Gambling online can be super fun. You can have hours of fun and potentially win big. But, as with everything digital and online these days, you have to be extra cautious when you are entering in your personal details, and even more so when you are handing over banking details. In the wrong hands, you could end up being defrauded or having your identity cloned.
That is why, no matter how alluring or enticing a casino may seem at face value, the most important thing to look for is that it is licensed, regulated, safe, and secure. Your deposits and withdrawals are methods that are easily accessible and recognizable, and auditors have done their due diligence. We are going to discuss whether online casinos can be safe, so you know exactly what to look for in a real money online casino before you deposit even a dime of your own.
Safe and Sound
What exactly makes an online casino site secure enough that you can place wagers with ease? An online casino should have a good reputation and a relatively long and in-depth history. There should always be transparency, especially when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money. You should also be able to contact the casino’s support quickly and easily.
On a more technical note, their gambling licenses should be up-to-date and from the proper gambling boards, there should always be auditors or third-party organizations keeping an eye on the site, and there must be highly secure encryption software to lock down your personal information.
Before any online casino can start to operate, they have to obtain a gambling license.
Usually, whichever area a casino operates in is where the governing body will grant a license, although offshore casinos may get one from agencies like the Panama or Curacao Gaming Control Boards- they are mostly European Bodies.
Licenses are there to protect not only the punters but the casinos as well. All laws and regulations have to be adhered to by every country’s gaming commission. For instance, United Kingdom gambling is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, and they also oversee all online casinos that involve real money.
Casinos displaying their licenses will show potential players that they are trustworthy and secure, so you can feel confident your money is in the right hands.
Some common and legitimate licensing agencies are:
- Panama Gaming Control Board
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Curacao Gaming Commission
In the U.S, the federal government has said that as with legislation when it comes to gambling, each state is responsible for acquiring its own licenses and adhering to the requirements.
Regular audits
Once an online casino is licensed, it will be subjected to regular audits that are conducted by a third-party agency. As is the case with audits, they will carefully scrutinize the casino and how they manage their funds as well as the funds of the players. They will also ensure play is as fair as it can be in a gambling environment.
Security
This has to do with fraud prevention and the protection of data. Any online casino worth their salt will use a company that is well-known in the world of online security and has a fair amount of experience behind them.
Random Number Generators (RNG)
An RNG is used by every legit online casino. It makes every game fair so that each player has an equal chance of winning or not. RNGs should also be tested often by an external company. To prevent interference with the RNG, an SHA-3 hash algorithm is put in place and tested frequently.
SSL and RSA Encryption
When it comes to processing payments and communication with the casino, certain advanced encryptions should be in place. This ensures safety across the board, so no fraud or theft can take place. Mostly, these are 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) as well as 4096-bit RSA keys.
These hybrid RSA keys encode the data that is being sent and received in such a way that it makes it near impossible for anyone else to grab it, thus it is vital if you are betting online.
Casinos will always explain what security measures they have put in place, so you can get information and understand better. They will also display any certificates surrounding security online, so look out for that.
Withdrawing and Depositing
As mentioned above, accepted casino payment methods use SSL encryption, so that no one else can access your information. Also, reliable casinos will state that they will never share your details and data with any other parties.
Always do your research when it comes to online casinos, and keep in mind everything that has been mentioned in this article. If you follow these simple steps, you can gamble with great peace of mind.
Author Bio
Story by Vinod Gill. Gill is a writer who specializes in writing content on sports and gaming subjects. He is a Digital Marketing Consultant, Blogger, and Co-Founder of Journal Reporter.
