Online Casino Gambling

Online gambling has emerged to become a huge business that sees billions of dollars in revenue each year.  And while it offers numerous advantages to players all around the world, there are some downsides to the industry.  For the most part, online gambling is unregulated and this very factor has attracted some shady operators.  Because there are many potential dangers to gambling online, we have provided five tips to help keep you safe and secure.

Check for Licensing

Any reputable online casino site or poker room has a valid gaming license to show they are serious about the business.  The license is generally issued by an organization in the jurisdiction in which the operator is based, or through internet gaming authorities such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.  If want to make sure you are wagering with a reliable company, checking for a valid license is imperative.  Most of the reputable operators will publish information regarding licensing on their website.

Affiliation with Responsible Gaming Parties

There are quite a few non-profit organizations that exist to help ensure fair and responsible gaming in the online gambling industry.  Some of the most well know entities that fall into this category are eCOGRA, GamCare and IGC.  Gambling operators undergo routine audits of their gaming software platforms to prove that they are fair and safe based on the standards set by these non-biased independent third-parties.  Similar to licensing information, reputable gambling operators will proudly publish these certifications on their website.

Reputation of the Operator

Even if you have verified that a particular online gambling site has the proper licensing and certification, you still need to be cautious.  Some casinos in the industry have established a questionable track record during their tenor in the business.  Therefore, before making a wager at any online casino or poker room, it is advisable to conduct the necessary research to assure you are dealing with a company that is good standards in the industry.  You can start by checking out the online gambling forums to read feedback provided by existing players within the community.   Conducting this research is crucial because even some of the most well known casinos and poker rooms have been connected to scandals.

Level of Security

Security is arguably the most important aspect of online gambling. There is a lot of money that goes through this industry so naturally, it is a target for hackers and criminals.  It should be comforting to know that reputable gambling operators take various measures to make sure the players are protected.  This includes utilizing military grade encryption technology such as SSL, and relying on trusted third-party organizations for payment processing.   Because accessing the level of security can be difficult from the outside looking in, it pays to do your research to find out about the track record of company you plan to deal with.

Play Your Part

In the end, is up to you as the player to make sure you are protected when gambling online.  Not only must you take the time to find a site that ensures security, but also apply smart passwords to your casino account and keep your anti-virus software up to date.  What you think is gaming software could be a malicious program intent on ruining your life.

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.

No player wants to worry about the security of their financial information when gambling online.  This is especially the case if you consider that deposits and withdrawals are major elements of the process.  Therefore, the question is: just how safe is it to gamble online?  Very safe, just as long as you know what to look for in an internet casino and avoid all the unnecessary risks.

Although you may deal with a few sites that take weeks to pay out your winnings, rarely will you encounter those that put you in a precarious position that leads to fraud or identity theft.  With that said, there are still a few casino sites that are not regulated and adequately protected against security threats.  These are websites you don’t not want to find yourself on.  Looking out for your best interest, we have composed a short checklist you should refer to if you want to ensure safe and secure online casino gaming.

128-bit SSL Digital Encryption

Every respectable online casino utilizes at least 128-bit SSL encryption to provide a high level of security for electronic transactions that occur over the web.  Because of its efficiency, SSL has become the industry standard, a technology used by world’s largest banks and financial institutions, retail stores and e-commerce sites.  To quickly verify this security, you can check for signs of a valid SSL certificate on the casino’s website.

World-class Payment Options

The flexibility and security of online casino transactions can be greatly enhanced when the site deals with established banking vendors and payment services.  Therefore, you should choose a casino that offers support for as many of the following options as possible.

- Credit Cards, (Mastercard and Visa)

- Debit Cards (Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro)

- PayPal

- Netseller

- Ukash

- PaySafeCard

- Moneybookers

- UseMyBank

- EcoCard

- ClickandBuy

-Entropay

- EZIPay

- Direct Bank Transfer

Fraud Detection and Verified Banking

One can never be too cautious when dealing with online casinos.  For this reason, making sure the casino utilizes advanced anti-fraud technology and fully verifies bank transactions is a must.   One of the first things you should do is verify whether the sites uses a legitimate financial transaction company.  For instance, if you look into casinos like Spin Palace, Mummys Gold and Ruby Fortune Casino, you will find that these sites process their transactions through reputable brands such as Eproc Ltd, Mezzaine West, Hadfield House, Library Street and Gibralter.  These particular casinos also use DataCash Group PLC, which offers industry-leading anti-fraud detection solutions.  Casinos powered by Cryptologic, Microgaming and Playtech software platforms usually offer a high level of security, but it’s always good to double check their credentials.

Absolute Confidentiality

Securing your banking information should be the number one priority when you make the decision to gamble online.  This is why you should never underestimate the possibility of a casino passing on your personal data to a third-party source.  An alarming number of players have been victimized by online fraud and identity theft because they didn’t take this threat into account.  Furthermore, unless you want to be bombarded with spam messages and endless sales calls, making sure the online casino offers 100% confidentiality should be another top priority on your list.

If you think that online casino sites are not at the risk of security threats, think again.  In the online gaming industry, funds are being transferred to and from player accounts every minute of the day.  Sensitive information such as bank account numbers and credit card details of thousands of customers just sits waiting to be moved.  This essentially means that unauthorized parties are looking to break into these gold mines on a frequent basis.  All this activity is like paradise for the community of internet hackers.  Fortunately, most online casinos are well aware of the risks and have taken a proactive approach to mitigate them.

Top-Grade Security Features

One measure online casino operators are taking to ensure security is the use of a proven security protocol known as Secure Sockets Layer or SSL.  This method encrypts all data sent to and from the casino in a code that is unreadable to unauthorized third parties.  Even if a hacker is able to intercept the transmission, they will not be able to view or use it in any way.  Only via the authorized receiver can the message be decrypted and read.  Over the years, encryption technology has evolved for the best and the online casino industry has embraced it with open arms.  Although 128-bit encryption is the standard, some casinos take security one step further with 256-bit SSL encryption.  This level is tried and proven, virtually impossible for an unauthorized party to break.

Traffic Control and Prevention

In most cases, the sensitive information stored on the casino’s servers is also protected against unauthorized infiltration.  One of the most effective methods used to ensure this is the implementation of firewalls.  A firewall is a security mechanism that offers the ability to regulate network traffic and prevent access from unauthorized users.  With the proper configurations, penetrating a web server is extremely difficult with the presence of a reliable firewall.

Security Policies and Secure Platforms

Within the typical online casino administration, strict policies exist for accessing the personal information stored on the systems.  Only authorized staff members are provided with access to this information through passwords and permissions.  Most often, all activity is archived, providing a way for security personnel to check for signs of wrong doing.  Instead of designing the gaming software themselves, online casino entrust the skills of third-party professionals who are more apt to deliver stable and secure platforms.  They incorporate trusted security mechanisms designed by reputable internet security firms such as Thawte and VeriSign to prove their dependability and integrity.

You’re in Good Hands

Today’s online casino software is enhanced with the latest in technology to ensure better security.  Players can now access their accounts through passwords to protect themselves from unauthorized users.  Most of them are designed to automatically log you out of your account when exiting the casino, just in case you forget to disable the facility.  With all the precautions and security measures employed by operators, it is rare that you will hear anything about players being defrauded due to the lack of casino security.  While you still need to do your homework in order to access a truly reliable site, it should be comforting to know that most in the industry are doing their part to keep you protected.

Online casino sites take many precautions to ensure the security of their player’s financial transactions.  They do so by employing the latest security mechanisms such as SSL protocol and firewall applications.  While these measures are taken to protect the parties involved, all it takes is one act of carelessness by a player to override the entire security process.

Convenience or Security Risk?

As someone who participates in online gaming, it is up to you to be responsible and do what it takes to secure your funds.  When it comes to protecting your assets, the first place you need to start is a password.  Many online casinos provide facilities that allow you to store your password within the gaming software application.  This is convenient for two reasons.  First, you don’t need to enter your password every time you desire to log into the casino.  Second, you never have to worry about forgetting the password because it is automatically stored on your behalf.  While there are obvious advantages here, they fail in comparison to the gamble you are taking by leaving your password sitting in a piece of software.

If your password is stored in the gaming software, then anyone who uses your computer can go participate in the online casino at which you have been wagering, all without needing to enter credentials.  This also means that they have access to your account, your funds and can place wagers at your expense.  The next time you log on, you could find that your account is short of funds or in a worse case scenario, totally depleted.  There is also the chance of the unauthorized user changing the login credentials and preventing you from accessing your own account.  Now is that convenience really worth all these disasters?  Probably not.

The issue of passwords is handled differently among different software providers.  Some require that you enter your password each time you log in to play by default.  Examples of such companies are Cryptologic and Real Time Gaming.  Providers such as Microgramming, Wizard Gaming and Vegas Technology offer systems that allow you to choose whether or not you want to save your password within the gaming software.  You can’t really blame them as most players want to have as much control as possible.  However, these players should be very cautious as clicking that little checkbox could lead to big trouble.

What Type of Player are You?

There are essentially two kinds of players that share a desire to store their passwords in online gaming software.  One is the lazy type who just can’t muster up the strength to type a horrid 6 to 10 characters over the keyboard.  The other is the forgetful player who just couldn’t remember a password to save their life.  In actuality, there is no excuse for either player.  Look for tips online and you will find that there are a number of ways to create passwords that are both secure and easy to remember.  After all, if you can keep track of your winnings, you should be able to keep up with something as important as your password.

One of the biggest concerns for internet gamblers is the safety and security of online casinos.  These concerns are warranted when considering that sensitive information such as credit card and bank account numbers and residential details are often involved.  Not only must you be on the look out for hackers who slither through the cracks of the internet, but shady casino sites as well.  This article will provide some information to help ensure that your transactions are secure when partaking in online gambling.

No Encryption, No Gamble

When it comes to internet casinos, it is a good rule of thumb to look for a site that offers a level of security similar to online banks and e-commere stores.  These sites protect their transactions with a security protocol known as SSL.  SSL stands for Secure Lockets Layer and enables a method that creates an encrypted tunnel for sensitive information to pass through.  This basically means that instead of your credit card or bank account information traveling over the internet in plain text, it is scrambled in a manner where the content cannot be viewed even if it was to be intercepted by a cyber thief.  Although most online casinos incorporate SSL certificates, the level of encryption is what you need to pay attention to.  128-bit encryption is currently the industry standard, which essentially means that anything less has been rendered insecure.  Before opening and funding an account, you need to make sure your casino has mechanisms in place to protect you against the roaming threats.

Beyond Secure Transactions

Having a safe way to transfer funds is good, but it isn’t enough to ensure the full-proof security you need to gamble at an online casino.  Once the information arrives at the casino, how do you even know if will be sold or misused in some other way?  You will never know unless you are absolutely sure that you are dealing with a reliable casino.  So, how do you get the proof?  It is actually a simple process that shouldn’t take up much of your time.  In order to prove reliability, an online casino should meet the following criteria:

Be Licensed

Any casino you want to play with should be licensed by a certain jurisdiction.  This basically means that a local jurisdiction such as Antigua or Barbuda has provided them with an official license to legally host a gambling site on the internet.  If the casino has no such license, you shouldn’t play there.  It is as simple as that.

Have Reputable Software

The underlying software plays a major role the efficiency of the game and security as well.  This is especially true if you intend on downloading the application onto your computer.  To make sure you are not unknowingly infecting yourself with malware or using an insufficient gaming platform, check out the software and find out who produced it.  Some reputable names you may want to look for are Cryptologic, Microgamming and RTG as they are industry-leading software developers.

Legitimate Payouts

Online casinos often publish reports detailing estimates on how much they paid out in the form of winnings.  Be that as it may, these reports can be altered or bogus entirely.  To make sure a casino is honest about its payouts, check these numbers with an independent accounting firm.   Price Waterhouse Coopers has a great reputation for helping new players find out if they are dealing with a respectable casino, or another fly-by-night crook.