How To Prioritise Financial Safety In Irish Online Gaming

Keeping your personal and financial data as secure as possible should be at the foundation of any online casino gaming you do. In fact, regardless of the site you are using, or the product or service you are engaging with, it is essential to get to grips with the latest issues to ensure that you remain as safe as possible when inputting your information online.

Today, we’re going to give you some tips on how to prioritise financial safety when gaming online, whether you are accessing online casino gaming or enjoying some home video console gaming. Ultimately, any type of gaming that requires you to provide your personal and financial data can be targeted by cybercriminals, and it is essential to stay one step ahead of them. 

However, financial safety doesn’t just relate to keeping your information away from prying eyes; it also means finding those sites that offer cost-effective signups and existing promotions that can help you play for a bit longer and not spend as much cash. 

Cost-effective promotions and registration incentives

You won’t have to spend much time online looking for a casino before you are bombarded with a raft of promotions and cost-effective free spins marketing campaigns. The idea of offering promotions as cheaply as possible is certainly not new in the Irish online gaming market. In fact, it was prevalent in land-based casinos throughout the UK half a century ago.

However, the online landscape has meant that international providers are now all battling each other, and no deposit offers for Irish players, where you effectively only have to sign up to take advantage of the promotion, are a marketing strategy that exists right across the market. 

While your primary concern may be keeping your financial information as safe as possible, exploring these no deposit offers and switching between sites is a good approach. While this differs from the steps you can take to keep your information secure, if you are in the habit of shopping around and exploring everything an industry has to offer, this is one of the most cost-effective and proven ways to do so.

Staying sharp online 

Unfortunately, as scammers become more sophisticated and criminals leverage AI online, casinos remain a lucrative target. Casinos store mountains of personal and financial information on their servers, and they are one of the few industries that constantly handle withdrawals and deposits, so they must ensure they remain as secure as possible.

Now, from a user perspective, you want to ensure that the site you are on has either 128-bit or 256-bit SSL encryption, and that its licensing number is valid. Usually, you can check this directly with the licensing authority, who can tell you whether the license is still good. 

Over the last few years, another personal recommendation is to check what people are saying about the brand online. Check through a variety of social media comments and reviews, and see if there are any negative news stories about how the platform or its umbrella company operates, as many casinos are often owned by a larger company with multiple brands as part of its diversified, multinational presence.

That’s not to say that social media comments should be taken as gospel. A lot of people will take to the socials if they have an axe to grind, and some casinos may use underhanded tactics, actively giving their rivals poor ratings. However, regulators are fighting back heavily against these rogue practices. 

As a general rule of thumb, if you come across pages of negative reviews, a couple of negative media stories and a brand that doesn’t have licensing or data encryption, then these are red flags you should not ignore.

Learn from other industries

If you were doing banking online, you wouldn’t save your password or write it down in a Word document. You wouldn’t use a password that’s easily guessed, nor would you access your savings or bank account without using two-factor authentication (2FA). Well, you might, but it’s strongly advised that you don’t. Many of the steps you can take to protect your financial data when you shop during online flash sales are applicable in the world of gaming, too. 

All of these measures are important if you do online banking, and since online casinos handle all the same information, why not implement the same safety measures when you play games online? This applies to home video console gaming or general PC gaming, too. Always stay vigilant and keep your login information as secure as possible.

If you are looking to make an online purchase but don’t like the look of a website, it pays to do your research. If you use a rogue site and they scrape your data, then this information is out there forever; it only takes one slip-up. Do the research and go with your gut. 

Suppose a site looks a bit shifty, does not have the correct licensing or neglects its duties when it comes to responsible gambling. In that case, these are signs that should not be ignored, and it is best to avoid such brands to ensure you prioritise your financial safety when gaming online in Ireland. 

Final thoughts

Because of the nature of online gaming, those who are accessing sites in Ireland should take note and learn about the broader international market. The issues we have discussed today do apply to online gamers in Ireland, but by definition, because the digital market incorporates international markets, gamers and marketers, they apply to everyone who accesses these markets. 

Ireland is not isolated from the rest of the market; it plays a significant role in online gaming. Some of the biggest tech companies have a massive presence in Ireland, some of the most popular casino games are Irish-themed slots, and some of the most innovative game designers over the last two decades have been Irish.

Stay up to date with the latest safety techniques, and keep one step ahead of criminals by exploring the strategies and tools that online safety experts recommend to keep your financial information safe and away from prying eyes. 

As long as you implement the steps we have talked about today, set up 2FA, use strong passwords and do ample research on any gaming platform you intend signing up for, you stand the best chance of staying safe and enjoying your gaming experience. 

SP