Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or a casual hobby, choosing between your hundreds of online casinos available online today can be rather intimidating. After all, every online gamer has their own unique personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. In the same way every player is different, so can be online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when shopping around for an online casino that may meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s 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. Which means that you’re not likely to stick around playing a casino game you don’t enjoy. Even though 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 participating, you might think your choices are limited, nevertheless, you couldn’t be farther from the reality. Many companies pride themselves on thinking beyond your box and offering new and innovative games that improve the bar in terms of graphics, sound and playability. It is just a good idea to get a concept of which online casinos carry games that you will be thinking about 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 previously, has stellar games, but will 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 has 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 are able to access their money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Most online casinos offer simple depositing processes whereby you deposit money into an account for use within that one online casino. Still, don’t assume all casino operates the same way. RTG 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. Can you blame them? They want 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 is 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 one to read some reviews and take advantage of the experience of others. You can find so many sites on the market offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Even though you will be gambling at the casino, it is 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 youngster into a van. They state nothing for the web casino’s game-play or customer service. I shall use another simile. They are like an ad incentive from the car dealership released there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Important thing, 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 an automobile.
Online casinos are no different. Often 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 let you know is that if you wish that money to repay, you will have to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that enables you to cash out…assuming 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 that are appropriate for 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 web 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 these all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is no way to ensure that any online casino is absolutely fair 100% of that time period. However, seeing that a casino is certified by eCogra is a good way to understand that play is as fair as it can be.
There are other names on the market, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While hoki188 may certainly do their job together with if not better than eCogra, their reputation is obviously strongest. Theoretically, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By choosing 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 basically prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it is legal, it is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your town or not, you should know the law before you begin spending. An online casino allowing you access does not necessarily mean that their services are legal what your location is. It is difficult for governments to regulate the internet 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 accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, consider online gambling laws specific to where you live for a hassle-free gaming experience.