Whether gambling online is a serious pastime for you or a casual hobby, choosing between the a huge selection of online casinos available online today can be rather intimidating. In the end, every online gamer has their own 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 shopping around for an online casino which will meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s All About the Games
With regards to 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 if you play a game common to all or any casinos like poker, if the interface is weak you’re all but guaranteed to make 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 raise the bar in terms of graphics, sound and playability.
It is a good idea to get an idea of which online casinos carry games that you are thinking about playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are simply two of the many top online casino software providers that push the envelope with every game they put out.
Also understand that each software provider has their very own style. Rival, as I mentioned above, has stellar games, but tends to cater to 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 exactly 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 within their best interest to market their online casino as the biggest and the best. Therefore, your best bet on researching an online casino is to seek out 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. You can find so many sites on the market offering top-notch, alternative party reviews of online casinos. Even though you’ll be gambling at the casino, it’s best never to gamble on a casino.
Beware of SUBSCRIBE Bonuses
Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned are the candy that a shady stranger uses to lure a youngster into a van. They state nothing for the online casino’s game-play or customer support. I will use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from a car dealership put out there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Important thing, almost always there is a catch. In the aforementioned scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled on you and end up paying way more than you wanted for a car.
Online casinos are no different. Usually the sign up bonus will offer you some exorbitant amount of free money. That’s what it says on the surface. But what they don’t let you know is that if you want that money to pay off, you will have to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that enables you to cash out…if you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or perhaps a PC?
While each online casino is PC friendly, the same can’t be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and many have developed platforms which are appropriate for both PC and the rising amount of Mac users. So if you’re on a Mac, your choice is fairly limited. If you’re on a PC, the web casino world can be your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are a number of third-party online casino watchdogs on the market, every one of them monitoring the casinos to note that they are playing fair. Probably the most trusted of them all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is absolutely no way to make sure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of that time period. However, seeing that a casino is certified by eCogra is the greatest way to know that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While others may certainly do their job together with if not much better than eCogra, their reputation is certainly strongest. Theoretically, anyone could start a watchdog company and create a seal. By going with an eCogra certified casino, you know 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 largely prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it is legal, it is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your area or not, you should know the law before you begin spending. An online casino permitting you access does not necessarily mean that their services are legal what your location is.
It is problematic for governments to regulate the internet and often the player is the one at an increased risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already because it is legal for some casinos to simply accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, look into online gambling laws specific to where you live for a hassle-free gaming experience.