Opening thoughts
In theory, any website that you use must, by law, protect your data. They need to have an appropriate reason for storing it, and if you stop using their service, they must have a good reason that will stand up in a court of law as to why they still hold your information.
UK gambling sites find themselves at the centre of this argument for a host of reasons. Still, the most crucial one is that they collect a significant level of personal and financial data, and due to the sheer volume of identifiable information and private data they hold, they are also a key target for criminals online looking to find any weakness in their security.
Identifying a secure casino
Obviously, online casinos don’t advertise that they have holes in their system. If we’re going to talk broadly, most UK gambling sites consider site security a critical factor in their overall design. Therefore, it’s rare to come across a platform that falls foul of a data breach or fails to meet the strict standards that are set in place by the UK Gambling Act.
Suppose you’re somebody who prefers to shop around yourself – in that case, some of the variables that the experts at CasinoSherlock use to detect whether a site has an adequate level of security include:
- Ensuring the provider is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
- Reading historic news items that highlight if the provider has been subject to a breach in the past.
- Checking site encryption and firewall security – usually 128-bit or 256-bit (both high-level).
- Going through reviews from other users on social media and internet search engines.
Other steps users take
The emergence of e-wallet systems like PayPal has proved to be a hit for casino gamers who don’t fancy the idea of having their full details stored on a server, including sensitive, active debit or credit card information that can be extremely valuable to cybercriminals.
In the case of PayPal, while their data would still be held on the server, if a fraudster managed to obtain their payment information, they’d only have access to the email address registered with the PayPal account. Your funds would be secure unless they had additional access to your phone, iCloud or PayPal password as well.
Blockchain and cryptocurrency gambling sites have become more popular over the last few years for this same reason.
Given the nature of digital assets and blockchain, crypto platforms allow users to connect their wallets and deposit. If a crypto provider is hacked, they don’t hold any of your information on their server, aside from your wallet address, which is publicly viewable anyway.
The resurgence of Bitcoin over the last 12 months has meant more people are seeking out these platforms, especially given that they do not hold anywhere near the same levels of data as traditional gambling platforms. However, as a footnote, the Gambling Commission take a hard-line stance against many crypto providers, so be sure to check they are registered properly before you decide to connect your wallet.
How do UK gambling sites protect data?
Protecting any website involves pre-emptive and proactive measures. Although UK gambling companies have spearheaded a lot of the recent online gambling revolution, this means that they’ve become targets for sophisticated cybercriminal networks that exist in different pockets of the international community.
UK gambling sites must adhere to several levels of legislation set by the UK Gambling Act at a government level. The enhanced update to GDPR laws during the latter stages of the 2010s has helped modernise UK gambling sites’ approach to data storage.
Altough there are continued considerations, given that UK gambling sites operate in multiple countries and use mobile apps to reach customers worldwide, UK customers who register for UK sites can rest easier knowing that companies must adhere to some of the most modern legislation in the world, including the Gambling Act, the GDPR and consistent audits from the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) to ensure they’re protecting your data appropriately.
Protecting your privacy
Whether on our social media accounts, our work accounts or when sending out our CVs for job applications, ensuring that our information remains safe and private online can be a tricky business. It’s a balancing act in today’s world. Many companies seek to employ somebody who can grasp social media, with public and global networks like LinkedIn putting images, job history and your name online for the world to see.
However, when using a gambling provider, we expect them to be a little more discreet with the information they hold. The only exception is when a gambling provider shares potential problem gambler data with the ICO to protect those who might be having issues.
As per the 2018 GDPR laws, any casino or sportsbook that shares your data or breaches your privacy can be subject to legal action, fines and significant reputational damage.
Final thoughts
It’s in the best interest of gambling platforms to protect your privacy and data. The same can be said for any company, really. In 2024, every company you use will hold your information in some digital format, and if they can’t protect it adequately, this could cause their entire business model to come crashing down.
Business reputations can take years to build and minutes to destroy, so yes, UK gambling sites protect your privacy and data, and must adhere to all of the laws and legislation that we’ve explained to help bolster this and keep everything under lock and key.
