How do I Choose the Best Online Casino?

As more and more countries around the world legalize gambling the Internet gambling business continues to grow. There are literally thousands of casinos people can choose from so deciding which one to use can often be a daunting task. How do you figure out which one to use? I will go over several aspects that you need to look for before you begin playing at an online casino.

Let me start by saying that the Internet is no longer the “Wild West” as far as gambling is concerned. In the late 1990’s, gamblers were taking a risk every time they bet online as to whether or not they would ever receive their money if they actually won. They were at the mercy of the casino as far as non-biased games and payment for winnings. A lot of that has been cleaned up and changed for the better. Today, most of the casinos online are legitimate companies that are reputable. I did say “most” not “all.”

Bonuses:

You can check out my post on all the various bonuses online casinos offer to get a better understanding of each type of bonus. Unfortunately, a lot of gamblers choose their online casino based solely on the bonus they offer. On top of that they don’t read the Terms and Conditions to understand exactly what the casino is offering.

Just because the headline on a casino’s website says “Free $1,000 Sign-up Bonus” doesn’t mean they are going to give you $1,000 simply for filling out some forms and then let you cash the money out. Each offer has its own stipulations that you need to read carefully to completely understand what they are offering.

Yes, you want a good sign-up bonus but your decision making should not be based on that alone.

Where is the casino based and licensed?

There are some countries that take Internet gaming very seriously and do a good job of overseeing any company that they issue a gaming license to. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Find out where the company is based and if it is licensed? Does that country have a reputation of strict oversight when it comes to gambling? Can you file a complaint with a regulation board if you have a problem?

These are some of the questions you need to ask before signing-up. It’s like a puzzle and each piece will give you the overall picture of the company. If you only rely on one or two pieces your picture will be incomplete.

Google: “Scam” + “Fraud”

Do a Google search with the companies name with the words “scam,” “fraud,” etc. Now, let me pre-warn you almost every casino out there will have at least one person who is complaining about something. Read the message boards and forums and see what they are complaining about. Do they have a legitimate complaint or are they just being picky? Do you notice a pattern of similar complaints against one company? Find another piece of the puzzle.

Is their RNG tested? By who? Are the results posted?

Every casino should have their computer software tested by a legitimate third-party oversight company and the results should be posted online. The RNG is the random number generator that is used to make sure the games are “fair” and completely random. There have been several companies brought down because of biased software. Make sure the company you choose has an outside party testing their programs.

Name Recognition:

This isn’t the biggest piece of the puzzle but there is a reason you’ve heard of some casinos before. Just like any other industry they have built a name for themselves and that is usually a good thing. I’m not saying the biggest and most recognizable are always the best, but there is usually a reason a company has become one of the leaders in their industry and it’s usually because they are doing things the right way.

Summary:

You shouldn’t be scared to gamble online. It is no longer the lawless place it once was. However, as I’ve just discussed there are things you need to look for and research before you ever give a casino any of your money. Where ever there is money to be made there will always be scammers and thieves, but a bit of due diligence can keep you from becoming a victim.