Online Casinos Encryption Methods

Online Casinos Encryption Methods Casinos do everything in their power to make sure your private data stays confidential, but you should learn what steps they take.

By Ben G | Dec 22, 2008

Privacy, Security

High School

Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

In This Lesson

EncryptionSSL Encryption128-bit Encryption

Information is, has, and always will be, priceless. It is the most sought after commodity in the world and some people will do anything to get it. With that in mind, it is understandable that online gamblers should take a serious interest in what steps their casino is taking to protect their private financial data.

Encryption
One form of data protection is called encryption. The most commonly used type is called SSL (Secure Socket Layer) 128-bit encryption. What exactly does this mean and how does it work?

SSL Encryption:

SSL encryption creates a 'key' that is shared by both users who are taking part in a secure transaction
Anyone intercepting the transaction will only be able to see gibberish, as they don't have the key
The key only lasts as long as you are in the same ‘session', meaning that if you leave the website, the key is discarded automatically and becomes useless
Unique keys are created every time you make a deposit at the casino, or receive money in return

128-bit Encryption
The 128-bit part of the jargon defines the size of the key, meaning exactly how hard it would be to crack the key using brute force. It's hard to explain just how gigantic a 128-bit encryption key is, but we'll try nonetheless.

The general estimate of the number of different combinations available for a 128-bit key is somewhere in the area of 340 trillion trillion trillion. That means a number with 38 zeros attached to the end of it.

Simply speaking, anyone who wants to try cracking a 128-bit key is out of their mind, and will probably expire before ever coming close to finding the correct combination.

High School