How Secure Are Online Casino Games, Really?

You’ve been betting black for the last ten spins of the roulette wheel, and the ball has landed in a red slot every single time. Is the game rigged, or is Lady Luck just laughing at you? Trust in online gambling sites has come a long way in the last decade, but if you search the web you’ll still find stories about players being scammed by rogue operators. Today we’re taking a deep dive to find out just how secure online casino games really are. 

The first thing you need to know is that the vast majority of online casinos don’t create their own games. In fact, there are hundreds of companies whose sole purpose is to develop and license games to casino brands. That’s why you’ll sometimes find the same games on different sites. Casinos are therefore not solely accountable for the security of the games on site because the responsibility is shared with software providers.  

Secondly, unless you’ve managed to pick up a no deposit bonus, chances are you’ll have to deposit your own cash before you can gamble at online casinos for real money. With no choice but to risk your own funds, ensuring the fairness, safety, and security of the games you play should be a top priority. Read on to find out how you can stay safe when playing online:

Can you rig online casino games?

Legitimate online casino games (like the ones found at our best online casinos) cannot be rigged by players or the house due to the complexity of their highly encrypted software. 

That said, the harsh reality is that fraudulent casinos exist and operate with the sole purpose of taking your money. A dodgy software developer could rig the results of a brand new game and publish it on an untrustworthy site. However, safe and secure gambling sites which treat players fairly are far more common. They’re easy to spot if you know what to look for.

Here are five markers of fair and secure casino games:

Software Audits

The best online casinos and software developers are regularly audited by third party, independent bodies with fantastic reputations. Some of our recommended auditors include eCOGRA, iTech Labs and GLI. These firms specialize in the testing and certification of online casino games for real money.

In the first instance, gambling auditors regularly test each casino game for fairness. This includes the mandatory use of Random Number Generator (RNG) technology in the software. RNGs are used to provide outcomes that are truly random and have no knowledge of the game situation at hand. For example, RNGs are used in slots to decide the outcome of each spin. Auditors can also be hired to test and evaluate a casino’s information systems and technical security, as well as provide dispute resolution for players.  

We prefer casinos that are tested by third parties. Partnerships with firms like the ones mentioned above are worth their weight in gold and provide peace of mind that the games on site are safe, secure, and fair to all. 

They are often costly, however. Companies must pay the auditors a significant amount of money to test and certify, and thus many choose not to. Gambling sites which have linked up with auditors are therefore usually keen to show off their partnerships. Check the footer of a casino site and look for logos related to software auditors to find out if their games have been tested. 

Industry Regulation

Casino licenses are another excellent indicator of a casino’s security. Bodies such as the UK Gambling Commision, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the Government of Curacao grant licenses to online gambling sites and software developers who meet strict standards of operation. These can include mandatory financial audits, software testing and background checks. 

Each licensing body has a slightly different set of rules and regulations and some licenses are held in higher esteem than others. Nevertheless, like software audits, the licenses all cost money. Legitimate casino sites know the value of having a license granted by a respected body, and will often display their license number in the footer of the website. 

A word of warning – it’s common for fraudulent casino sites to claim to have licenses when they don’t in an attempt to fool naive players. Thankfully, it’s easy to check if a site is actually licensed. All you have to do is head to the licenser’s website and search for the casino. If it appears as a genuinely licensed site, carry on. If not, steer clear. 

Recognized Developer

One of the easiest ways to know if a casino game is secure is to find out who developed it. Industry giants like Microgaming, RealTime Gaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, iSoftBet, and Evolution have made a name for themselves by providing top-quality, fair games for decades. More importantly, they have partnered with internationally-recognized regulatory bodies who test, audit and evaluate each of their games. It’s not uncommon to find safe online casinos that offer games by more than one of these brands, thus giving players a wider variety to play. 

SSL Encryption

Trusted casino sites use the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption on each and every web page, including those holding the games themselves. SSL protects players’ privacy by encrypting data, authenticating that both parties are who they claim to be, and signing off on the integrity of the information. 

It’s easy to check if a casino is using SSL encryption; simply look to the left hand side of the address bar. If the padlock symbol is closed, the site is encrypted. If it is open, it isn’t. You can also check the web address itself. Sites with SSL encryption begin ‘https’ while those who are not begin with ‘http.’ We advise never playing at sites which are not protected by SSL encryption.

Privacy Policies

Let’s be real, when was the last time you actually read a privacy policy? Most people never read the fine print when they hand over their personal information online, but we always recommend it. A secure online casino USA with safe games will make their privacy policy easily accessible on their site. 

The privacy policy of each casino details exactly how they will use and store your personal information. Keep in mind that trusted casino sites often require you to verify your identity and address before allowing you to withdraw funds – it’s best to know what they’re going to do with the copies of your documents when they no longer need them! Never gamble at sites that will sell or rent out your personal information. 

The key to staying safe when enjoying casino games online is to find a casino site that is safe in all aspects of its operation; safe games, safe deposits, safe data storage, and so on. It might sound difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! You can find our analysis of the top US casino’s safety and security measures in our expert online casino reviews.