Are you new to online casinos? If so, you’ve probably got a whole heap of questions, such as how to choose the best online casino for you and how to sign up. If so, this is the page for you, as we’re going to let you know everything a beginner could ever need to know about online casinos, so you’re ready to jump straight in and start playing like a pro.
What to Look for in a Top Online Casino
Perhaps the most important thing to understand is how to find the best online casino for you, and it’s not as simple as some might think. This is because casinos have many different aspects to them, such as the games and bonuses, and you’ll need to consider all of them before you pick the casino you want to sign up with.
So, how do you find out about all the different aspects of a casino? Well, you could spend days, or even weeks, looking through the various online casinos yourself. Alternatively, you can spend a few minutes reading through the reviews we’ve created, all of which tell you everything you could ever need to know about the online casino in question. It’s then easy to pick the casino that looks best for you.
But what do we look at when reviewing online casinos? There are many things, and you can learn about the main ones when you continue reading.
Great Selection of Games
The first aspect of any casino to consider is the games. After all, without the games, what would be the point of signing up? Every top casino should have a large selection of games, and the majority will almost certainly be slots. These slots should come in a range of different shapes and sizes, with varying themes and features. You should also be able to play progressive jackpot slots, which are slots with jackpots that keep rising as more and more people play, meaning that they can increase to be worth millions of pounds.
Table games also represent a significant part of the selection found at online casinos, and the most popular table games are blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Others you might encounter include three card poker, casino hold’em and craps. Table games generally come in two forms: standard graphics-based table games and live dealer games. The latter are particularly popular and feature a real dealer. They are without doubt the closest you can get to visiting a casino without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home.
You’ll also find that many casinos offer video poker – the game that can have the lowest house edge – as well as scratchcards, keno and more. What’s more, the best online casinos will constantly add new and exciting games to their portfolio, ensuring there’s always something new for you to enjoy playing.
Many Bonuses and Promotions
Every top online casino should have a fine range of bonuses and promotions to claim, including a big welcome bonus for new players. There should also be a loyalty scheme to reward regular players and a VIP scheme for the big spenders.
Having many bonuses isn’t enough, though, as the terms and conditions of the bonuses also have to be fair. We expect the top deposit bonuses to have wagering requirements of 40x or less, while no deposit bonuses should have wagering requirements of 50x at the most. What’s more, bonuses should have a long expiry date, plus there shouldn’t be unreasonable caps on the amount of money that you can earn from them.
Both Desktop and Mobile Accessible
Nowadays, it’s not enough for an online casino to be accessible via a desktop – it has to be available to those using smartphones and tablets as well. The mobile casino should offer a large selection of games, plus the games on offer should have the same prizes available as those found at the desktop site. What’s more, mobile players should be able to deposit and withdraw, as well as contact customer support.
There are two ways that a casino can have a mobile presence. Firstly, they can have a mobile optimised website, which can be accessed using a mobile browser. This website will adapt to a device’s screen and fit perfectly, plus it can be controlled using a device’s touchscreen. The other way is by having a mobile app for iOS, Android or both. This is perhaps the most convenient way for players to access their casino account using a mobile device.
High Levels of Security and Fairness
What could be more important for online casino players than security and fairness? Not only do you need to make sure that the payment systems are secure, but you also need some kind of reassurance that the games on offer give you an honest chance of winning.
At a top casino recommended by us, you can be sure that all payments are handled properly and securely. You’ll find that all casinos offer SSL encryption for all transactions, meaning your details will never fall into the wrong hands. Also, all casinos have robust privacy policies to make sure your details are never given to third parties without your permission.
You can also be sure that every casino we feature will offer fair games. But how can this be proved? All recommended casinos are regulated by the Gambling Commission, the government body that oversees all gambling. They thoroughly analyse every site they oversee, making sure all the games are entirely fair. Quite simply, there’s no way for casinos to cheat their players without the Gambling Commission finding out.
Many Ways to Deposit and Withdraw Money
Banking options are a vital – yet often overlooked – aspect of any site. You must check the available payment methods before signing up, just to make sure there’s an option you’re comfortable using. It’s nearly always the case that there is, as most major casinos offer VISA, MasterCard and PayPal, as well as Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard. However, if you want to use something else, such as crypto, you’ll find fewer sites available to you. You can read about all available payment methods when you look through our reviews.
Don’t just look to see if your favoured payment method is offered. You must also check that there are no fees for depositing and withdrawing, plus it’s vital to check that the transaction times are reasonable. Also, make sure the minimum deposit is low enough for you to afford and that the minimum withdrawal isn’t too high.
High Quality Customer Support
Customer support is something most people don’t bother thinking about until they need to use it. You won’t need to contact customer support regularly at the best casinos; however, it needs to be fast and efficient for those times when you do.
Customer support at an online casino should come in many different forms, including live chat, phone and email. It’s also great if you can contact a site via social media. We also think that all casinos should have a great FAQ section, giving players the chance to find answers to their questions without contacting customer support.
Great Reputation Online
Finally, you need to make sure the casino you choose has an excellent reputation online. You’ll be able to find out what people think of casinos in chat rooms and forums, and you should stay away from any casino that has received multiple complaints about a single aspect of their site.
We look at a site’s reputation when writing our reviews, as it’s the best way to understand precisely what players think of the site in question. When looking at other players’ opinions, pay particular attention to how the site treats players. However, disregard any complaints that a licenced casino is cheating – these claims are almost always made by disgruntled players who have lost money.
How to Sign Up with an Online Casino
Once you’ve found the online casino that looks right for you, the next step is to sign up. This is usually a straightforward process that should only take a couple of minutes. If you’re unsure about how to sign up with an online casino, just check out the step-by-step guide below.
- Navigate to your chosen casino using a desktop or mobile device
- Choose the option to sign up
- Enter a few details, such as your name and age
- Also, make sure you include any bonus code if a no deposit bonus is offered
- Submit the request
- Wait to receive an email, which is used to confirm your account
- Your account is now active
Once you have an active account, you can deposit money using one of many different options. It’s then a case of finding your first game to play and getting started. Hopefully, you’ll manage to win some money straight away!
Staying Safe at Online Casinos
One of the main reasons some people don’t play at online casinos is that they think it’s unsafe. While this might have potentially been the case 20 years ago, a lot has changed. Nowadays, you can be sure that any site licenced and regulated by the Gambling Commission is entirely safe, as they have to undergo a tremendous amount of scrutiny before they’re allowed to start accepting players. You can be sure that all sites we recommend are appropriately licenced and regulated.
When it comes to playing using a mobile device, you should be able to play safely in most places. However, please refrain from depositing or withdrawing money when using a Wi-Fi connection you don’t know or trust, just to ensure your banking details remain private.
