Choosing an Online Casino

Published on: January 14, 2011 

Introduction

Once players decide that they want to venture into online gaming the first step is to choose an online casino. This is not an easy task because there are hundreds of online casinos on the Internet. And just like in any other industry, the online gaming industry has its share of rogue casinos. If you happen to get caught up with such a casino not only will you not be able to cash out your winnings but may even lose your deposits. Fortunately it is very simple to sift the good from the bad. This article provides some useful tips in choosing reputed online casinos.

Find casinos that carry a gaming license

Most online casinos operate under a license from a jurisdictional authority. This authority is supposed to verify the credentials and financial standing of the owners, get the software inspected for fairness by an expert agency and examine the management controls proposed by the operator before issuing a license. The details of the licensing authority can be found on the Home page or About Us page at the casino web site. Do not wager at casinos that do not provide details about their license. The further assessment involves ascertaining the reputation of the licensor and the validity of the license. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta and the Government of Gibraltar are a few reputed licensing jurisdictions.

Play at casinos that are suitable for you based on your location

Not all online casinos accept players from all countries. Therefore it is essential to confirm that the casino under consideration accepts players from your location. It is also important to check out if the currencies accepted and the payment options offered would create legal or operational problems in your location. Exchanging currency at every deposit and withdrawal will add to your cost. If customer support is available in the native language of your country it will be a big help. Online casinos tend to formulate their promotions for regions where the bulk of their customers reside. This will help you to avail the non cash prizes many casinos offer.

Do some research and look for casinos that have a good presence online

Good online presence is an indicator of the popularity and reputation of the casino. Online presence is achieved when the casino is talked about in online forums by players who have wagered there. Therefore it is a good idea to be active at such forums. It must be mentioned that only praise, not condemnation, at these forums leads to good online presence. Good reviews and high ratings and rankings by sites that have achieved renown in evaluating online casinos also leads to good online presence. Players must check out several such sites before taking a call on the casino. The extra effort involved in the research will pay off.

Find casinos that offer 24/7 customer support

No matter how information an online casino puts out at their web site, new players are bound to need customer support once they start wagering with real money. Hence you should check out the customer support before signing up. Today most online casinos offer 24/7 customer support. However some casinos operate their support function on restricted hours. Avoid such casinos. Contacting customer support over phone can be at the player’s cost and the verification formalities can be irritating. E-mail support does not operate in real time. Look for casinos with Live Chat support because it takes care of the problems mentioned.

Find casinos that offer good bonuses

Bonuses are freebies given to players to attract them. These are usually given as a percent of the deposit made. Other bonuses are given for referring friends to the casino or to compensate for losses incurred in wagering. The bonus offer is important but more important are the strings attached. These are mentioned in the bonus terms and conditions so make sure you read those thoroughly. The factors to look for are the wagering requirements and the games on which the bonuses can be wagered. Low wagering requirements are better than large bonuses and if you are a blackjack player it is pointless to claim a bonus that can be wagered only on slots.

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