Online gambling is one of the most competitive business sectors in the world. As technology has evolved, players have turned to play casino games at home on their desktops and laptops and on the go on their mobile phones.
The number of online casinos vying for customers has skyrocketed, making it a difficult choice for players. This article studies the things you can look out for when deciding which site to join, making sure you get the safest platform and one that rewards you for your play.
Most people will look for recommendations. You can ask friends where they play, but also many respected guides online publish criteria for the best online casino sites, like those found on topcasinositesuk.com.
The first and perhaps most important consideration is the security and safety of an online casino or any other online betting site like bookies, poker, and bingo rooms. When your money is on the line, you need to know your personal and financial details are treated securely and that the games you play are fair.
To be sure a site is secure, look to see that it is licensed. In the UK, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will only give a license to casino sites that pass strict criteria for fairness and protecting players’ funds and personal information. When you visit a site, scroll down to the bottom, and the UKGC logo will be found. The Governments issue similar trustworthy licenses in Gibraltar and Malta.
But knowing that the online casino is secure is only part of the story. You want to play online because casinos are fun, so you expect to see a wide range of games, from roulette, blackjack, and baccarat to video poker, casino hold ’em, and more. Then there is the slots selection. Slots are perhaps the most played casino games of all, and you will want the releases using the latest technology from some of the world’s top software developers like Microgaming, NetEnt and IGT.
Look out, too, to see if the casino offers live dealer games. This is the newest innovation in online casinos, where real dealers in a studio or casino setting, are streamed to your device, letting you play along. It’s the closest you will come to play in a real casino without having to leave the house.
We mentioned the market is ultra-competitive, so casinos do all they can to tempt players to sign up. They do this with promotions and bonuses. You will see first-time deposit bonus offers and likely free slots spins among the offers to choose from. Make sure you read the small print, though, as everything is not always at it seems. Every deposit bonus – say ‘deposit £20 and get £20 free’ – comes with wagering restrictions. You will be expected to play through the bonus amount several times before you get access to withdraw any of the funds or winnings.
And while free spins on NetEnt slots are tempting, there might well be a restriction on how much you can win, plus wagering requirements before you can withdraw those winnings.
Once you get past understanding the welcome offers, take a look through a site’s promotions page to see what is on offer for existing players. You might well find more ‘reload bonuses’, free spin offers, cashback bonuses and more. Once you understand the small print, you can begin to see how much you will be rewarded for your loyalty on a site.
That’s the security, gameplay and marketing out of the way. The next thing to look for on a site is customer service. Does it have a live chat option? Is there a promised fast response to emails or even a telephone helpline? Does the site have a lot of content with FAQs and guides to help you get the most from it? If the answer to this is mostly yes, then you can be sure you will be well looked after. Nobody wants to play on a site where there is no easy access to help if something goes wrong. Many queries surround deposit and withdrawal methods, so be sure to find a site that offers a wide range of funding options, including debit cards and popular e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill.
Last but not least, how does the site look? Is it easy to navigate so that you can find your favourite games easily? Do the games play out well on your device? If you prefer mobile gaming, does everything look and work as it should? Some casinos have their own iOS or Android app to download, but those that don’t should use the latest HTML5 technology so that all the games work well on your normal mobile browser.