Below are some of the most important aspects gamblers should consider before choosing a casino and opening an account.
Reputation
There are just as many dubious casinos in the marketplace as there are
reputable ones. The player needs to proceed with caution and perform the
proper due diligence. The most important thing the gambler needs to
realize is that gambling online comes with inherent risks that aren't
apparent with live casinos. The best way to research the reliability of a
gambling site is to read as many online reviews as possible. There are
several good "watchdog"
sites available online. They offer information regarding the casino's
rules, products, and more importantly, the casino's performance record
related to customer service and paying off winners. It would be a good
idea to stick with casinos that have received several good reviews
without negative comments regarding pay-outs.
Licensing & Registration
The player needs to verify where the sites are registered and licensed.
There are several common jurisdictions that house many of the top sites.
These jurisdictions include: Malta, Alderney, Gibraltar and Isle of
Man. The site should provide this information along with registration
and license numbers. Players need to avoid any sites that come from
obscure areas with no licensing information.
Site Security
A player needs to make sure that casinos are safe, secure and fair. The
best way to determine a casino's level of security is to investigate
what companies were involved in developing and providing the site's
software platform. A player might want to stick with sites using
platforms provided by top developers like Microgaming, Playtech or NetEnt.
These reputable developers provide sites and games that have embedded
security features such as 128-bit SSL encryption and firewalls designed
to keep sites secure. The player should also verify that the software's
random number generator (RNG) has been verified and certified as "safe and fair" by independent companies or organizations like eCOGRA and iTech Labs.
Promotions & Bonuses
If all things are equal, a player should consider using casinos that
offer the best promotions and player bonus programs. Most casinos offer sign-up bonuses
as well as VIP bonuses, free bets and rebate programs. It is very
important to read all the rules related to promotions in order to
understand "rollover" requirements and other restrictions.
The Games
The player needs to decide what type of gaming they are interested in
doing. There are sites that provide only casino gambling, sports/horses
or poker. There are some sites that provide full service. All the player
needs to do is match the casino with their own wishes. Most sites
provide the opportunity to see a listing of gaming options right on
their home page and play some in free mode. Some casino sites actually
offer free no deposit bonuses that allow the player to play a few of the site's games prior to actually making an initial deposit.
Banking
Most sites accept many different deposit methods.
The withdrawal methods are usually more restrictive. The player needs
to verify that there are ample methods for both available within their
jurisdiction. The most financially secure sites are those owned by major
corporations in countries like Great Britain. These sites are usually
highly regulated with more than sufficient financial resources.
Summary
Selecting an online casino, poker or bingo site can be an exciting
venture as long as you're equipped with knowledge and information.
Finding a good match may take some trial and error but once you find
one, hours of entertainment can be expected.
Posted by Denise Marie
Posted by Denise Marie