Security is paramount for any website or company that handles your sensitive data, but for online gambling companies that handle personal and financial data and also integrate mechanisms into their site that pay out funds, security needs to be watertight.
One data breach, cyberattack or weakness within the system can result in millions of pounds’ worth of losses, reputational damage that can take years to amend, and heavy fines from regulators if they’re found to have cut corners on security and compromised customer data.
Therefore, the question of whether online gambling is safe in the UK is something that is never too far from the conversation.
Although it’s a multibillion-pound sector and security is one of the main industry-wide variables where companies work together to combat any potential security threats, many people on the ground have the expertise to ensure that your gambling experience remains secure and that your financial and personal information remains under lock and key.
How to select your gambling provider
Obviously, no gambler intends signing up for a website with subpar security or potential risks. Likewise, online casinos and sportsbooks aren’t in the business of advertising that they have flaws in their system.
Therefore, getting a good, balanced idea of how safe a site is takes a combination of looking at what people are saying about the site online, any news items over the years about the company, or what expert reviewers have to say about the overall quality of the platform. Highly rated review sites like CasinoSherlock have made it their mission to rank some of the top providers. However, security is just one variable they consider crucial.
Many other elements comprise a top gambling platform, such as the quality of its customer service, mobile app, number of payment methods, payout speed etc.
Things to look for: encryption and licensing
Prior research is probably your best bet to determine whether the casino you’re using has a good safety track record. However, this can only go so far, especially if you’re looking to use a new casino that may have only been in the business for a few years.
Some sites will specify the levels of encryption and firewall security they implement on their site. Both 128-bit encryption and 256-bit encryption are considered impossible to penetrate. Some experts believe a supercomputer would take trillions of years to crack a 256-bit encryption key. Often, the quickest way to find the details is to speak to the customer service desk, but it’s rare to find any modern-day gambling platform that doesn’t implement at least 128-bit encryption on its site.
Licensing is another crucial tell-tale sign. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) must license and authorise a gambling platform to operate in the country. To achieve this licensing, the operator must pass a series of tests that confirm the site's suitability.
Although many sites will have their base in more favourable jurisdictions such as Malta or Curaçao, they may have cut corners if they don’t display their registration number provided by the UKGC. Since site security is often the biggest expense for casino and sportsbook startups, this is certainly something to consider before entering your details on the site.
Why online gambling is safe in the UK
The UK is arguably the world leader in modern gambling. It was the first country to enact cutting-edge legislation, which means the industry is one of the safest in the world for those looking to place a bet online.
Again, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put stopgaps or measures in place to protect yourself online, many of which we have already discussed, such as researching the platform for yourself, checking out its license and determining what level of encryption and firewall it uses.
Due to the rise of the industry, particularly in the US and Canada, a number of institutional investors are looking into the gambling sector. Some of Australia’s biggest pension funds have invested in online gambling, and with it becoming such a key investment, companies that specialise in website security are moving into the gambling industry.
It’s not just about protecting customer data; it’s about protecting the interests of billion-pound investment funds, too, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure that online gambling has a broad industry standard and reputation for the highest level of security.
Final thoughts
As the market continues to grow in 2024 and sports betting and casino gaming platforms continue to expand into UK society, security is at the foundation of the domestic and international industry.
If, for whatever reason, there was an issue with the security of a gambling website, or it started to obtain a reputation as somewhere where your information wasn’t safe, this would be disastrous for the UK gambling market.
While casinos and sportsbooks will discuss the importance of security from a customer safety perspective, often the more important element is that the security of their site helps them foster a reputation as reputable platforms.
However, with so many cybersecurity experts and so much technology preventing the majority of security issues, we’re happy to say that online gambling is safe in the UK in 2024.
