There are many considerations in choosing a great online casino. The following is a basic checklist. It's especially important to make sure that your online casino is a reliable and safe place to gamble.
Reputation - Make sure that your online casino has a good reputation. Don't sign up for a brand-new casino unless you've talked to at least one or two people who have successfully withdrawn their winnings. Sometimes policies on withdrawals are so convoluted that you'll never be able to see your winnings.
3rd Party Auditing - It's crucial that you only use sites that have third party certification on their Random Number Generator (RNG) and their security. The best third-party auditor is eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). eCOGRA approves only sites that they have determined to be fully random, honest in their advertising, and employ a system of fair play.
Support - It's crucial to find out what an online casino does to support its customers. Most online casinos have an 800 number that you can call for support. All online casinos have either a support request form or an email address that you can write to. The best online casinos offer 24/7 chat online. If you don't live in the United States, you might have to pay to call the "toll-free" numbers, but the chat is free and easily accessible.
Country - Some sites to not allow you to gamble if you are in the United States. Some sites have different rules for bonuses based on country. Make sure that the site you are considering has fair rules for your country.
To Download or Not to Download - Some online casinos allow you to play their games without downloading their software, while others will only let you play if you've downloaded the complete software package. For many players, downloading the software is no hardship, but if you use computers in internet cafes or at work, you may not be able to download the software. If you use a lot of different computers regularly, and you don't want your gambling tied to one computer, this is an important thing to check.
Bonuses - Always look for the best bonus, but remember that the cashing out policy on bonuses can make a great bonus less than wonderful for your pocket. Remember that when you're playing, you want to look for a bonus that will translate to cash in your hand.
Check Out Your Favorite Games - Make sure that the casino is focused on your favorite game. For example, if you're a slots fan, you want to choose an online casino that offers several different slots games. Some online casinos offer only one or two types of video poker. If video poker is your game, you want to make sure that you join an online casino that has a version you really like. Some online casinos use 3D graphics for table games, while others just show the table top. If you want a realistic experience, be sure to look at screenshots before you start to play.
Fun - Be sure you're having a great time at the online casino!