Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
With the incredible number of online casinos on the market, it can be difficult to make your mind if it’s your first time around. It can also be difficult to see what differentiates them since so many seem to share the same aesthetics, bonus schemes, and games. However, there are some things you can look for that will give you some indication of how reputable a casino is, how fair their games are, and whether they’re worth playing at. Let’s take a look at a few things you should check out when picking an online casino.
Their Reputation
The first thing you should do is make sure they’re accredited. There are a few main regulatory bodies that ensure that their casinos follow fair business practices. This is the only way to know if a site is truly legitimate. Some of these accrediting bodies include the UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission just to name a few.
Make Sure they’re Games are Tested
Also, while a site might be regulated, it doesn’t mean that their odds are fair. This is where testing agencies come in. As their name implies, their responsibility is to test various games from gaming companies for fairness. They then make the results of their investigations public.
The biggest and most recognised testing agency is eCogra. Other testing agencies include iTechLabs, Gaming Laboratories International, and Technical Systems Testing. If a site is both accredited by a reputable regulatory body and independently audited by one or two of these testing agencies, chances are they can be trusted.
Look at their Game Selection and Specialty
When you start looking at online casinos, you’ll start noticing that many have their specialties. Some are geared towards people who like to play slots online. Others might be more focused on table games. While others still might be better for their gaming experience.
This is why it’s important that you check multiple reviews on online casino sites to see how good their gameplay is, what type of game selection you can expect, and some of their other options like mobile gaming, for instance. This will give you a better idea of which casinos will fit your play style the best.
Software Providers
Knowing a site’s software providers will help you know what type of experience you can expect as well. Usually, if you see that a site is powered by Microgaming, this is usually a good sign. This is one of the oldest and most respected software providers in the industry and is known for their entertaining themed slot machines and big selection.
Another provider you should look out for is PlayTech. Their games tend to integrate some gaming aspects and they’re always pushing the boundaries. Their games are impressive and use state-of-the-art graphics and audio.
Other providers to look out for include NetEnt, NextGen, IGT, and iSoftBet. Know that many casinos will use a mix of different providers, so, the more the merrier.
Check their Bonus and Loyalty Schemes
Last, but not least, you also should take advantage of bonuses casinos offer to lure new players in. Most casinos will offer a mix of free spins and match deposit bonuses. These are exactly what they sound like; a bonus that will match a percentage of your first deposits. However, it’s important to not get carried away when seeing bonuses, as they might not always be easy to cash out.
Many online casinos will require that you play a certain number of hands or spend a specific amount of money before you can cash out. So, even if you do win on some of the spins, you could end up losing what you won trying to meet the minimum spending limit.
Another thing you should look out for is what type of offers they offer to recurring players. Some will offer raffle tickets or cash prizes, or things like trips or invitations for special events. Make sure that you know how they treat regulars to know if the site is worth playing for the long term.
These are only some of the things you should be on the lookout for when picking an online casino. Make sure that they’re reputable first and foremost and see what other members of the gaming community have to say about them before you make a choice.
Share this content:
