First introduced in the 1990s, online casinos are a top platform for entertainment for people looking to enjoy the fun of games like poker, slots and baccarat from their smartphones and computers. It has been predicted that by 2030 the global online gambling market will be worth more than $156 billion US dollars. More and more people have been drawn to online casinos in recent years as the choice and quality of games on offer has vastly improved. They see the convenience that online play offers over visiting a land-based casino venue and enjoy the competitive promotions and welcome bonuses that internet casinos use to entice new players. However, as player numbers have grown, so to has the responsibility that these casinos have to keep themselves; and their players safe while they play games and access their online casino accounts to make transactions. Sites with the best security measures are also seen as more attractive to players so it is in the casino’s best interest to provide effective security and prevent fraudulent activity or data theft. There are a variety of measures that online casino sites can use to do this; here are just some to look out for when searching for a new gaming site to try:

Two-factor authentication

One safety feature that many online casinos are now enforcing is two-factor authentication on customer accounts. This adds a step to the log in process by requiring the player to verify their identity; it is often done by sending a one-time passcode to the user’s registered phone number or email address. While this can be a minor inconvenience it is an important feature; that is used by many other types of online services such as online banking.

Encryption technology

Casinos handle a lot of sensitive data, such as the player’s personal details, passwords and financial information. One way that they can ensure this data is kept private and out of the reach of cyber criminals is using encryption technologies. Encryption scrambles the data so that it is impossible to read by those that should not be accessing it. One type of encryption that you can look out for when visiting a casino site is their Secure Sockets Layer protocols. You can see if a website has an SSL certificate by looking for the padlock symbol usually in the web address bar of the browser. If a site does not use encryption, then it should be avoided. You can also take a look at the website’s privacy policy to learn more about how they will handle your data when you have signed up and the rules they should be abiding by.

Licencing and regulatory bodies

Depending on where an online casino company is based; and what countries they are operating in, there are different licensing requirements. For example, in the United Kingdom legitimate online casinos must hold a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission. Regulatory bodies are very important for ensuring player’s safety. They set out strict policies and procedures that casinos must follow in order to be allowed to continue operating. Casinos that fail to adhere to these standards will be held accountable with measures such as fines; court proceedings and licence suspension in place for those that do not comply. To see if an online casino has the correct licences; you can look in the footer of their webpage for the licensing body logos and find their registration numbers.

Secure payment methods

Online casinos usually offer players a variety of transaction methods for making deposits and withdrawing winnings from the website. This is not only for the convenience of the customer but it is also a good safety feature. One of the most common payment methods is using a debit or credit card. When using these cards, your bank usually offers some form of protection and guarantee in the event of fraudulent activity. Third party payment providers are also popular, with well-known services including Skrill and PayPal. The customer holds a separate secure account with this third party and the third party has their banking details; when they come to deposit or withdraw from the online casino they do so by logging in to the third party account. This means that the online casino does not hold the player’s financial information on their site; and lowers the risk of data theft and fraud. Just like the bank, the third party provider also has guarantees and protection processes in place. Online casinos that do not offer player’s a good choice of transaction methods or only offer obscure payment methods they are not familiar with are often looked at with suspicion. These security measures are just some of the ways online casinos ensure that players can have a enjoyable; and safe experience playing the games they love.