Foreword|Win City
If you are new to casinos, the sheer number of online casinos can be overwhelming. How do you choose which one to play? What things should you look out for to help you decide on a real casino? This newbie’s guide to online casinos is here to help you.
Keep this guide handy as you browse through the dizzying array of options, you can’t go wrong if you check out all the points listed below.
1) Where is the casino?|Win City
Online gambling is not legal everywhere, no matter where you log in from. Real casinos will prominently display their licensing information – if you can’t find any, you should probably move on.
Areas where casinos are legal to operate include Antigua, Kahnawake in Canada, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, anywhere in the United Kingdom, Norfolk Island and the Antilles.
2) Can you play?|Win City
Since online gambling legislation is constantly changing around the world, it may not always be legal to play in your location. Some casinos may deny you access for this reason.
3) Who writes the casino’s software?|Win City
This is a very important question because offering casino software is a regulated industry, so choosing carefully can provide you with considerable security and confidence that you won’t be ripped off.
The major players in this space are Microgaming, NetEnt, Next Gaming, Quickspin, Novomatic, etc., so if the casino you’re considering is powered by one of these companies, you’re in good hands.
4) If you meet trouble, can you get help?|Win City
It is worth checking out what kind of end user support an online casino offers. Some don’t offer it at all, and these are to be avoided. Ideally, provide a number that you can dial to speak to a real person.
If the company only offers email support, give them a quick test query to see how quickly they respond.
5) Do you understand the terms and conditions?|Win City
It’s always a good idea to read through the terms and conditions before signing up – but make sure you understand them clearly. Notorious websites may deliberately make their terms and conditions difficult to understand, and you may later find out that the content will cost you.
6) Can you try it?|Win City
Many decent online casinos will let you play a few hands or free spins so you can experience what they have to offer. It’s capitalizing on that — just don’t expect to collect anything you win while playing for free.
7) Is your personal information safe?|Win City
When you sign up with an online casino, you give them your real information – your real name, real contact details and real bank details. This is necessary for security – how else can they verify your identity, and more importantly, how else can you get paid when you win?
But make sure that the casino you’re playing at offers a secure, encrypted connection for the registration phase so your private information isn’t exposed unnecessarily.
8) Can you save money fast?|Win City
When you sign up with an online casino, you need to deposit money with them. Most casinos no longer accept credit cards, so you’ll need to consider other options. Check out the available e-wallet options and make sure they are active in your country of residence.
9) How about the bonus?|Win City
Good casinos will offer you sign up bonuses for joining them. When you deposit money into a casino account, it’s not uncommon to see casinos handing out $50 or $100 in free money to play with.
10) If you win, can you take your money out?|Win City
If you win, investigate how the casino pays out – it needs to be easy and painless. A good rule of thumb is to avoid casinos charging you fees or taking a percentage of money from your account.
We hope this beginner’s guide to casinos has been helpful as you take your first steps into the exciting world of online gaming.