Online casinos have grown from a niche hobby for dedicated poker fiends and tech heads into a mainstream form of entertainment. Over the last decade, the online casino industry has successfully become another form of gaming entertainment, rather than just a type of gambling.
Part of this success can be put down to the fact that playing casino games is simply a fun pastime that has always had a big audience. Other contributing factors are how convenient online casinos are and how much more accessible they are, especially to people who don’t live near a high-quality resort casino.
With the rise in player numbers, more online casinos have launched to capitalize on the market. From traditional Las Vegas and Atlantic City casino brands and international sportsbooks to game developers and dedicated small gambling companies, it seems like every company is launching at least one online casino platform.
Having a huge variety of options is great for players because online casinos need to compete for their business by offering better games, better bonuses and more convenient payment methods. All of that variety does mean that searching for the ideal online casino platform can be a time-consuming process. We’ve compiled a helpful list of the factors to consider so that you can streamline the process and easily find an online casino platform to suit your preferences.
Licensing and legality
You should only play at online casinos that are fully licensed by a recognized regulatory body. Licensing ensures that the online casino is following all of the rules for protecting player data and is committed to fair play. The regulatory bodies also give players a resource to reach out to if something goes wrong.
Where you live and play will determine which licenses a casino will need to operate legally. In the United States, each state sets its own online gambling laws and has its own regulatory authority. There are also some regulators that are recognized around the world, including those from the UK, Curaçao, Malta and Gibraltar.
Before creating an account, always verify that the online casino is fully licensed in your location, otherwise you may not be able to make any withdrawals later on.
Game selection
The best casino for each player is determined by the games that it offers. Slot machine games are the most popular type of casino game. The variety of slot games available at online casinos is mind-blowing. Besides the traditional games with basic graphics, and cherries and bells as symbols, there are now tons of games that look a lot more like video games. These games have great graphics and animations, cool themes and more intricate gameplay.
For players who prefer table games, there is also a striking number of options. Blackjack, poker, roulette and baccarat are the most popular table games. Craps, various dice games, Slingo and other games of chance can also be found on many sites. Don’t forget to consider how many live dealer games the casino offers, as these can be a major selling point for players who enjoy that extra level of interaction.
Always browse the games library before making an account. Some online casinos focus entirely on one genre of game. If you love slots, don’t waste your time at a poker palace and vice versa.
Payment methods
Only play at online casinos that accept payment methods that you’re comfortable using. Respectable online casinos will only accept trusted payment methods, so this is a good way to verify if an online casino is a safe site to use.
The most commonly accepted payment methods are debit/credit cards (mainly Visa and Mastercard), bank/wire transfers, e-wallets and payment apps. Payment apps such as PayPal and major card companies like Visa and Mastercard have lots of protections in place for both the customer and the business.
There is also a growing number of online casinos that accept cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals. While cryptocurrency is secure, only use this payment method if you’re already familiar with cryptocurrency markets and how they fluctuate.
Bonuses
Bonuses are perks that online casinos hand out to either attract new players or to reward returning players. Welcome bonuses are the most common. These usually include free spins and some free credit to play with, either in the form of a no deposit bonus or as a deposit match.
Loyalty bonuses have more variety. Some are VIP programs where the more you play, the more perks you receive. Others include holiday or monthly promotions (a blackjack bonus offered on the 21st of every month is a common example). Some online casinos have a daily prize wheel that players can spin, which is a great way to encourage players to log in every day.
Be aware that bonuses can be deceptive – it all depends on the wagering requirements. Wagering requirements are how much a player has to bet before they can claim any winnings from their bonus credit. On average, this ranges from 20x-40x the amount of the bonus credit. Be aware that some online casinos have wagering requirements as high as 70x.