Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or 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 personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. In the same way every player is different, so can be online casinos. Below are the basics to consider when shopping around for an online casino which will meet your gambling needs and some.
It’s All About the Games
In terms of online casinos, I come to play and I play to win. But first of all, I come to play. That means that you’re not likely to stick around playing a 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 involved, you might think your choices are limited, nevertheless, you couldn’t be farther from the reality. Many companies pride themselves on thinking beyond your box and offering new and innovative games that raise the bar regarding graphics, sound and playability.
It is a good notion to get an idea of which online casinos carry games that you will be interested in playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are simply two of the numerous top online casino software providers that push the envelope with every game they put out.
Also know 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 has a knack for 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 a merchant account for use within that one online casino. Still, not every casino operates exactly the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their very own software methods to manage money while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”
Look for Peer Reviews
An online casino will tell you anything and everything to get you to gamble at their online casino. Is it possible to blame them? They want to make money. It is in their best interest to sell their online casino because the biggest and the very 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 benefit from the experience of others. There are so many sites out there offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Despite the fact that you will be gambling at the casino, it is best never to gamble on a casino.
Beware of Sign Up Bonuses
Sign up bonuses so far as I’m concerned are the candy that a shady stranger uses to lure a kid into a van. They state nothing for the web casino’s game-play or customer service. I shall use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from a car dealership put out there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Bottom line, there’s always 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 an automobile.
Online casinos are no different. Usually the sign up bonus will offer you some exorbitant quantity of free money. That’s what it says on the surface. But what they don’t let you know is that if you would like that money to pay off, you will have to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers and soon you meet your minimum that enables you to cash out…in case you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or a PC?
While each online casino is PC friendly, the same cannot be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and many have developed platforms that are compatible with both PC and the rising amount 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 can be your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are a number of third-party online casino watchdogs out there, every one of them monitoring the casinos to see that they are playing fair. 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 the best way to understand that play is as fair as it can be.
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 much better than eCogra, their reputation is certainly strongest. Theoretically, anyone could take up a watchdog company and create a seal. By going with an eCogra certified casino, you know they stake their reputation on the fact that your gaming experience is 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 Laris4D where it is legal, it really is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your area or not, it is important to know the law before you start spending. An online casino allowing you access does not necessarily mean that their services are legal what your location is.
It is difficult for governments to regulate the internet and often the player may be the one at risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already since it is legal for some casinos to accept deposits. So before making a deposit, consider online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.