Online Casino Security

2007 April 15, Erana Hansen

One of the biggest concerns of a new online casino player is in regards to security. Is my money secure? Will my personal details be safe? Which online casino can I trust? These are all perfectly reasonable questions as online casinos do ask for a lot of sensitive information from you such as your name, address and payment information that could include things like credit card numbers or other financial information. The good news is that online casinos are in the business of keeping their customers happy, so they always ensure that their security technology is state-of-the-art to build trust in their community. The following article outlines some of the measures that reputable online casinos take to ensure the ongoing security of your online casino account.

Encryption technology is one of the key ingredients in online casino security. What encryption does is make it impossible for hackers to crack into the information database of the casino site and obtain sensitive information like credit card numbers or other account information. In terms of encryption, the industry standard is 128-bit SSL encryption. To give you an idea of the strength of this encryption, this is the same kind that is used by most banks, credit card companies and online retail websites that accept credit card payments. You may have previously noticed a small icon of a lock in the bottom-right corner of your browser window - this symbol indicates that you are using a secure page and all information being submitted is secure from hackers and thieves. So check to ensure your online casino uses at least 128-bit SSL encryption technology so you will know your personal details and money are perfectly safe and secure.

Every reputable online casino should have a privacy policy that is publicly available on the casino's website. A privacy policy is very important to the security of your account, so that you understand what the casino will do with the personal information it has collected from you. Importantly, you should read to ensure that the casino will not distribute your details to other companies in the form of third party mailing campaigns. You don't want to start receiving a heap of junk mail or spam because an online casino has sold your email address to external marketing companies. Reputable online casinos will not do this and they will expressly state this in their privacy policy. Your privacy is important so ensure you read this policy carefully before you join any online casino.

All online casinos should maintain detailed and accurate financial transaction records. They should record details of all deposits and withdrawals, and often details of your wagering while you play. This is a good thing for players, not only for your own record tracking, but if there is ever a dispute for some reason, then you have a clear record of your transactions at the casino. These records should also be encrypted for security of this sensitive information.

Cashouts and identification verification are also important aspects of online casino security. Many sites require you to scan and email identification documents such as a copy of your drivers license in order to ensure you are who you say you are. Although this can be frustrating when you cashout for the first time, it's an important step to help prevent fraudulent accounts or unauthorized cashouts.

Online casinos do understand the importance of the security and privacy of your personal account information and your money. Being able to maintain a secure environment for their players over a long period of time has built trust in the online casino community, and ensured that casinos will continue to use state-of-the-art security technology to keep players happy and their money safe into the future.