Online gaming is a huge global market that allows players from all around the world to compete against one another. The popularity of online gaming has risen consistently since 2015 when an estimated 2.03 billion online gamers regularly took part.
The current figure of 3.22 billion in 2023 shows a 4.21% increase from 2022’s 3.09 billion. This figure is projected to grow by a further 3.11% in 2024, taking the total to 3.32 billion players.
It is not just the online video game market that has seen an increase, with the online iGaming market showing expansion too. The rise of online gaming has also seen a rise in demand for online anonymity. There are many people who want to enjoy the convenience of online gaming and gambling, without providing private information.
Why Anonymity Matters in Online Gaming
Online gambling and gaming can often be used as a social experience where people build a network of online friends, but this isn’t always the case. Others can use it as a way to play anonymously, and this can have a number of benefits.
Privacy and Safety
One of the most significant reasons people choose to play anonymously online is to protect their personal information. This can help mitigate the risk of cybercrime and identity theft associated with providing personal information to websites.
As well as protecting users from potential criminal activity, it can also help to protect people from other threats, including online abuse and stalking.
Creative and Personal Freedom
Anonymous gaming allows people to freely express their opinions and creativity without the fear of being judged. It also allows people to explore their personality without the same judgement or real-world consequences.
Leveling the Playing Field
Anonymous gambling and gaming can allow people to be judged solely on their performance. It helps to remove bias that can be related to gender, race, age, or other personal attributes.
Enhanced Gameplay
Anonymity allows players to fully focus on the task at hand. This can improve their performance when playing games or gambling as they aren’t distracted by opinions or reputations.
Unbiased Feedback
Anonymous internet use provides the perfect platform for online gamers and gamblers to provide completely honest feedback without fear of consequence.
This allows developers, designers, and online casino operators the opportunity to improve the service they provide.
Minimizing the Risk of Doxing
Doxing is a type of harassment that takes place online when someone’s personal information is leaked without consent. This can include their name, place of work and address.
Doxing is used to bully and intimidate people with the threat that online abuse could turn into real-world abuse. Online anonymity can minimize the risk of this information being exposed and provide greater security to the user.
Tools that Facilitate Anonymity
There are a number of ways that online gamers can take advantage of tools to protect their identity when playing games or gambling online. These include:
VPNs
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts internet traffic and disguises the user’s online identity. This minimizes the risk of third parties tracking activity and stealing data.
VPNs use an encryption protocol to funnel traffic through encrypted tunnels to a remote server. This acts as a middleman and blocks the user’s IP address from online criminals.
VPNs can be used to mask the identity of a user and bypass censorship to access blocked sites.
Securing your connection will minimize the risk of hackers monitoring users and getting valuable banking or log-in information that could provide access to various accounts.
Photo by Petter Lagson on Unsplash
Proxy Server
A proxy server works in a similar way to a VPN and reroutes traffic through a third party to hide your IP address. While a VPN will secure all internet traffic, a proxy will only work with a single service or app.
Virtual Machine
A virtual machine is software that runs on a computer to create an alternative operating system. To put it in simple terms, it creates a computer within a computer which can be used in conjunction with a VPN to encrypt all traffic and ensure anonymity.
The Legality of Anonymous Online Gaming
Online gamblers have another excellent way of enjoying anonymity when betting, this is by making the most of anonymous casinos. Anonymous casinos allow people to gamble without providing verification or personal information.
Online casinos are regulated by individual states in the U.S., and regulations typically require players to provide evidence of who they are as part of anti-money laundering rules.
Offshore casinos offer a way for people to bet without the same restrictions and a number of crypto casinos allow users to bet anonymously.
However, even crypto casinos may require identification for large withdrawals, and deposits can also be linked to your specific blockchain.
Offshore casinos often work outside legislation, providing U.S. gamblers with a great way of enjoying a wide choice of markets. However, players should be aware that unregulated online casinos don’t offer the same security as those that are regulated. Because of this, it is essential that bettors are wary.
Conclusion
The idea of anonymous gamers and gamblers often conjures negative connotations, including those that want to mask their identity for questionable reasons. In reality, there are many good reasons that people should hide their identity when playing games and gambling online.
Protecting your identity and personal information when interacting with any website is good practice. It can help to minimize the risk of being a victim of cyber crime and deter potential criminals.
Anonymous casinos are a great way to enjoy the convenience of online betting without the risk of your details being taken. The use of cryptocurrency makes this significantly easier.
