Many millions of people all round the world play in online casinos every day. In the three decades since the very first sites started to appear in the early 1990s, the number of casinos has steadily increased to meet the demand.
So there may be plenty of choice out there. But it’s very important for new players to know how to go about choosing the right one for them. And it’s not just choosing the casino, it’s also about knowing which games to play.
Hopefully, what you’re about to read will give you plenty of guidance.
Table of Contents
Choosing your online casino
Let’s start with the most important consideration of all – which particular online casino to choose.
Take a look online and you will find an almost endless selection. So a good place to start will be with the big brands names that you may have already heard about. Because these are big, established brands you can be sure that they have good reputations and are fully approved and licensed.
In the UK it’s a government organisation called the Gambling Commission that regulates the industry so it’s always worth taking the time to check that any casino you’re considering has been approved by them.
Another aspect to look into is the range of different ways that you can pay in your stake money and receive your winnings from a particular casino. Most of the larger ones offer a wide range of methods from debit cards to leading digital wallets like Neteller, Skrill and Paypal.
But if you’re looking for ones that accept cryptocurrencies, the job may be a little harder. There are some out there, but they’re quite few and far between.
On the subject of security, it’s also well worth looking into the type of encryption the casino in question uses. This is important as you need to be sure that your money, as well as your personal details, will be protected from hackers. Again, you can rest assured that the bigger names will be just as secure as your bank will be.
Understanding welcome bonuses
One aspect that helps many people choose their casino is the welcome bonus. All will feature one of some kind. Usually it’s that they will offer to match any initial deposit up to a maximum level. Often they also add a number of free spins on selected slots games.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll find a casino offering a no-deposit welcome bonus, effectively free money to play.
Beware though! It’s definitely worth looking closely at the terms and conditions of these offers to make sure that they’re as good as they seem. Often there is something called a wagering requirement before you can claim them. This is a multiple of your initial deposit that you need to achieve within a specified time frame. So look around for bonuses that have a relatively low wagering requirement. Or, better still, no requirement at all.
Picking which games to play
Then it’s a question of deciding which games you’re going to try your hand at. For many people, it’s the slots that appeal the most. These are quick and easy to play and they come in so many themes that there are ones that are perfect for almost everyone. Of all the games you can play, they also offer the greatest possibility of a big win for a relatively small stake.
When it comes to the table games on offer, these appeal to very different kinds of players.
Roulette
For many people, this is the quintessential casino game and the sort that you’d find high rollers like James Bond playing. If you like the excitement of watching the little white ball spinning round the wheel before falling into a winning number, then it could be the game for you too. The fact that the betting is pretty straightforward also makes it very popular.
Baccarat
Of all the casino card games, baccarat is arguably the most simple and fast moving. You simply bet on whether the player or the banker will score closer to nine. Quick to pick up and very enjoyable, it’s no wonder it’s so popular.
Blackjack
A little more complex but still fairly simple, in blackjack it’s you against the dealer with each of you aiming to get closer to 21. In this game there is the chance to give yourself a slight edge by studying something called the basic strategy. This comes in the form of a series of tables to memorize that show what, statistically-speaking, would be the best thing to do with any given hand. It takes some learning, but it could be well worth it in the long run.
A few more tips
Before you embark on your online casino journey, here are a couple more pieces of advice. The first is, the basic strategy excepted, there are no formulas that will help you to win. Most casino games really are chance-based and you’ll either be lucky or not.
Secondly, take good care of your bankroll management by deciding how much you’re going to play with and sticking to it. Keep winnings and stake money separate and don’t chase your losses.
Other than that, now it’s just a question of finding that perfect online casino and starting to play.
Here’s wishing you a winning start and all the luck in the world.
