Any good gambler will tell you that the choice of a casino makes or breaks your winning chances. Some casinos are out to help you get the most out of their sites. Not only do they have a wide range of games, but they also offer several betting sign up offers that help you increase your bankroll. Thus, choosing such a casino sets you up for success compared to choosing one which offers the bare minimum.
We show you what to use when comparing casinos so you can walk away with the deal you deserve:
Factors to Consider When Comparing Online Casinos
While online casinos offer services in the virtual realm, that is pretty much all they have in common. And if you want to find what works for you, it’s important to answer the following questions:
1. Is the casino licensed?
Licensing refers to the permission to operate in a given jurisdiction and offer games of chance or skill. When a casino has a license, the permit implies that an authority has reviewed the casino in the following ways:
- That the games are fair and the stated RTPs align with what the game offers, thanks to the use of random number generators,
- That the casino has enough money to pay out winnings and its finances and bookkeeping are in order, and
- That the casino answers to an authority regarding issues raised by its clients.
Thus, you are always better off playing with licensed sites. Also, on this, review which authority has licensed the casino. Some are stricter than others and are more willing to follow up on any concerns you may raise in the future.
Should you play in unlicensed casinos? It is not advisable because you will not have a stern authority to fight for you if something does not work out. Additionally, such a casino can flout standard rules because nobody will hold them accountable.
2. Is the casino safe?
A licensed casino will generally have top-notch safety features. But it always helps to check what measures are in place and how they will protect your personal and financial data. How so?
- Review how secure the website is by looking into its SSL encryption (if any) and understand how they handle financial transactions.
- Understand how the site stores and uses your data, and if this will be available to other parties.
Knowing that your data is safe gives you the peace of mind you need to concentrate on playing games. You will know that your information will remain confidential. Of course, your safety starts with you and you should thus avoid logging into the casino on public WIFI or sharing your credentials with other people.
3. Is the casino reputable?
Lighting can strike the same place twice. A casino that has bad customer service will likely pass on the same service to you. A website with poor connectivity will still pose the same loading issues to you. As such, before choosing any site, get to understand:
- How much experience the casino has: While a few years in the game are not a sign of poor performance, it also means you do not have much to go on – and as such, you should look at what current players have said about the website. If the reviews are mainly good, you can take a chance and play with it. But if they are not mostly good, do not take the chance.
- How people feel about the site: Do not trust third-party reviews alone. Instead, get an overall feel of what people have experienced on the site. But approach the reviews with objectivity. Sometimes, people can leave bad reviews even when they are the ones at fault – so remember to be critical when making crucial playing decisions.
- What the customer service experience is like: Do people enjoy reaching the customer care team? Is it helpful? Also, what communication options are available to players? When or if you ever face an issue when playing, you will not want to spend hours trying to log your issue.
History is a good predictor of present and future interactions. So, be sure to investigate how a casino has performed to date before walking with it on this journey.
4. How will you get paid?
There are many ways to look at the payment options:
- What payment methods are available? Wire transfers are often quite slow. So, if you need to get your money fast, you should look for sites that offer other payment means, including credit and debit cards. If you are after anonymity, consider e-wallets and cryptocurrency.
- How long will the payments take? Figure out how long it takes to deposit and withdraw money as this also affects how soon you can start playing.
- What charges apply to the payments? Does the site charge processing fees, and if so, what criteria does it use?
- Is there a limit to how much you can withdraw or spend on the site?
Also, figure out if the website can handle your kind of bankroll. You may need to look for a site that handles large sums at a time to avoid getting flagged when your transactions increase.
You can then look into the variety of the games, the offers on board, and the navigability of the website when narrowing down your options.
What’s next after finding the right gambling platform? – It is now time to decide how much you can afford to put in games. Placing wagers without a limit is not a good idea as you can end up using more money than you should. That’s why having a cap is one of the most used betting strategies. And it works like a gem each time – set one as soon as you can and align it with your gambling goals.