Online casinos handle millions of customers and billions of dollars. Hence it is essential that they provide adequate security in their operations. There are two aspects of security at online casinos that are very important. One is securing the confidential customer information and the other is securing the financial transactions. However the online players too have a role in ensuring that their funds are secure.
Privacy Policy
The first aspect of security concerns use of sensitive customer information by the online casino or its employees. The Privacy Policy of the casino addresses this. The policy lays out what information is collected, to what use it is put and which employees have access to the information. Usually the Privacy Policy restricts access to sensitive information to only a few senior personnel of the casino. The Privacy Policy also states that customer information will not be divulged to third parties except where required by law. By agreeing to the online casino’s terms and conditions the player accepts the Privacy Policy as well and therefore the player should go through it.
Third Party Use
The second aspect of security at online casinos concerns unauthorized access by third parties to the information while it is stored in the casinos servers or while it is being transmitted over the Internet. The most crucial information is the credit card numbers that are the target of hackers. The security during storage is ensured through the use of firewalls and other techniques to prevent hacking. For protection during transmission of payments the standard security measure used by online casinos is 128-bit SSL encryption. A lower standard than this should not be accepted by the player. Some online casinos use higher standards. The security standards of online casinos are inspected and certified by experts like Thawte and VeriSign and players should look for their logo in the lobby of the casino. As a further measure of security many online casinos assign the services of conducting financial services to expert organizations.
Extra Security Measures
Greater harm can accrue to a player through his own carelessness. A player has three unique identity codes in order to log in at the online casino and carry out gaming and financial transactions. These are his log in name or alias, his password and his PIN Number. All online casinos require the first two and many online casinos require the use of the given PIN number for carrying out financial transactions. If the player leaves these lying around in unsafe locations and another person accesses the online casino using these codes then he can transact on the player’s behalf and the casino is not responsible. A bigger security lapse by the player is not logging out after playing. This would easily enable anyone else using the computer to operate on the player’s behalf. The player should also ensure that the secure transaction icon appears on his browser when depositing into online casinos or withdrawing funds. If it does not then it implies that the security protocols are not in place and that the transaction can be intercepted. Under such conditions the player should refrain from carrying out the transactions. This is a list of some of the 3rd party casino deposit methods that may be accepted at the online casino that you are wanting to play at.
Casino Bonuses
Bonuses and promotions form an integral part of online casino gambling. Online casinos provide bonuses as incentives to play more. There are some critical aspects about the casino bonuses that must be checked upfront by the players. Players from some countries are not entitled to bonuses and those from other countries have to meet enhanced bonus requirements. The player should know where he stands on this before he starts wagering. Another issue that needs clarification is whether the casino allows withdrawals of bonuses or only of winnings from bonuses. All this information along with the actual wagering requirements is in fine print, which the player must read upfront.
Player Assistance
The final issue is customer support, which is crucial for novice players. Plus points in this context are a comprehensive FAQs section, customer support through live chat and toll free telephone numbers for many reasons.
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