Once upon a time, you’d walk into a bar or a casino and hit the slots without a second thought. Okay, if you won a bunch of money you might want to be careful walking in a dark parking lot…
Back in the day, outside of having your winnings literally taken from you, the only other major risk playing slots was a rigged machine. Now that many of us play remotely online, times have changed, and so have the ways that criminals operate.
But you’ll be pleased to know there are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure your safety. And many are simple to do in a few moments.
It’s not just a question of being vigilant, it’s also about being clued up before you play online slots. So, below, we’re going to run through a checklist of things you must do, even before playing.
- Be careful where you play
Don’t use your smartphone and a 5G connection to deposit or withdraw funds in public. In addition to exposing yourself to prying eyes, you are more susceptible to cyberattacks.
The same goes for public Wi-Fi, just don’t use it for anything involving private information. Period.
- Use a VPN
For an extra level of security, a VPN will, basically, hide your location, this means that it’s harder for criminals to steal data from you. While we’re at it, might be an idea to use private mode when browsing for a new game, if nothing else it’ll help prevent you being targeted with adverts!
- Turn off your Camera
Okay, this is a belt and braces level of security, but with facial recognition being used more frequently… Well, go figure, as they say, so either turn it off or cover it up.
Just before we get into the nitty-gritty, you can save yourself a lot of hassle by checking the site you’re interested in with reviews. This is the internet after all, the place where everyone has an opinion that they are only too happy to share with the rest of the world.
Okay, let’s get started.
- Check to ensure the website has an SSL.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is easily identifiable by the padlock logo to the left of the ‘https’. If it’s not present on your desired website, get out immediately.
Without going into semantics SSL establishes encrypted links between clients and servers. This means that no one can nick all of your data/details, so make sure you use it.
- Enter your personal details accurately.
If you’re using a secure slot site, it’s in your interest to answer all of the personal information required during registration correctly. This is because this information will be used to verify your account.
- Check the Casino License
Most countries that operate online casinos require their virtual establishments to have a license. If you can’t locate the one that applies to your online casino, walk away.
- Don’t transfer money
These days, you don’t need to put your bank in contact with your casino. A far better way is to use a digital wallet.
Okay, a portion of you might be sighing in exasperation, it’s yet another thing to do. But don’t be put off by semantics, PayPal, for example, is a digital wallet.
By using a third party to monitor activity between your casino and your bank, you’re adding an extra layer of security. And for the record, the safest way of transferring/receiving money is via a crypto wallet.
Really, it’s not as hard as it sounds, and buying cybercurrency and using it to play isn’t just the safest way to pay/receive money either. It means you can monitor what you’re spending on gaming without creeping into your personal savings.
- Check the RTP of a Slot Game
Once you’re happy with your site you’ll need to choose a game to play, but don’t just rush in without checking the RTP of a game.
An RTP isn’t just further evidence that the site you’re using is safe, it’s a way of checking out the odds of winning a game. RTP stands for ‘return to player’ and is denoted as a percentage.
For example, if the RTP of a game is 90% it means that for every 100 bucks spent you can expect 90 bucks back. So generally anything above 96% is considered good.
The RTP is a sobering reminder that, firstly, you should never judge a slot machine by its fancy cover. Secondly, it’s also there to make a simple point, you’re always on the back foot!
And there lies a case in point, the site you’re playing on may be as secure as Fort Knox. But if you can’t be responsible when playing online, no amount of security will save you from yourself.
