Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or perhaps a casual hobby, choosing between your a huge selection 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. Just as every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when shopping around for an online casino that will meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s 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. Which means that you’re not likely to stick around playing a casino game you don’t enjoy. Even if 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 alternatives are limited, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Many companies pride themselves on thinking outside the box and offering new and innovative games that raise the bar with regard to graphics, sound and playability.
It is a good notion to get an idea which online casinos carry games that you are interested in 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 released.
Also understand that each software provider has their very own style. Rival, as I mentioned above, has stellar games, but tends to cater to the younger crowd of online casino players. They focus more on graphics and games that interest “video gamers” more than other people. 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, 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 tell you anything and everything to get you to 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 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 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 out there offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Despite the fact that you will be gambling at the casino, it’s best not to gamble on a casino.
Beware of Sign Up Bonuses
Sign up bonuses so far as I’m concerned are the candy a shady stranger uses to lure a kid 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, almost always there is 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 level of free money. That’s what it says on the surface. But what they don’t tell you is that if you wish that money to repay, you will need to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers and soon you meet your minimum that lets you cash out…when 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 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 decision is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the web casino world can be your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are many of third-party online casino watchdogs out there, every one 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 ensure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of the time. However, seeing that a casino is certified by eCogra is the best way to know that play is as fair as it can be.
There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While others may certainly do their job and also if not much better than eCogra, their reputation is certainly strongest. In theory, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By going with an eCogra certified casino, you understand they stake their reputation on the truth 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, the United States 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 start spending. An online casino allowing you access does not necessarily mean that their services are legal what your location is.
It is problematic for governments to regulate the web 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 your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.