Licenses and registrations help keep online casinos in check and offer the highest level of support to their players. If you choose a casino that is not licensed in your country or state, your protection as a customer is very limited.
Make sure your chosen casino has a valid license by checking their licensing information at the bottom of their website.
There are plenty of free play options available at most online casinos, but if you are considering playing for real money, the obvious thing to check is what payment options are available. Make sure you check what options are available for withdrawals, as not all deposit options can be used to withdraw funds.
Of course, one of the biggest draws when choosing an online casino is what games they offer. While this is certainly an important factor, it is even more important to check which game providers they support and partner with.
Reliable gaming providers are regularly audited to ensure they have fair gaming practices and usually only work with reputable casinos.
Casinos vary in terms of features, bonuses, game selection, payment methods and other factors, which can be overwhelming, but more important than that is whether they treat their players fairly.
Terms should be clearly communicated on their website and promotional materials and should be fair to you in terms of industry standards—e.g. wagering requirements, maximum wins, minimum deposits, etc., and dispute resolution.
Some online casinos use predatory practices to deceive players, deny withdrawals without legitimate reasons, and unfairly increase profits at the expense of players.
We will always inform our readers if a casino is not recommended or blacklisted for clear reasons.
Customer support is probably one of the most important factors when playing at an online casino. Not only should they provide multiple channels for getting support in your local language, but they should also be able to resolve issues quickly and professionally.
A great gaming experience can quickly turn sour if the casino doesn't respond well to customer inquiries.
We have a great guide on knowing your Rights as a Player to help empower and educate you in interacting with online casinos.
Casinos use bonuses as a way to attract new players, but these bonuses come with strings attached in the form of terms and conditions. These terms and conditions can be restrictive, and if players don’t follow them, they can lose their bonus and potential winnings.
Casino bonuses are promotional offers that casinos offer to new and existing players. The most common type of bonus is a deposit match, where the casino matches a certain percentage of your deposit. For example, a 100% deposit match bonus up to $100 means the casino will match your deposit up to $100.
Bonuses usually have wagering requirements, which means you have to play a certain amount of money before you can withdraw the bonus money. For example, a $100 bonus with a 20x wagering requirement means you have to play $2,000 before you can withdraw the bonus.
Bonuses can also be cashable or non-cashable. Cashable bonuses can be withdrawn, but non-cashable bonuses can only be used for playing.
Casino bonuses are a great way to get started at a casino, but make sure you read the terms and conditions before claiming the bonus.
The amount of money you can win from a casino bonus is often limited. Also, bets placed on restricted games do not count towards wagering requirements. It is often better for beginning players to play without a bonus.
If thinking about complicated math equations gives you a migraine, don't worry, we'll explain what you need to know in an easy-to-understand way.
Crypto CasinoAll casino games are configured to give the casino an advantage, known as the ‘house edge’. The house edge is the percentage of money wagered that the casino can make back in the long run. Knowing how this affects you will go a long way in managing your expectations.
Casino games have a theoretical long-term return-to-player (RTP) value, meaning that, over time, players will tend to win back a certain percentage of their initial investment. However, this does not mean that players will win back their entire investment in a single session. RTP is a statistical value, and individual game spins can vary greatly. Casinos can rely on statistics to gain an advantage in the long run. While individual players may get lucky and win in the short term, the overall result will eventually reach the expected RTP.
For example, if a particular game has an RTP of 94.7%, statistically, over time, you can expect a return of 94.7%. On a $100 bet, that equates to $94.70, while the casino expects $5.30. Keep in mind that this is a statistical average and is not an indication of how much you can win on a particular bet.
Wagering requirements are very important when deciding on a casino bonus. This is the total amount you need to wager before you can claim any winnings from the bonus funds. This has been briefly discussed above, but one thing to look out for is whether the wagering requirements apply to just the bonus funds or both the deposit and bonus funds. This makes a big difference in the total amount you need to wager. Don’t be caught off guard when trying to cash out – make sure you understand the terms and conditions. Quite a few online casino complaints relate to this.
One of the most important factors is volatility (also known as variance), which relates to how big individual wins are and how often they occur.
Gambling addiction, or problem gambling, is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences for those affected. It is important to approach gambling with caution and to treat it as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money.
Gambling problems can lead to financial ruin, relationship problems, and mental health problems. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, there are resources available to help.
The first step is to admit that you have a problem. This can be difficult, but it is important to get help. Once the problem is recognized, steps can be taken to gamble safely.
Know when to walk away. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, there is help available.
Don’t stop learning the basics of online gambling with our guides. Our team of experts aim to cover every aspect of online gambling in this section. Whether you’re gambling at an online casino in Europe or a luxury online casino in the UK, our guides will help you improve your overall gambling experience and ensure you play safely.
Whether online or offline, casinos, accountants, and other gambling establishments have historically been used for money laundering and other criminal activities, leading many jurisdictions to impose restrictions. However, the regulatory landscape is changing rapidly. And as these establishments generate millions of dollars in revenue, jurisdictions that have traditionally been hostile to gambling are beginning to change their minds.
Vietnam, a country that has banned gambling for centuries, is considering legalizing sports betting. The Netherlands and Germany legalized online gambling in 2021, following in the footsteps of their European neighbors Spain, Italy, the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Denmark. iGaming—a new internet gaming industry—began operating in Ontario, Canada in April of last year.
While they may sound similar, this article discusses the key differences between gaming, gambling and betting, as well as how to comply with regulations in different countries.
“Games” and “gambling” are often used interchangeably, but the former relies on a certain level of skill (i.e. Poker), while the latter is based entirely on games of chance (i.e. roulette and other online casino games).
Betting can involve strategic predictions of real-life events backed by data and research. The most common examples are betting on sporting events, reality shows, and elections.
Crypto gambling is a type of online gambling that uses virtual currencies as a means of payment. The advantages of this method include the added security offered by blockchain technology, and the ability for players to withdraw money instantly from their accounts, unlike in traditional online casinos.