The Top Ten Ways to Select the Right Online Casino from "Virtually" Hundreds
It may be a bit intimidating and even a little overwhelming to venture into the world of online casinos. The experience is certainly quite different than walking through casino doors.
The casino you choose should be able to give you a measure of comfort before you ever risk a dollar. It can guide you through the registration process and should provide you with a list of ways to transfer money to your betting account and then everything will work as it does in a land-based casino.
So, the first and most important thing you need to do is select the right website for you. The following are some tips that should make the process a lot easier by narrowing down your list of options.
Eliminate Sites That Don't Allow Players from Your Country
Every gaming provider has a list of who can and can't register. If you live in the United States, you have a much more limited selection than residents of the UK, for example, due to legal restrictions. The UK allows for online gambling as long as the site is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
The commission can even provide a list of its licensees to help you. Americans will want to search for listings online or can check a particular site's terms and conditions page to see if they're accepted or not.
Decide How You'll Fund Your Betting Account and Make Sure a Site Can Accommodate You
If you're using Bitcoin, there are specially designated casinos just for Bitcoin users. Credit and debit cards are the most widely offered but come with some approval problems for some. E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are also commonly accepted in certain regions. If you prefer PayPal, your list will narrow down considerably.
Don't Give Away Your Money Before You Even Place a Bet
Believe it or not, some casinos charge for depositing your own money into a player's account. It's bad enough that many sites tack on some fee for withdrawals, but we'd draw the line at a deposit fee. Some US-servicing operators charge as much as 8.9% for a deposit. Yikes!
Your Preferred Game Comes into Play
Let's say you've played the Wheel of Fortune slot machine in a casino and think it'll be fun to play the same game at home. Some games do transfer into the online world, and Wheel of Fortune is one of them, but only through sites that offer IGT games. IGT is a provider that has a significant crossover from brick and mortar to the internet so, if you find a site that offers its software, you'll probably also be able to locate one of your favorite slots.
How Do You Feel About Deals?
Have you heard about those welcome and other bonuses and want to claim some of that free play cash? Some casinos have great offers, but others should not be calling their bonus a reward. If you do want to extend your playing time as much as possible, a bonus is a good way to do it, but you want to look for sites that offer small rollovers. A rollover is a requirement attached to bonus offers, and it dictates how many times you have to bet a bonus award before you can cash out anything. We could go on and on about rollovers but just to bottom line it for you, the lower the rollover, the better it is for you. If you see something like 50 times, walk away.
Your Choice of Equipment Matters
Do you plan to play on a full PC or laptop, or are you looking for something to do on your mobile device? Not all games will transfer over from the main casino site to the tablet or smartphone format so, if you find your favorite game or games, pull up the site on your phone and make sure those games still appear.
Security First
Be sure that the casino you're considering is licensed and regulated by a reputable agency. Some organizations are better than others as they have stricter compliance requirements. The UK Gambling Commission is one of the best. Malta is better than Curacao. The worst? No licensing. The designation should be in the footer of the homepage with a link right to a copy of the actual license.
Some are More Entertaining Than Others
Some i-casinos offer some fun tournaments and other ways to up your bottom line. You'll know when you see them because their bonuses go way beyond the standard deposit match offering. You'll find fun prizes like trips or electronics and the promotions can enhance your overall experience if you like that sort of thing.
Your First Impression Counts
When you pull up a site, you get a general impression. Some overwhelm you with too much information. There are others that have poor graphics or video quality and even typos in their text. Your casino of choice should feel comfortable. If it's a shoddy website, the gaming experience is probably not the best either.
Consistency Is Key
Before you make your final decision, take a peek at some reviews and feedback, while looking for patterns. You'll see disgruntled players spewing negativity about every site because they've lost money or misused a bonus. You're looking for consistent and detailed information. If one person says they didn't get a payout, that's one thing. If ten are saying that the casino is avoiding them and owes them money, that's an entirely different story.
Conclusion: These ten things should lead you to a few of the best choices for you. And, always, when in doubt, just ask. The casino's customer service agents are there to help you. If not, that's another site to cross off your list.
