Our Guide to Picking the Best Casino for You
5 minutes
Last Updated: August 12, 2022
Choosing an online casino is like selecting a girlfriend or boyfriend. You want someone with certain physical and mental attributes.
They should also be understanding, supportive and willing to be with you for the long haul.
What features should you look for in an online casino? Whether you’re a first-time gambler or you recently broke up with your previous betting site, this guide will help you, and Time2play is another useful source if you need more info.
Look at Licensing and Security Information
Licensing tells you two things about an online casino: Whether it is genuine and if it accepts players in your state or country.
Let’s use an example of a site licensed by the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).
The NJDGE license shows it is a legitimate operator and not a scam site. Also, it lets you know the casinos operate in the state of New Jersey.
Some licenses—Malta, Curacao and Panama—allow casinos to run in multiple jurisdictions.
That is why gamblers in Canada can play slots at a website licensed in Malta while players in South Africa could gamble at an app licensed in Panama.
Licensing aside, look at security details.
Look at a site’s URL address. It needs to start with HTTPS and not HTTP. HTTPS websites are secure. HTTP sites are not safe. You can also look for a padlock sign on the address bar as a mark of data encryption.
Needless to say, it is essential to pick a casino that lets you secure your account with a password. If it features 2-FA, that’s an added advantage.
Games and Software Providers
After you’ve verified that a casino site is genuine and secure, next is to look for your favorite games and developers.
Modern casinos have comprehensive game libraries jam-packed with slots and table games.
Find a site with slots from some of the following software providers:
- NetEnt
- Microgaming
- Betsoft
- Playtech
- Play’n GO
- BTG
- IGT
The companies mentioned above own some of the best-rated slots online. We’re talking about the likes of Mega Moolah, Starburst, Book of Dead, Thunderstruck II and Bonanza Megaways.
If you’re more of a table game player, prioritize live casino gaming. The benefit is that you will have a chance to play poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat with real human opponents.
Live casino gaming utilizes special software and branded casino rooms to simulate Las Vegas experiences. All you need is a laptop or smartphone with fast Internet and a clear camera.
Evolution Gaming is the biggest supplier of live dealer games. If you want to play poker online with your friends, therefore, find a site with games from Evolution.
Bonuses and Promotions
If you’re like 90% of casino players out there, you love bonuses. You love bonuses because they increase your betting bankroll. More betting money means you can play poker games for longer. And you stand to win more money.
Now, casino bonuses come in different forms and shapes: Welcome bonuses, cash backs, VIP rewards, reload bonuses, loyalty programs and daily quests.
Because you’re looking for a new casino, start by finding great welcome bonuses.
Welcome bonuses come in the form of no deposit and first-deposit bonuses. As the name suggests, no deposit bonuses don’t require that you top-up your account. On the downside, these rewards are small.
First-deposit bonuses come in bigger amounts. A casino might offer to match your money 100% for a maximum of $100 to $500. The remaining bonus types are good too, so pick a casino with a variety of promotions.
Banking and Withdrawals
In an ideal world, banking at gambling sites should be a smooth process. But this is not always the case.
For starters, you need to choose a payment method. The most popular options at online casinos include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Bitcoin, PayPal, Google Pay and wire transfer.
Every casino has its list of accepted payment options. If your ideal payment provider isn’t supported, look for more casinos out there. Or consider using universally accepted payment providers like Visa and MasterCard.
Next up, look at a casino’s banking policies. What’s the minimum you can deposit? How long do withdrawal requests take? What’s the maximum you can withdraw?
Consider reading online reviews to learn the truth about a casino’s banking policies. If people out there say it takes forever to process withdrawals, find a better alternative.
A Neat, Mobile-Friendly Interface
Earlier on, we said that choosing a casino is like finding a lover. You want someone with specific traits, say beautiful, smart and tall.
With casinos, you want a beautiful interface, fast web pages and search filters.
A neat interface helps you create your account and login quickly. It also helps you navigate from one page to the other with ease.
Speed helps with convenience while filters allow you to find specific games and services quickly.
In this era of mobile gaming, it’s also essential to choose gambling sites with mobile support. A few years ago, we would have said a good casino needs an iOS and android app.
However, an app isn’t necessary if the casino’s website also works on mobile browsers. The end goal is to play slots and table games, after all.
Customer Service and Reputation
A lot of things can go wrong while having fun at a betting site. The website might crash immediately after you’ve won money. A withdrawal request could take longer than usual or your account could get hacked.
In all the scenarios mentioned above, you will need efficient customer care staff to resolve them.
So, pick an iGaming platform with reliable customer service. Ensure they offer live chatting, phone contact and emails.
On the other hand, learn about a casino’s reputation before you register an account. Find out whether it’s a top-rated website or a blacklisted casino. Learn whether it processes payments fast or frustrates its customers.
Naturally, you want a casino with a positive reputation. It means people love its services.
This doesn’t mean you should look for perfect ratings. Quite the contrary, learn both the benefits and weaknesses of a company. It will help you have realistic expectations.
