The state of online gambling has changed a lot over the past few years, with many new sites being introduced, along with new rules and regulations that states have to abide by. So, how and why are states taking responsible gambling more seriously? And how does it affect the players?
The importance of understanding state-by-state regulations
There are, of course, many states in America, and they can all have different rules and regulations that apply to online gambling. For example, responsible gaming in Pennsylvania may look completely different from another state; this is why it is important that you know the rules for the state you live in.
The US crackdown on offshore sites
In recent years, the US as a whole has been cracking down on the abundance of offshore online casinos that are being accessed from the US. These pose a threat to US player bases as they don’t follow the rules and regulations set in place by the US. They often lure players in by making above-average bonus offers that are too good to be true, but these sites cannot be trusted under any circumstances and can pose a threat to your cybersecurity.
Accessible gambling help sites
With the rise of the internet, resources for all kinds of products and services have become much more accessible. This includes help for problem gamblers being considerably more accessible than it once was. If a player recognizes that they may have some kind of problem, it has never been easier to hop on the internet and be presented with a plethora of different resources that could be helpful.
Incorporation of self-exclusion services
In recent years, many more self-exclusion services have been implemented in online gambling services. What these do is allow players to exclude themselves from accessing all approved online casinos. This can be an incredible tool that can really help a problem gambler begin to recover.
Increased security measures
Cybersecurity is a more relevant topic than ever. With an increase in the number of cyberattacks, we’re seeing sites and governments taking them more seriously and implementing different ways in order to combat them. As well as this, there are some things you can do to protect yourself while online.
Something that you should do, and what most modern sites have in place, is check for an HTTPS connection. What this does is allow for data transmissions to and from the site to be encrypted, meaning that all data will be much harder to intercept, allowing for more secure browsing. This is a very simple check anyone can do; all you need to do is look for the HTTPS at the beginning of a site’s URL.
Something that can be useful for security is giving a platform’s terms and privacy policy a read – especially considering that all sites must have some form of one. It is vital that you understand how any particular site is using your data and how they are keeping it safe, before you decide to commit your time and money to that site.
A VPN, or virtual private network, can be a great tool, especially for those who access their personal data or make payments while connected to public Wi-Fi networks. What a VPN does is hide your true IP address and mask it with a virtual one. It will also encrypt your data, making it useless to anyone who does manage to intercept it, allowing for much safer browsing.
Lastly, it can be beneficial to turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) where and when possible. This will require you to verify every login attempt or payment, which can be through a third-party authentication app or a code sent via email or text message directly to your phone. This acts as a great last line of defense, because even if a hacker gets their hands on your login details, they will still not be able to get into your account.
With all of these safeguards, you will be much better protected from online cyberthreats. Although it is important to always stay vigilant when browsing online, as attacks can come from anywhere, you’ll be relatively safe when accessing most sites.
What comes next?
Across the whole industry, we will continue to see developments in security in order to maintain a safe and secure environment for players and internet users in general. I believe we will also see the continued protection of players against anti-consumer business practices, and users generally being taken advantage of. This may be through better regulated marketing practices and improved transparency.
Conclusion
Online gambling is as safe as it has ever been in the US, with rules and regulations that protect players to a greater extent than they did even just a few years ago. Overall, the industry has never looked better, and I expect it will only grow from here.