subject: Ensuring Your Online Security in sports betting [print this page] If you're even slightly worried about your online security, you're certainly not
alone. One of the greatest fears in this young century has to be identity theft or other
circumstances of online fraud. I remember when I signed up for Ebay and reluctantly put
in my credit card number for PayPal. I was almost certain that there were going to be
dozens of "Hansels" running around using credit cards with my name and informatio n on
them in no time.
Luckily no such thing happened. However, as a sports bettor, you owe it to
yourself to be aware of what security measures a sportsbook has in place to protect you
from such situations. Every sportsbook you even consider using should have a section
devoted to Privacy or Security, explaining what they do to keep you and your information
safe. (See the "Privacy" section on GoSportsbet.com.) The current industry encryption
standard is the SSL Protocol, a 128-bit encryption that ensures both you and the
sportsbook are authenticated during every transaction through encrypted algorithms.
Make sure the sportsbook accepts some standard secure methods of payment. These
include Visa, Mastercard, Bank Wire, Electronic Checks, Firepay, and Neteller.
GoSportsBet shows they make security a top priority by accepting these and more.
Here's why you shouldn't lose sleep over your credit card number being online:
sportsbooks have a lot more to lose than you do. If someone has the technology to hack
the SSL protocol (doubtful) and access your information, then they can access the same
information for the sportsbook! Why drain your account when an entire sportsbook's
account is there for the taking? The sportsbooks trust their security, and so should you.
In general though, it is a good policy to question these things and create
contingency plans. I recommend opening a new bank account specifically for online
transactions, including online shopping, sports wagering, or any other instance you need
to give a credit card number online. Although I stress that it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY
anything will ever happen, put no more money in the account than you are willing to lose.
Keep this account topped up as necessary.
In addition to their being a limit of how much you can lose to fraud, this kind of
system gives you an effective way to control your losses as well. If you know you only
have a limited amount in your "betting" account, you won't wake up one day to find your
house being dragged away by the IRS and realize you've drained your only bank account.
I feel that money management is an important issue and I will devote an entire article to it
in the near future.
If you are thinking about wagering online visit http://www.gosportsbet.com and they will provide you with a $25 free no-deposit required wager.
