Are Online Casinos Safe?

The short answer to this question is: Yes, in general. But this doesn’t rule out the existence of unregulated casinos. This article explains how online casinos are classified as safe and legitimate, and specifies what you should look out for before signing up with a particular casino.

Prior to going into these criteria, keep in mind that it is only natural for players to be wary and suspicious about the safety of online casinos. After all, they would be bringing their own hard-earned cash to the table. Plus, it makes even more sense to be sceptical when wagering your money online, given the increasing cases of cybercrime and the rising numbers of hackers, where industries having handy amounts of cash are the most likely targets.

But the good news is that nowadays, more than ever before, the security and safety of online casino users is being given top priority by gambling operators. Still, this doesn’t make the scene totally clean and that is why online players should distinguish between reputed casinos on the one hand, and rogue casinos on the other. You can learn which casinos fall under the latter category by checking out authoritative internet sources that publish blacklisted casinos.

And in case you’re still wondering where to look for reputable and trustworthy providers, we recommend you checking out casinocalculator.co.uk – where operators listed are not only tried and tested by industry experts, but also licensed by leading regulatory bodies. So, what renders a casino a reputable one? How does an operator obtain a license? And what can you do to further secure your personal data and finances? Let’s answer these questions one by one…

What makes a casino reputable?

When we talk about reputable casinos, we would mean that the casino operates under a valid license, issued by a gambling jurisdiction. Being licensed in a reputed jurisdiction makes the casino safe, secure and reliable. Examples of renowned licensing jurisdictions include Gibraltar Gambling Authority, Isle of Man, Malta Gambling Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.

To confirm whether a casino is licensed, you should check the bottom of a casino homepage. If you see the logo of a trusted regulatory body such as the ones just mentioned, you would know that the operator is regulated and therefore safe to deal with.

How does an operator obtain a license?

An operator obtains a license after being audited on specific criteria. On top of that, for a casino to retain its license it must undergo regular audits to confirm that these criteria are still adequately fulfilled and that there is no form of fraud or deception. In particular, casino auditors assess and monitor the following:

Game Fairness

To test for game fairness, casino auditors verify whether the operator uses an effective Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure that every player has the same chances of winning.

On top of that, auditors also assess whether the RNG uses a SHA-3 hash algorithm. This algorithm prevents the RNGs from being tampered with.

Further evidence that games have been verified and confirmed as fair is when they have the eCOGRA seal of approval. This would serve as proof that games have been rigorously tested and certified as fair.

Game fairness is also verified by assessing whether the software used by games is provided by reputable and trusted software providers. 

Protection of Data

There are various ways in which reputable casinos ensure the protection of data. Having an SSL Certificate in place is the most basic form of security. When a casino uses this standard security technology, it means that any data shared between you and the casino, is encrypted and therefore difficult to decode.

To check whether your data is encrypted, look out for a green lock icon at the left side of your browser’s address bar. If you see it, you can put your mind at rest that any information you send to the server (including any financial data) is secure. 

Licensed casinos also transfer information to secure and firewall protected servers located in gambling jurisdictions. This basically secures it from Internet cheats and hackers.

Other measures that further secure your data include:

• 2-step verification – a unique code sent to your phone to safeguard your account
• ID verification – to ensure that no one steals your identity
• Segregated funds – to separate your funds as a player from the funds that the casino uses to maintain its operations

Anti-Fraud Measures

To prevent fraud and protect your money, most online casinos will have KYC (Know Your Customer) policies in place. Therefore, when a casino asks you for your age and requests proof of identity, you would know that they abide by KYC policies to detect fake identities and ensure that their customers are all of legal age.

To further prevent criminal activity, reputable casinos also have AML (Anti-Money Laundering) measures in place. By requesting certain information from customers, casinos make sure that players are actually who they say they are and that they are not making use of stolen or counterfeit money. 

What can you do to further secure your personal data and finances?

The following are some practical tips through which you can further safeguard your personal data and finances:

1. When sharing a computer, refrain from saving your banking details on it.
2. When connected to a public WiFi, be cautious of what information you share, lest a third party steals your data.
3. Check whether a casino is licensed and whether their website is secure, to ensure that you are dealing with a regulated casino.
4. Carry out as much research as you can about the casino. In particular, be wary of rogue casinos which are often blacklisted on authoritative internet sources.
5. Read user ratings and reviews as well as advice from casino guides to equip yourself with the right information.