As a casino beginner the sheer number of online casinos can be overwhelming. How do you choose which one to play at? What sort of things should you look out for to help you choose a good casino? This online casino newbie guide aims to help you out.
As you make your way through the dazzling options, keep this guide for beginners handy, and if you check out all the points listed below, you won’t go wrong.
Where are they based?
Regardless of where you may be logging on from, online gambling isn’t legal everywhere. Good casinos display their licensing information prominently – if you can’t find any licensing information, chances are you should move on.
Regions where it’s legal to host a casino include Antigua, Kahnawake in Canada, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, anywhere in the United Kingdom, Norfolk Island and Antilles.
Can you play?
Because online gambling legislation is in flux around the world, it isn’t always legal to play where you’re at. Some casinos may refuse you access for this reason.
Who wrote the casino’s software?
This is a pretty important issue, as providing casino software is a regulated industry, so choosing carefully can provide you with a fair amount of security and confidence that you’re not getting ripped off.
The major players in this field are Microgaming, Vegas Technology, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Cryptologic and Rival, so if the casino you’re considering is powered by one of these companies, you’re in good hands.
Can you get help if you get in a jam?
It’s worth checking out what kind of end-user support an online casino provides. Some provide none at all, and these are to be avoided. The best provide a number you can call to speak to a real person.
If the company only provides email support, drop them a quick test query to see how fast they respond.
Do you understand the terms and conditions?
It’s always a good idea to read through the terms and conditions before you sign up – but make sure you understand them clearly. Disreputable sites may make their terms and conditions intentionally difficult to understand, which you could discover at your cost later.
Can you try it out?
Many decent online casinos will let you play a couple of hands or spin a few times for free so that you can get a feel for the games on offer. It’s taking advantage of this – only don’t expect to collect anything you win while playing for free.
Is your personal information secure?
When you sign up at an online casino, you need to give them your real information – your real name, your real contact details and your real banking information. This is necessary for security – how else can they verify who you are, and more importantly, how else will you get paid when you win?
But make sure that the casino you’re playing at offers a secure, encrypted connection for the sign-up phase so that your private information isn’t needlessly exposed.
Can you deposit money easily?
When you sign up at an online casino, you’ll need to deposit money with them. Most casinos won’t accept a credit card any more, so you’ll need to look at other options. Check out the e-wallet options available and make sure they are active in your country of residence.
How about a bonus?
Good casinos will offer you a sign up bonus for joining them. It’s not uncommon to see a casino handing out bonuses of $50 or $100 of free money for you to play with when you deposit money into a casino account.
If you win, can you get your money out?
Investigate how a casino pays out if you win – it needs to be easy and painless. A good rule of thumb is to avoid casinos that charge you a fee or a percentage for making a withdrawal from your account with them.
We hope that you find this beginner's guide to casinos helpful as you take your first steps into the exciting world of online play.
