If you want to start playing online casino games, you will see that you have thousands of options. The internet is full of casino sites, and each one claims to offer the best service. But if you decide just by looking at advertisements, you would be wrong. You have to look out for other things to find reliable and trustworthy casino sites. You can get an idea of the criteria you should use when evaluating casinos by taking a look at our Casi Go review. But if you want, you can also just read this article. Below, we talk about what to look for to find a reliable and fast online casino.
Reliable Online Casino Sites Have Licenses
What makes a land-based casino legal? The answer is simple: an official license from the government. This license means that the casino is a registered business and audited by the government. A casino without a license is unreliable, and you will not be able to find someone to help you if you run into a problem. You would not want to play in an illegal “gambling den”, would you?
This also applies to online casinos. Just like their land-based cousins, there are casino sites that operate with a license from the government, and this license (known as an electronic gaming license) is what makes them legal. A licensed casino complies with all rules and regulations. You can see the license information at the bottom of each casino’s homepage. CasiGo, for example, has a license from both the UK and Malta. For online gambling, only choose casino platforms with a license. Playing in an unlicensed casino (known as a rogue casino) is a serious security risk.
A Trustworthy Casino is Fair
It is important to choose a licensed casino to play games, but you still need to be careful with the fairness of the games. Fairness means casino games are not fixed. The results are random, and no one interferes with their functioning. So, your chances of winning really depend on how lucky you are. It is hard to tell if the games are fair – even professional gamblers cannot understand this. Therefore, it is a better idea to opt for casinos that work with an independent auditor for fairness. There are companies like eCOGRA and iTechLabs whose job is to test and ensure the fairness of casino games. We recommend that you choose casinos with a fairness certificate from these companies.
Fairness should be found not only in games but also in bonuses and promotions. In this regard, bonuses should not contain high wagering rates or nearly impossible terms to fulfill. For example, it is not possible to say that a casino that wants you to complete the bonus wagering within 24 hours is fair.
The Quantity and Quality of Online Casino Games
When evaluating a casino’s game collection, you need to pay attention to both quantity and quality. In other words, it does not matter if a casino offers thousands of games. These games must have been developed by reputable companies in the iGaming industry. High-quality developers’ games (such as Microgaming, Netent, Betsoft, Play’n GO, and Playtech) will allow you to have more fun and win more. Some types that can be found in online casinos include:
Game | Types |
Slots | Video slots, fruit slots, 3D slots, progressive slots, etc. |
Table Games | Poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, etc. |
Live Games | Live roulette, live blackjack, live baccarat, etc. |
Other Games | Bingo, scratch cards, instant games, etc. |
In this context, offering the option of slots for free is also important. You should be able to try out the entire game collection, including slot machines, for free. In this way, it is possible to find the most suitable games for you and create a personal “best of” list without risking your money. Otherwise, you would have to spend money to try the games, which is an unnecessary risk for a game you do not like. In short, the games offered by the casino should be developed by companies that are considered top dog and offer a sufficient variety. Also, make sure you can also take advantage of bonuses, such as free spins in these games.
Check the Safety Measures
A licensed casino already has the basic safety precautions taken, but there is no rule that says you should be content with that. First of all, every page of the casino must be encrypted with SSL. Some casino sites only encrypt the payment page, but that is not enough. Ideally, this protection should be present on every page. In this way, all the information you send to the casino server is encrypted, and it is not possible for third parties to access them.
- Look to the left of your browser’s address bar: if you see a lock icon, your connection is encrypted with SSL.
- A casino that has not invested in SSL encryption is probably not paying attention to other aspects that are important to your security.
For this reason, we recommend that you do not play in casinos that do not protect all of their pages with SSL. Also, ideally, the integrity of the casino site should be protected by a third party (e.g. Comodo or McAfee).
Check the Payment Options
For an enjoyable online gambling experience, you should be able to deposit and withdraw money easily and comfortably. So, start by looking at payment methods. The establishment should support at least two of the banking options you can use. In this context, the more options available, the better. In other words, do not just settle for credit cards and bank transfers: a modern gambling website should be able to support alternative methods such as electronic wallets and prepaid cards. In this context, it would be a better idea to choose casinos that also support cryptocurrencies to invest in the future.
Finally, we recommend that you take a look at customer support as well. Ideally, customer service should be available 24/7, and you should be able to use multiple ways to get support. Live chat and email are the golden standards in this regard, but casinos that also offer phone support are always better. In other words, the more options you have for getting support, the better.