The presence of large sums of money makes online casino accounts particularly attractive to hackers. These scammers look for opportunities to steal players’ money by gaining access to the gamers’ casino and online banking accounts.
It’s essential to protect your personal information, financial details and privacy in order to keep your online account secure. One slip-up and you may find that a hacker who lives somewhere around the world has taken funds that are yours.
With the proliferation of online gambling, sending information about your accounts has become a frequent and commonplace occurrence but this transfer of information is not something that you should take for granted.
Gamers have become accustomed to the convenience of playing from the comfort of their homes as they make quick deposits and withdraw payouts with a few clicks on their PC or mobile device. Online security advisors warn casino gamers that blackjack tips and tricks isn’t enough to secure your account.
You can’t take your account security for granted. Criminals look for any opportunity to gain access to your accounts from which they can steal funds with a few clicks of their own.
Before you connect your casino account to your preferred online bank to facilitate the transmission of funds, read and remember these essential tips that will keep your casino account safe from cyber threats and other types of unauthorized access.
Reputable Casino
Start your online casino adventure by selecting a reputable and licensed online casino (wink wink...like Grande Vegas Casino). Make sure that there are certifications from regulatory authorities and read casino reviews to see what other players say about the platform.
Check to see whether the casino uses SSL encryption which ensures that all financial transactions are encrypted by top-level security protocols which prevents any third party from gaining access to those fund transfers.
A reputable casino will be using high-quality games from top game developers who should also be licensed. Casino consultants suggest that you stay away from casinos that don’t offer live customer service options (phone calls/emails/chats) which may indicate a lack of staffing at those casinos.
Casino Sign-Up
When you create your account, choose a strong and unique password that combines letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable passwords (your birthdate, your maiden name, consecutive numbers like 4, 5, 6 or the name of your hometown) and don’t reuse passwords from other accounts. Update your password regularly and never share it with anyone.
Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
If the casino offers two-factor authentication, enable it. Two-factor authentication requires that you complete a secondary verification step, like confirming a code that’s sent to your cell phone, in order to access your account. That way, even if a hacker can get through the first steps of entering your account, it won’t be possible for them to complete the connection.
Update Software
Make sure that your device's operating system, web browser, and antivirus software are up to date. Set your device to automatically install updates whenever possible. Updates include security patches that help protect against vulnerabilities and malware.
Phishing Scams
Be aware of phishing messages, emails or websites. These phishing scams give every indication of being legitimate messages from your casino or even from your bank or ebank but they are scams and designed to steal your login credentials or personal information.
You can verify the authenticity of communications from the casino by checking your casino’s inbox…..if the message really did come from the casino, there will be a copy of the email in your inbox. Don’t click on any links or provide sensitive information to an unverified email. Scam emails may include
- Requests for you to “confirm” your casino login information.
- Promises of big casino bonuses for those who click on a specific link.
- Suggestions of new games to play with “links” to that game.
Payment Methods
Only use secure payment methods or cryptocurrency transactions to deposit or withdraw funds from your casino account. All of the cautions regarding your casino account are applicable to your online bank including
- Use only online banks that are encrypted with SSL to ensure encrypted connections.
- Never click on links from the ebank that come via email or send sensitive information via email. If the ebank wants to initiate a conversation with you, the communication will be found in your ebank inbox. The email might alert you to the fact that you have a message but you should go to the message in your ebank account to verify that it is authentic.
- Enable two-factor authentication to your online banking account.
- Choose a strong password for your ebanking account and don’t share the password with anyone.
Account Activity
Monitor your account activity. Review your transaction history and account activity regularly and report any unauthorized or suspicious transactions. You can make an immediate report via the casino’s Live Chat. If needed, freeze your account temporarily until the issue is resolved.
Secure Devices
Secure your devices with strong passwords or biometric authentication methods (face recognition, fingerprint, etc). Never open your casino account or your ebank account on unsecured or public WiFi networks.
If you maintain vigilance and practice good security habits you’ll be able to enhance the security of your online casino account for a safe gambling experience.