At present, there are over 2,500 gambling sites on the Internet. With so many to choose from and with so many scandalous reports about non-paying or slow-paying casinos, how can you be certain you’re choosing the correct casino?
To help make your online gambling experience the fun and exciting adventure that it should be, we have compiled a list of the 7 key questions you should ask yourself before you decide to sign up and deposit at an online casino.
1) Where is the Casino licensed, i.e. in what jurisdiction?
Check out the About Us page. Any good, transparent casino will have an information page on their site dedicated to providing details on when the casino came on stream, in which jurisdiction it is licensed, and what software it uses to name a few. If this information is missing from the site, then it’s a good idea to look more closely into the site and review the other items on your checklist.
2) What software does the casino use?
We recommend that you play at casinos that operate on the Microgaming, Playtech, and Real Time Gaming platforms. These software providers are tried and true, reputable, and offer fair games with audited payout percentages.
3) Reputation – Is the Casino’s rep good or bad?
An easy way to conclude whether a casino’s name is tarnished or not is to check out the popular online gaming forums. If Players have complaints about the casino, you will be sure to find them on the forums. Simply go to the relevant message board and type in the casino name. If there are no results, this could mean that the casino has not had any complaints lodged against it or that it is new. If there are results, then read them carefully to see if they contain complaints. If a casino pops up several times with complaints, then be wary.
4) What methods are available to contact Customer Support?
Good online casinos understand that their Players want top notch service instantly. If a Player has an issue, especially if it is game or financially related, they don’t want to wait til 24 – 48 hours for a response. They want an answer ”like yesterday”. Therefore, in addition to email support, they will offer other methods for Players to contact Casino staff, including toll free numbers accessible from different countries, Live Chat support, and even Call Back.
5) Are the Payout Percentages audited independently?
When checking the site, look at the Casino Payout Percentages to determine whether they are independently audited. These payout reports will help you understand the casinos long term payouts.
6) Is there variety in the Payment Options?
The best online casinos offer a variety of deposit and withdrawal options and the information is usually accessible via a ‘Banking’ or ‘Payment Options’ link on the site. A good thing to check as well is the weekly and daily withdrawal limits. If a casino has a withdrawal limit, that’s a red flag. Most sound casinos will not offer a limit on how much can be withdrawn.
7) Are the Bonus Terms and Conditions comprehensible and easy to locate on the site?
All bonuses have some sort of wagering requirement or game restrictions. It is very important, if not mandatory, that you ensure that you read the bonus and promotion terms and conditions to educate yourself on what you can expect to receive. If the casino does not clearly state its bonus terms and conditions on their website, that’s another red flag. Unless the casino intends to try to dupe you with a fancy marketing gimmick (like Deposit $50 and get a 1000% Bonus) and not deliver, then there is no reason why the terms shouldn’t be clearly stated on the site.
There you have it folks, our 7 Key questions to ask yourself before you commit your hard-earned money to any casino online. These, however, are just a few of the important factors to consider. Another would be the professionalism of the website – does the casino website look unprofessional? Does it have several broken links or missing images? If it does then carefully consider if you want to risk putting your money into a casino that cannot even operate their website properly. Logically, if their website is out of whack, so too, quite possibly, are their payment processes.
All our Featured Casinos have been carefully selected and are compliant with our 7 Key Questions list. Register your account and receive a special bonus today!