Ensuring you choose an Honest Casino
August 6, 2008
Choosing an online casino is a major decision because you have to be certain that the casino is honest and that you will be paid if you win. By reading through our site, you will find a long list of reliable casinos, who have been independently checked and verified. It is not recommended to use casinos which do not appear on our site, but if you feel the need to, check through our guide below to ensure that you are safe.
Bonuses
If it looks too good to be true it probably is. Check the terms and conditions for the bonus and comp program gaming requirements. If you can’t find anything suspicious there, then check the site. Casinos are businesses, and businesses are there to make money. Most casinos have a wagering requirement anywhere between 5 - 20X the deposit + bonus amount and can have special details attached, such as different wagering amounts depending on country or if you are a student.
Customer Service
Do they offer phone support? Email? Chat? Is it 24/7? Do they know your language? Try whatever type of customer support that they offer. See how quickly they respond and how well. Often it will be customer service that handles bonuses or winnings payments, so it’s important that they answer you back quickly.
Site Ownership
Does the site state who the owners are? If so, does it list their email addresses, phone numbers, and/or street address? Check the phone numbers and email addresses for authentication. If neither an email nor a phone number is listed do not bother with the site. Who does their software? You may want to check that company out as well.
Licensing and the IGC
The site should be government licensed. This will typically be listed on one of the following pages: about us, rules, FAQ’s, or terms and conditions. If you can’t find it in an obvious spot (or you don’t feel like looking) you can write in to the sites customer service for the information. Now just because they say they are licensed doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. They should also display the verification from the government they are licensed by.
Many casinos are registered with the Internet Gaming Council. To be a member of the council you have to agree to their code of conduct (i.e. be honest and have good customer service). You can find out if the casino you are interested in is listed by checking www.igcouncil.org. However, not every site is a member, so don’t make this your final judgment.
Website
Legitimate operators take the time, money, and effort to create a nice looking professional site. They will present all of their information on their site clearly and will not hide information. Steer clear of sites that aren’t well done.
Auditing
Most sites will list their odds. The question is how did they come to this number? Does a respectable third party firm, such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, audit them? They should link to the auditing companies site, so you can check them out as well. Remember, if an outside firm isn’t auditing them, they can tell you whatever numbers they like for the odds. You have no way of knowing if they are lying or not.
Security
The deposit and payment system should be 128 bit encryption technology. When you deposit you should see the little closed lock sign on the bottom of the web page showing that it is secure. They should have a privacy policy regarding all of your personal information (typically on the terms and conditions page). If you don’t want two million emails from every affiliate they have, be sure that they do not share their information!
Good luck and have fun gaming!
Choosing an Online Casino
August 6, 2008
Online gambling is a huge phenomenen with millions of users participating in online casinos each year. The ability to play in the privacy of your own home without the pressure of other players is a major factor in the popularity of online gambling, as well as allowing you to access it at your convenience. One of the major decisions to take is choosing what casino you wish to participate in. This includes anaylsis of the below factors, as well as looking at any casino bonus that may be on offer.
Securing Financial Transactions: It’s paramount to select an online casino site, that ensures your money transactions on the Internet. This can only be carried out by using a system assuring you safety and provides security, while guaranteeing complete privacy. That means that the system is based on technological encryption systems identical to those used by worldwide banking systems. We suggest that you carry out a search on the specific selected online gambling site to reveal whether this problem is discussed at all.
Playing Fairly and Payments: Not all casinos produce identical game results. You should ensure that when selecting a casino, you choose one whose game results are fair and random. You should also consider the standard of payments offered by the casinos. All casinos are audited to ensure that payouts are as high as possible.Furthermore, you should ascertain that the games you play are played under the Las Vegas authenticated casinos’ rulings of game standards. Also check out if the specific casino site has clauses relating to random and fair playing. And lastly, pay attention to the reports regarding payout percentages to see whether respected accountant companies have signed these reports.
The importance of customer support: It’s important to select playing on an online casino where qualitative customer support is provided. A twenty-four hour day, seven days a week support system must be accessible to any player. This support should comprise a twenty-four hour free phone system as well as an email support system. You can try this out by simply sending an email and testing the speed of reply, and by calling them to become acquainted with the type of service. One asset some casinos offer is that of a chat support forum which can be of great benefit.
The importance of casino licenses: remember to play on online casino sites only if licensed by government authentication. Authorized government licenses permit taking bets and wagers at the casino site. The main advantage in playing at a licensed online casino site is that you know that the site acts according to and accountable and certified standard. In addition, you always have the right to refer to the accountable government if something problematic occurs. You’ll generally locate the symbol of the authenticated license in the lower part of the homepage, and so you should always inspect whether one exists or not.
Casino Supervision and its importance: it’s important to confirm that reputable gaming association bodies keep the casino site under supervision. Such reputable companies are eCogra or the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) organizations. This latter body is a an association dedicated maintaining gambling on the Internet for the player’s growing qualitative assurance. The second independent body, eCogra, is dedicated to protecting player customers by providing protecting assurance which ensure that winner bets are honored on time, depositing money is secure, playing fairly, operators have integrity and other precautions. You can access the relevant sites to check out the approved online casino list.
Evaluating the casino software: Testing the casino software provides the next stage for ensuring that the casino you’ve selected is secure and dependable. You can get acquainted with the software by first playing various games in the free fun mode. This provision is generally supplied by most online casinos. Casino software varies as there are many different sorts comprising its own special interface and range of games. In this manner you can search out a casino that is suitable to you. Playtech, RealTime Gaming and Microgaming are the principle providers of gaming software and you can check their casino lists at the relevant web sites.
Online Casinos vs Land Based Casinos
August 6, 2008
It could be argued that nothing compares to the thrill of participating in a Vegas casino with all the associated glitz and glamour. However, the reality is that visiting a casino is not always possible due to time and location restrictions which is why there has been such a phenomenal surge in online gambling in internet casinos, which open up new possibilities to play with maximum convenience.
Online casinos take the gambling experience further, making it accessible to players 24/7 and allowing you to enjoy an hour or two whenever, or whereever you please. The development of sophisticated mobile phones and PDAs even mean you can play online on the train or remotely, meaning you have 24/7 access to online casinos.
1. The availability of fast communication between the player and the online casino site allowing an interactive gambling application meet the rhythm of playing.
2. Advanced graphic technologies that make the man-machine interface very intuitive and easy to use with no requirements for any special know how or expertise.
3. Advanced security technologies making the financing aspect of gambling safe and easy to operate over the Internet.
4. The widespread deployment of the Internet makes everybody connected with no further complication or costs.
5. The deployment of Internet banking eliminating the psychological barrier to manage money accounts over the Internet.
6. The penetration of personal computer to almost every home becoming the platform for the gaming system.
Another major advantage of online casinos is that they allow you to test your skills without feeling the pressure of other players. For a new or rookie casino player, the ability to go at your own pace and move from game to game with no limitations makes for a far less pressured environment and should help cut down on player mistakes caused by nerves or anxiety, giving you a greater chance of winning.Contrary to land based casinos the online casino enables players to play in complete privacy.
One more benefit of being involved in the online casino world is that it might improve one’s gambling skills, making valuable information, such as playing strategies and tips much more available and accessible for you. Some casinos software already come with built in strategy systems and you can actually watch the computer play for you using the perfect strategy.
About Casino Bonuses
August 6, 2008
Online casinos are such a huge industry, with billions of pounds wagered online each year, that competition between rival casino groups is fierce. Therefore, to encourage new users to join, there are various casino bonuses on offer, giving you free money to spend and wager online. Among the various types of casino bonus available are:
No Deposit Required Bonus
These are risk-free bonuses, simply put, the casino gives you real free casino chips. For example, the casino will give you a free £50 that you can spend. All you have to do to get this is register, there is no initial or subsequent deposit required. You can play the £50 and either withdraw or re-invest your winnings.
Sign Up Bonus
Almost all online casinos give you a free bonus with your first purchase at the casino. For example, a “100% sign up bonus up to £50 free” means that if you purchase £20 the casino adds £20 and you get to play with £40 , if you purchase £50 the casino adds £50 and you get to play with $100. Since the bonus is “up to £450 free”, if you purchase £70 or any amount above £50 the casino still adds £50 .
Bonus T & C
Each bonus has its “Terms & Conditions”. Always look for it at the casino website before playing at the casino. The two important things at the T&C are the wagering requirements and the excluded games.
Wagering requirement is how much you have to wager before you will be permitted to cash-in. For example “Five times the sum of the purchase and the bonus must be wagered before any cash-in will be permitted.” means that if the sum of the purchase and the bonus is £100 you must wager a total £500 before you can cash-in.
Excluded Games are games that betting on them does not fulfill the obligations with regard to the total amount wagered.
Beginners Guide to Online Casinos
August 6, 2008
Online casino gambling is a multi-billion pound industry and it’s popularity is increasing exponentially in recent years, with many of the best casino websites offering various free bets and bonus in order to ensure the loyalty of their customers to their casino.
Traditionally, casino gambling was associated with Las Vegas, but now more money is wagered online than in major cities such as Vegas, California and Oklahoma.
Although there are a few dishonest casinos, 99% are reliable and legitimate. All the casinos listed on our website have been checked and independently tested. Casinos don’t need to cheat to earn more money as they make enough profit through the house edge and player mistakes.
When searching for a casino website, key factors to considered are the variety of games that the casino offers, as well as the withdrawal options to collect your winnings and the customer support service that they offer. Most should be available 24 hours and have toll free numbers.
What do I need to play casino online?
To be able to participate in the virtual casino online, you just need to download a software package from your chosen casino. Some casinos offer no-download required options which allow you to start playing immediately. Most casinos will allow you to play a selection of the games for free before requiring you to register.
How do I pay for my chips?
Once you have downloaded the software and chosen which games you want to play you are required to buy some chips (credits). You can purchase these either by credit card, cheques, money order or bank transfer. An increasing number of casinos now accept Paypal. The fastest and easiest way to deposit is through your credit card.
How do I receive my winnings?
If you have winnings available to withdraw, congratulations! Different casinos have different policies about how much you can cash out and when. Normally, adjustments are made to your credit card up to the original amount you deposited. If your winnings are greater than your deposit the casino will send you a check. They will send the check by a courier, but there is always an additional fee for that service. Some online casinos also offer bank wire transfers and some even allow use of e-cash companies such as Neteller or Pay Pal. Make sure to read the casino’s info on withdrawals before starting to play.
