With money flowing in and out from all over the world, casinos face a unique set of risks that can seriously impact their bottom line. From players trying to game the system with bonus abuse to criminals laundering money and chargeback fraud, there are plenty of challenges to tackle.
In this article, we’ll explore these top three payment risks and share effective strategies to manage them, focusing on secure payment solutions and other key aspects of payment processing for gambling.
Top 3 Payment Risks in Online Gambling
1. Bonus Abuse
Bonus abuse is a frequent issue for online casinos. To attract and retain players, casinos offer bonuses such as welcome packages or free spins. Unfortunately, some players take advantage of these offers in ways that weren’t intended. They might create multiple accounts or use fake identities to claim bonuses repeatedly, a practice known as ‘bonus hunting.’
This type of abuse not only leads to financial losses but can also disrupt promotional plans and harm the relationship with genuine players. If too many people exploit these offers, casinos might have to cut back on promotions, which can hurt player loyalty and satisfaction.
How It Happens:
● Players create several accounts using different email addresses or identities.
● Bonus hunters work together in groups to maximise their gains.
● They cash out bonuses quickly without really playing, causing the casino to lose money.
To combat this, transaction monitoring and other payment security tools can be used to detect unusual patterns and prevent abuse before it escalates.
AI and ML can sift through massive amounts of data to find patterns of abuse. These tech wonders can quickly adapt to new tricks fraudsters try, keeping your prevention strategies effective and up-to-date.
Denys Kyrychenko
Corefy’s Co-founder & CEO
2. Money Laundering
Money laundering is a major concern in the online gambling world. Criminals see online casinos as a convenient way to ‘clean’ dirty money by making it look like legitimate gambling winnings. This not only poses financial risks but also exposes casinos to potential legal troubles and hefty fines.
Because online casinos operate globally and offer a degree of anonymity, they can be attractive targets for money launderers. Criminals might deposit large amounts, place minimal bets, and then withdraw the funds, making it appear as though they’ve won legitimately. Failing to catch this can lead to serious regulatory consequences.
How It Happens:
● Criminals deposit large amounts of money into a casino account.
● They engage in minimal betting or use safe betting strategies.
● They withdraw the money as ‘clean’ funds, often in small amounts to avoid detection.
By using real-time fraud detection and operational risk management techniques, casinos can identify suspicious activity early and report it to the authorities, helping to prevent money laundering.
3. Chargeback Fraud
Chargeback fraud, sometimes called ‘friendly fraud,’ is when a player disputes a legitimate transaction with their credit card company, claiming it was unauthorised. This can happen for various reasons, such as dissatisfaction with a game or an attempt to recover lost money.
For online casinos, chargeback fraud can be especially damaging. Not only do they lose the disputed transaction amount, but they may also face higher fees from payment processors or even lose the ability to process certain payments.
How It Happens:
● A player deposits money using a credit card and plays a few games.
● After losing the money, they contact their credit card company and claim the charge was unauthorised.
● The credit card issuer reverses the transaction, meaning the casino loses both the deposit and any winnings already paid out.
Proven risk management strategies for online casino payments
Now that we’ve covered the main risks, let’s talk about how to deal with them. Here are some strategies proven to help online casinos manage and reduce payment risks effectively.
Step Up Your KYC (Know Your Customer) Game
To keep the wrong people out of your casino, you need strong KYC protocols. This involves verifying the identity of players during registration and throughout their activity. By knowing who your players are, you can prevent fraudsters and criminals from exploiting your platform.
● Identity Checks: Require players to provide a government-issued ID, proof of address, and other documents when they sign up.
● Ongoing Monitoring: Monitor player activity to spot suspicious behaviour, such as multiple accounts from the same IP address or unusual betting patterns.
● Extra Checks: For high-risk players or big transactions, dig deeper with more thorough background checks.
Incorporating advanced high-risk gateway can also provide an extra layer of security during the verification process.
Stay Compliant with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Rules
To tackle money laundering, online casinos must adhere to strict AML regulations. This involves not only verifying player identities but also implementing payment fraud preventionsolutions for detecting any signs of suspicious activity.
● Watch Transactions: Use real-time transaction monitoring systems to flag unusual deposit or withdrawal patterns.
● Report Suspicious Activity: If something looks off, report it to the relevant authorities as required by law.
● Set Limits: To make it harder for criminals to move large sums of money, limit withdrawals and require extra verification for large payouts.
Use Tools to Prevent Chargeback Fraud
Chargeback fraud is tricky, but there are ways to reduce the chances of it happening. Implementing tools and strategies to prevent disputes before they start can save you a lot of trouble.
● Clear Communication: Make sure your terms and conditions, especially around deposits and withdrawals, are easy to understand and accessible to all players.
● Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement multi-factor authentication for all transactions to ensure that only the account owner can authorise payments.
● Stay Alert: Use chargeback alert services to get notified when a chargeback is initiated, giving you time to respond quickly with evidence.
Combining these measures with high-risk payment gateway options can further minimise the impact of chargeback fraud.
Leverage Data Analytics and AI
Data analytics and AI can be your secret weapons against payment fraud. By analysing player behaviour in real time, AI can spot patterns that might indicate fraud and help you act fast.
● Behavioural Analytics: Use AI to track player behaviour and catch deviations from the norm that could signal fraud.
● Predictive Models: Implement models that use historical data to predict potential risks and take action before problems arise.
● Automated Alerts: Set up systems to automatically alert your team when suspicious activity is detected.
These tools, integrated with secure payment solutions, can offer comprehensive protection against various forms of payment fraud.
