How SSL and HTTPS work in gambling

Online casinos handle payments, KYC documents, session and conclusion history. Any leak - fines, acquiring locks, reputational damage. SSL/TLS and HTTPS are the basic "armor" of the "browser ↔ server" channel, and in mature infrastructures also "CDN/WAF ↔ origin" and mTLS on internal APIs (PAM, RGS, payment webhooks). Let's figure out what is under the hood and how to configure everything correctly for gambling.

Base: how SSL, TLS and HTTPS differ

TLS - transport encryption protocol (successor to legacy SSL).

HTTPS is regular HTTP tunneled over TLS.

Objectives: confidentiality (encryption), integrity (MAC/AEAD) and server authenticity (certificate).

What happens in a TLS handshake (very brief)

1. The client "greets": algorithms, SNI (what domain), ALPN (HTTP/1. 1 or HTTP/2/3).

2. The server responds with a certificate + trust chain and encryption settings.

3. The Parties agree on the keys (ECDHE → Perfect Forward Secrecy).

4. Verification of certificate (chain, term, revoked/not, same name).

5. The encrypted channel is ready; next comes regular HTTP - already inside TLS.

Optimizations: Resumption/Session Tickets 0-RTT in TLS 1. 3 (saves RTT, but requires caution due to repeated requests).

Certificates and PKI (which is important for operators)

Types: DV (domain), OV (organization), EV (advanced verification). For casinos, usually OV/EV to public domains.

Wildcard for '.example. com 'and/or SAN for multiple domains.

Certificate Transparency: publication in CT logs, we monitor "other people's" issues for our brand.

OCSP stapling: the server "files" the revocation status, speeding up verification.

💡 Internal services (admin panel, webhooks, service-to-service) - more often on mTLS from a private CA: the server and the client present certificates to each other.

HTTPS in the real iGaming cascade


Player Browser → CDN/WAF → (TLS) → Origin/Frontend
↓ (TLS)
API Gateway / PAM
↓ (mTLS)
RGS / Payments

Key principle: encryption at every junction. If the TLS terminates on the CDN, there must be a mandatory TLS between the CDN and origin, otherwise interception is possible inside the partner's perimeter.

What exactly we encrypt and where it matters

Deposits/conclusions: personal account, replenishment, Visa Direct/Mastercard Send statuses - strictly HTTPS.

KYC: document downloads and support chats - HTTPS + secure cookies only.

Game history/balance: private data, mandatory encryption.

WebSockets: Use wss ://( TLS for sockets) in live casinos/chats.

Webhooks PSP: accept over HTTPS, often with mTLS + signature bodies.

TLS Configuration "Hygiene"

Versions: enable TLS 1. 2/1. 3, disable SSLv3/TLS 1. 0/1. 1.

Ciphers: ECDHE + AES-GCM/ChaCha20-Poly1305 (PFS).

HSTS: `Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload 'after eliminating mixed content.

Security headers:

`Content-Security-Policy` (с `frame-ancestors` вместо `X-Frame-Options`)
`X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff`
'Referrer-Policy: no-referrer-when-downgrade '(or stricter)
Cookies: 'Secure; HttpOnly; SameSite = Lax/Strict 'for sessions.
Prohibition of mixed content: no HTTP content on HTTPS pages.
Keys: RSA-2048/3072 or EC-P256/P384; storage in HSM/KMS, policy rotation.

Frequent architectural extensions

mTLS for: admins, back-office APIs, payment webhooks, CDN→origin connections.

SNI/ALPN IP savings and HTTP/2/3 upgrade.

Pinning: not hard HPKP (outdated), but CT monitoring and pin lists at the mobile client/SDK level.

DDoS layers: WAF/CDN with TLS termination + L7 protection, but we repeat - we encrypt and "for CDN."

Monitoring and operation

Auto renewal (ACME/automation), alerts 30/14/7/1 day before expiration.

Scan configuration after releases; tests on TLS Misconfig.

Metrics: handshake errors, version/ALPN, share HTTP/2/3, latency.

CT monitoring: alerts about suspicious certificates for your brand.

Logs: downgrade attempts, 'cipher _ mismatch', 'bad _ record _ mac' bursts.

DR/BCP: replacement certificates, revoke/replace/rotate procedures.

Incidents and response (runbook)

1. Suspicion of key compromise → immediate revoke, release of a new one, rotation on all/ingress balancers.

2. Mixed content → block in CI/CD + SAST reports/linters.

3. Rotten certificate → emergency release + retrospective (why monitoring did not work).

4. Phishing domains → CT alert → complaint to CA/browser vendors, communication to players.

Typical gambling errors

TLS ends with CDN → no CDN→origin encryption.

Missing HSTS or enabled without eliminating mixed content (site breaks).

Session cookies without'SameSite '/' HttpOnly '.

The admin panel is available from public domains with a DV certificate instead of mTLS and IP-allow-list.

There is no CT monitoring: an attacker releases a similar domain - players are being conducted.

Internal connections between services are not encrypted.

Mini-guide for selecting certificates

Public domains (brand): OV/EV (+ SAN/Wildcard by architecture).

Machine channels (PSP webhooks, admin API): private CA + mTLS.

Separate certificates for admin and public front (different keys, different policies).

Centralized automation (ACME) and uniform nginx/Envoy/Ingress templates.

Operator's checklist (short)

Config: TLS 1. 2/1. 3, ECDHE+AES-GCM/ChaCha, OCSP stapling, HSTS preload, CSP, Secure/HttpOnly/SameSite, запрет mixed content.

Infra: TLS before origin, mTLS on internal/critical APIs, keys in HSM/KMS, CT monitoring.

Processes: auto-renewal, alerts, perimeter penetration test, runbook revoke/rotate, checks after each release.

Access policy: admin panel on a separate domain, IP-allow-list, 2FA, role delimitation.

Player checklist

In the address bar https ://and "lock" without errors.

Do not enter CCP/payment data if the browser swears at a certificate or "mixed content."

Check the domain to the letter; do not click "casino" from letters - go from bookmarks.

FAQ (short)

Do I need an EV certificate? Optional. The main thing is the correct TLS configuration and processes. EV can increase trust in B2B.

If the PSP takes card data, is it possible without HTTPS? No, it isn't. There are logins, tokens, KYC, chats, history - all this is personal data.

0-RTT в TLS 1. 3 is safe? For idempotent GETs, yes; for POSTs in gambling, it is better to disable or restrict.

For a licensed operator, HTTPS is not a tick, but a system: a strong TLS profile, HSTS and CSP, secure cookies, encryption "for CDN," mTLS on internal channels and key discipline. This protects payments and KYC data, accelerates onboarding at PSP/banks and increases player confidence - that is, directly affects revenue and licenses.