the jackpot at Arcada Casino put don’t count on a payout.  A player hit for $100,000 back in 2001 and this operator came up with a number of reasons not to payout the winning sum.  You may also want to avoid Automaticbet, AutoSportsBook, CasinoElDuce and SilverVegas as they are sister casinos .

Joyland Casino – These guys have been reported for deleting original withdraw requests and then changing them to only pay players a third of their winnings.   This is certainly a bold move for a very scandalous casino operator.

Vegas24 – This is another casino with a bad reputation.  These guys found themselves on the blacklist due to the lack of a valid gaming licensing and simply not paying their players.

There are literally thousands of sites that have been blacklisted for shady business practices and putting the security of their customers at risk.  These are just a few of several, so it would be wise to do your research to make sure the site you want to play at is not residing on the infamous blacklist.

Everyone is now familiar with the popular Sin City slogan of “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”  For many, Las Vegas is that great escape from the real world.  Naturally, some visitors would prefer that all of their gambling and recreational activities remain sacred.  In a sense, the same holds true for the realm of online gaming as having privacy is a must.  This article will give you several tips to keep in mind when examining the privacy policy of an online casino site.

Privacy for Email

It is critical to make sure the online casino’s privacy policy covers email communications.  The company should clearly state that it will not distribute spam to your email address or solicit it to third-party sources.  Your email address should only be used for matters pertaining to your casino account or newsletters and promotional offers you agreed to receive.  Under no circumstance should it ever be given to an outside company or auctioned off for sale.  To put it simple, your email address should only be a communications medium between you and the casino operator.

Efficient Sign-in Systems

Online casinos require that you submit a great deal of personal information upon signing up for an account.  This generally includes your name, home address, email address and phone number.  You will have to fork over even more details if you want to fund your account with real money.  While this can be a hassle and scary for some, it is a requirement that must be met in order to place a wager. Even though there is no getting round this aspect, it is still advisable to find a casino that ensures privacy with a system that requires you to enter these details only once, opposed to every time you want to make a wager.

Be Aware of Cookies

There are many sites that rely on cookies to keep track of the players who register at the casino.  This helps them automatically recognize you the next time you pay a visit.  However, the basic functioning of cookies could be a privacy concern.  You could always disable cookies through your browser but there may be a few consequences.  While most sites allow you to access the normal casino features, others will be limited in terms of functionality because their gaming software requires the use of cookies.

These are just a few of many important factors that must be considered when evaluating the privacy policy of an online casino.  Although each operator has different policies, all should be designed to keep your information safe.  Because you will be required to comply with an agreement before signing up, this would be the perfect opportunity to speak with someone at the company to make sure the privacy policy lives up to your standards.  If the person cannot answer your questions to satisfactory or you find something in the policy that sound right, simply move onto to another casino site.  Rest assured, there are plenty of suitors that can provide you with the level of privacy and security you need to feel comfortable.

The more respectable online casino operators take all the measures they can to ensure a safe and secure gaming environment.   However, these efforts do nothing to stop hackers from making their attempts of breaking into accounts and divulging sensitive personal and financial information.  These days, it is not uncommon to receive an email that looks as if was sent from a casino you do business with, but is indeed from a criminal looking to compromise your player account.  This is a common internet scam known as phishing.

Sometimes these messages originate from what appears to be a valid casino email account.  In most cases, the tone of the message is urgent, making it seem as if you need to act fast before some sort of action taken against you.  Almost always, these spoofed emails try to persuade you into clicking on a link, which then redirects you to rogue website where you are prompted to enter the login credentials for your online casino account.  Th sole purpose of this scam is to steal your information to commit fraud or full fledged identity theft.

Identifying Phishing Bait

Phishing is a very serious crime that poses a direct threat to your identity and financial assets.  Fortunately, avoiding this scam is quite easy.  Just like most threats, the best way to deal with this one is prevention.  Below we have provided a few tips to help you identify phishing emails:

Urgent Tone - As we touched on above, phishing emails often have a strong sense of urgency and portray that there is a major problem with your account.  They will typically threaten to cancel your account if you do not respond with the requested information.

HTML Links – The second big indicator is the request to click on a provided link in
the email to confirm your account details.

Suspicious URLs - Some phishing emails have to be observed very closely in order to distinguish them from legitimate messages.  This is because they often look identical to what you would receive from online casino operator.   You can often tell the real from the fake by looking at the embedded links in the email.  It could be something as simple as the inclusion or exclusion of “www” attached to the website URL.

Poor Grammar - While their plans are often cleverly concocted, con artists often make obvious spelling or grammatical errors that give them away to the trained eye.  These errors are sometimes done purposely to bypass spam filters but could actually keep you from making a tremendous mistake.

Protecting Yourself Against Phishing

Likewise, there are a few simple steps that can help you protect yourself against phishing scams.  Here are some important tips that work every time:

Avoid Clicking Links – If you believe the email you are reading could be spam or a phishing trap, never click on any link in the body of the message.

Do Not Opt Out – Never opt out or unsubscribe to a suspicious email.  Spoofers often give you these options simply to formulate a list of active email accounts.

Keep up with Your Casino Account – You can protect yourself from phishing just by knowing the status of your account.  A reliable casino operator will provide an interface that makes it simple to know what is going on with your account at all times.

Although it is up to the online casino site to make sure your personal details and financial information are handled securely, there are also security measures you can take on your own.  One simple but effective mechanism is the password.  However, it can only provide an adequate level of protection when designed with security in mind.  This article will give you some important factors to consider when creating a password for your online casino account.

Character Length

The number of characters you are allowed to use is so crucial because it helps to add to the strength and overall efficiency of the password.  The more characters you insert, the better protection it provides for your password.  Password systems vary depending on the casino, so make sure you understand the number of characters the operator permits.  On a final note, if the casino allows fifteen characters, you may want to consider using all fifteen.

Allowable Characters

Next, you want to find out just which characters you are allowed to use for your password.  A good password will contain a healthy mix of characters, including numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters such as symbols and exclamation marks if allowed.  The implementation of a single “%” or “$” greatly adds to the strength and effectiveness of a password.  Similar to length, character types all depend on the password system of the online casino you choose to play at.

Easy to Remember, Difficult to Guess

When securing your online casino account with a password, you want to think of something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for unauthorized parties to guess.  This essentially means that you should not use the name of your child, pet or anything else someone can relate to you.  It might be wise to choose something that is completely random.  If this is the route you take, make sure that you can remember your password or keep it in a safely place for latter reference.  If not, you could end up locked out of your casino account.

Password Generators

There are many tools available to help you create a quality a quality password and one of the most effective is a program known as a random password generator.  These applications are highly recommended because they typically do not involve any interaction with the keyboard, thus providing an added layer of protection against tracking malware and keystroke loggers.  Password generators tend to be easy to use and work wonders when it comes to creating quality, secure passwords.

A Word of Advice

We advise that you not only apply the tips in this article to the passwords for your online casino accounts, but all other accounts used for internet sites as well.  The casino operator can employ all the security mechanisms in the world but without a strong password, your account is vulnerable and at the mercy of a malicious hacker.  Minimizing the risk of exposure is crucial in today’s web-based world and with a secure password, you can drastically reduce the probability of having your confidential information stolen.