Online gambling has always been a source of debate. Is it legal in my country? Can I trust the casinos? What about the children? These are all valid questions.
The most popular online casinos offer their players a variety of gaming options such as card games, lotteries, slot machines and just about any game you would find in a brick and mortar casino.
How Online Casinos Operate
At the heart of any online casino is software. The largest casinos usually develop their own software, and the smaller ones usually buy or rent theirs from a third party.
This software basically runs the entire site with very little human intervention. In games that require real life players, like poker, the software will act as dealer and run the game.
Because these casinos are nearly totally automated, they need to convince their players that they are on the up and up. Every player needs to know that they have a valid chance to win. To gain trust, many casinos will openly disclose how their algorithms work.
So how do you find a reputable online casino? As with everything in life, do your homework first.
Funding Options
The first decision you have to make is how you are going to fund your online casino account. Do you want to use a debit or credit card? A bank transfer? Maybe you want to use a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Whichever method you decide on, you need to make sure the casino of your choice accepts that type of deposit.
Game Selection
Next you need to decide on which games you will be playing the majority of the time. If you are into slots, for instance, you want to choose a casino that offers you a widest variety of slot machines possible. If you are into poker, you want a casino that offers your favorite form of poker along with some other options, in case you want some variety.
Some online casinos have a specialty, whether it be card games or slots. If you are a poker player, you want to make sure your favorite game is represented and that there are a solid number of games going on at all times.
The Welcome Bonus
Another thing to consider is what type of welcome bonus the casino is offering. Since the competition is so fierce among online casinos, most offer new players a welcome bonus for opening and funding an account. Many even offer bonuses on your second, third, or even fourth round on deposits (hint: check out gclub).
You also need to check the requirements for earning those bonuses. Some casinos require to play a certain game or have your account open for a set time. Read the fine print so that there are no surprises.
History And Reviews
Finally, check out the history of the casino. How long has it been in operation? How many players does it have? What type of reviews does it have?
Reviews from players is also another good way to determine if a casino is right for you. Just keep in mind that many players tend to focus on the negative and overlook the positive. After all, the majority of all casino gamblers lose. That’s how casinos (virtual or real world) stay in business.
Most reputable online casinos will boast about the number of active players that they have. This is a good indication that you have chosen a good casino. They would not have a large pool of players sticking around if they offered a subpar experience or were cheating the players.
Once you have gone through this checklist, you will have most likely found an online casino that is worthy of your hard earned money and one that you will most likely enjoy playing at for the foreseeable future.
