Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or a casual hobby, choosing between your hundreds of online casinos available online today can be rather intimidating. After all, every online gamer has their own unique personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. Just as every player is different, so can be online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when doing your research for an online casino that will meet your gambling needs and 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 game you don’t enjoy. Although you may play a game common to all 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 reality. Many companies pride themselves on thinking outside the box and offering new and innovative games that improve the bar with regards to graphics, sound and playability.
It is a good notion to get an idea which online casinos carry games you are interested in 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 very 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 really 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 an account for use within that particular online casino. Still, not every casino operates exactly the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their very 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. Is it possible to blame them? They would like to make money. It is in their best interest to market their online casino because 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 concerning 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 homepage will be gambling at the casino, it is 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 web casino’s game-play or customer support. I will use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from the car dealership released there to draw suckers in to the clutches of salesman. Bottom line, there’s always a catch. In the aforementioned scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled you and end up paying a lot more than you wanted for a car.
Online casinos are no different. Often 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 need that money to pay off, you will have to pay an even more exorbitant amount in wagers and soon you meet your minimum that lets you cash out…assuming you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or perhaps a PC?
Whilst every online casino is PC friendly, exactly the same cannot 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 number of Mac users. So if you’re on a Mac, your choice is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the web casino world is 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 see that they are playing fair. Probably the most trusted of these 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 a good way to know that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names on the market, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While others may certainly do their job together with if not better than eCogra, their reputation is obviously strongest. Theoretically, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By choosing an eCogra certified casino, you know they stake their reputation on the fact that your gaming experience will be a fair one.
Know the Law
Even though it shouldn’t be, online gambling is basically prohibited in many places, the United States included. In those places where it is legal, it really is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your area or not, it is very important know the law before you begin 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 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 most casinos to accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, look into online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.