These days, it seems like we all must work a lot harder to stay safe online. Even if you consider yourself to be pretty responsible with your online security, it is important to remember that you are at a great deal of risk right now simply by logging on.
There has been a staggering rise in the number of incidents of cybercrime in the last two years. We have seen everything from attacks on government institutions to identity theft and phishing scams aimed at grandparents.
When it comes to activities that involve our money online, we all need to be extra careful.
And when it comes to online gambling, there are more factors that you need to consider beyond malware. Being safe and responsible is about more than making sure that your antivirus software is up to date. You need to think about how you can be responsible for the amount of money and time that you are spending on this activity.
You need to think about how you can have fun without running into trouble. If you want to start playing at online casinos but you have a few concerns, here are some tips for how you can stay safe.
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Start with the basics
To begin with, let’s leave the online casino element to one side and think about getting into some better habits for your online security in general. There are some people out there whose security set-up for their online activity is absolutely impeccable, but most of us fall somewhere in between doing the bare minimum and doing absolutely nothing at all. To start with, we all need to stop using the same passwords for different accounts. You need to start using a password generator, and you also need to use two-factor authentication. Both simple steps will reduce your risk of being a victim of cybercrime.
It is also time to start thinking about paying for security software instead of using a free version. A lot of the most common cybercrime threats are dependent on you not paying attention to what you are doing or assuming that you do not need to be taking these measures to protect yourself.
Do your research
If you are thinking of signing up at an online casino, then you are going to have to put some time into doing some research. There are so many different virtual casinos out there and, of course, some will be more trustworthy than others. Now, it is important to note that most of the major online casinos will have excellent security options to protect the data and the money of their customers. Businesses such as these are going to great lengths to keep their customers safe and to keep their reputations intact. Because it is also important to note that the online gambling community is extremely vocal and if any online casino does prove to be lacking, you will be able to find people talking about it.
One of the best resources available if you are looking to play online slots games or play a hand of virtual poker is a good casino guide. Online Casino Review has reviews of the best casinos and games as well as a wealth of other resources whether you are a beginner or an old hand.
Be wary with your personal information
Next, a quick note on a point that most probably already know about, but it is important enough to warrant inclusion. If someone reaches out to you to request personal information, whether it is your address or something more obviously suspect such as your card details, do not give it to them. Get in touch with the online casino directly if you want to double-check and report any suspicious activity.
Draw up a budget
Moving on from malware to another safety issue, if you are going to start gambling online then you need to be aware of how much money you can afford to lose. One of the most important things to remember that you can spend exactly as little as you like at most of the best online casinos. There are games available with extremely low stakes buy-ins and you do not need to go all-in if you do not want to.
However, most of us like to have some skin in the game and that’s why it’s important to take a good look at how much money you can afford to lose. So many of us are struggling with debt right now and you need to make sure that you protect your budget. Draw up a budget for your gambling that ensures that you will not go over that red line. It is also worth thinking about planning out how much time you want to spend at the online casino and setting an alarm clock. If you feel like you are having a hard time stopping, then you should think about reaching out to someone for support.
Simon has held senior content leadership positions at online casinos and sportsbooks for 20+ years. He leads a team of quality writers who produced trusted and authoritative iGaming content for casinos, sportsbooks, poker and bingo sites. Simon is Managing Director of Magic Word Media.
