Why is SSL Recommended for Gambling Sites?

Did you know the average businesses spends $3.86 million to recover from a data breach? This is according to research site, ibm.com. Tens of thousands of online businesses suffer from security breaches every year.

Yet, not every company takes SSL encryption seriously. SSL is short for Secure Socket Layer, a type of data protection that keeps your personal information safe while using a website.

In some industries —health, finance and online gambling— it is mandatory for genuine operators to secure their sites through SSL. But why is SSL so necessary, especially in iGaming?

Curbing Phishing Attacks

In 2020, phishing was the most popular online attack reported to the FBI. What is phishing and why is it so dangerous?

Phishing is a type of online scheme that involves sending emails, voice and text messages that appear to come from genuine sources. Let’s say you play slots and poker at a secure online casino in the US, say 888, Caesars or Bet365.

A scammer could send you an email claiming you’ve won $10,000 at your 888 online casino account. Usually, the scammer will attach a link, which if you click, leads you to a website that collects your personal information.

Alternatively, a fraudster could send you an email asking you to download a file that explains how to win at blackjack. If you download the file, it activates malware that causes havoc to your PC or smartphone.

SSL protects you from phishing scams through its stamp of approval. Every secure site has a locked padlock sign on its address bar. What’s more, these sites have URLs that start with HTTPS.

If you receive an email that leads you to a casino site with no padlock sign, chances are it is not the real website.

Hiding Sensitive Information

Secure Socket Layer encrypts your personal information so that no one can intercept it while using a website. SSL encrypted sites transfer data through HTTPS.

By comparison, unsecured websites use HTTP to convey information from your device to the website. Because HTTP does not hide your personal information, this data can be intercepted by unauthorized hackers.

What information does SSL protect? It hides your user names, passwords, images, and addresses. Basically, it hides all the information you must provide to gambling sites to become their customer.

Think of your social security number, your email address, phone number and credit card information: SSL keeps you safe by shielding your data from the public.

Identifying Genuine Gambling Sites

As mentioned, an SSL certificate can help you differentiate a genuine from a scam casino. Here’s how. For a company to acquire an SSL certificate, it must be authenticated by a certificate authority.

Certificate authorities check a website to ensure it has proper contact details, and other essential trust features. Once a site is accorded with an SSL certificate, no other operator bearing the same name can get an SSL certificate.

To use an example, Caesars is a secure online casino. If a fraudster creates a site and attempts to steal Caesars’ identity, it wouldn’t get an SSL certificate. As a result, you can identify Caesars from its impostors through its security certificate.

Improved SEO Rankings

SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. It’s a continuous process that aims to help a website rank higher on search engines like Google and Bing! A higher ranking means more potential website visitors. In turn, this leads to more customers.

Search engine uses certain indicators to decide how high or low to rank a website. Security is one of these indicators. If a site features SSL encryption, it will rank higher than one without encryption.

Now, every gambling site wants premium real estate on Google. Why Google? It controls 80% of web traffic. There are hundreds of gambling sites, though, so every forward-thinking site can’t survive without an SSL certificate.

Building Trust with Customers

When you think about it, gambling sites shouldn’t be pushed to encrypt customer data. It should come naturally now that it is an excellent way to build trust with gamblers.

If you’re like many people, you’re sensitive about how businesses treat your personal information. You love to work with companies that keeps your data safe. That means you can’t bet at a sportsbook without online security.

In other words, an SSL certificate is good for business. It shows people that your betting site is safe and trustworthy. If someone is undecided on whether to choose your bookmaker or another company without SSL, they will probably choose your site.

Protecting Account Credentials

If a casino or bookmaker does not secure its site using SSL, it means your username and password are not safe. Hackers can discover you login credentials and exploit them.

It is more difficult to hack your account if you use a secured site. An attacker could still use phishing, social engineering or another tactic to steal your login details. But it is more challenging compared to a casino without HTTPS protection.

Of course, most hackers prefer to hack sites without security vulnerabilities. Thus, you’re less likely to become a victim if your casino makes it hard for attackers to steal your login information.

Complying with Regulations

Needless to say, gambling businesses are regulated by governments and security bodies. For a casino to qualify for a license in New Jersey, it needs a license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

In Europe, operators need licenses from Malta, the UK Gambling Commission or Malta. All these regulators only approve licensing to websites with SSL encryption. This is done in the best interest of gamblers.

Besides gambling regulators, governments have other requirements for casinos and sportsbooks. For example, the EU requires every iGaming company to comply with GDPR rules. Many states have similar requirements.

Conclusion

In this age of scammers, hackers and data breaches, online security is indispensable. Every company in the online gambling world has to secure their websites and apps using SSL encryption.

SSL is the standard way of encrypting data. However, it does more than hide customer information. It helps gambling sites improve their SEO rankings. It improves trust with gamblers and prevents security breaches.