The gambling industry is booming and new casinos are launched almost every week. Nowadays there are more than 3,000 online casinos to choose from, which might not be easy. Especially if you are new to the gambling world. Unfortunately, there are not only great online casinos which care about their players, there are also a lot of shady sites that just want your money.
Therefore, it is important to know what to consider when choosing an online casino. First, be sure that the casino meets the most important criteria like security, good reputation and accepting players from the country you live in. Secondly, you may also consider factors like game selection, payment option and customer support. Additionally, attractive promotions might play an important role.
If you do not want to look for all this information by yourself, feel free to look through the online casinos listed on our site. We looked at every important aspect and provide you with all information you need to choose the right casino for you.
But now let’s discuss all aspects that you should consider before you sign up at an online casino.
1. Casino accepts players from the country you live in
Before starting to play at an online casino, make sure it accepts players from the country you live in. There are a lot of countries that do not allow some or all online casino to operate in their territory. This might not be true for all gambling sites out there but the best online casinos often do not accept players from these countries.
So before starting to play, make sure the casino does not only let you sign up and play (this can be the case sometimes) but also lets you pay out your winnings. If you are not sure about this, then ask the customer support if the casino accepts players from your country, lets them play and also pays out their winnings. To be safe, you can also screenshot your conversation with the support, so you have proof, in case you need it.
2. Good Reputation
After making sure that an online casino accepts players from the country you live in, you should inform yourself about the reputation. We know that many of you don’t have the time to read through this post, or maybe you just want to start playing, then you should check out the casinos listed on our homepage. There you can find our most recommended casinos.
When you are considering to play in an online casino you should verify its reputation. Start by reading reviews or search for information in online forums, chants, message boards, or groups, for example. It is not easy to find out if an online casino is trustworthy or not before you win big and want to withdraw your winnings, but with doing your research and reading online reviews you are on a good way.
The most common cheating practices are as follows:
- Casinos refuse to pay out legitimate winnings. They may argue their behavior by telling you that there has been a software error, that you need to fulfill a certain playthrough before cashing out, delay your withdrawals for weeks or even months or set ridiculous withdrawal limits.
- Offering manipulated games that have a smaller RTP (Return to Player). These games are mostly indistinguishable from the original but have a much lower payout ratio.
- Declaring every player who converts a bonus into real money and a bonus abuser.
To avoid playing at an online casino with such practices make sure to check their reputation. However, note that there may be some complaints about big casinos even though they have a good reputation and follow fair practices whereas in small and new casinos it could be the case that there are currently no complaints and you are the first one to complain.
3. License & Security
Security is the most important feature of online casino sites because you want to be assured that you can deposit and withdraw your money safe and secure and without having to worry if you ever get your money back. Moreover, it is also important that your personal details are safe and secure.
Reputable online casinos will ask you to provide some basic personal information alongside a copy of your legal ID to verify your identity and ensure that you are of legal age. They use an SSL encryption to protect the entered data. So be sure to always check for a secure connection before entering any sensitive data.
Besides data protection, the license plays the most important role in terms of security. Every casino needs a valid license to officially operate from some country or territory. Licenses are either issued by the state that wants to regulate and tax the online gambling of its own citizens or by jurisdictions that allow casinos to do international business (like Malta, Curacao, UK or Gibraltar).
These licenses differ greatly from each other. If a casino refuses to pay you your legitimate winnings, the only possibility you have is to hand in a complaint to the regulator who issued the license to the casino. Some of them make it fairly easy and you have a pretty good chance to get your money back, as it is easy to contact them and they make an effort in investigating the matter to handle it fairly. Such licensing authorities are, for example, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC).
Other licensing authorities like Curacao or Gibraltar make it easy to file a complaint, but their approach will be lax. Whereas there are also some regulators where you won’t even be able to access a contact form in order to submit a complaint. Examples therefore are Costa Rica, Panama and Seychelles.
So, if you want to make sure to get paid your winnings and have the support of licensing authorities in case it is needed, you should pay attention to the licenses a casino has.
4. Game selection and software providers
Once you checked the safety of an online casino you will want to determine if it is a casino you like to play at. Everyone has different preferences, a favorite game or software provider or a special game type they like to play the most. Therefore, check if the casino offers the games you would like to play.
However, also check for the variety of games as well as the software providers from which games are offered. Online casinos offering a large selection of different games from many software providers will have a game for any mood you are in. Reputable online casinos will offer top games from leading software providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, or 1x2 Gaming. Of course, everyone has different preferences but making sure that games from top providers are available is an additional reinsurance that you have chosen a reputable online casino as these igaming companies are known to only partner with trusted casinos.
5. Customer Support
Everyone needs help some times to clarify an issue or you might just need some information regarding bonuses or payment options. Therefore, it is crucial that an online casino offers a reliable and fast customer support that is available 24/7. There should definitely be a live chat to clarify matters fast. But in the best-case scenario you should be able to get in touch with a customer support representative in several ways like email, phone, and live chat. It should be easy to contact the support without having to search the whole website to find the contact details you need.
6. Attractive bonuses and offers
Most online casinos are going to offer several promotions in order to attract new players. These offers often include No Deposit Bonuses, Welcome Bonuses, Deposit Bonuses, Loyalty Program and VIP Program. While it is important to check if there are some bonuses you like (not only a welcome offer but also some additional promotions for registered customers) it is essential that you also look at the respective terms and conditions. No matter how appealing a bonus might seem, it may turn out to be not beneficial at all due to the wagering requirements, time frame, max bet and max winnings applied. So before taking advantage of any bonus, be sure to inform yourself about the conditions to decide whether it is really a great bonus or not.
7. Payment methods and payment fees
Another important criterion when deciding on an online casino is the available deposit and withdrawal methods. Before signing up, check if your favorite payment methods are available and if there are any fees applied. Reputable online casinos provide many options to choose from with no fees applied. Moreover, they have a fast average withdrawal time so that you do not have to wait too long to receive your winnings. Of course, there are differences in speed regarding the different payment methods like E-Wallets and Bank Transfer, but it should never take more than 7 days to have your money in your bank account, no matter which method you use.
8. User-friendly website
This might not be the most important fact to consider but it definitely makes a difference in terms of satisfaction. You want the casino’s website to look pleasant and easy to navigate in order to find what you want. If it takes a lot of time to find what you are looking fore it will get annoying with time.
Usually, you can assume that the bigger the casino, the better the website itself. Big casinos have a larger IT team and more means to develop a great website. This is true in most cases but as with everything there are some exceptions to it. So don’t directly assume that a great looking and modern website means that it is a large casino.
9. Mobile optimization or mobile App available
Good online casinos offer the possibility to also play their games on your smartphone or tablet. Many players do not want to play on a PC anymore and be able to play from everywhere. You could comfortably chill on your couch or play on your way home from work. The availability of mobile games is the new standard of quality in the online casino world. Therefore, make sure to check if the casinos website is mobile optimized or offers an app to play from your phone. If you are not sure if a casino offers these options, just check our reviews, as we provide the information needed.
By following this guide, you can make sure to look at every important aspect to find the best online casino for you. With over 3,000 online casinos on the market, it is definitely not an easy task but an important one. To make it easier for players to decide where to play, look at our list of the top online casinos and read our reviews to get the information you need.
