Recently, gambling websites have grown in number. They offer users convenience and a wide choice of games. However, the shift to digitalization raises new privacy and security issues.
For many punters, keeping their identity off the public domain is crucial. Many players want to enjoy their favorite games without compromising their personal information. This guide will help you navigate how to stay anonymous in online gambling.
Understanding the Need for Anonymity
Before diving into methods, it’s crucial to understand why anonymity is a big deal in iGaming. With the transition from physical locations to online and mobile devices, betting sites are becoming more like banks. They have huge customer data and are vulnerable to attacks.
One notable cyberattack was the 2014 Las Vegas Sands Corporation hack. The hackers stole customer credit data and social security numbers and defaced the company’s casino website.
5 Ways to Stay Anonymous
Staying anonymous while gambling online requires a multi-faceted approach.
Choosing the Right Online Casino
Selecting the right platform is essential, and this usually begins with distinguishing fake from real. You can visit the casino website, or a much easier step could be to Google the betting site name and license.
It is important to stress the need to read the lines of T&Cs of a site, which is either located at the top bar menu or bottom menu. You want to familiarize yourself with the privacy policy. I recommend looking through subsections on “information disclosure and security.” For example, N1 Casino has a strong privacy policy that covers every minor detail including
- the type of data collected
- how they collect data (when and where they get it from)
- purpose (why they need it)
- legal basis for processing data.
This is a consistent approach to privacy every legitimate business should demonstrate.
Usually, gambling sites offer a minimum of SSL Version 3 with 128-bit encryption and guarantee that their affiliates, partners, and agents will also use equal security measures to protect your information.
Creating an Anonymous Online Identity
A secure online identity works in three ways, your password, email info, and extra secure IP protection. Time and time again, there have been warnings about the disadvantages of using a universal password for all your login details.
In 2019, Google incorporated a password checkup feature that scans your password across multiple saved logins and warns you of data breaches. This is why you should use either password suggestions or varying passwords you can create.
Earlier, I stated that a need for anonymity can be tied to keeping personal information away from the workspace. This is why it is important to draw the line between work, personal, and gambling email addresses. It is never a crime to have multiple email addresses.
Not to sound too techy, but whenever you click on a web page, your IP address (geo-location) is shared with the website provider. It’s not strictly anonymous if you ask me. Having that foolproof online identity also involves the use of a VPN. It bounces off your IP across various servers in multiple locations. Some reputable VPNs include NordVPN or PIA.
Secure Payment Methods
It is difficult to play and win without making a deposit into your favorite betting site. Depositing is usually the first step in placing any bet, and this involves various payment methods, from traditional routes (bank transfers) to more modern options (cryptocurrencies).
Over the past few years, when interacting with other players in forums or physically, I often hear of various victims of traditional payment method scams. From leaked debit card info to unauthorized withdrawal of winnings from the account.
To avoid this, use newer alternative options like Bitcoin and e-wallets like Skrill. These alternatives offer safer transactions and the opportunity to withdraw my winnings faster.
Protecting Your Device
A compromised device is a one-way ticket to ruin all the other privacy efforts listed above. Malware can expose gambling activities despite other precautions. An example of some of this device malware is spyware (darkhotel) or trojans (emotet).
This is why device security is important, although often overlooked. Here is a list of basic recommendations:
- Always update your OS and app regularly:
- If you are using a laptop or desktop, ensure to have an active antivirus program;
- Enable the two-factor authentication for your mobile betting app.
Maintaining Online Data
Like keeping a different identity, I use privacy-focused browsers for gambling (Tor or Brave) and my regular browsing (Chrome or Safari). This helps compartmentalize my online activities.
We all don’t have to use Tor or Brave. If you’re using a regular browser search engine, it is essential to do the following: ‘
- Regularly clear browsing data, cookies, and cache;
- Be cautious about social media sharing;
- Consider ad blockers and anti-tracking extensions;
- Finally, ensure you gamble only on those sites and with those providers who value your confidentiality. Here’s the example: https://slotspeak.com/elk-studios/.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Anonymous gambling exists in a gray area, legally and ethically. Laws vary significantly by jurisdiction, especially with more and more underground online gambling locations (some of which are unlicensed.)
Ethicists seem to view it as a fine line between privacy and evasion. There is a growing concern that being anonymous sometimes builds compulsive gambling behavior (this is usually unhealthy).
My take is that as long as we are not hiding anything illegal, we should protect our privacy. It’s no different from using cash at a physical casino.
Conclusion
Remember, absolute anonymity on the internet is challenging to achieve. Still, by following these steps, you can greatly reduce the chances of your online gambling activities being traced back to you.