How to Choose a New Online Casino
There are a number of things that you will want to consider before signing up for a casino. At the most basic level, you need to ensure that it is legal for you to play there. Once you have established that, you will want to look into factors such as the games on offer, the different payment methods, bonuses and promotions, and more. Here we will explore each of these factors in a bit more depth, so you know exactly what to look out for when reading our reviews and researching a casino.
Research the Casino License
You will not see casinos making big announcements about their licenses, but they really are of vital importance. If you scroll down to the bottom of any reliable casino website, you will find information about which authorities it has licenses from. There are two very important reasons for you to know which licenses a casino holds. Firstly, if a casino holds a license from a respected gaming authority, then you can be sure that the games are fair, that players’ privacy is protected, and that players’ money is safe. There are a number of excellent licensing authorities, such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. The second reason you need to know which license a casino holds is to ensure that it is legal for you to play there. If it is not legal, then the casino can legitimately withhold your winnings, which would be hugely disappointing.
If you are particularly concerned about fairness, then you can also look to see if the casino holds any certificates from institutions such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs, Gaming Labs International, and Technical Systems Testing. These are independent auditors of casino games and very often, you can find their reports on casino websites.
Look at Games and Developers
Of course, the primary reason you are looking for an online casino is that you want to play games. Therefore, there is no point in joining a casino that doesn’t offer the games you enjoy. If you are a slots player then today you can easily find casinos that offer hundreds, if not thousands of games. Similarly, those who prefer card and table games are often spoilt for choice with numerous variants of classics such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat on offer.
A great thing about modern online casinos is that they are able to offer games from multiple developers, which means that players have more choice than ever before. If you know that there is a particular developer whose games you enjoy, then you can easily check to see if they are on offer at any given casino. If you don’t have a preference, then you can still have a look at the available games and very often try them in demo mode. There are a huge number of casino game developers and each has its own style. As a general rule, it is safe to say that the more developers on offer, the better.
Ensure Banking is Easy and Secure
You cannot start playing at an online casino until you have deposited funds in your account, and with a bit of luck, you will soon have plenty of winnings to withdraw. Therefore, it goes without saying that banking is of the upmost importance when selecting an online casino. The good news is that if you have chosen a casino with a reputable license, then you can be absolutely certain that the banking will be secure. At that point, it becomes a matter of choosing the payment method that is best for you.
Today, casinos offer many different payment methods, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, and more. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can find more information about this elsewhere on our site. The important thing is to make sure that a casino offers a method that you find convenient. For instance, if you live in a country where gambling credit card transactions are illegal, then you need to ensure that there is an alternative, such as an e-wallet, that you are comfortable using. In our reviews, you will find full details of the payment methods each casino has to offer.
Examine the Bonuses
Casinos offer all kinds of bonuses to try to attract players, and many of them are extremely generous and definitely worth taking advantage of. Nearly every casino will offer some kind of welcome bonus, such as deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses and free spins. However, you need to make sure that the bonus is right for you. For example, if the bonus is only for deposits greater than €100, then it may not be right for your budget. Furthermore, you also need to make sure that you can meet any wagering requirements.
Most casinos also offer a number of ongoing promotions and loyalty reward programmes. You should also take a look at them to see if they sound tempting.