It doesn’t matter which website we log into when we go about our digital lives; the most crucial aspect is that any identifiable information we input into the site remains secure. It’s fair to say that online banks have mastered the art of online security, especially some high-street names with watertight security.
Truthfully, though, some online casinos are not that far behind. They integrate the same high levels of encryption, and whenever there’s a necessary change, they ensure it is engrained into their site mechanics as soon as possible.
Why Online Casino Security is Vital
It’s the whole basis of why people use them. Think about the consequences if online casinos were not renowned for their watertight security. The whole industry would cease to function. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration on my part, but they certainly wouldn’t instil the level of consumer confidence that has helped them become a multi-billion-pound industry in less than two decades.
Unfortunately, malicious opportunists and cybercriminals will stop at nothing to scam people out of their hard-earned money, and they target companies that collect it all in one place, including
- Banks
- Centralised services like the NHS
- Supermarkets
- Prominent mobile phone companies
- Apps with millions of customers and household names like Uber, Spotify, etc.
That’s not to say that these companies are prone to attack, far from it, but hackers will identify them as they hoard large banks of information. For this very reason, online casinos are among the targets of hackers.
Casinos must
- * Verify your identity
- * Hold photocopies of your driver’s license and passport—sometimes both
- * Hold your active e-wallets or bank card information
- * Hold your name, address, and date of birth.
This is highly valuable to a hacker, so the site must be as secure as possible.
Casino Review Sites & Their Emphasis On Security
As it’s such an imperative feature, expert review sites will test the strength of a site’s security as part of their overall review. Casinos in the UK are amongst the highest-rated in the world, and review sites that collate expert opinions like https://www.casinomeister.com/uk/ understand just how crucial it is for an online casino to keep customer data under lock and key.
Online reviews are sought-after in all industries, whether casino gaming, video gaming, or checking out the newest James Bond film. Some people put too much weight on other people’s opinions, but review sites have to rate websites based on strict criteria. While there will be a sprinkle of their opinion, which makes it unique, some factors are prerequisites for a secure casino site.
But what does it look like as part of the site’s mechanics, and why has it been so influential over the last two decades, even in a world where security breaches and scams are happening more often? Well, let’s take a look.
The Importance of Casino Website Encryption
All competent casino websites in the UK install strong encryption and firewall security to keep your information safe. Don’t worry, I won’t go swimming in a sea of jargon. The plan here isn’t to lose you with a whole host of technical terms you’ve never heard of before. But there are specific types of encryption you will come across, which is the most telltale sign that a casino is secure, and I’d suggest getting familiar with them.
First, there is 128-bit and 256-bit encryption—these encryption algorithms use keys to encrypt data. Although 256-bit is more secure, anything that uses 128-bit is secure, too. Given the exponential rise of quantum computing and the potential threat it poses to traditional means of encryption, there’s a growing call for casinos to start using different types of encryption.
Experts believe quantum computing could crack higher levels than 256-bit encryption within a few hours. Still, once this becomes a significant issue, casinos will reshape their security designs accordingly and adapt, just like they have to previous threats in the past.
Past Performance—Negative News Headlines
While online casinos do all they can to drive people to their sites, sometimes an issue or a security breach from years past can bite them. In a market that is so competitive, and with so much of your sensitive data on the line, this is entirely understandable. I’m not going to sit here and point fingers and name names, but there have been casinos that have fallen victim to cybercriminals, and data and sometimes millions of dollars have been stolen.
Although casinos will leave no stone unturned and quickly rack up costs in the millions of dollars to get the best tech experts on the case to ensure it doesn’t happen again, sometimes, the damage has already been done. Unfortunately, this is often not enough and is a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Still, looking through search engines and social media to see whether the provider has hit the headlines and has a reputation for protecting customer data is never a bad idea.
What Do the Masses Say?
If a casino is less secure or doesn’t meet industry requirements, you can guarantee somebody will complain about it ferociously on Facebook or X, formerly known as Twitter, absolutely refusing to take their caps lock off. I won’t say that social media is full of oracles, hot takes, and cutting-edge insights that the casino industry craves.
I can categorically state that this is not the case. However, if somebody has been on the wrong side of a data breach, and their information has either ended up on the dark web or their card details have been used fraudulently, they will vehemently and correctly take to social media to complain. This shouldn’t be the only factor you weigh up, but it is one of several that will help paint a more accurate picture of what the platform offers.
Licensing & Partnerships
Online casinos trying to cut corners often have a poor site layout. Some obvious things to look for include
- No clear information about their UK licensing and where they are registered
- There is a lack of responsible gambling information and problem gambling charity details
- A site that only uses niche e-wallets has not established partnerships with Visa, PayPal, etc.
- Partnerships also include gaming designers and providers
Customer Service Options
The highest-rated casinos, ideally, will have all available customer service routes open to you, including
- Live chat
- Social media
- Telephone
These are the big four. While I can forgive some platforms for not having a phone number or an e-mail address, if they only have a social media channel with no followers and no posts, or their e-mail lacks the suffix of their business name, these are clear signs that the site might not be as secure as you think.
Conclusion
Some of the factors I’ve dived into today are clearly casino-specific, but negative news headlines, site encryption, checking out customer service options, and the presence of the business online are all applicable to other industries, too.
Obviously, there’s more of an emphasis on casinos getting site security correct, given that a criminal could build an accurate profile with your financial and personal data held by gambling platforms. Online casinos might frame their site security as vital for their customers, but it’s more important for their business, which they’re probably more concerned about.
A breach, or hack, can cost a casino tens of millions, tarnish their reputation forever and be the beginning of the end, even if they have operated without an issue for decades. For this reason, casinos do not take security lightly, but if you’re looking for those new ones who might be cutting corners on security, hopefully, you now know what to look for.