From its beginning as a novelty curiosity to an estimated value of US$239.53 billion, the online casino industry has exploded in the 3 decades since the first real money casino platforms launched. One of the industry’s biggest challenges has always been how to ensure the safety of its customers.
Online gamblers have been targets of phishing schemes, identity theft scams, account takeovers, advanced fee frauds and other types of cybercrimes and the industry has invested heavily in countering these attempts to gain control of their customers’ funds.
The Grande Vegas online casino, an industry leader in the effort to counter cryptocrimminals’ efforts to break into users’ accounts and steal their money, takes a hard look at how today’s online casinos are using advanced technology to keep their players safe.
Risks
To protect gamers, it’s necessary to look at the entire online gaming ecosystem which includes the players, gambling operators and the third-party vendors who support them. A breach in any one of these components affects the other two groups as well.
Yet the online casino platform is the space where these three modules intersect so the responsibility is on the casino to ensure that the player enjoys a secure online gaming environment.
The main types of menaces that the casinos and their players face involve data breaches and attempts at fraud.
- Data breaches involve the unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information that the scammer tries to receive from the casino’s system or database. Data breaches occur due to hacking attempts, phishing attacks or vulnerabilities in the casino software.
Inadequate security measures can make the hacker’s job easier as s/he collects user names, address, emails, phone numbers, payment information (bank details, credit card numbers), usernames and passwords, account balances, etc. - The source of online casino fraud involves rogue online casino operators who attempt to scam players by false advertising where games, bonuses or payout percentages are misrepresented, non-payment of winnings, rigged games and phishing scams.
Casinos Become Proactive
Online casinos continue to advance their strategies and technologies to enhance player protection. Some of the ways that they are doing this include:
- Enhancing security measures through the adoption of advanced encryption technologies (i.e. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption) to protect financial transactions and player data to ensure that sensitive information will remain confidential and secure.
- Offering more tools to facilitate responsible gambling. Promotion of responsible gambling involves features such as self-exclusion options, loss limits, deposit limits and time-out periods that encourage players to take breaks from gambling activities.
- Verifying age carefully to ensure that only adults are able to access gambling services. Age verification generally involves using third-party verification services (government ID) to confirm a player’s identity and age.
- Enhancing fraud detection and prevention services via AI and machine learning algorithms. These algorithms can monitor player behavior and identify signs of suspicious activity with the end result being the protection of both the casino and the players
- Ensuring fairness and transparency through the publication of payout percentages and the exclusive use of machines that are powered by a Random Number Generator which ensures random results on every spin of the reels, deal of the cards and throw of the dice.
- Investing in player education to educate players about the risks associated with gambling and responsible gaming practices.
- Creating more robust customer support systems with options for 24/7 live chat and multilingual support.
- Offering options for blockchain transactions to increase transaction security and transparency.
- Increasing the availability of self assessment tools that can help each gamer evaluate his/her gambling behaviors and identify periods when they might need to seek help.
By implementing these advancements, online casinos are fostering a safer and more enjoyable gaming environment.
Protect Yourself
Casino operators are being proactive in the effort to protect their players’ online safety. Gamers, however, must also approach online gaming as they would any other activity where financial transactions are involved – with vigilance, knowledge and caution. Two of the biggest threats to your account security that you should watch for include phishing scams and unsecured WiFi networks.
Most people are aware of the danger of phishing scams but scammers are becoming ever-more sophisticated in running their scams. They are successful in passing themselves off as your bank, a government office and even as the tax authority.
Many of these phishing emails ask you to click on a link (which can infect your computer) and/or provide personal information to “confirm” your account – information that then allows these scammers to access your account. The important thing to remember is to NEVER click on a link from an unexpected email and NEVER send personal information of any kind.
If the email is legitimate, there will be a copy in your bank/government authority’s online account. The scams aren’t limited to emails – messaging apps and in-app messages on social apps should also be treated as suspect.
Unsecured WiFi networks can also be the source of identity theft including the theft of your account information. If you’re gaming on your mobile device, don’t use a public WiFi network for your gaming activities.
Future
Much of the future of casino security lies with blockchain technology, which is seen as the most secure ebanking system and allow the player to access decentralized gambling platforms where the need for intermediary online banking systems is eliminated. Online casinos are also investing heavily in partnerships with cybersecurity firms, employee training and ever-advancing cybersecurity infrastructure.
The evolution of online casino security has moved from basic encryption to a multi-faceted approach that involves advanced technology, player protection measures and better regulation. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be increasingly important for casino operators to maintain a robust security framework to safeguard players' interests and ensure the integrity of the gaming experience.
