News
Securing Your Information and Money While Gambling Online
Online gambling is a buzzing option that keeps growing in popularity and value yearly. However, while it has made gambling easy, it also put you at risk of cybercriminals. The internet is not the safest of places and you need to take precautions to avoid criminals from stealing valuable information and money from you.
Online casinos that accept PayPal in Canada are generally secure as PayPal has a tough security system that keeps hackers out and prevents the stealing of your information. It is one of the most secure deposit methods in Canada for processing online gambling payments.
Is My Money and Information Safe on Online Gambling Sites?
Many people fear that their money is not safe with online gambling sites. Their fears are tangible but not reality. Top online gambling sites realize that they have their reputation at stake and invest lots of money to ensure their site is protected and safe for users.
With how competitive and large the market is, these sites know that they have a lot at stake not to take their site security seriously. A single mistake leading to cybercriminals stealing information and money from players on the site is a disaster so powerful no amount of PR can repair.
Tips for Securing Your Information and Money on Online Gambling Sites
It is not just enough for you to let the gambling sites do all the security work, there are aspects they cannot help you address such as negligence by forgetting to log out on your account on a public computer or allowing others to view your login details.
1. Find Out Who Regulates the Site.
The first place to look for possible security flaws when choosing an online casino is to find out if it is licensed or not. If it is not licensed, there is a high chance that the site may be built to steal your details and money. However, if it is licensed, find out which body regulates its activities.
Ideally, online gambling sites get regulated in places where their activities are legal such as Malta, the Isle of Man, and the Mohawk Territory in Kahnawake, Canada.
Normally, the name of the regulatory body is displayed on their About Page or at the bottom of the site. Any site that fails to spell this out is either operating illegally or a security threat. Either way, you want to avoid unlicensed sites with no regulatory body.
2. Use Only Sites That Have Secure Socket Layer Encryption
Top online gambling sites use a security system called Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect your information and money from online criminals. The SSL certificate is commonly deployed not only by online gambling sites but other websites and platforms to secure users’ information.
The role of the SSL is to create an encrypted link that connects a website and browser. Bans and other financial institutions make use of this same security technology to keep your information protected and money safe. If you can trust your bank with your money, you can also trust online gambling sites that use SSL encryption with your information and money.
How do you know if an online gambling website uses SSL encryption? This is simple. Go to the address bar where you type in the URL once you open the sire, If the address bar shows https://, it has SSL encryption but if it says http://, there is no SSL encryption.
It is advisable not to use sites that do not have SSL encryption as they are more vulnerable to hackers.
3. Check for Seals of Approval
Seals of Approvals are symbols that show that the site has gone through and passed different standard tests and inspections. You can find these seals at the bottom of the site homepage. Some examples of the seals you may see include Verisign and eCOGRA. Also, the regulatory body supervising the online gambling site logo will be on display there.
If these seals of approval are missing, it is a strong warning sign to avoid it.
4. Google The Online Gambling Site
This is probably the quickest way to ascertain if an online gambling site is safe or not. What you want to look out for is news about the site (whether it has been in the news for good or bad). Also, you can look up reviews from authoritative sites like CasinoBernie to find out how others perceive it.
It is a bad idea to just use any review you find on Google to make your judgments. These online gambling sites pay writers to write favorable reviews.
Conclusion
If the online gambling site can tick all four of the above checklists, you have a safe site. Security is one off-gaming aspect that all players should take seriously.
Affiliate Announcements
Registration opens as ‘Nuevos Horizontes’ unveiled as creative theme for Barcelona-bound iGB Affiliate
As registration opens for iGB Affiliate, ‘Nuevos Horizontes’ (New Horizons) has been unveiled as the creative theme driving the international marketing campaign in support of the 2025 edition which will be the first to take place at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona alongside sister show ICE.
Explaining the thinking behind the creative Naomi Barton, iGB Events’ Global Portfolio Director said: “The iGaming industry is continually evolving, and our 2025 campaign invites affiliates to explore new horizons at our exciting new venue, Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.
“iGB Affiliate is the home of the igaming affiliate community, and it enables connection, growth and shared business success for our audience of affiliates, operators and tech vendors. This campaign will drive our community into uncharted territory, sparking a spirit of exploration that embraces emerging markets, innovative strategies, and untapped commercial opportunities. It equips affiliates with the tools and insights needed to adapt, innovate, and conquer new horizons.”
She added: “With our move to Barcelona we’re setting our sights on an incredibly bright future. The additional space at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, which is among the largest exhibition venues in Europe, will enable iGB Affiliate to achieve its full potential and continue to connect the best affiliates with the best operators and tech vendors.
“The 2025 edition of the show is set to feature a record 250 exhibitors and sponsors, occupying 15,000 sqm of space. The enhanced facilities in Barcelona will empower the affiliate community to forge new igaming connections, build strategic and trusted partnerships, expand their networks, and explore uncharted territories.”
Awards
Casino Guru takes the top distinction in SBC Awards 2024
Casino Guru has won the SBC Awards 2024 in the “Casino Affiliate of the Year” category, which was contested by 12 shortlists and, which was ultimately won by the company.
Casino Guru is the biggest database of online casinos and online casino bonuses with up-to-date information on thousands of online casinos on the internet, providing human-reviewed insight into individual casinos and devising a complex Safety Index to help assess brands and help players make an informed choice.
The database has grown rapidly, with Casino Guru upholding its “Casino Affiliate of the Year” status by consistently updating its repository with accurate, human-verified data. The accolade was awarded based on key performance indicators, including a more than 100% increase in organic traffic and a noticeable expansion in referring domains over the observed period.
Casino Guru’s Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling Šimon Vincze, had this to add: “Winning a major award for best casino affiliate is an excellent achievement for us because, as a private company, we do not disclose every commercial detail in the nomination. Instead, we focus on unique achievements and use publicly available information, which puts us at a disadvantage against publicly listed companies. Despite such strong competition, we still managed to convince the judges this year.”
Casino Guru has so far processed more than 6,930 casinos and it currently is the world’s largest gambling casino forum, proving an invaluable source of information for players of all backgrounds. The Casino Guru Forum now numbers 200,000 users and has generated 53,000 posts in the 12 months leading up to the company’s submission for SBC Awards 2024.
In the observed period, the brand has similarly handled 13,514 disputes, compared to 10,708 from the previous period and recovered $10,121,109 in player funds. Casino Guru established 310 new partnerships over the same period.
The accolade comes after Casino Guru added 1,201 new casino brands in the period leading up to the company’s submission alone, with 3,750 casinos reviewed over the extended period, the result of a dedicated joint effort by the company’s team of experts.
The company has used big data, consumer feedback, and a fastidious in-house team of analysts to ensure that it remains at the very forefront of the sector, winning it the important SBC Awards accolade in the “Casino Affiliate of the Year,” and further consolidate its status as an indispensable industry source for matching players with the best casino websites.
This is hardly the first distinction won by Casino Guru this year, or the first time Casino Guru’s efforts have been rewarded at an industry summit.
Casino Guru similarly secured the Vixio Global Regulatory Awards distinction in the “Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling” category, demonstrating that as an affiliate company, Casino Guru remains multi-faceted, and fully committed to bringing the safest and most reliable information to its players.
News
QMRA Online Certificates launched to boost transparency and trust in the iGaming Industry
Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates (QMRA), the certification initiative for iGaming affiliate websites, is proud to announce the launch of individualized online certificates for its members. This new initiative is set to enhance transparency and trust among consumers, operators, and regulatory authorities by providing dedicated landing pages that validate each affiliate’s commitment to responsible and compliant practices.
Previously, QMRA members linked to a general certificate page. Now, each affiliate has its own specific online certificate, featuring a detailed overview of its compliance with the QMRA Code. This includes adherence to strict standards in responsible advertising, channelling objectives, and the promotion of responsible gambling. This change not only benefits stakeholders by showcasing the integrity and reliability of each certified website but also offers SEO advantages, as the certificates are uniquely tailored to the affiliate’s site.
Quote by Steven Vrolijk, LL.M., QMRA Director: “Our goal is to create a safer and more transparent iGaming environment. These online certificates reflect our members’ dedication to responsible gambling and compliance. This initiative will help consumers make informed choices and enhance the credibility of our affiliates in the eyes of operators and regulators.”
From now on, all new QMRA members will receive a dedicated certificate page upon certification. Existing members have been notified to update their footer links to their new, personalized certificate pages, which are accessible via the QMRA member overview page.