Whether gambling online is a serious pastime for you or perhaps a casual hobby, choosing between your a huge selection of online casinos available online today can 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 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. 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 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 participating, you might think your choices are limited, nevertheless, you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Many companies pride themselves on thinking beyond your box and offering new and innovative games that raise the bar with regards to graphics, sound and playability. This is a good idea 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 put out.
Also understand that each software provider has their own style. Rival, as I mentioned above, 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 other people. 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 a merchant account for use within that one online casino. Still, not every casino operates exactly the same way. website and Playtech incorporate their own software methods to manage money while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”
Look for Peer Reviews
An online casino will tell you anything and everything to make you gamble at their online casino. Is it possible to blame them? They would like to make money. It is in their best interest to market their online casino as the biggest and the best. Therefore, your 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 benefit from the experience of others. You can find so many sites out there offering top-notch, alternative party reviews of online casinos. Even though you will be gambling at the casino, it’s best never to gamble on a casino.
Beware of Sign Up Bonuses
Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned are the candy that a shady stranger uses to lure a youngster 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 into the clutches of salesman. Important thing, there’s always a catch. In the aforementioned scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled on you and end up paying a lot more than you wanted for a car.
Online casinos are no different. Usually the sign up bonus will offer 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 need that money to repay, you will have to pay a far 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 every online casino is PC friendly, the same can’t be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and many have developed platforms which are appropriate for 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 online casino world can be 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. The most trusted of them all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is absolutely no way to ensure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of that time period. However, seeing that a casino is certified by eCogra is the best 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 and if not much better than eCogra, their reputation is obviously strongest. Theoretically, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By going with an eCogra certified casino, you know that they stake their reputation on the fact that your gaming experience will be 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 those places where it is legal, it really is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your town or not, it is very important 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 difficult 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 most casinos to simply accept deposits. So before making a deposit, look into online gambling laws specific to where you live for a hassle-free gaming experience.