Online casinos have become more and more popular in this day and age due to the number of websites now available and how widespread online gambling has become across the globe.
However, staying safe online extends to online casinos as well. Considering you are transferring large sums of money and sharing a lot of personal information, you want to know it’s secure. Here is how to stay safe while gambling online.
Have an Antivirus
The first thing you need is an up-to-date antivirus. Hackers always target popular websites, and they often try to use website vulnerabilities to attack users. An antivirus won’t stop your device from being attacked, but it will prevent it from being infected.
It is also essential not to ignore any updates associated with your antivirus. We are all guilty of clicking away update notifications and forgetting to do them. Make it a habit to update your programs and systems regularly.
Password
When making your account, ensure you create a strong password that you don’t use anywhere else.
The last thing you want is someone to get their hands on a password that you use for your online banking, iCloud, or whichever other personal site or service.
Verification
Many websites offer but don’t enforce multi-factor authentication and verification. Far too many users will ignore the option and never think twice about doing it. The encryption it offers puts up a very, very strong wall against your data being stolen.
While this may seem like an unnecessary step, it is an easy way to add a considerable amount of security with minimal effort.
Use a VPN
A VPN is one of the best ways to block businesses from knowing your location and IP address and keeping as many of your personal details as private as possible. Considering that the concept of businesses storing and sharing data is a hot topic right now, VPNs prevent this from happening.
Ignore Spam Emails
Spam emails have become the bane of our existence. No matter what we sign up for, we are sure to start receiving unwanted spam within 24 hours. You should always instantly delete emails claiming that you have won $1 million from a lottery you never signed up for.
Your online casino will also never ask for banking details via email and if you do receive an email, that asks. It is best to contact your casino and find out if it is genuine or not.
Don’t Use Credit/Debit Cards
While the option exists, it is best to avoid using a debit or credit card when depositing or withdrawing money. However, there is no need to risk having your card details stolen when you can use an e-wallet instead.
E-wallets are low risk, they don’t have to be permanently filled with money, and they are the best ways to transfer and withdraw money without touching your bank cards.
Identity Documents
A small detail you should always pay attention to is whether or not an online casino will ask for proof of identity. Almost every reputable casino and betting website will ask for a photo and a scan of your ID document.
This is a double-edged sword, though, and you should still research the website and find out if it is reputable, as fraudulent sites could enforce these checks purely to steal your information.
Never Use Public Wi-Fi
While public and free Wi-Fi are incredibly useful in a pinch, it is one of the most unsafe ways to use the internet. More often than not, these hotspots will have little to no security to ensure you can connect and use them easily.
Data thieves will often target these hotspots as it is an easy way to gain access to several computers connected to the Wi-Fi, and they have more than enough time to find vulnerabilities.
Don’t Download Software
A reputable online casino will never ask you to download any software. An online casino will stay online, and there is no need to download any software to play. These downloads are also great ways for data thieves to hide bugs or viruses, and you wouldn’t even know.
It is also harder for anti-viruses to spot these bugs as they are hidden very well in the program. Therefore, to avoid any stress or doubt, if a website requires you to download a program, run away.
