One of the most exciting applications of blockchain technology is its integration into gambling sites. It offers players and operators a multitude of benefits, such as reduced transaction fees, faster and more efficient transactions, and improved anonymity, to name a few. However, unlike traditional casinos, crypto casinos can operate outside of national gaming rules and regulations. This freedom creates a gap for many hackers and social engineers to take advantage of unsuspecting players. As such, knowing how to stay safe on crypto gambling sites is essential. This article will elaborate more on the many approaches you can use to achieve this objective.
How to Stay Safe on Crypto Gambling Sites?
When looking for a crypto gambling site, you must choose the best Bitcoin casino so you don’t have a negative experience. There are several essential factors to look out for and practices to employ when using a crypto-gambling site to stay safe, as highlighted below.
Choose a Licensed Crypto-Gambling Site
Choosing a licensed platform comes first in guaranteeing your safety on a crypto gambling site. Always search for gambling sites with a license from reputable authorities such as the United Kingdom Gambling Authority, Curacao eGaming, and Malta Gaming Authority.
A licensed crypto gambling site shows that the platform runs under tight rules and will ensure the safety of its users. Crypto casinos can operate without a license, which is why caution is advised because, in cases of fraud, it’s almost impossible to take legal action against the platform.
Verify the Reputation of the Platform
Another important factor to consider is the reputation of the crypto-gambling platform. Not all gambling sites adhere to the applicable regulations. There are some gambling platforms that have a bad reputation for not paying out bonuses and winnings or offering games that have been rigged to always make players lose. Whatever the case, it’s important to do a little reputation check on the platform to see what other players and auditors are saying about the gambling site.
Forums, blogs, and social media are great places to find unfiltered comments from real people with real experiences about the platform you’re trying to use. Note that not everyone will say nice things about every gambling platform. However, when the number of negative comments is considerably higher than the good ones, then it’s best to avoid such platforms.
Check for SSL Encryption
SSL, or secure socket layer, is a security protocol to look out for when searching for a trustworthy crypto gambling site. A gambling site with this feature creates an encryption link between your web browser and the server. As such, cybercriminals won’t be able to get access to the information you’re filling in on the web page, such as your personal information or crypto wallet details.
So, ensure the crypto gambling site has an SSL certificate to be sure your information is kept private and secure. You can tell if a website has an SSL certificate from the SSL badge on the website or a padlock icon beside the URL on the web browser. If you click on the padlock icon, you should be able to see more details about the security details of the website.
Manage Your Account Security
With the adoption of cryptocurrency at gambling sites, it’s important to ensure your account is well secured. Firstly, ensure you use a strong password to protect your account. Preferably, don’t use anything easy to guess, such as your birthday, the name of your pet, or information related to your family members. Alright, ensure your password includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric with special characters.
Secondly, in addition to using a password that’s difficult to guess and at least 8 characters long, you can consider activating a two-factor authentication. If the crypto platform you’re using has a mobile app, then you might be able to activate biometric authentication. If not, then you can activate authentication via SMS or phone call, depending on the platform. This added layer of security ensures that even if your password gets breached, the hackers won’t still be able to access your account.
Use a Secure Crypto Wallet
When you choose to gamble on a crypto platform, a crypto wallet is created for you on the platform. You can make deposits into that wallet as well as withdrawals. However, this wallet shouldn’t be your primary wallet. You should create a different secure crypto wallet. When it comes to a crypto wallet, it can either have a cold wallet or a hot wallet.
A cold wallet is not directly connected to the internet, while a hot wallet is connected to the internet. There are so many types of cold wallets and hot wallets, with each one offering different benefits. Some of these wallets you should consider getting include:
- Hardware wallet
- Web wallet
- Mobile wallet
- Physical media
- Desktop wallet
Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Additionally, when you choose to gamble online, particularly on a crypto website, avoid using public Wi-Fi. When you’re out in a public space, such as having a hot coffee or waiting for the bus, it can be quite tempting to want to connect to a public Wi-Fi, especially when you have a bad internet connection to access your gambling account.
While using public Wi-Fi is free, it isn’t a secure connection and can expose you to the risk of being hacked by cybercriminals. Generally, public Wi-Fi is unencrypted. As such, whatever information you’re transmitting on the network, hackers can easily intercept it using a variety of tools to view it as plain text. So, rather than using public Wi-Fi, it’s better to use a private Wi-Fi one you trust, or better yet, a cellular data connection.
Practice Responsible Gambling
Finally, ensure to practice responsible gambling, as your focus should be on having fun and exciting experiences and not utilizing it as a source of income. Gambling can be problematic, particularly when you’re gambling to make money. It means you’ll gamble with more money than you can afford to lose.
To practice responsible gambling, always have at the back of your mind that even with crypto gambling there’s always the risk of losing your money either from the volatility of the cryptocurrency or at a game, and it’s fine. You set the limit for yourself so you don’t end up losing focus on how easy cryptocurrency makes reloading your gambling account. Also, take regular breaks to ensure your focus is still on fun and entertainment.
