Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or perhaps a casual hobby, choosing between your hundreds 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. In the same way every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when shopping around for an online casino which will meet your gambling needs and some.
It’s All About the Games
When it comes to online casinos, I arrived at 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 or any casinos like poker, if the interface is weak you are 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, but 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 which online casinos carry games that 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 understand that each software provider has their own style. Rival, as I mentioned previously, 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 you possibly can. 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. Bonus 100 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. Can you blame them? They would like to make money. It is within their best interest to sell their online casino because the biggest and the very best. Therefore, your best bet on researching an online casino would be 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 out there offering top-notch, alternative party reviews of online casinos. Even though you’ll be gambling at the casino, it’s best not to gamble on a casino.
Beware of SUBSCRIBE 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 say nothing for the online casino’s game-play or customer service. I will use another simile. They are like an ad incentive from the car dealership released there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Bottom line, almost always there is a catch. In the above 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 some exorbitant amount 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 an even more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that enables you to cash out…when you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or a PC?
While every 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 which are compatible with both PC and the rising amount of Mac users. So if you are on a Mac, your choice is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the online casino world is your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are a number of third-party online casino watchdogs on the market, all 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 greatest way to understand that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names on the market, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While some 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 develop a seal. By going with an eCogra certified casino, you understand that 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, america included. In those places where it really 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 indicate that their services are legal what your location is.
It is problematic for governments to regulate the internet and often the player may be the one at an increased risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already since it is legal for some casinos to accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, consider online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.