Why Site Security Is Imperative In The Casino Gaming Industry
In any industry with a multi-billion-dollar online presence, site security is arguably the most crucial component. Numerous interlocking factors collectively contribute to the overall functionality of the brand. It’s not just from a technical perspective or a website perspective. If a casino is unable to keep its site secure and protect its customers’ information, this could be the catalyst that ultimately renders it redundant.
It doesn’t matter how big or how successful they have become in the market; one breach or one security flaw could be the match that lights the fire and leads to their demise. So, how does the industry stay ahead, and how important has cybersecurity become in online casino gaming over the last two decades? Let’s dive in.
Navigating The Early Days
In the early days of online casino gaming, companies seeking to launch into the vast global market had a point to prove to many. It was the fact they had such an axe to grind that helped them push through some of the conventional barriers and doubters, and allowed them to force their way to the top seat at the table.
Although those who worked in online gaming and computing were constantly discussing how the internet would change the world beyond recognition, there was still a slow uptake in the number of people purchasing home computers and laptops. Back then, it was costly, the internet speeds were much slower, and millions were skeptical about how secure their information was if they entered it online.
It’s the last point that was the most important for casino game designers. If they were able to build platforms and ideas that could clearly showcase that customer details would be just as secure with them as they would be at a conventional casino, then the growth potential was staggering. Those who enjoy playing online casino real money games might not give site security a second thought; for many, it’s something that can be taken for granted.
The current market format relies heavily on many innovations that have occurred in site security over the last 20 years. However, other catalysts for growth have underpinned this success and made it an integral part of the casino gaming industry’s success since the turn of the century.
Catalysts For Growth
Rural areas of any country have struggled to keep pace with the advances in modern internet speeds. However, for those who live in major populated areas, the introduction of high-speed broadband internet was a catalyst for the rapid development of online casino gaming.
Within the space of a couple of years in the early 2000s, online casino gaming evolved from cumbersome and slow tables that, quite frankly, lacked the capability or bandwidth to host a significant number of games to the pioneering force that fueled the global growth of the casino industry.
As the potential for seismic change became more obvious to those in the sector, they onboarded some of the world’s leading experts in cybersecurity to construct websites and mobile apps that offered the same levels of encryption and firewall security as those found at a major bank. Once consumer confidence grew and more people became accustomed to the broader potential of the internet, the adoption of online casino gaming soared. It quickly became the primary means by which people accessed online casino games.
If you score a big win, as you can see in the video below, you want to ensure that a site has the proper framework and security protocol to ensure you receive your winnings promptly and that there are no problems with their payment systems.
Once this was an industry-wide guarantee, the heightened convenience of playing from home and the broader scope of options compared to conventional casinos meant that the entire market landscape changed.
The Current Model & What’s At Stake
While casino gaming continually faces security threats, ranging from external cyberattacks and internal staff breaches to a range of sophisticated AI tools seeking to gain access to their systems, the level of money generated within casino gaming has enabled platforms and websites to stay ahead of the curve.
Sites offer either 128-bit SSL encryption or 256-bit SSL encryption, and often have a team of cybersecurity experts monitoring their site 24/7 to ensure there have been no recorded breaches.
If a site finds itself on the receiving end of a cyberattack, the potential for loss is enormous. In the wrong hands, sensitive customer data and bank account information could result in significant financial loss, irreparable reputational damage, and, in the long run, could lead to a mass exodus of customers and a business model that no longer works. The stakes couldn’t be any higher.
If it becomes a more common issue and more sites fall victim, it could result in a significant drop in confidence throughout the sector and lead to fewer customers looking to play online – the whole fabric of the industry could be at stake.
