Online gambling business started appearing in the 1990s when internet was taking off commercially. Casino software developer Microgaming was behind the launch of the first-ever online gaming site Cryptologic in 1994, the year in which the first offshore licensing jurisdiction, Antigua & Barbuda, passed its Free Trade & Processing Act, paving the way for online gambling sites to acquire a license to operate. By the year 1997, the online gambling sites were increased to 200, and multiplayer online gambling was introduced in the year 1999. As new operators emerged in 2000s, bonuses grew, games improved, and loyalty schemes were introduced. With the evolution of online casinos, today players and bookers can feel a redefined industry worth more than the US $44 bn.
Live dealer games are now among the top choices of gamers as they can engage in real-time play on games that are streamed from land locations. Starting with just one studio, Evolution Gaming hit the scene in 2006, and today it’s hard to find an online casino operating without live games. Evolution now has 08 studios worldwide, and there are also other big developers in the arena, such as NetEnt, Ezugi, and Pragmatic Play. Some online casinos offer more than 2000 games and eSports games for the players to choose from.
Enhancement of players’ perks
Over the past decade, gaming industry has undergone tremendous growth and changes. The launch of iPhone in 2007 and the release of Google App Store in 2008 played a key role in the development of online gambling. HTML5 tech allowed the developers to create apps that were not OS-specific. As online casinos started to emerge, there was a competition to attract loyal customers. Online casinos began to offer enhanced player perks for signing up in the forms of bonuses, such as no wagering casino bonus wherein a player can sign up, redeem an offer, and instantly cash out their winning, eliminating the need to complete the wagering requirements.
Casino audits and fraud detection systems
When it comes to online casinos, security is paramount. Encryption technologies, such as HTTPS and SSL work by allowing casino servers to transfer data without stopping at any point in-between, thus preventing the possibility of interception of the players’ personal information by the malicious entities. These security methods are used not only by online casinos but other websites also on the internet.
Random Number Generators (RNGs) are used by online casinos for generating results in casino games like slots and blackjack to ensure that the results are completely random and cannot be manipulated. Companies like eCOGA conduct audits to ensure that RNG is indeed generating random results, and also evaluate the casino’s payment and deposit procedures. Casinos also use fraud detection systems to prevent people from stealing the players’ money, or cheating in other ways.
The use of encryption technology
Casinos are placing a greater emphasis on protecting the personal information and payments of the players as much as possible, and are using technologies like blockchain, encryption, and Optical Character Recognition or OCR. OCR encryption method records important details of the game room, like the shuffling of cards, and instantly transfers them to the players. Some casinos use Cloudflare service for protection against ransom-related distributed denial of service (RDDoS) attacks. Nora 2.0 security software is specifically designed for online casinos that detects threats with the help of self-learning algorithms.
Blockchain casinos, also known as crypto casinos, anonymously record the actions and results of games of the players immutably, so that the data cannot be altered, replaced, or deleted. Crypto casinos are able to do this using smart contracts that guarantee fair play and security of all processes. Cryptocurrency transactions, such as Bitcoins, are completely anonymous and safer than regular bank transfers.
With a large part of our lives and gaming happening online and on mobile devices now, we all need to maintain digital accounts that have become the magnets for hackers, malicious attacks, identity theft, and data breaches. Moreover, with too many accounts, one has to create too many passwords also, encouraging them to recycle passwords as human memory is lousy, and the user has to struggle to remember passwords. So, they fall back on using weak passwords, instead of stronger ones. That said, it becomes easier for hackers to drain entire bank accounts and cryptocurrency accounts overnight.
Cybercrimes get more sophisticated
As cybercrimes get more sophisticated, the players should be able to protect their accounts in more ways than simply using more complex passwords and passphrases. Two Factor Authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security. Instead of providing immediate access to the account after entering the username and password, one is required to provide another piece of information to gain access to the account, such as a secret question, biometric pattern, personal identification number (PIN), a specific keystroke pattern, or an iris scan.
Types of 2FA
2FA can be of many types, like:
Hardware Token: It’s a small-sized token, like a key fob, and produces a new numeric code every 30 seconds.
SMS-based 2FA: A unique One Time Passcode (OTP) is sent via a text message to the user’s phone or email that they must enter back into the application before getting access to the account.
Soft Token: It’s a software-generated, time-based, one-time passcode (TOTP). The user has to download and install a free 2FA app on their smartphone or desktop, and when prompted to enter code after they enter the username and password, they need to enter the code displayed in the app to gain access to the account.
Push Notification 2FA: The user can simply deny or approve access by a single touch on the push notification received on their mobile, eliminating any opportunity for phishing or attacks as the method establishes a direct and secure connection between the retailer, the device, and the 2FA service.
Recent innovations in 2FA include facial recognition, pulse, ambient noise, vocal prints, and retina patterns.
What do expert casino reviewers have to say?
As the experts of the trusted casinos’ reviewer site https://casinoforcanada.com/ say, a legitimate casino with an impeccable reputation will have a valid and active license from reliable licensing establishments, such as Canada, Britain, Malta, The Isle of Man, or Curacao. It must prove its fairness, and also maintain its responsible gambling policy. Many online reputable casinos are regulated, and audited regularly by an independent third party. The casino will also offer many trusted payment methods, such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, that most people recognize and are comfortable using.
The site’s experts also suggest to look for an SSL certificate of the casino, a valid license, and creating a strong and complex password with 2FA. Do connect your account with additional authentication if such an opportunity is given by the casino. Change your passwords regularly and don’t disclose them to anyone, because even the most robust security technology will not be able to protect you if you disclose your confidential information. Best Online Casino Canada has reviewed several casinos, such as Betsafe, Casino Room, GG Bet, Caxino, Vulkan Vegas, and Fastpay, that have been evaluated based on their security features, the payment methods, varieties of games, responsible gambling policy, user reviews, and more, which are legitimate, and you can reliably bet your money on them.
