The internet is a fantastic piece of technology and just a click of a button connects us to the rest of the world. This all sounds great but when it comes to looking for the best online casino to play at, the amount of information available can become overwhelming.
There are certain criteria that you must look at when choosing an online gambling site to play at and below we have broken this down into 5 different areas with information on each.
Areas you must look at when choosing an Online Casino
There are thousands of online casinos to choose from and most of them will have a selection of virtual games that you can play from the comfort of your own home. The range of games will usually consist of slots, table games, video poker, speciality games, and some sites also offer sports betting. What you have to bear in mind, is that not all online casinos are the same and there are some that you will want to avoid. Reputation is paramount when it comes to choosing where to spend your money but there are a number of other things that you need to look at too including, security and fair gaming, reputation and rating, the age of the casino, bonuses and jackpots, and game selection and software.
- Security and Fair Gaming
With online casinos, everything is virtual and you will be accessing the games from the comfort of your own home or on your mobile device. Doing so will also lead to you giving out your personal and financial information. You won’t be entering a bricks and mortar gambling establishment. There won’t be security guards, cameras, or standards of etiquette in place. You need to make sure that the site you choose to play at is secure and their games are guaranteed fair. The best online casino will undergo third-party audits to ensure that their software is safe, secure, and fair. Most casinos will mention this on their website or feature their seal of approval. Some of the best third party auditors are eCOGRA and TST. Having their seal of approval lets you know that the Random Number Generator (RNG) has been tested and found to be secure. eCOGRA also make their findings available to the public so you can click on the seal and read the return to player percentages for the different types of casino games available at the site you have chosen.
- Reputation and Rating
The reputation an online casino has is something that you should take very seriously. If you read a review that states that a certain casino withholds payments, or takes a long time to issue payments, then you might want to avoid it. Good ratings are essential and the better the impression a casino makes the higher rating they will have. Reputation and rating can come in a number of ways including high traffic which means they are very popular, to written reviews by players. A quick Google search for get online casino reviews for casinos in Canada will bring up plenty of results.
- Age of the Online Casino
The age of an online casino can provide a lot of information. If the site has been around for a number of years, it is a good indication that they can be trusted and that they are doing something right. They will also have a strong online presence. There are a lot of online casinos that are owned and operated by big brands that have several different sites and a quick search on the brand name will provide you with everything you need to know. This is one of the advantages of the internet and players that have had a bad experience with an online casino are only too happy to share.
- Bonuses and Jackpots
Bonuses can really help you make up your mind when it comes to choosing an online casino. Most sites will offer a sign-up bonus. There are a number of different types but if you are looking for some no risk fun it is recommended that you look for a no deposit bonus. Other types of no deposit offers include free spins and free time. With these offers, there are wagering requirements that must be met before you can make a withdrawal.
The standard welcome bonus is a percentage match up to a certain amount that players receive when they make their first deposit. Welcome packages have also become very popular and this is where players receive percentage bonuses on their first 3 to 5 deposits with the casino.
One thing to remember when looking at bonuses is that many of them are for slots games only and if you prefer to play blackjack, roulette, or video poker you will need to check if these games are allowed and what percentage contribution they make towards your wagering requirements. There are some sites that will offer game-specific bonuses so be sure to look for these if slots are not your preferred game choice. Find out more in our casino bonuses guide.
When it comes to jackpots, it is important to do a little bit of research and see how often jackpots are won and what size they are. Most of the top online casinos have a winner’s page so you can see exactly what is being won by players and how often.
- Game Selection and Software
The last area to look at when choosing an online casino to play at is the game selection and software being used. The number of games they offer is important. You will usually find that slots make up the bulk of the games suite but you need to check that there is a multitude of different themes and slots types to choose from. Some of the top slots providers include Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, IGT, and Betsoft. Most of the top software providers offer no download instant play flash and HTML5 versions of their games which mean they are compatible with all devices including PC, Mac, and mobile. No download games are played in your browser so there is no software installation requirement to play. You can find out more in our software providers guide.
Table games are also very popular and the introduction of live dealer games over the last couple of years has really boosted their popularity. If you want a little more interaction in your table games, be sure to look for an online casino that offers live dealer games. You can play live dealer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, and with the interactive features, you can chat with the real live croupier.
Gameplay and graphics are another important aspect and the only way to test these is to play the games. A lot of the top online casinos will allow you to play in fun mode so you can try a demo of all the games. This is a great way to get a feel for what the site offers and can often be the deciding factor when choosing where you want to play.
To sum up, we advise you to read reviews and look at all the different areas we have outlined above before deciding on the online casino you want to play at.
