Cybersecurity in the Gambling World: Protecting Data in a Tech-Driven Casino Era

There is no more apt a description for our time in history than the digital age. We live in a period of rapid technological expansion. The internet is not just a luxury in modern society; it is a necessity. Remote and in-person work requires constant communication between employees on a level that can only be achieved online. 

But it is not just the professional world that the internet has changed. Entertainment has been deeply impacted by this new age. Streaming services are a dime a dozen nowadays. Multiplayer games are more prominent than ever. Even the iGaming industry has progressed to a point where it might overtake land-based casinos soon. 

It is precisely within the iGaming sector that we can see a microcosmic scale of the greater digital era. Online gambling platforms like the Playstar casino are constantly doing their best to advance and improve their services. That includes the cybersecurity aspect of online gambling. It is on that aspect that we would like to focus on in this article.

Digital Security

The internet is now an integral part of everyday life. The consequence of this is that many of us take it for granted. Many youngsters who grew up browsing the world wide web don’t even think about cybersecurity. This is a problem of course, because cybercrime has not dropped or decreased in the last decade. Quite the opposite in fact. Cybercrime continues to grow at a rapid pace and online platforms must do their best to keep up.

The good news is that iGaming sites are always ready and willing to improve on their business model. That means that they are also trying hard to keep up with digital security measures no matter what. The goal in this article is to discuss how online gambling services have managed to keep their customers safe; even in an era of rapidly growing cybercrime. Some readers may be surprised at how effective the industry has been at protecting their customers’ data.

KYC & MFA

One of the most effective measures that online casinos have taken to protect their clients is by implementing “Know Your Customer” policies. These measures demand that each new client share an identifying document of sorts with the casino when they first create their account. Some may have an issue with this move; claiming that it is a breach of privacy. But KYC policies have been incredibly effective in maintaining a certain level of safety that would be impossible otherwise. 

The biggest benefit of Know Your Client measures is that the gambling platform can easily spot classic digital scams like identity theft. When a player begins to act suspiciously; the casino can be effective in uncovering the root of the problem. They can also reduce the number of spam accounts that are being used for nefarious purposes; such as money laundering. The most important use of KYC is that casinos can control the age of their customers and ensure that no underage gambling is taking place. 

The Know Your Customer policies have been quite effective thus far. Some have even recommended the next step be decentralized KYC; which a lot of businesses are already adopting. But casinos are also making use of multi-factor authentication to ensure their clients are safe. MFA requires the customer to prove their identity by going through several steps. In the case of casinos those would include creating and verifying an account. MFA policies are a small step in the right direction. But without the KYC measures to back them they would not be nearly as effective.

Artificial Intelligence Might Play a Role

There is a fascinating debate surrounding artificial intelligence in the current zeitgeist. There are those who value the progress that we’ve made in machine learning software; and believe we should push on regardless of the consequences. The other side of the debate is manned by people who are more concerned about the environmental damages of AI; and argue that we should put the proverbial genie back into its bottle just this once. 

Regardless of whatever consequences that AI may have; it is unlikely that the technology is going to be dismantled any time soon. Businesses have already found ways to integrate it into their business model. Online casinos have discovered how they can enhance their digital protection plans using machine learning for example. The software is being trained by the human employees to observe customers and mark down any suspicious behavior. 

The purpose here is multi-faceted if you can believe that. The first goal is to cut down on compulsive gambling. The AI could be capable of marking down accounts that might be spending a disproportionate amount of money on their wagers. The software might even have the power to temporarily shut down the account until a human employee can contact the player involved. But this has the secondary effect of preventing identity theft or hacking attacks. While we certainly understand why some might be staunchly against AI; we can also see the market’s willingness to adopt the new technology.

The Future of Cybersecurity

What lies ahead for cybersecurity is tough to say. New tech is being released quite fast. It is hard for even the pros to keep up. Layman certainly stand no chance. But what we can say is that there are plenty of theories and speculation on what might occur in a decade’s time. One of the most popular ideas is that online businesses will largely embrace blockchain technology.

Most of us associate blockchain with cryptocurrency, and for good reason. The tech largely gained fame for its ties to Bitcoin and Ethereum. But the truth is that blockchain ledgers have so much more to offer. Even those who have zero interest in crypto might find something to love about this tech. Blockchain technology can ensure safer internet browsing and increased anonymity online. It is part of the reason that so many are intrigued by the concept. But where that fascination will go remains to be seen.