Protection against Financial and Identity Fraud
In order to ensure that gamblers are protected against theft and identity fraud, online gambling operators need to provide assurances that their gaming sites are secure.
Sensitive information such as credit card details, addresses and contact numbers are often required by online casinos in order to register an account or to make financial transactions. In addition, gamblers are required to make deposits into their casino accounts to play for real money. Because of this, security measures need to be established to ensure that the gambler is protected, but the onus remains on the gambler himself to verify that these mechanisms are in place before entrusting himself to that particular site.
One of the first mechanisms a gambler needs to look for is the organisations Privacy Policy. This in essence is a document detailing how information is collated, the manner in which it is used and the processes used to store it safely. When a gambler registers with an online casino, he/she is required to provide information that verifies identity, as well as demographic data for improved service delivery. In most instances, the casino endeavours to ensure that this information will remain strictly confidential, and that they will not distribute it to third parties. (Gamblers should ensure that the Privacy Policy is clear on this subject, as some operators use third party processors or are required to furnish private information under law.) Once issued, personal information at online casinos is only made available to limited senior personnel. It is protected against hackers by firewalls and various other software programmes.
The most daunting of all transactions at online gambling sites is the depositing of funds. However, considering that online gambling is estimated to generate over $30 billion a year, reputable casino operators would not jeopardise their sizeable revenues by skimping on security measures. As such, they employ expert technology such as the 128-bit Secure Socket Layer Encryption to scramble information. This information can only be unscrambled by the intended recipient, thereby ensuring that third party interveners are unable to access personal information. Additional security is usually provided by independent security verification experts such as Thawte or VeriSign, and most online casinos will display these verification logos on their homepage.
The last online casino security consideration for gamblers is effective dispute resolution. To ensure that winning payouts and bonus credits are effectively and fairly managed, most casinos ensure that every transaction is archived. These records are transparent and allow gamblers to view their transaction and betting histories. It is strongly advised that gamblers make sure their casino of choice offers this sort of dispute resolution technology and where possible, to ensure that their casino is supported by eCogra (e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation & Approval), who not only set the standards for payouts at their affiliates, but who are able to mediate in disputes between their affiliates and gamblers.