Clearing the Doubt – Is Crypto Gambling Truly Anonymous?
Chris Grand |The stigma of gambling is making players dream of anonymous table game or slot sessions. It has recently become a reality with the rise of Crypto Casinos. They’re quickly overtaking the online gaming industry, promising fully anonymous gaming for the masses.
And, it works in theory. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized meaning you leave no traces behind when you make transactions at online casinos. However, the reality is that it’s not fully anonymous unless you know how to cover up your tracks.
Can Online Gambling be Truly Anonymous?
The answer to this question is complex. Yes, cryptocurrencies provide better security and safety by promising pseudo-anonymity. It’s not the same as complete invisibility when you play crypto games online.
Why? Well, despite the fact you’re not using your real name but an alias, all transactions are still recorded on the blockchain. This digital ledger records all transactions and secures them cryptographically. While it protects your data from fraud, anyone with access to the blockchain can still see your transactions.
Don’t get us wrong – it’s much better than leaving your credit card details at online casinos. However, complete anonymity, even with crypto, is nigh impossible.
How Does the KYC Check Affect Anonymity?
The KYC check has become an important part of playing at online casinos. Short for Know Your Customer, this process ensures following certain regulations that prevent players from staying off the grid.
In short, this procedure requires casinos to verify the personal details of all their players. Many won’t let you play until you pass the check. Others will let you sign up, only to have you complete the KYC check before your first withdrawal.
You’ll have to send personal documents to the casino including your real name, address, and proof of payment method. While secure, this data is still logged at the casino’s servers. It’s a necessary step to make sure that everyone’s playing fair. Love it or hate it, it still exposes bits of your data online.
The Dangers of Crypto Gambling
Crypto Casino Sites are widely viewed as the promised land when it comes to anonymous gambling. Many claim they can’t be hacked. That’s no true. All casinos can be hacked. Remember Stake.com’s hack from a while ago? That’s one of the largest crypto gaming sites on the market, and it was still hacked.
That’s why you should take precautionary measures if you want to stay anonymous when playing casino games online. This means choosing the right casino and coin to play with, and choosing the safest crypto wallets.
How to Gamble Anonymously with Crypto
Gambling Anonymously means being smart about your picks. No matter how anonymous you want to stay online, there are always scam casinos out to steal your data. In the paragraphs below, we’ll share a few tips on how to gamble anonymously with crypto – at least as anonymously as can be.
Privacy Coins
If you want top-notch privacy, you should consider ditching Bitcoin or Ethereum and playing with privacy-enhanced coins. Often called the ninjas of crypto, coins such as Monero use advanced privacy mechanisms including stealth addresses.
Zcash, on the other hand, has so-called shielded transactions which encrypt details and allow users to choose the level of privacy.
With privacy coins, your moves will be much harder to trace. Using Zcash or Monero will give you a piece of mind when playing your favorite games, allowing you to focus on playing instead of leaving a trail.
VPNs and Mixers
Using virtual private network addresses will mask your original IP address and make it much harder for anyone to find your location. This is a great strategy if you want to keep your tracks covered at online casinos. You’ll have to buy solid VPN software, though, and turn it on every time you’re playing.
Mixing services are another great way to stay protected. They scramble your crypto transactions and make it hard to track them back to you. With mixers, all your financial moves will be kept under warps the way you want them.
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Trusted Gambling Brands
No two Crypto Casinos are equal. This is why you need to put some effort in finding the best cryptocurrency casinos. Some casino sites are privacy fortresses, others are a bit leaky. If you want to keep your data safe and sound, you need to find a trusted gambling brand.
One of those casinos that treats data properly is BC.Game. It’s one of the most established brands on the market, having partnered with some of the top football clubs in the UK. It comes packed with thousands of games and supports over 100 crypto coins.
BC.Game is a fantastic choice for new and seasoned players, and the best part of it all is that it requires no KYC during sign up.
On top of that, it has bonuses you can’t refuse and some amazing games too. If you’re looking for alternatives, you can try signing up at Stake which has upped its security following the hack, or register at Flush Casino and Just Casino.
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Decentralized Exchanges
When you’re buying cryptocurrencies online, you should take a look at decentralized exchanges. They don’t require giving up on your identity and will keep your personal info protected. In short, this means that it’s off the market, and makes it harder for anyone to link your crypto wallet to your identity.
Final Thoughts
Anonymous Gambling is a dream of many players, and one you shouldn’t give up on. However, the promises of crypto gaming sites for anonymous gambling should be taken with a pinch of salt. If you don’t take the necessary steps, you should be aware that no casino site is safe.
Luckily for you, we shared a few tips that should keep your data safe. By choosing the right casino, using privacy coins, buying them from decentralized exchanges, and using VPNs and mixers, you’ll be one step ahead of the curve.
FAQ
The Know Your Customer check is a mandatory procedure at online casinos that aims to verify your identity. It requires sending personal documents before making a withdrawal. While safe, it stores some of your data at the casino’s servers, in that way compromising your identity.
No, some crypto casinos don’t require KYC checks. However, even these gaming sites will request identification under some conditions.
The risks when gambling at crypto casinos include hacking, data breaches, and loss of personal information. When choosing a casino, make sure it’s the right pick with proper security features. Stick to established brands and you should be fine.