Gaming online is exhilarating, and thanks to the rise of the internet, there are now so many more types of games to explore. There has been a rise in all types of genres. Home video console gaming companies have embraced the rise of online gaming over the last decade and have turned their devices into one-stop media hubs where you can watch TV, browse the web and even stream shows on Netflix and other streaming sites.
However, the proliferation of the internet and its involvement in the gaming world has resulted in a raft of new ways to spend your money. These range from buying your games outright on PS or Xbox’s online stores to casino gaming sites that hold all your card information on their site to deal with withdrawals, deposits and microtransactions in mobile games, which are largely marketed as free-to-play games.
Online betting
Gambling online has become one of the fastest-growing and most profitable areas of online gaming. With thousands of sites aiming to expand into this multibillion-dollar industry, the security of our funds and data remains one of the biggest talking points.
Multiple factors ultimately contribute to a highly-rated casino. However, security is non-negotiable. If a casino gaming platform does not have solid security, or a history of data breaches, this immediately knocks it down the pecking order.
The best online casinos to try also have a range of other positive factors. These can include the number of games available, live table options, industry rating and quality of customer service.
However, it doesn’t matter if they can get 10/10 in these ratings. These characteristics are irrelevant if a casino has a shaky security system that leaves your data susceptible. If you don’t feel safe on their site or can’t trust their platform, they will not last very long in the gaming world.
Casino platforms can be targeted because of the sheer volume of data they hold on their servers. Still, with a pragmatic process of regularly updating and appropriately managing their business software to prevent cybersecurity incidents and data breaches, they do their utmost to keep your money and data safe.
Microtransactions
One of the more contemporary ways to spend your money while gaming online is via the intriguing method of microtransactions. Home video console games, especially some of the world’s most famous ones, such as Grand Theft Auto V, have made an absolute fortune over the last decade via microtransactions.
Mobile games, however, were the first to perfect this model. Essentially, you download a game for free, browse around and complete a few levels. Then, depending on the type of game, if you want to add a new costume to your character or buy a new vehicle, for example, you need to pay, perhaps $0.10 or £0.20. This might not seem like much, but if 50,000 people do this daily, it becomes a pretty lucrative operation.
However, ensure that the games you play are verified apps developed by the appropriate developer. Anybody can create an app, and while most gaming apps are legit, it pays to do these checks.
If you use a rogue app or accidentally download one, your money can be at risk. Some users also put a barrier between themselves and the operator, opting to use PayPal accounts or crypto transactions.
Personal steps to take
Ensuring that the site you use is legitimate and will keep your data safe is the main step when entrusting a site with your data. However, what measures and stopgaps can you practice to ensure your money remains safe online? Here are some of our main tips:
- Spread your money across bank accounts – if one is compromised, you will still have access to other funds. This means that if a hacker has access to this information, they cannot steal all of your money.
- Use strong passwords and change them frequently – use recommended strong passwords, password keys or a strong selection of numbers, letters and symbols that are not personal to you. This makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to access your information.
- Do not write down passwords on your laptop or mobile phone, such as in a Word document or in a note on your phone.
- Use a VPN so your digital footprint is not as easily trackable, and hackers cannot build an online profile of your search activity.
- Ensure you research the site you are about to use. Does it have a good reputation within the gaming community?
Final thoughts
Keeping your money safe online involves various options. As you can see from what we have touched on today, the onus is as much on you as it is on the management of the platforms you use.
However, there’s a level of responsibility when choosing which gaming platform you use. As long as you follow the steps we have touched on today and ensure that you regularly update passwords, do not use the same ones on different sites, and regularly update card information, you stand a better chance of keeping your money safe while gaming online.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t guarantee that your money will remain safe. You could do everything right, but it just takes one breach or cybersecurity incident to reveal your data to a cybercriminal. However, if you tick all the boxes and cover all the factors we have been through today, then you can minimize the risk and shield yourself from the rogue elements that exist online.