Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or perhaps a casual hobby, choosing between the hundreds of online casinos available online today could be rather intimidating. After all, every online gamer has their own personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. Just as every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when doing your research for an online casino which will meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s All About the Games
When it comes 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 going to stick around playing a game you don’t enjoy. Even when you play a game common to all or any 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 in terms of graphics, sound and playability. It is a good idea to get an idea of which online casinos carry games that you will be thinking about playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are just two of the many 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 previously, has stellar games, but will cater to younger crowd of online casino players. They focus more on graphics and games that interest “video gamers” more than anyone else. Where as Cryptologic includes a knack for taking classic games and making them fresh and exciting again.
Banking Features
Naturally people when playing online, one wants to make sure that they could access their money as quickly and conveniently as you possibly can. Most online casinos offer simple depositing processes whereby you deposit money into an account for use within that one online casino. Still, not every casino operates 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 would like to make money. It is within their best interest to sell their online casino as the biggest and the very best. Therefore, your best bet on researching an online casino is 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. You can find so many sites out there offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Even though you will be gambling at the casino, it’s best not to gamble on a casino.
Beware of Sign Up Bonuses
Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned will be 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 service. I will use another simile. galaxycasino77.com are like an ad incentive from a car dealership put out there to draw suckers in to the clutches of salesman. Important thing, 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 an automobile.
Online casinos are no different. Often the sign up bonus will offer you some exorbitant amount of free money. That’s what it says at first glance. But what they don’t tell you is that if you would like that money to pay off, you will have to pay an even more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that lets you cash out…when you have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or a PC?
While each online casino is PC friendly, exactly the same cannot be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and several have developed platforms that are compatible with both PC and the rising amount of Mac users. So if you’re on a Mac, your decision is fairly limited. If you’re on a PC, the online casino world is your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are a variety of third-party online casino watchdogs out there, 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 make sure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of the time. However, since a casino is certified by eCogra is the greatest way to know that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While some 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 choosing an eCogra certified casino, you know that 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 largely prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it is legal, it really is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your town or not, you should know the law before you start spending. An online casino permitting you access does not indicate 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 an increased risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already because it is legal for most 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.