Whether gambling online is really a serious pastime for you or a casual hobby, choosing between your hundreds of online casinos available online today could be rather intimidating. After all, every online gamer has their own personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. Just as every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the basics to consider when shopping around for an online casino that will meet your gambling needs and some.

It’s ABOUT the Games

In terms of online casinos, I come to play and I play to win. But first of all, I come to play. That means that you’re not going to stick around playing a casino game you don’t enjoy. Even when you play a game common to all or any casinos like poker, if the interface is weak you’re all but guaranteed to produce a fast “exit.”

Because online casinos only feature games where wagers are participating, you might think your alternatives are limited, nevertheless, you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Many companies pride themselves on thinking outside the box and offering new and innovative games that improve the bar with regards to graphics, sound and playability.

It is a good notion to get an idea which online casinos carry games you are interested in playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are just two of the numerous top online casino software providers that push the envelope with every game they put out.

Also understand that each software provider has their own style. Rival, as I mentioned above, has stellar games, but tends to cater to younger crowd of online casino players. They focus more on graphics and games that appeal to “video gamers” more than anyone else. Where as Cryptologic has a knack when planning on taking classic games and making them fresh and exciting again.

Banking Features

Naturally people when playing online, one wants to make sure that they are able to access their money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Most online casinos offer simple depositing processes whereby you deposit money into an account for use within that one online casino. Still, not every casino operates exactly the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their own software solutions to manage money while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”

Look for Peer Reviews

An online casino will tell you anything and everything to make you gamble at their online casino. Can you blame them? They would like to make money. It is within their best interest to market their online casino because the biggest and the very best. Therefore, your best bet on researching an online casino would be to seek out customer reviews on gambling review websites.

Online gamers are passionate concerning the casinos they love and venomous towards those they hate. Before spending a dime, it behooves you to read some reviews and take advantage of the experience of others. You can find so many sites out there offering top-notch, third party reviews of online casinos. Despite the fact that you will be gambling at the casino, it’s best not to gamble on a casino.

Beware of SUBSCRIBE Bonuses

Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned are the candy a shady stranger uses to lure a kid into a van. They say nothing for the online casino’s game-play or customer support. I shall use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from a car dealership released there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Bottom line, there’s always a catch. In the aforementioned scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled on you and end up paying way more than you wanted for an automobile.

Online casinos are no different. Often the sign up bonus will offer you some exorbitant quantity of free money. That’s what it says at first glance. But what they don’t let you know is that if you need that money to pay off, you will need to pay a far more exorbitant amount in wagers until you meet your minimum that enables you to cash out…when you have any winnings that is.

Are You a Mac or a PC?

While each online casino is PC friendly, exactly the same can’t be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and many have developed platforms that are compatible with both PC and the rising number of Mac users. So if domtoto on a Mac, your decision is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the web casino world is your oyster.

ECOGRA Certified Casinos

There are many of third-party online casino watchdogs out there, all of them monitoring the casinos to note that they are playing fair. The most trusted of them all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is no way to ensure that any online casino is completely fair 100% of the time. However, since a casino is certified by eCogra is the better way to know that play is as fair as it can be.

There are other names out there, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While some may certainly do their job in addition to if not better than eCogra, their reputation is obviously strongest. Theoretically, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By choosing an eCogra certified casino, you know that they stake their reputation on the truth that your gaming experience will be a fair one.

Know the Law

Even though it shouldn’t be, online gambling is basically prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it really is legal, it is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your area or not, you should know the law before you begin spending. An online casino allowing you access does not indicate that their services are legal what your location is.

It is difficult for governments to regulate the internet and often the player is the one at risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already since it is legal for some casinos to accept deposits. So before making a deposit, consider online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.