The internet casino industry is undergoing a similar evolution. With the inherently anonymous nature of the Internet and the risk involved in online financial transactions, gamblers are right to be extremely concerned about security at online casinos. This page is built to provide you with a starting point for understanding the basics of online casino security and the tools required to improve your odds of selecting a reputable and secure casino for your online play.
Casino Security: Background and Evolution
In the early days of the internet casino industry, security was far from a primary concern. The same can unfortunately be said for many Internet-based industries, especially those that developed during the nascent period of the online boom. As the Internet has shifted from a wild west mentality, to a medium with more rules and structure, so too have online casinos moved from loosely regulated entities to credible, global corporations that place substantial emphasis on providing players with a secure gambling environment.
Factors Ensuring Secure Casinos Online
How can you distinguish reputable casinos from low-quality ones? Two initial points of research are the organizations that regulate and test the casino and the random number generator the casino employs.Regulatory and Testing Bodies
Any quality casino will have a license issued by a credible jurisdiction. Malta, the United Kingdom, and the Isle of Man are three of the most highly thought-of licensing bodies to ensure online casino security. Online casinos that submit their games and systems to the regular auditing required to maintain a license are simply more likely to be secure than those who are weakly regulated or operate without a license.The Basics of Random Number Generators
Random number generators (RNGs) are the heart of a secure and fair online casino. Without a reliable, truly random generator, you have no way to know whether a game at a casino is fair. As online casinos use virtual decks of cards and slot reels, the RNG is the primary tool ensuring that the deal of the card or the spin of the slot is truly based on chance and not subject to outside interference. Reliable casinos who take security seriously will provide information about their RNG and employ independent companies to test and verify their RNG - verification that should be readily available at the casino's website.Online Casinos: When Security is Compromised
While the overwhelming majority of internet casinos are backed by honest companies, the history of Internet-based casinos is nonetheless scarred by several scandals involving lax or absent casino security. Whether you're talking about unencrypted systems that have exposed user's private information, games that have been unfairly rigged in the favor of the house or casinos that have simply absconded with player funds, the importance of carefully choosing an secure online casino based on their track record has been impressed upon players an unfortunate amount of times. We've covered this subject in more depth in our guide to rigged casinos.Safeguarding Your Online Casino Bankroll
That history makes it all the more important that you take the time and energy required to properly choose a reputable online casino. After all, it's your money on the line - and it's not just about the money that you deposit. All of us play casino games for fun, but all of us also know there's a chance - however slight - that we might stumble into a jackpot. When you play online casino games, you're often playing for multiple progressive jackpots worth significant money, and having the misfortune to finally hit one at a casino that has no intention (or means) of paying you would be devastating. So ensuring good online casino security is a smart way to safeguard your winnings.Gambling should be fun, but there's no reason why you can't have fun and win too. Protecting yourself by carefully selecting a secure online casino at the outset is more than just a good idea - it's essential to the safety of your money and financial identity.Common questions about casino security and game fairness
Gambling for real money online is something that generates a lot of questions, and correctly so. Some of the inquiries we most commonly encounter about casino security are collected and answered below.