As the popularity of online gambling continues to grow, so does the need for cyber security at online casinos. In fact, one in four online casinos has been the target of a cyber attack in the past years.
With more and more personal and financial information being shared online, it’s important to ensure that your favorite casino is taking steps to protect your information.
However, although cyber security is a complex issue, online casinos can take measures to protect their players. In fact, casinos are obliged to ensure that security is taken into account if the casino operates with a proper license.
The strictest control is at Maltese casinos, under which the majority of Finnish casinos operate, for example. Safe online casinos can be found on casino review sites, such as Casinoproffa, which has listed all online casinos (kaikki nettikasinot) where it is safe to play online.
What are the biggest cyber security risks for online casinos?
There are many potential cyber security risks for online casinos. For example, hackers could target the casino’s website or database in order to steal personal and financial information.
They could also launch denial-of-service attacks to disrupt the casino’s operations. In addition, online casinos are also vulnerable to money laundering activities.
Hacking
Hackers can access player accounts and sensitive financial information and disrupt casino operations. In some cases, they have been able to steal millions of dollars from online casinos.
Deposit bonuses are used to attract new players to the casino. Bonuses are especially popular among Finnish players, who can still claim bonuses from casinos. When the player redeems the deposit bonus (talletusbonus in Finnish), he hands over sensitive information to the casino, such as personal information and bank credential details. It is important to make sure that the casino is prepared for hacking because hackers can gain access to player accounts by stealing login credentials. In some cases, hackers have used phishing scams to trick players into giving them their login information.
There are several ways that hackers can gain access to online casinos. One common method is to exploit vulnerabilities in the casino software.
Another way that hackers can damage online casinos is by launching denial-of-service attacks. These attacks can disable the casino website, preventing players from being able to access it. Sometimes, denial-of-service attacks have been used to extort money from online casinos.
Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
DoS attacks are a type of cyber attack that can render an online casino inaccessible to its users. This can happen by flooding the casino’s servers with requests, making it impossible for them to keep up with the demand and function properly.
DoS attacks can be devastating for an online casino, as they can cause a loss of revenue and customers. Online casinos are particularly vulnerable to DoS attacks because their business model relies on people being able to access their website and play games.
If an attacker can successfully carry out a DoS attack on an online casino, it could have a significant impact on its business.
Online casinos are attractive platforms for money laundering criminals
Money laundering is the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money. Criminals are attracted to online casinos for a few reasons.
First, online casinos are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This provides criminals with a lot of flexibility in when they can launder money.
If the online casino does not prevent money laundering properly, it can be easy for criminals to open an account and start gambling without having to provide much in the way of identification. A Maltese gambling company was fined 386,000 euros after Malta’s Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit found that 31 out of 28 players did not even have an occupation on their profile (Times of Malta, 2022.) This is the minimum requirement for a casino that complies with regulations and KYC (know your customer) procedures.
Finally, online casinos are often located in jurisdictions with weak anti-money laundering laws. This makes it easier for criminals to get away with their activities.
How do online casinos protect themselves against cyber attacks?
In light of the growing concerns of cyber attacks, online casinos take steps to protect themselves using advanced software. One way they do this is by using strong security measures such as web application firewall (WAF) to prevent DDoS attacks.
Additionally, casinos should offer safe payment methods, and encrypt their site with the updated SSL.
Offering safe payment methods
Online casinos take many precautions to ensure that their players’ information is safe and secure.
One of the most important ways they do this is by offering safe and secure payment methods. This helps protect against cyberattacks by ensuring that your personal and financial information is safe.
The most popular methods are the use of credit or debit cards and e-wallets. These are safe and secure ways to make a deposit, as long as you use reputable card and e-wallet providers.
To offer maximum data protection, most online casinos also employ Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) and built-in artificial intelligence for fraud monitoring in the payment gateway.
Encrypting the site with the SSL
By encrypting their site with SSL, online casinos can make it much more difficult for hackers to intercept and access sensitive information. This means that all data transmitted between the casino and the player’s computer is concealed by converting it into a code. With decoded data, even if a hacker somehow gained access to it, they would not be able to read it.
The online casino should also communicate this to their customers to ensure their personal and login information privacy. This is because, while encryption may help protect online activities, exposing personal information outside the casino may also provide a way for hackers to access personal accounts.
Applying preventive measures against DDoS attacks
Preventing DDoS attacks requires a multi-layered approach. One of the most effective ways to prevent DDoS attacks is to use a content delivery network (CDN).
A content delivery network provides users with information based on their geographic location. By using a CDN, online casinos can ensure that their content is delivered quickly and efficiently, even if one or more servers are taken offline by a DDoS attack.
Another way is to use a web application firewall (WAF). This is software that sits between a web application and the internet, filtering traffic and blocking malicious requests. Using a WAF, online casinos can block attempts to overload their servers with traffic, preventing attackers from taking systems offline.
5 tips how to play cyber-safely at a casino
When playing at an online casino, it’s important to take some basic precautions to ensure your safety and security.
Above all, make sure the casino you’re playing has a valid licence from a reputable authority, and be aware of scams.
Here are other few tips to help you stay safe while gambling online:
1. Do not give personal information to suspicious sites
There are a lot of sites on the internet that claim to be legitimate casinos, but many of them are scams. If you’re not careful, you could give your personal information to a site that could use it to steal your identity or your money.
To protect yourself from becoming a victim of a scam, only play at reputable sites that a trusted third party has verified. Secondly, never download software from a site you don’t trust.
2. Prefer casinos with secure payment methods
When playing at an online casino, it’s important to choose a site with secure payment methods. This will help protect your personal and financial information from being hacked.
Therefore, ensure the casino offers industry-standard encryption methods, like 128-bit SSL encryption. Look for casinos that offer secure methods such as PayPal or e-wallets. These methods encrypt your information and make it much harder for hackers to access.
Also, consider using a payment method that offers additional security, like a prepaid card.
3. Choose casinos that offer games from well-known game providers
When looking for a safe and reputable online casino, one of the things you’ll want to look for is a site that offers games from well-known game providers.
These providers have a reputation for developing fair and safe games, so you can rest assured that you’re getting a fair chance at winning. Some of the well-known game providers you’ll want to look for include Microgaming, Playtech, NetEnt, Play’n GO, and Evolution.
4. Find out if the casino has a reliable licence.
When looking for a safe and reliable online casino, you should check if it has a valid license. A license from a reputable gambling authority means that the casino has been vetted and approved as a safe and fair place to gamble.
The most popular and respected licensing agencies and authorities are Viro and Malta. Without a valid license, an online casino is not subject to any regulations and could be a scam.
5. Ensure casino’s games are tested by a third party
Official third-party bodies are critical in authenticating the casino’s licenses and testing the fairness of the games. In this case, first look for a logo or certification from companies like eCOGRA to ensure the games have been independently tested.
Second, look for positive reviews from other players. If other players have had a good experience with the game, it is likely fair and secure. However, if you’re unsure if a casino’s games are fair, it’s best to avoid playing there.
Disclaimer: This article contains sponsored marketing content. It is intended for promotional purposes and should not be considered as an endorsement or recommendation by our website. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and exercise their own judgment before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article.
