When you decide to start playing at online casinos, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the number of casinos out there. So, how do you choose one? Finding the ideal casino is a little about personal taste, and a lot about finding a safe and fun gambling environment.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Reputable licence
Check if the casino site holds a licence from a reputable regulating body. If you deposit money at an online casino based outside of the UK that doesn’t hold a license, there is no guarantee that you will be able to withdraw any winnings you might receive.
On top of that, some licenses offer better protection to players and will intervene in disputes between casinos and players. The UK Gambling commission are widely regarded as one of the most respected licences, and you can be rest assured that a casino holding a licence from this entity will provide a safe and secure gambling environment.
Do your homework
Before you start playing at an online casino in the UK it’s a good idea to actually get to know the games you want to play. Casino games are fun, and with a little luck you can win some real money. But to give yourself the best chance, be sure to understand the mechanics of your game of choice.
Read up on odds, house edge and the rules of your chosen game. It might seem like a lot of extra work, but it will benefit you in the end.
Sign up process
The way a new casino welcomes you, can show you a lot about the casino. Online casinos bring out their big guns to entice players to join their site. New online casino players can sometimes benefit from a no deposit bonus in the form of free spins, to give them a feel for the casino.
The ease of signing up will also tell you a lot about an online casino. The process should be streamlined and easy to complete.
Payment methods
Online casinos are often on the forefront of innovation. Online casinos were some of the first businesses in the realm of internet commerce to offer new payment methods. On top of bank transfers, credit and debit cards, casino payment methods can also include e-wallet payments and cryptocurrencies.
Although it’s great to look out for a casino that offers lots of payment methods, what you really want to look for is a casino that offers your chosen payment method. You might even get lucky with a special bonus offering tailored to your ideal method.
Bonuses
Players don’t just get casino bonuses when they join a casino. Bonuses are offered regularly, especially to loyal players. The more you play in a casino, the better bonuses you might benefit from.
Unfortunately, most casinos aren’t too transparent about what they offer. This isn’t necessarily a red flag, it’s just a way to protect themselves from bonus hunters and to keep their promotion strategy secret from competitors.
Once you have signed up to a casino and made your first deposit you will usually receive messages detailing what’s on offer. Click to accept marketing communications from your chosen casino and you won’t miss out on future bonuses.
Game variety
Not much point in joining an online casino if they don’t offer a great collection of casino games. Variety really is the spice of life, so any decent casino will offer online slots.
Great casinos will give you the chance to play slot machines, from a number of game providers, ensuring that there is always something new and fun to play, no matter what your taste in games.
Terms and conditions
Having a look at the T&Cs of any business you hand your money to is always a good idea. But the small print is especially important when it comes to online casinos.
Although bonuses might seem like free little gifts, they do come with strings attached. Casino bonuses are usually tied to your deposit and need to be wagered in the casino. This means that you won’t be able to withdraw any winnings earned from a bonus until you have met this wagering requirement.
If a casino bonus has a very high wagering requirement (40 or higher), it’s a good idea to avoid the casino, as you’ll be unlikely to enjoy your winnings. Thankfully there are plenty of great casinos with better terms and conditions.
Commitment to responsible gambling
Hopefully this isn’t an aspect of online UK casinos that you’ll ever have to worry about. But just like a safety net under a trapeze the first time you decide to go for a high-rise swing, you’ll want this in place, just in case.
In order to protect players from the detrimental consequences of problem gambling, online casinos are legally required to make a commitment to responsible gambling. This includes allowing players to set time and deposit limits, as well as to self-exclude from marketing communications. And to close their accounts, if needs be.
Casinos that don’t have this in place don’t take the welfare of their customers seriously and should be avoided.
Customer support
If nothing ever goes wrong at an online casino, chances are you won’t need to reach out to the customer support department. But if you do run into any problems, you’ll want to know that there will be someone on the other side of the line, or chat.
Have a look at the ways you can reach out, and the hours when customer support staff is available.
If you’ve downloaded the casino app, you’ll most likely be able to contact customer service directly from the app, as well as follow the progress of your enquiry.
Check out comparison sites
Sometimes you just need to see what’s out there, side-by-side, to really make an informed choice. When you consider all of the above tips, you’ll easily be able to compare online casinos, and make an informed choice.
Remember, good reputations are earned. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of casino reviews, giving you the chance to quickly see what’s out there, and which casinos are worth a visit.
