Bitcoin Casinos – Bitcoin Casino Risks and Advantages

Bitcoin CasinosBitcoin casinos are the latest development in online gambling.  They are online casinos that allow you to play using the digital currencies such as bitcoin.  Many players are trying to determine if there’s anything to it, or if it’s just a fad.  Gambling with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies has been growing in popularity.  Playing at a bitcoin casino means you can enjoy instant, anonymous transactions, zero chargebacks, and there’s no need to worry about taxes.  However, if you’ve been keeping up with the news recently you’ll soon discover that now may not the best time to start experimenting with bitcoin casinos.

As a result of the Mt. Gox scam and a historic 5-year low (bitcoin now trades under $400), many bitcoin casinos have gone bankrupt and new scams are being revealed with greater frequency.  Starting a bitcoin casino doesn’t require an officially sanctioned gambling license.  This makes regulating these casinos extremely difficult.  Deposit your bitcoins in the wrong casino and your funds could suddenly disappear without a trace.

Bitcoin Casinos – The Advantages

The biggest advantage that bitcoin casinos offer over a traditional online casino is that gambling using cryptocurrencies is considered legal even in jurisdictions where it might otherwise be considered illegal.  Another appealing feature of bitcoin casinos is the ability to withdraw funds instantly and without any of the delays you might experience at a regular online casino. Also, since no licensing is required, there are no regulations preventing the bitcoin casinos from experimenting with different types of games or promotions.

Bitcoin Casinos – The Risks

However, some of the factors that make bitcoin casinos seem appealing to players are also why they can be so risky.  Because bitcoin casinos are so new and trendy, they attract operators with little capital and very little or no experience marketing and running an online casino.  As a result, the majority of these start-up casinos can bankrupt within the first few months, taking your precious deposits right along with them.  And, because these casinos are unregulated there is nowhere to file a complaint nor any means by which you can try to reclaim your lost money.

The Future of Bitcoin Casinos

As with all new industries, it may just be a matter of time before bitcoin casinos develop into legitimate gaming establishments.  Successful operators will need to find a way to provide assurances to potential players.  It’s not enough to offer great games and good service.  After all, what’s the point in playing if you can’t trust that you’ll get paid in the event you win?  The future of bitcoin casinos is tied to the future of bitcoins themselves.  The people who are investing in bitcoin enterprises are doing so because they are betting on the fact that the value of bitcoins will increase significantly over time.  But for now, it’s simply too soon to know whether or not that might happen.  Without question, the recent news of bitcoin scams has had a negative impact on the bitcoin industry as a whole.  That being said, innovation is a good thing and while there are certainly implementation issues that need to be addressed, it’s likely that bitcoin casinos, or something very similar, will indeed thrive in the coming years.

The World’s Most Popular Online Casino Payment Methods

Online Casino Payment MethodsIn order to generate maximum revenue operators will try to offer their players the best online casino payment methods.  When it comes to deposit and withdrawal methods, players are mostly looking for speed, security, convenience, ease, and small fees.  And, while there are a multitude of online casino payment methods available, there are only a few that are considered to be the best by players the world over.  The online casino payment methods that are most popular with online gamblers are credit cards, the PaySafeCard, and also Neteller.  We take a closer look at these top payment providers and more below.

Online Casino Payment Methods – Credit Cards

It should come as little or no surprise that credit cards, namely Visa and MasterCard, are one of the most favored online casino payment methods.  The reason for this is simple; players are very familiar with credit cards and use them frequently in their day-to-day lives for any number of purchases.  They are convenient because most people already have one or both of these cards in their possession, they know how to use them, and there are little to no fees applied to the transactions depending on the agreement the player has with the credit card provider.  Even in cases where there is a fee, in most cases the fee is nominal.

Online Casino Payment Methods – PaySafeCard

Widely available throughout Europe, PaySafeCard is an extremely popular pre-paid card solution.   PaySafeCard users can process payments by using the unique 16-digit PIN numbers associated with each card. Players can purchase cards in the exact dollar amount they desire.  These cards are considered to be one of the more secure online casino payment methods due to the uniqueness of the PIN number, which makes it virtually impossible for the funds to be intercepted by a 3rd party.

Online Casino Payment Methods – Neteller

Neteller is a very well-known brand and can often be found listed on the cashier pages of many online casinos.  Neteller’s long history as an online payment processor makes it a logical choice for online casino players who enjoy instant transfers and complete privacy when it comes to their online financial transactions.

Online Casino Payment Methods – MoneyBookers

Formerly known as Moneybookers, Skrill is another one of the top online casino payment methods.  Players can fund their Skrill account using a traditional method, such as a bank account or credit card.  The transaction itself is carried out via e-mail.  The level of anonymity this service provides, and the ease of use make it a popular option with players.

Online Casino Payment Methods – Ukash

Ukash is a voucher-based payment option favored by many online gamblers. The process is very simple and the account can be funded with cash.  Similar to PaySafeCards, UKash provides users with a unique 19-digit code they can use to enter when performing financial transactions at an online casino. Once the account has been funded, transfers can be processed almost instantly.

Online Casino Payment Methods – Popularity by Country

The popularity of online casino payment methods listed above vary from one country to the next. Besides credit cards, namely Visa and Mastercard, which are the most popular in every country, other popular methods in 8 different countries are listed below.

Australia: Ukash, Neteller, Skrill, Poli, CitadelDirect, Skrill
Austria: PaySafeCard, Skrill, Neteller, ClickAndBuy
Canada: InstaDebit, EcoCard, Ukash, E-Check, CitadelDirect
Germany: PaySafeCard, Skrill, Giropay, Sofort, Neteller
Netherlands: iDeal, Skrill, Neteller, ClickAndBuy, PaySafeCard
Sweden: Neteller, Ukash, Skrill, PaySafeCard, Instant_Bank
Switzerland: PaySafeCard, Neteller, Skrill, MoneyBookers, EcoCard
United Kingdom: Neteller, Skrill, PaySafeCard, Ukash

 

Online Gaming – Mississippi Commissions Task Force Study

Online GamingUntil recently the state of Mississippi has generally avoided the topic of online gaming.  However, due to a downward trend in the brick and mortar casino market, the state now appears willing to study the online gaming industry.  Reports indicate that revenues have been steadily declining in several regions.  Since last month’s closure of Harrah’s casino in Tunica the state casinos are bringing in less money and has created a cloud over the industry as a whole.  Prior to closing Harrah’s was a very popular gambling destination that attracted many players to the area.   Unfortunately an increase in competition from two of Arkansas’ racetracks have also had a negative impact on the market so that alone was not enough for them to be able to keep their doors open.  The casino’s closure cost the state gaming revenue and resulted in the loss of many jobs.

Last month, the Mississippi Gaming Commission published numbers demonstrating that in 22 of the past 24 months, state casinos have generated less gaming revenue when compared to the previous year. When comparing May 2014 to May 2013 there was a 10.6% drop in revenue statewide.

Mississippi Considers Online Gaming

Based on the early results of online gaming revenues being generated in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware, Mississippi is turning an eye to online gaming.  The state has commissioned a task force to conduct a study to show if and how online gaming could aid their struggling casino industry.  The task force has been sanctioned by Richard Bennett, the Mississippi House Gaming Committee chairman.  The team he’s assembled will be comprised of eight individual.  They will be examining online gaming in the United States and evaluating the pros and cons of the current iGaming providers.

Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, Allen Godfrey, has been assigned the role of chairman of this task force.  State representative, Bobby Moak, has made efforts to introduce online gaming legislation in Mississippi for the past three years.  But each time the bill is brought before the committee it is defeated.  The piece of legislation proposed each year by Moak was the same.  It involved regulating and licensing online gaming and taxing revenues generated.  Licenses for online gaming would be awarded to companies that already hold state sanctioned gaming licenses for land-based casino operations.

The Future of Online Gaming in Mississippi

Moak believes that the legislation of online gaming will allow Mississippi’s land-based gaming industry to take control of their future and give the state the opportunity to regulate a facet of the industry that already existed, albeit illegally.  With all of the current issues facing brick and mortar casinos Mississippi can’t afford to be left behind when it comes to online gaming.  Only time will tell what will come of the study and whether or not it will provide the necessary motivation for state legislators to make a move and finally try to take their share of the United States online gambling market.

 

Mobile Casino Gambling – The Next Wave

Mobile Casino GamblingMobile casino gambling means different things to different people.  If you took a poll of techies in Silicon Valley asking them to give examples of the “gaming industry” you’d probably hear about games like World of Warcraft or Call of Duty.  But if you asked someone from Nevada or Atlantic City you’d likely get a much different response.  People from these parts of the country think more in terms of casinos than what are otherwise thought to be “video games.”  However, before too long there will be virtually no distinction between these two kinds of “gaming.”

Many people believe that online gambling, including mobile casino gambling, will be legal throughout the United States by 2020.  Online poker will be accepted first.  Currently it is only legal in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.  Over the next several years it will very likely expand as it becomes more widely accepted.  Because of this, it is highly probably that the same people building the mobile games of today will be the ones developing the mobile casinos of tomorrow.

In fact, this has already begun to a certain extent.  Zynga, one of the most widely recognized social games launched Zynga Plus Casino.  This was the first real-money gaming site in the United Kingdom.  This product was developed in partnership with bwin.party.  Bwin.party is a gambling company based in Gibraltar.  Bwin.party’s revenues were reported being as high as $1.05 billion in 2012.  Unfortunately, due to the stringent anti-gambling statutes and interstate regulations in the United States, Zynga opted to keep their doors closed to US residents.

Mobile Casino Gambling and the UIGEA

The biggest barrier to mobile casino gambling in the United States is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. This bill, enacted in 2006, put an end to all the major online casino, sportsbooks, and online poker providers operating within the US.  Operators of prominent sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker were indicted on charges of money laundering and bank fraud for conducting online transfers of funds to and from players’ accounts.  Ultimately, PokerStars along with two additional defendants cut a deal with the prosecution, which cost them more than $731M.

Contrary to popular belief, the UIGEA doesn’t target online casino operations directly.  Instead, the bill targets financial transactions that enable gambling.  The result was still a massive blow to online and mobile casino gambling.  After all, if no payment providers are willing to violate the UIGEA, then the casinos have no means to accommodate American players.

The UIGEA, however, doesn’t apply within the borders of states that already offered legalized forms of gambling, or that had plans to offer it down the road. This isn’t without its own set of complications though.  Businesses running licensed online casinos and/or poker rooms must operate solely within that given state.  It remains illegal to transfer of gaming funds across state lines.

These qualifying states are now busily vying to win your gambling dollars.  One of the best ways for them to accomplish this is to pay particular attention to mobile casino gambling.  Operators know how busy people are these days.  They also realize that in order to get players’ attention, they need to make their products available for on-the-go play.  If you visit some of the biggest New Jersey gaming sites you will notice that they either offer a mobile casino gambling product already, or, like Caesars Casino, it’s “coming soon.”  As more states move towards softening gambling laws, and following the examples of Delaware and Nevada, it only stands to reason that the mobile casino gambling industry will be paying very close attention.

 

Online Slot Machines – Symbols and Storytelling

Online Slot MachinesOnline slot machines are beloved by millions of players the world over because they are easy to play and potentially offer gigantic windfalls.  This is a big reason why they are more popular than any other online casino game.  What you might not realize, however, is that in addition to providing lots of heart-pounding entertainment and the chance to win lots of cash, online slot machines also offer a vast amount of intelligence about the world in which we live.  You’ll need to make some effort to extract this wealth of information from the games, but you’ll be glad you did.

Back in the early days of online slot machines the symbols on the reels were often meaningless.  However, today’s online slot machines are often based on a theme.  The symbols reflect this theme and understanding their meaning can lead to all kinds of interesting information of which you might not otherwise be aware.  Consider a Viking-themed slot machine for example.  The reel symbols would generally represent some aspect of Viking culture.  In the online casino slot game, Arctic Fortune, one of the reels features the symbol of a large horn with a variety of fruit spilling out.  A quick search on the internet reveals that this symbol represents the Horn of Plenty, something that is featured throughout much of European mythology.  The story tells of a horn that produces vast amount of fruit, thereby ensuring than nobody would go hungry.  You may recognize this symbol from Thanksgiving celebrations as well.  American Indian-themed online slots are also very popular with players. Here you may find a symbol that consists of a circular hoop decorated with feathers.  This is known as a dream catcher. Some American Indians believe that dream catchers can change a person’s dreams simply by trapping the bad dreams and only allowing good dreams to filter through.

Online Slot Machines – Characters and Symbols

With some online slot machines this learning process applies to virtually all of the reel symbols. Many slot machines base their themes on stories from Greek mythology.  An example of just one of these games is Stash of the Titans. This slot game features lots of villains, heroes, and other well-known Greek characters.  These characters will be easily recognized by anyone who is familiar with Greek mythology.  However, anyone who isn’t knowledgeable will undoubtedly be entertained by these fascinating characters and their famous exploits.  One of these popular stories involves Medusa the Gorgon.  Medusa famously turned those who looked at her to stone and was ultimately slain by Perseus. Then there’s the story of the Minotaur, a monster with a man’s body and the head of a bull.  The Minotaur feasted on virgins and young men until he was killed by Theseus.

The slots themes aren’t solely based on mythology.  Some popular online slot machines are based on characters from great works of literature.  For example, Scrooge is a slot game that takes his cue from Charles Dickens’ novel, A Christmas Carol. Symbols, reels, and animations are all based on characters from the famous tale. Many players enjoy these machines because in addition to the entertainment value provided by the game itself, players are also reminded of a classic Christmas story and can enjoy the warm sense of spirit that brings.

Although the classics are popular, they don’t hold a candle to the Marvel superhero online slot games from gaming providers Playtech and Cryptologic. The Marvel comics have a rich history and the characters are legendary. Every superhero slot game delivers information on the character’s alter egos, the origins of their super powers, their sworn enemies and weapons of choice. These intricate details that are woven throughout the fabric of the game bring the excitement to an even higher level. Because the online slot machines of today have an auto play feature, interested players have plenty of time to research the background associated with their chosen game.

Fair Payouts at Online Casinos Explained

Fair PayoutsAt an online casino, fair payouts are considered to be ones that reduces the house edge to zero. What does this mean you say? Well, simply put, it means that if a player bets according to these fair payouts over a long period of time they won’t win money, but neither will they lose money. However, it also means that the online casino doesn’t have any opportunity to profit. Online casino operators have numerous expenses. There’s the cost of the software license, providing customer service, paying the auditors, etc. In order to remain in business they must be able to cover such costs and this isn’t possible if they only offer fair payouts. Instead, what they will do is offer players just a bit less than what is fair. There’s nothing wrong with this practice; it’s the only way they can survive. The trick for the online casino operator is determining what payouts they can afford that will allow them to pay their bills, earn a bit of profit (why else would they go to the trouble of providing this service?) and yet, still make the payouts appear attractive to potential members.

Serious players should have an idea as to how to determine fair payouts. With some internet casino games you can calculate fair odds mathematically. Mathematical calculations are possible when all possible outcomes of a given event, as well as those that result in a payout, can be listed. A clear illustration of this can be found in roulette. Assuming that a player bets on red numbers. There are 37 total outcomes on a spin in European roulette; 18 of which favour those who bet on red and 19 unfavorable outcomes. Thus, a fair payout for a wager of this kind would be 19:18. In actuality, the payout is 1:1, just marginally lower than the fair payout. This formula can also be applied to several of the bets offered by dice games, such as sic bo and craps. Video poker games, which are very popular online casino games, pay out various rates on a single wager, making it more difficult to calculate  fair payouts then it is for a game like roulette. But while it may be challenging, it’s not impossible.

Determining Fair Payouts – Mathematical Formulas

Several other online casino games do not allow the player to determine fair payouts using a mathematical formula. This may be due in some part to the fact that the player doesn’t have the information necessary in order to identify all possible outcomes. A good example of this lies in the game of online slots. Because a player doesn’t know how many instances of each symbol that located on each reel, he or she has no way of calculating all of the many possible outcomes. This information lies with the online slot machine developers who will adjust actual payouts to deliver a payout of approximately 95%. Similar to video poker, online casino slots feature multiple paying opportunities for the same wager, which makes it virtually pointless to consider the fair payout for each possible outcome. It’s far more important to consider the average return for the game as a whole. There are options available for players who are interested in testing out the software provider’s average return values. Most online casinos offer a “free play” version of the software, which lets players experience the games without having to make a deposit. These free credits can be used to set the game to “auto play” over a big number of spins to determine how much of their initial bankroll was retained as a percentage. A 95% average return would mean a fair payout of approximately 5% greater than the actual payout.

When it comes to an online casino game such as blackjack, fair payouts are hard to compute because players are able to make many decisions throughout the course of the game, which will ultimately determine the outcome. Complex computer simulations are used in this situation in order to ascertain the average returns. The majority of blackjack variants have actual payouts set in such a way that average returns are approximately 99% based on a player’s optimum play. Here, the fair payout would be approximately 1% greater than the actual payout.

Casino Welcome Bonus – Making the Most of It

Casino Welcome BonusWhether you’re talking casino, poker, sportsbook, or bingo, a common feature of each and every one is the casino welcome bonus. Also known as a Deposit, or First Deposit bonus, these offers are created to entice players to become a registered member. The casino welcome bonus is sometimes followed up by other incentives including Reload bonuses, and Loyalty rewards to name a few. You’ll want to be sure to maximize the benefit offered by the casino welcome bonus in order to enhance your odds of winning. There are some different ways to achieve this; simply follow the steps below and you’ll learn the best tips and tricks to extract the most value from these special promotions.

Always Watch for Better Bonuses

One of the first things to understand is that no matter how big a casino welcome bonus you’re offered, you should always keep on the lookout for a better one. In addition to exclusive perks like free spins or free chips, some casinos have been known to give reload bonuses up to 200% extra or more with just a $25 deposit. This applies to both slots and table players, although the accompanying wagering requirement might vary depending on your game selection. Don’t be shy when it comes to seeking out the best deals. The bigger the bonus, the more money you can add to your total bankroll. Passing up an extra $100 on your bonus is the equivalent of a $100 in terms of impacting your ultimate bottom line.

Plan Your First Deposit to Make the Most of Your Casino Welcome Bonus

Sometimes you can manipulate your deposit patterns in such a way that will let you extract the most value possible out of your casino welcome bonus. For instance, consider a player that makes a deposit of $50 a week. He or she would likely be better served by making a $200 deposit in one shot instead as this would likely garner a larger percentage bonus without the necessity of spending any additional funds. Bigger bonuses mean a bigger bankroll, which in turn means less money spent each month long-term while enjoying the same amount of gameplay.

Plan Your Casino Deposits Around Bonuses

The odds are always in the casino’s favour but if you put your promotions to good use it will help you to level the playing field. Before committing to a casino check to see how often and what size promotions they offer throughout the month. This information is generally available on the website but if you have any difficulty finding it don’t hesitate to contact their customer service department; they are there to help. Also look for or ask about loyalty programs. These programs will reward you based on every bet you place.

Track Your Deposits, Bonuses, and Winnings

One last tip is a reminder to keep track of the total amount of your bankroll as well as the bonuses received in a spreadsheet that you can refer to in the future. By keeping all of your information close at hand you’ll be less likely to let any bonuses expire accidentally. With all of the things you need to remember in your daily life, there’s no reason to burden yourself by trying to keep a mental note of you bonuses. Simply by jotting this information down you’ll save a lot of money over time. It only takes a minute and you’ll be rewarded with extra time at the casino.

Online Casino Bankroll – Managing Your Betting Money

Online Casino BankrollWherever you decide to play, and whatever game you choose, applying a consistent money management strategy will make your game-play more effective. Managing your online casino bankroll sensibly will allow you to stretch your online casino bankroll, giving you the opportunity to participate in more games than you would if you were spending mindlessly. Below are some essential components of good money management for you to us to get the most action for your gaming dollars.

Step #1 – Establish an Online Casino Bankroll

Money that has been set aside for gambling purposes is often referred to as a bankroll. When determining how big an online casino bankroll should be, players often base it on how much money they can afford to lose in the event they find themselves on a losing streak. You never want to find yourself in a situation where you’ve overspent and suddenly find yourself unable to meet your financial obligations such as paying your mortgage or your health insurance premiums or even just your grocery bill. For this reason, you can’t look to someone else to decide exactly how much money you can comfortable set aside and your financial situation is unique to you, and you alone.

Step #2 – Set a Session Limit

Risking your entire online casino bankroll when you sit yourself down to play at an online casino is pure madness. A much more sensible strategy is to define a set amount of money for each gambling session. This will ensure that the majority of your bankroll will remain intact in a worst case scenario, like a particularly bad run of luck. A good rule of thumb is to refrain from spending more than 5-10% of your bankroll during any one session. That way, if Lady Luck is not on your side, you’ll still have a reserve of 90-95% of your bankroll left, which you can use when the bad luck has run its course.

Limits for future sessions should then be based on the balance of your online casino bankroll. For example, if you alot 5% of a $500 bankroll for playing, thereby giving you a session limit of 25, and you lose, you would then take another 5% of the $475 remaining balance in your online casino bankroll, giving you $23.75 to play with during your next round of play. By applying percentages to your session limits, any amount of money that you put into play will always remain as an indication of the current size of your total bankroll.

Step #3 – Make a Plan and Stick to it

Keep in mind that just because you are only putting a conservative percentage of your overall bankroll into play, this doesn’t mean that you should spend recklessly. There should always be a betting plan in place so that you can maximize any deposits you make. Read up on the vast number of betting strategy articles available online, including right here on Dr-Casino.com. You can then determine if you want to follow one of these proposed strategies or simply split the money you’ve allotted for a particular session into equal units of ten, twenty, or more. This will allow you to place the same number of bets at the slot machines, blackjack or roulette tables, etc.

Step #4 – Know When to Quit

Winning or losing when playing at an online casino over the long-term can often be determined by whether or not you know when to walk away from the tables. If you find yourself routinely playing until your session limit has been eradicated, then chances are that you will inevitably lose money over a long period of time regardless of how often you win in the short run. But, if you learn to quit as soon as you start to generate a decent amount of profit, you’ll have an opportunity to profit in the long run as well. For instance, you might opt to quit playing should you double your online casino bankroll. Or, you could decide that a 50% profit on top of your session limit is sufficient. Whatever the scenario, determine when you will stop playing in advance and no matter what, keep to it.

No money management strategy on earth can guarantee that you will be successful at an online casino. However, the guiding principles set out above are much more likely to put you on the path to riches than if you were to play without exercising any technique whatsoever. Follow these suggestions for a month or so and you’ll discover what a difference a little money management can make.

Online Casino Bonuses – How Do They Work?

Online Casino BonusesWhy do casinos offer online casino bonuses?  It’s important for players to remember that the goal of any casino is to ensure that over the lifetime of the player’s membership, the house wins.  Random number generators ensure the fairness of the games, but the odds are still stacked against you.  It’s only under special circumstances, such as being able to count cards at a blackjack table, that a player may have an advantage over the casino.  In order to entice players who might otherwise be put off the casino’s edge, most online casinos will offer “Welcome” online casino bonuses and other promotions to increase the player’s odds of winning in the short-term.  In almost every case, there are strings attached to these bonuses.  For example, most of them are game-specific.  If you only enjoy playing roulette you might be out of luck.  Although most bonuses will allow you to play virtually any slot machine, occasionally you can also find bonuses for blackjack and other games, including roulette, but the advantage provided by these bonuses won’t be quite as generous.

Online Casino Bonuses Variations

There are several varieties of online casino bonuses. The simplest type of bonus is a cashable one.  This is accompanied by a wagering requirement. An example of this would be $200 welcome bonus with a 25x wagering requirement.  In this scenario the player must wager the initial deposit 25 times for a total of $5000 before the player can cash out any winnings.  The $5000 in wagering can be achieved in any combination such as fifty $100 bets, five hundred $10 bets or five thousand $100 bets.  Players are expected to lose, on average, approximately 0.5% of their bet on blackjack.  Therefore, the anticipated loss on the $5000 in wagers is $25 ($5000 x 0.5%).  Consequently, $175 of the original $200 welcome bonus remains as a cashable profit.  It’s a good idea to do some research for any game selected in order to develop a basic understanding of game strategy as well as determining an appropriate bet amount.

“Sticky” online casino bonuses also come with a wagering requirement. But, unlike a cashable bonus, sticky bonuses can’t be withdrawn; they can only be used to make bets.  Generally speaking, players cash out their balance first.  Then, should the account balance fall to zero, the player can continue wagering with the sticky bonus amount.

Microgaming casinos offer a variation on the “Clearplay” bonus scheme. These bonuses allow you to play any casino game and withdraw any winnings whenever you like, whether or not you have satisfied the wagering requirements. Wagering requirements are higher for games with better odds, like blackjack.  Therefore, unlike the typical cashable bonuses, these have different strategies and suggested games.  If you choose to play at a Microgaming casino you may want to contact their customer service representatives for more information.

It is becoming a lot more commonplace these days for some casinos to offer free play and free spin online casino bonuses. All you need to do is register to play as a real money player.  Your account will then be credited and once you make your first deposit your free play winnings will be credited to your account as bonus money.  As with any offer, be sure to review the terms and conditions carefully before accepting any bonus.  If the terms are unclear, contact customer service for a detailed explanation.  Online casino bonuses are a great way to increase your odds of winning; just do your research so you can play with confidence!

Online Casinos – Choosing the Best Destination

Best Online CasinosEvery day, millions of casino players the world over access online casinos to satisfy their gambling desires.  The multitude of casinos one can choose from can make it extremely difficult for novice players to determine which one is the best choice and offer the best return for their money.  There are many things that savvy players should consider before depositing a single dollar.  The tips provided below have been gathered from seasoned pros who understand the ins and outs and ups and downs of the various operations.  By following this expert advice, new players will find themselves not only a safe and reliable gambling destination, but they will also benefit from the best games and bonuses.

A primary consideration when selecting online casinos should be whether or not the site has been registered and licensed.  This will ensure that the online casino operates legally and complies with all of the gambling laws that pertain to the jurisdiction in which they are licensed.  A further indication of the casino’s legitimacy is to seek out approvals from regulatory bodies such as eCOGRA.  A seal from eCOGRA, for example, indicates that the site has not only met industry standards, but that it offers fair games as well.

Once a player has completed this stage of cursory review, he/she can start checking under the hood.  There are many different software providers; some good, some bad.  New players are advised to take a conservative approach and narrow their initial focus to some of the bigger names in the industry like Microgaming, Real Time Gaming, and Playtech.  This is not to say that other gaming providers don’t offer excellent gaming platforms, it’s more of a matter of trust and reliability.  Those things are earned and demonstrated over time and these online casinos have long histories of providing both of these essential elements.  Each provider will have their own unique suite of games and each brand will feature their own set of promotional incentives.  The quality of the service provided at each casino will also vary.

Once a player has determined their choice of casino software, they can then begin comparing the individual offerings at each of the various online casinos that utilize their preferred software platform.  Sites will often list the games included in the software package, so if there’s a particular game desired, a simple check to ensure it’s included in the suite of games is all it takes.

Online Casinos – What Bonus is Right For You?

Next up is the size and nature of the bonus incentives.  While a particular offer might seem hard to resist at first glance, players must take the time to review the terms and conditions so that they are making the most informed decision possible.  They will need to compare things like wagering restrictions, qualifying games, as well as the withdrawal clauses at various online casinos.  Identifying if the casino has a lucrative loyalty program will help to ensure satisfaction in the long run.

In the event an issue should arise, players should consider the quality of the customer service provided.  The online casino should offer easy access to their support services via email, phone, and, ideally, live chat.  Depending on where a player resides, the option to receive support in certain languages might also be a key determining factor.

Following these guidelines is a great way to ensure long-term online gaming satisfaction.  If you’re pressed for time or unsure about how to apply any of the information above, a great shortcut is to read online casinos reviews written by industry experts.  A simple online search will provide tons of reviews, many from insiders who are more than happy to guide players to safe, entertaining gambling destinations.