Bettor Shop Around
So you have decided to take the plunge and treat yourself to all the fun and games you have been hearing so much about. Of course, there is no reason to feel you have been missing out on all that much. After all, the online gambling industry's only been in high gear for a handful of years, and a little hand at that. Nevertheless, there's no time like the present and now is as good a time as any to let that clever gambler inside you free.
And to help steer you to the online casinos that are "just right for you," our experienced research staff has compiled a checklist of essential criteria to consider prior to laying down your hard-earned currency at any of the 2,000 plus online casino sites already in existence. True, a number of so-called "checklists" are already scattered throughout the Internet. But not one, to the best of our knowledge at least, is as up to date and pertinent to today's online casino world, especially in light - or darkness - of the U.S. prohibition on Internet wagering.
Thus, without wasting any more precious playing time, simply review the following list of key points, arrange them according to your own personal priorities, and keep them in mind whenever shopping for the online casino most worthy of your patronage.
Online Casino Shopping List
Sign-Up Bonuses
Comps
Customer Support
Deposit Methods
Fun Factor
Game Variety
Graphics
Languages
Originality
Payout Time
Popularity
Reputation
Security & Privacy
Software Quality
Sound
Special Promos
Speed
User-Friendliness
Sign-Up Bonuses
Probably the single most significant factor for most players when looking for a new online casino website, these sign-up or match bonuses are designed with the single purpose of encouraging prospective real-cash players to deposit money and begin wagering. Basically all online casino sites offer these extremely attractive cash incentives. Players simply register and deposit a minimum of funds into a casino account, and the casino matches that amount by anywhere from 10 to 300%, up to a limited amount, of course. Make sure you always read any and all Terms and Conditions concerning a bonus offer before taking the plunge, or you might just get soaked.
Comps
As is traditional with land-operated casinos whereby they customarily reward players, especially high rollers, with free hotel accommodations, food, cocktails etc., online casino operators also try to lure new players, as well as hold on to current ones, with a range of enticements. These freebies are frequently in the form of "cash points," or "frequent player points," if you will, which gamblers collect based on how much they play and/or bet. Players can later apply these points as credit towards their casino accounts.
Customer Support
With virtually all online casino sites providing 24/7 customer support via e-mail, telephone and live chat, you should not settle for anything less. It is always a good idea to test out these service departments by sending a basic e-mail message or phoning them up (toll-free) prior to playing.
Deposit Methods
Most online casinos provide a broad enough choice of deposit methods including credit cards, bank transfers, plus umpteen alternative "third party" processors.
Fun Factor
What can we say; casino gambling is supposed to be about having fun. If a casino review carries on all about how so much went into building a Web site, or that the games are "state-of-the-art," "cutting-edge," and all that techie stuff, but fails to even suggest that the games are also possibly... perhaps... or maybe even fun... ABORT IMMEDIATELY!
Game Variety
Internet casino firms today offer players a choice of anywhere between 30 to 200 games. These generally include all the typical favorites, such as craps, slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, baccarat, keno, as well as a number of variations of each of these games.
Graphics
Appearances may not be everything when it comes to gambling online, but first impressions can be very telling. If a site is unimpressive looking, consider playing somewhere else. A safe bet is to settle on a venue that cares about how it looks. After all, this says a lot about the site's operators and their overall integrity. Likewise, don't be fooled by a casino site that looks too slick; these can spell trouble.
Languages
The U.S. prohibition on online gambling caused a major shift in the direction that online casino organizations were heading. The focus swung away from the massive American market (estimated to account for half of all wagers), and began targeting gamblers in other parts of the world, mainly Europe and Asia. As competition would have it, any firm hoping to remain in the game has since been forced to provide their games and services in a host of languages other than English, French and Spanish.
Originality
Everybody loves an original! And online casino operators go to tremendous lengths to be new and exciting in order to draw more players. After all, isn't excitement what gambling is all about? With so many unbelievably realistic and refreshing online casino destinations out there, you'll have no difficulty being blown away.
Payout Time
Though some online casino companies will state claims regarding how long they take to pay out winnings to players, such as "4-5 business days," these statements are not always precise. Thus it's a good practice to assume it will take somewhat longer to collect your money. Casinos would rather you continue playing and betting, instead of withdrawing your funds. More and more gambling blogs and forums are available for players to get an idea of at least which casinos to avoid entirely.
Popularity
How popular a casino site is speaks volumes. If a casino's been around for at least a year and still being frequented by loads of players, the odds are good that the game-playing is worth checking out. The progressive games will also offer bigger winnings, seeing as how there are so many players contributing to the jackpots.
Reputation
Any online casino that has been around for a while has a reputation; positive or negative. If you are about to lay some loot down with a particular venue, but aren't exactly sure about their games and/or overall reliability, simply Google the name of the casino and see what comes up. If there is anything vitally important you or any gambler should know about a site, you'll discover it very soon.
Security & Privacy
Though you would probably expect a lengthier explanation here on what to look for in order to best safeguard your privacy and security, the bottom line is this: If a casino's games are driven by any of the major software providers (MicroGaming, Playtech, Cryptologic etc.), you're in good company. These licensors are just as concerned as you are (and probably more) about compromising their good names by associating with criminal elements.
Software Quality
Most online casino companies license their software from firms specializing in developing casino game software. Today's industry comprises a number of distinguished developers like Playtech, MicroGaming, Cryptologic, and Random Logic etc. Many of these companies are publicly traded and highly reputable.
Sound
Online casino sites go to great extents to recreate the exciting environments of their land-based cousins. The sound effects complementing the visual action when playing your favorite games can certainly deliver that realistic Vegas-like environment and feel. But be careful, sound qualities vary from site to site, and some can be totally annoying. But then again, you can always turn the sound off.
Special Promos
Online casino companies are continuously trying to come up with novel and exciting ways to win you over. Beyond initial sign-up bonus offers, most sites offer a variety of promos, of which some can be quite valuable indeed. These promotions may include anything (and everything) from mega-buck giveaways to opportunities to win cars and vacation cruises.
Speed
How fast or sluggish the game-playing is at an Internet casino can often be a real drag, especially the latter. Knowing which gaming software firm developed a particular casino's games can often be very indicative of what you can expect with regard to speed. Also, some online casino sites provide their guests with the luxury of being able to fine-tune game speeds to their liking. This is a great feature!
User-Friendliness
Obviously, how simple it is to navigate within a casino - particularly during game play - is quite important. Perhaps the best way to establish whether or not a potential venue is indeed "friendly" is to first try out their games free, in other words, without risking any real money. Any online casino worth playing at these days also offers "free play" so that folks like you can get a feel for the games before committing any cash.
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