Top 5 Security Features to Save Your Poker App From Disaster

If you own an online poker app or intend to build one, the app’s security should be the top hardcoded feature.

The reason is not far-fetched. Fraudsters follow the money, and with online poker continuing to show high-yield market credentials, any poker app is a prime target. Custom Market Insights estimates that the global online poker gaming market will grow to about $302.2 billion by 2033.

In this article, Techopedia looks at why security should top the agenda of any poker app development effort and what experts say about the best security features that could improve the overall security of online poker apps in 2025.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Quick Insights
2. Why Security Is a Major Issue for Online Poker Apps
3. What's The Biggest Security Challenge to Online Poker?
4. The Best Security Features Your Poker App Must Have
5. The Bottom Line
6. FAQs
7. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Quick Insights
2. Why Security Is a Major Issue for Online Poker Apps
3. What's The Biggest Security Challenge to Online Poker?
Show Full Guide
4. The Best Security Features Your Poker App Must Have
5. The Bottom Line
6. FAQs
7. References

Why Security Is a Major Issue for Online Poker Apps

The stakes are high when any app used by thousands of people simultaneously is bridged. In June 2023, one of the leading Poker platforms fell victim to the infamous MOVEit attack and exposed the personal data of over 100,000 players.

The same year, the 888poker AI collusion scandal forced a $362,893 refund to 4,068 cheated players who fell victim to fraudsters using AI bots or real-time assistance (RTA) to cheat.

The examples above are a few out of many incidents that have poked the security of online poker platforms in recent years. And they show that even top-tier poker app platforms aren’t immune to attacks.

That said, one of the first steps to take when building a new poker app would be to understand the potential security loopholes in the app and how to deal with them before rolling out the app.

What’s The Biggest Security Challenge to Online Poker?

Every industry has peculiar security challenges that bedevil any security effort, no matter how cautious you try to be. Online Poker is no exception. It’s one iGaming segment where a single loophole in the app defenses can quickly turn a trusted poker app into a rogue platform for fraudsters.

Speaking to Techopedia about the toughest security issues poker app developers deal with, George Pace, Senior Product Marketing Manager at SEON, an anti-fraud and AML technology company, noted that AI collusion, account proliferation, and identity fraud are the key security issues that have forced poker security experts to the boardroom more often.

Pace explained:

“One of the biggest challenges is detecting and preventing collusion, multi-accounting, and identity fraud without introducing excessive friction for legitimate players.”

Brittany Allen, Senior Trust and Safety Architect at Sift, an AI-powered fraud decision company, argued that the common security problems online poker developers must address are account takeover, multiple fake accounts and the use of bots.

Allen told Techopedia:

“Some of the most common types of scams in this industry involve account hacking (account takeover, ATO). Some fraudsters will create multiple fake accounts, often using bots to speed up the process.”

In a podcast hosted by PokerStrategy.com last year, David Lappin, the Unibet Ambassador, also shared his insights on the current state of online poker. During the discussion, Lappin offered a compelling analogy, stating:

“Poker is a game of cat and mouse, and the cat doesn’t tell the mouse which pieces of cheese are the traps.”

He acknowledged that RTA, bots, and mass data analysis represent “three big security issues in online poker” today.

The Best Security Features Your Poker App Must Have

Here are the top security features that you should consider including in an online poker app to minimize breaches.

1. Strong User Authentication & Verification

Setting user authentication and verification measures like passwords, fingerprinting, facial biometrics, two-factor authentication (2FA), and KYC goes a long way to prevent fraud and ensure that only the rightful owner logs into poker apps.

Vladimir Tiurin, Legal and Compliance Director, Business Development in EU, SEA & MENA suggested that good Know Your Customer (KYC) practice is an important way to stop fraud in online business. In a LinkedIn post, he said:

“This includes implementing a risk-based fraud detection software solution that helps keep in line with KYC mandates.”

Other steps, such as email confirmation or ID checks for big cash-outs, are also known to strengthen online gaming and betting app security.

2. Random Number Generator (RNG) Certification

Fairness is the backbone of poker. A certified RNG ensures that card dealing and game outcomes are truly random.

According to Creatiosoft Poker, a company that builds poker and card game platforms, “if a poker app does not have this basic fairness regulator, it will raise questions about how legit the platform is.”

Integrating an RNG system audited and certified by a reputable third-party authority like eCOGRA or iTech Labs ensures fairness. Regularly test and update your poker app with this system if you want to maintain integrity. This will bring trust to your app, and players will feel confident they’re playing a fair game, not one rigged against them.

3. Anti-collusion & Bot Detection Systems

Collusion between players or the use of bots can ruin the game’s integrity and drive away honest users.

Poker apps need robust systems to detect and prevent cheating. Use AI-driven algorithms to monitor gameplay patterns, such as unusual win rates, repetitive actions, or coordinated betting.

According to Cyber Research Databank, machine learning algorithms trained on data from known cheaters can detect unusual activity that might escape human notice.

4. Geo-fencing & Location Verification

Online gambling laws vary by region, and poker apps must comply with local regulations. Since location spoofing is known to enable cheating or unauthorized access to poker platforms, using GPS-based geo-fencing and IP address verification can help your poker app restrict access to only permitted regions.

Speaking of Geo-fraud in online poker, Appdome SVP Brian Reed pointed out:

“Geo-fencing, GPS integrity checks and VPN detection are essential for stopping geo-fraud and ensuring regulatory compliance.”

To stay ahead, Reed emphasized the need to have AI-native security and fraud-detection models in place. He told Techopedia:

“Online poker apps must deploy adaptive AI-native security and anti-fraud models that continuously analyze new fraud techniques and adjust protections dynamically.”

5. Secure Payment Gateways

Secure payment systems protect both the poker app and its users from financial loss. To keep your online poker app safe, choose a very secure and reliable system to manage your in-app transactions.

Partner with trusted payment providers such as PayPal, Stripe, or crypto platforms that use HTTPS and tokenization to encrypt payment data.

Add real-time fraud detection tools to flag suspicious transactions, such as multiple rapid withdrawals.

The Bottom Line

Data protection and fairness in gameplay can never be a thing of choice in iGaming. With poker games becoming more popular every day and big money betting getting involved, the need for adequate security should be a priority. While there’s no perfect solution to online security, integrating the top security features outlined by the experts can save your app from any potential disaster.

These features not only protect your gaming app but also ensure a fair and enjoyable gaming experience, making them must-haves for any poker app in 2025.

FAQs