Online casinos are arguably the go-tos for casino players as they have trumped physical casinos in many ways. For one, they are accessible via smart devices, doing away with the need to dress up or undertake long commutes. Secondly, they offer a variety that caters to different gaming needs. And because they don’t have many overheads, they offer their games at lower prices than physical establishments. These perks have made these sites attractive to casino players and people who want to try their hand at casino games.
Even so, not all online casino sites deliver what they promise – some leave their users feeling disgruntled. So, how can you ensure you choose the right casinos? Are there any things you should look out for when making this choice? We walk you through the most important factors:
Choosing the Right Casino
Let’s start with the good news – there are so many options to play online casino games that you don’t need to settle with something that you wouldn’t like. In such a market where buyers have the final say, there is no reason to end up with a subpar choice. And that’s why you can carefully vet your options using the factors below, weeding out the ones that do not meet your threshold requirements:
1. Licensing
The most important thing to consider is whether a casino has a license. But why does this matter? A license comes in handy in many ways:
- It gives the casino the right to offer games for commercial gain,
- It proves that the site has undergone vetting to ensure its games comply with fair gaming rules,
- It ensures the site adheres to its operational standards and can revoke the operations of sites that do not toe the line. If you are unhappy with services offered by a licensed casino, you can take the matter up with the licensor, and
- It reviews the casino’s operations and finances, ensuring it does not offer jackpots that it cannot pay out if someone wins.
Thus, playing on a licensed site safeguards your earnings and ensures you get what’s yours. The best way to vet a casino license is to check if the casino has one and to confirm this with the licensing body. Also, note that not all licensors are strict, and you should thus lean towards the ones known to enforce their rules.
2. Payment methods
People play for different reasons. Some want to make money, others wish to have fun, and others want to combine both. If you will play money games, you will deposit money into your account. And if you are lucky to win, you will need to withdraw this money before you can use it. As such, the payment methods available in the casino matter. Consider the following factors:
- Are the payment methods convenient for you? Most sites offer bank transfers, card payments, and e-wallets as options. Some have now introduced digital currencies. You should review the options and decide if you can find something you can use without hassle.
- Do payments incur any charges? There should be minimal to no transaction charges, save for what you incur from your bank or card company.
- How long do payments take? Ideally, the transactions should be immediate. But waiting a few hours or days might be the norm in some sites. Are you okay with the period?
- Are there limits to deposits and withdrawals? High rollers should especially be aware of such limitations as they can bar how much you can play on the site.
The payment methods might not seem like a significant factor at this point. But once you start making money, you will realize just how important they are.
3. Variety
This factor is situational as it depends on your gaming needs and wants. Some people are okay with playing just one game. For example, you may want to play poker and are thus comfortable using a site that only offers poker games. But if you want to play several games, you should choose a site that gives you room to do so.
4. Reputation
The casino site world features many review sites offering their two cents on different platforms. Should you pay attention to them? Of course! Reading about other people’s experiences gives you an idea of what to expect from the site. Below are the issues you should pay particular attention to:
- Customer Support: At one point or another, you will face an issue requiring contacting the support center. It’s best to understand how easy this is, the available methods, and how fast they respond to queries. While a site may have offered three methods, you may learn that only one option works.
- User Interface: Casino sites should replicate what you find in a physical casino. The graphics and sounds should make you feel like you are in a gaming environment. Moreover, navigating the site should be easy, even for inexperienced players. Find out what others have felt about the navigation before you sign up on a site.
- RTPs: Does the site offer competitive RTPs? These rates affect the profitability of your gameplay. Now is a good time to determine if investing in a given site is a good idea.
- Performance: The stability of a site matters. You do not want to sign up on a site that often crashes, as this affects how often you can access it and play games. Look into what other players have offered about this.
- Mobile Accessibility: Most people access games via phones and not desktops. Does the site offer a seamless mobile site, or is the desktop site better? Also, does it have a reliable app? Like variety, this factor is also situational as it depends on how you prefer accessing games.
- Security: Does the site safeguard user data? Does it have reliable data policies? What about SSL encryption? You should note these measures as they affect how the site handles your data and who can access it.
- Affordability: How much does the site charge for games? Online sites should generally offer lower buy-ins than physical casinos while offering similar payouts.
When reading reviews, please focus on the majority opinion as it gives you an overall feel of what the site offers.
Finally, look into whether the site offers its users bonuses and rewards. These can help you reduce your capital investment and give you a better return on your wagers.