Whether gambling online is a serious pastime for you or perhaps a casual hobby, choosing between the hundreds of online casinos available online today could be rather intimidating. In the end, every online gamer has their own unique personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. In the same way every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the basics to consider when doing your research for an online casino that may meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s ABOUT the Games
In terms of online casinos, I come to play and I play to win. But first and foremost, I come to play. That means that you’re not going to stick around playing a casino game you don’t enjoy. Even when you play a game common to all casinos like poker, if the interface is weak you’re all but guaranteed to produce a fast “exit.”
Because online casinos only feature games where wagers are participating, you might think your choices are limited, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Many companies pride themselves on thinking beyond your box and offering new and innovative games that improve the bar when it comes to graphics, sound and playability. It is a good idea to get a concept of which online casinos carry games you are thinking about playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are just two of the numerous top online casino software providers that push the envelope with every game they released.
Also know that each software provider has their own style. Rival, as I mentioned previously, 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. Where as Cryptologic includes a knack when planning on taking classic games and making them fresh and exciting again.
Banking Features
Naturally people when playing online, one wants to make sure that they are able to access their money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Most online casinos offer simple depositing processes whereby you deposit money into a merchant account for use within that one online casino. Still, don’t assume all casino operates the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their own software solutions to manage money while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”
Look for Peer Reviews
An online casino will let you know anything and everything to make you gamble at their online casino. Can you blame them? They would like to make money. It is in their best interest to sell their online casino as the biggest and the best. Therefore, your very best bet on researching an online casino would be to search for customer reviews on gambling review websites.
Online gamers are passionate about the casinos they love and venomous towards those they hate. Before spending a dime, it behooves you to read some reviews and take advantage of the experience of others. There are so many sites on the market offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Even though you will be gambling at the casino, it’s best not to gamble on a casino.
Beware of Sign Up Bonuses
Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned are the candy a shady stranger uses to lure a youngster into a van. They say nothing for the web casino’s game-play or customer support. I will use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from the car dealership put out there to draw suckers in to the clutches of salesman. Important thing, almost always there is a catch. In the above scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled you and end up paying way more than you wanted for a car.
Online casinos are no different. Often the sign up bonus will offer some exorbitant quantity of free money. That’s what it says at first glance. But what they don’t let you know is that if you wish that money to repay, you will need to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that lets you cash out…should you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or a PC?
Whilst every online casino is PC friendly, exactly the same can’t be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and several have developed platforms which are compatible with both PC and the rising number of Mac users. So if you’re on a Mac, your choice is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the online casino world is your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are numerous of third-party online casino watchdogs on the market, all of them monitoring the casinos to see that they are playing fair. Probably the most trusted of them all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is no way to make sure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of that time period. However, since a casino is certified by eCogra is the best way to know that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While info may certainly do their job as well as if not much better than eCogra, their reputation is certainly strongest. In theory, anyone could start a watchdog company and develop a seal. By choosing an eCogra certified casino, you understand that they stake their reputation on the fact that your gaming experience is a fair one.
Know the Law
Even though it must not be, online gambling is basically prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it is legal, it really is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your town or not, it is important to know the law before you start spending. An online casino permitting you access does not necessarily mean that their services are legal where you are. It is difficult for governments to regulate the web and often the player may be the one at risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already because it is legal for most casinos to simply accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, consider online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.