Canada is an online gambling-friendly country. There’s no doubt about it: Every province has a right to legalize or ban online casinos. Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the Maritime Provinces have pretty progressive iGaming laws.
At a Federal Level, you can’t set up an online casino in Canada. However, Canadians can play at offshore casinos. People love foreign operators because they have a wider variety of games, bigger betting limits and regular bonuses.
But are they truly safe for Canadians? Discover below as we take a look at how online casinos in Canada secure players.
#1: Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
Secure Socket Layer is a security protocol that encrypts your data while it moves from your web browser to a casino’s server and back. SSL protects your data from spies, stalkers and hackers that could otherwise get hold of it if it.
SSL encrypted websites feature a padlock sign at their web address bars. What’s more, their address name starts with HTTPS and not HTTP. The “S” in HTTPS stands for secure—security provided through SSL encryption. With that in mind, casinos licensed in well-known jurisdictions must secure their websites.
As such, looking for a valid license is another great way to verify whether a casino is secure or not. Taking a detailed look at some of the most trusted online casino sites in Canada shows that most often casino slots operators are using licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
#2: Secure Game Software
Safe casinos use Random Number Generator Software to secure their games. Today’s RNG software is so secure that hacking it is nearly impossible. The only people who could breach modern online casino games would be the developers themselves.
That’s why it’s essential for trustworthy casinos to partner only with safe developers. In the UK and Malta, software developers must also acquire licenses before they can supply games to local casinos. This helps review each provider’s games and confirm they’re fair.
#3: Responsible Data Management
If you’re like many Canadians, you believe it’s important for online businesses to have clear data privacy policies. You also expect them to handle your private information privately. The best casinos respect your wishes.
They have clear privacy policies. Importantly, they comply with regulations about data privacy. As a result, they ask for your consent before collecting your information. They also explain their reasons for keeping your data and give you a way out of data collection.
In case you’re wondering, you can also request casinos to delete your data after you quit playing at their websites. Most companies take time before deleting all your information. But that’s alright. You get an assurance that your data gets deleted after you stop gambling at a casino.
#4: Independent Audits
Independent audits help casinos build trust with players. Operators invite independent auditors to check their games and payment systems. Precisely, auditors verify game fairness—besides the auditing done by regulators.
Independent audits also check payments. Their goal is to find out whether a casino works with safe banking providers. Additionally, they verify that a casino pays out to winners consistently. With that in mind, audits prove a casino’s trustworthiness and in turn, safety.
Author there are multiple auditors out there, the most popular casino auditors are iTechLab, eCOGRA, and GLI. The auditors
#5: Secure Logins
Every security-minded casino lets its customers secure their accounts using passwords and Two-Factor Authentication. These days, passwords must be long, usually eight characters or more. They also need to be strong: they encompass special characters, numbers and letters.
Two-Factor authentication is a choice. You can activate it and get a unique code every time you plan to log into your account. Or you can leave the security side of your account to password protection alone. Some casinos have extra measures like an anti-phishing code and a different password for withdrawals.
Phishing codes help you confirm that you’ve logged into the right casino. Usually, the operator sends you an email with this code as a notification of a successful login attempt. By contrast, a password for withdrawals is just an extra step for protecting your account and money.
#6: Safe Banking
Not only do secure casinos payout to winners consistently, but they also make the banking process smooth. First, they provide multiple banking options. This way, you’re not limited to a payment company you dislike. Instead, you have the choice to choose among e-wallets, debit cards, cryptocurrencies and direct wire transfer.
Choose casinos that support well-known payment providers. They’re more likely to be safe and trustworthy than new and unknown digital wallet. Then look at their fees and speed to avoid any inconveniences. Tip: use a payment provider that allows you to send and receive money. That’s because most casinos require that you use the same payment method for both deposits and withdrawals.
As we mentioned, though, casinos also participate in ensuring you have a smooth banking process. This comes into play during withdrawals. Operators determine the minimum and deposit amounts you can withdraw. They also set payout speeds. Look for a site that processes payouts quickly.
#7: Staying Vigilant
Online security isn’t a one-time thing. Secure casinos remain secure by staying vigilant to watch out for threats. Most of them have a dedicated IT team that maintain the casino’s website. They update software regularly, install security patches and thwart potential threats.
The best casinos also train their employees to avoid security threats. Nearly half of all cyber security breaches are exploited through employees. This explains why training is important. Employees can understand how they become targets and what to do to keep the casino site secure.
Additional ways casinos remain vigilant is by complying with new security measures. For example, most casinos, these days, have firewalls meant to keep off unwanted traffic. They’re also PCI DSS compliant, another measure meant to keep players’ financial data safe.
