There are quite literally thousands of online gaming casinos that accept new players from all over the globe. This is actually a good thing for gamblers like you, because it means casinos have to go the extra mile to win your custom and make sure you keep playing on their site instead of a competitors.
Still, there are more than a few “bad eggs” out there so to speak. I’m talking about online casinos that provide very low odds in comparison to other sites, offer ambiguous bonuses, and some that even refuse to pay out players winnings altogether!
So the question for you is, how do you go about choosing a casino that offers fair prices and can be trusted? Here are a few things to look out for:
Reputation
The number of dodgy casinos out there is almost equal to the number of good ones. As such, you need to research each casino very carefully before you start playing there. The best way to do this is to search on casino review sites or guide sites. There are numerous super casino review sites out there that can keep you informed on items such as each casino’s rules and regulations, the games they offer, how reliable they are and so on. Be sure to check for any negative comments about sites paying out winnings to customers and their bonus offers.
Licensing & Registration
Do not play on sites that aren’t properly registered and licensed. The most reputable gambling jurisdictions tend to be UK Gambling Commission, Malta, Alderney, Gibraltar and Isle of Man, so look for one that’s regulated by one of these organizations. If a site doesn’t clearly indicate its licensing information, be sure to avoid it!
Security
Besides licensing, you should also check that the casino in question is safe to use. To do this, you’ll need to check which companies helped to develop the site’s gaming platform. The most reputable sites generally use a solution from a developer company like Microgaming, NetEnt or Playtech, which embed standard security features like 128-bit SSL encryption in their platforms. You should also look to see if the site’s random number generator (RNG) software has been certified as “safe and fair” by an organization like iTech Labs or eCOGRA.
Bonuses and Promotions
Most sites offer some kind of sign up bonus or promotion, or a free bet. However, the terms of these promotions on many sites are very ambiguous, and oftentimes somewhat unfair. For example, a site may offer a $200 sign up bonus, but if you read the terms and conditions you’ll see you can only withdraw that money after you’ve bet something like 10 or 20 times that amount, and you’ll only be given a short time frame to do that. In other words, it probably isn’t worth it, because such offers are designed to make you lose.
Deposit methods
Be sure to choose a site that offers a deposit and withdrawal method you can use. In most cases, withdrawal methods are usually more restrictive, so be careful that there’s an option for you to withdraw your winnings!