Whether gambling online is a serious hobby for you or a casual pastime, choosing from the hundreds of online casinos available online today can be quite intimidating. After all, every online gamer has their own personality, likes, dislikes, and preferred games. Just as every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the basics to consider when looking for an online casino that meets your gaming needs and more.
It’s all about the games
When it comes to online casinos, I come to play and I play to win. But above all, I come to play. That means you won’t be stuck playing a game you don’t enjoy. Even if you play a game common to all casinos like poker, if the interface is weak, you are almost guaranteed to make a quick “exit”.
Because online casinos only feature betting games, you may think your options are limited, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many companies pride themselves on thinking outside the box and delivering new and innovative games that raise the bar in terms of graphics, sound, and gameplay. It’s a good idea to get an idea of which online casinos have games you’re interested in playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are just two of the top online casino software providers that push the limits with every game they offer.
Also know that each software provider has its own style. Rival, as I mentioned above, has stellar games, but tends to cater to the younger crowd of online casino players. They focus more on graphics and games that appeal to “video gamers” more than anyone else. While Cryptologic has a knack for taking classic games and making them fresh and exciting again.
banking functions
Naturally, people who gamble online want to make sure they can access their money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Most online casinos offer simple deposit processes whereby you deposit money into an account to be used within that particular online casino. Still, not all casinos work the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their own software methods of managing money, while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”
Look for peer reviews
An online casino will tell you anything and everything to get you to play at their online casino. Can you blame them? They want to earn money. It is in their interest to sell their online casino as the biggest and best. Therefore, your best bet for researching an online casino is to look for customer reviews on gambling review websites.
Online players are passionate about the casinos they love and poisonous about the ones they hate. Before you spend a dime, you might want to read some reviews and benefit from the experience of others. There are so many sites that offer top-notch third-party reviews of online casinos. Although you will play in the casino, it is better not to gamble in a casino.
Beware of signup bonuses
Sign-up bonuses as far as I’m concerned are the candy a suspicious stranger uses to lure a kid into a van. They do not say anything about the game or the customer service of the online casino. I will use another simile. They’re like a car dealer’s advertising incentive to lure suckers into the salesman’s clutches. Simply put, there is always a catch. In the above scenarios, your old “change” is either hijacked or thrown away and you end up paying much more than you wanted for a car.
Online casinos are no different. Often the signup bonus will offer an exorbitant amount of free money. That’s what it says on the surface. But what they don’t tell you is that if you want that money to pay out, you’ll have to pay an even more exorbitant amount in bets until you reach your minimum that allows you to cash out… if you have any profit at all.
Are you a Mac or a PC?
While all online casinos are PC-friendly, the same cannot be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses are not blind and many have developed platforms that are compatible with both PCs and the growing number of Mac users. So if you are on a Mac, your choice is quite limited. If you are on a PC, the world of online casinos is your oyster.
ECOGRA certified casinos
There are a number of third party online casino watchdogs, all of whom monitor casinos to ensure they are playing fair. The most trusted of all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is no way to guarantee that any online casino is absolutely fair 100% of the time. However, seeing that a casino is certified by eCogra is the best way to know that the game is as fair as possible.
There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While others can certainly do their job as well as eCogra, if not better, their reputation is certainly the strongest. In theory, anyone could start a surveillance company and create a seal. By choosing an eCogra certified casino, you know that their reputation is built on the fact that your gaming experience will be fair.
know the law
Although it shouldn’t be, online gambling is largely prohibited in many places, including the United States. In those places where it is legal, it is highly regulated. So whether or not online gambling is legal in your area, it’s important to know the law before you start spending. An online casino that allows you access does not necessarily mean that its services are legal where you are. It is difficult for governments to regulate the Internet and often the player is the one at risk. If your funds are seized, the casino already has your money as it is legal for most casinos to accept deposits. Therefore, before making a deposit, please check the specific online gambling laws where you live for a hassle-free gaming experience.
