Why an SSL certificate is required for casinos
Online casinos process the most sensitive data: payment details, KYC documents, game history and conclusions. SSL/TLS is the base layer that encrypts the browser ↔ server channel, prevents interception, traffic spoofing and session theft. In the licensed sector, working without a valid certificate and correctly setting up HTTPS is a violation of security requirements and the basis for sanctions, disconnection from payments and loss of player confidence.
What SSL/TLS gives in gambling
1. Encryption of transmitted data
Card number (or token), documents for KYC, passwords, cookies - everything goes through a channel protected by modern ciphers.
2. Authenticity of the site
The browser checks the certificate and the trust chain: the player gets to your domain, and not to a phishing clone.
3. Content integrity
TLS eliminates the imperceptible substitution of scripts (malvertising, injection of forms) that steal payment data.
4. Compliance
Licenses and banks/PSPs expect HTTPS everywhere, as do PCI-type standards DSS (for working with payments) and personal data laws (GDPR/similar).
5. UX/SEO and conversion
Without HTTPS, browsers mark the site as "Unsafe," confidence drops, refusal of a deposit grows.
Certificate Types - What to Choose for the Operator
DV (Domain Validation) - confirms domain ownership. Fast and cheap; suitable for the entry level, especially if all critical checks are done on the PSP side.
OV (Organization Validation) - includes company data. Better for brand and B2B trust.
EV (Extended Validation) - extended check of a legal entity. Visual indications in the address bar have become more modest, but for some jurisdictions/partners EV remains a plus of trust.
Wildcard - covers all subdomains of '.example. com`.
SAN (Multi-Domain) - one certificate for several domains (for example, 'casino. com`, `pay. casino. com`, `help. casino. eu`).
Technical requirements for setting up TLS (briefly and on file)
Protocol versions: enable TLS 1. 2 and TLS 1. 3, disable SSLv3/TLS 1. 0/1. 1.
Ciphers: priority ECDHE + AES-GCM/CHACHA20-POLY1305 (Forward Secrecy).
HSTS: `Strict-Transport-Security` с `includeSubDomains; preload 'after complete elimination of mixed content.
OCSP Stapling и Certificate Transparency (CT).
Secure cookies: 'Secure; HttpOnly; SameSite = Lax/Strict 'on session IDs.
Security-headers: `Content-Security-Policy`, `X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff`, `X-Frame-Options/SameSite` (или `frame-ancestors` в CSP), `Referrer-Policy`.
Prohibition of mixed content: any pictures/JS/CSS - only over HTTPS.
Compatibility with CDN/WAF: TLS-termination on the perimeter + encrypted backend (TLS between CDN ↔ origin).
Keys: minimum RSA-2048/EC-P256; storage in HSM/KMS, rotation on schedule.
Where HTTPS is required "no options"
Processing deposits/outputs, wallet pages, KYC forms and document uploads.
Personal account, game and transaction history, live chat with personal data.
Admin/Back-office, API to RGS/PAM, webhook endpoints for PSP - additionally protect mTLS and allow-list.
What regulators, audits and payment partners check
Continuous redirect to HTTPS, valid chains and relevance of certificates.
TLS configuration (versions/ciphers/vulnerabilities), HSTS and lack of mixed content.
Key storage practices and access logs.
Presence of CSP/secure headers and correct cookie settings.
Monitoring and alerts for certificate validity, OCSP failures, handshake errors.
Separation of environments, lack of admin panel on public domains, protection of internal APIs.
Risks if not configured or misconfigured
Data interception (MITM), theft of sessions and payment details.
Phishing and clones - players cannot distinguish "you" from a copy.
Sanctions: blocking merchant from PSP/banks, regulator fines, unlisting, loss of license.
Conversion drop: browsers mark "Not secure," trust and SEO decrease.
PR/reputation incidents: Leaks of KYC documents are the most painful for the brand.
Operating practice: for TLS to "live" and not "hang on the wall"
Auto renewal (ACME/automation) + double reminders for 30/14/7/1 day.
Configuration scanners (internal and external), regular perimeter penetration tests.
CT log control: fast detection of "illegitimate" issues.
Key rotation policy and prohibition of direct access of developers to private keys.
Uniform patterns for nginx/Envoy/ALB/Ingress to avoid configuration drift.
Domain segregation: public (players) vs private (admin/API) - different CA/certificates and encryption policy.
Logs and alerts for TLS error anomalies (explosion of the number of 'handshake _ failure', 'bad _ record _ mac', growth of'cipher _ mismatch').
What is important for the player to know
The address should start with https ://, next to it - a lock without errors; clicking shows a valid certificate issued by a trusted authority.
Any forms (deposit, KYC, chat) - only via HTTPS; if you see a browser warning, do not enter data and tell support.
Beware of phishing: check the domain name to the letter; go to bookmarks, not letters/messengers.
Checklist for operator (brief)
Certificates
DV/OV/EV by domain role; Wildcard/SAN - by architecture.
Auto-renewal, monitoring of deadlines, control of CT logs.
Configuration
TLS 1. 2/1. 3, PFS ciphers, OCSP stapling, HSTS (preload).
CSP, Secure/HttpOnly/SameSite, X-Content-Type-Options, `frame-ancestors`.
Full prohibition of mixed content, redirect HTTP→HTTPS.
Infrastructure
mTLS and allow-list for internal APIs/admins.
Key storage in HSM/KMS, rotation, role access.
TLS termination on WAF/CDN + encryption before origin.
Processes
Pentests, TLS check-ups after releases.
Runbook in case of key compromise (revoke/replace/rotate).
Domain/subdomain policy and uniform configuration templates.
Frequent misconceptions
"Our PSP takes card data, we don't need HTTPS."
Needed: you still have logins, KYC, tokens, cookies and a personal account.
"Just put down any certificate and forget."
No: protocols/ciphers/headers/controls are critical, as is monitoring deadlines.
"An EV certificate will protect itself."
Protects TLS setup and operation discipline; EV is just a layer of trust in a legal entity.
For a licensed casino, SSL/TLS is a requirement and safety hygiene. Properly configured HTTPS protects payments and KYC data, complies with license and partner requirements, and increases trust and conversion. This is not a one-time "certificate installation," but a process: choosing the type of certificate, competent configuration, strict headers, monitoring, auto-renewal and key control.
Mini cheat sheet (one line)
TLS 1. 2/1. 3 PFS ciphers HSTS preload OCSP stapling CSP + Secure/HttpOnly/SameSite without mixed content mTLS for internal API auto-extension + CT monitoring keys in HSM/KMS.
