Betting is a fun pastime for many sports lovers in Ireland. They love how it makes them feel like they are part of the game, as they have something to gain each time their favourite pick wins. They love that it creates a sense of community where they can engage with other sports lovers, debating on teams and players and everything in between. Moreover, they love that the top betting sites in Ireland provide real-time information on teams, allowing them to be part of the whole process. But even as they enjoy these and other perks, there’s always that question at the back of their minds – is their data safe? We explain how the top bookies ensure that punters can have their cake and eat it.
Security Technologies in Betting Sites.
Punters share two kinds of data with betting sites – personal and financial data. The first category relates to names, addresses, contacts, and other information that can be used to identify and reach a punter. The second category refers to the financial health of a punter, including how much they wager, what payment options they use, and how much money they have in their betting accounts. Given the sensitivity of both of these categories, bookies use the following measures to protect punters:
Data Encryption.
Cybercriminals often target data in transit, e.g., the information shared between the punter and the bookie during payment processing. As such, bookies use encryption technologies, such as SSL and TSL, to create an environment that does not allow third-parties access to shared data. As such, the encryption kicks in each time a punter initiates a payment or does anything that exposes their data.
Secure Payment Gateways.
Bookies accept and process payments using various options, from mobile money to card payments to e-wallets. With this much money in transit, payments are a top priority for cybercriminals. As such, bookies rely on reliable payment gateways that provide robust technologies to ensure that they can weed out unauthorised third parties.
Multi-Factor Authentication.
In the past, a password was enough to protect an account. But now, hackers can easily get past this wall of protection using various software. Bookies have thus upgraded their systems to ensure punters have multi-factor authentication, an additional security step to using passwords.
So, how does it work? Every punter has a secure password requirement, which they use to log into their account. The first time a punter accesses their account using this password, the bookie prompts them to register that as their primary device of accessing their account. Additionally, the bookie asks them to choose an alternative way of verifying their identity, such as:
- Registering a phone number or email address to get an access code.
- Registering their biometrics, e.g., a fingerprint scan.
Anytime a punter tries to access their account from a different location or device, the bookie prompts them to use the alternative identification method to verify their identity.
Security Audits.
For bookies to maintain a license to operate, they must comply with various requirements, including security audits. These are independent checks by authorised companies that assess the preparedness of a bookie to handle security issues. If any vulnerabilities present, the bookie must work on them to ensure they are ready to navigate any security setbacks that may threaten them and their punters.
Blockchain Technology.
In recent years, more bookies have been investing in this technology, which uses immutable ledgers, thus introducing these two essential advantages:
- Secure payments. Punters can ensure that their payments get to them. What’s more, these payments are fast and cost-effective.
- Transparency. This technology allows bookies to share transaction records with punters, who can then trace when they placed a wager and whether the payout reflects what’s on the ledger. It fosters trust because these ledgers are unchangeable by either party.
We expect to see more bookies using blockchain technology in the coming years as more punters have advocated for it.
