Tips for choosing a casino site
Tips for choosing a casino site
We’ve used our expert knowledge on the subject of Internet casinos and virtual gambling to give new users a guide on what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a casino site to place real money bets at.
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Unlike land based casinos, where you’ll typically only find one or two brick and mortar gambling establishments within each state, there are literally hundreds of online casinos to choose from on the Internet. While we do believe that variety is the spice of life, it can be hard at first to determine which casinos are legitimately worthy of your time and money and which are totally rogue and should be avoided like the plague.
Online casino checklist for dummies
Use our quick checklist of things to look for before ever making a deposit at an online casino, with each of these factors explained in more detail below:
- Is the site licensed by a reputable gambling jurisdiction?
- Is the site certified by eCOGRA?
- Does the casino offer good game variety?
- Are games created by leading software providers?
- Is there a range of secure deposit options available?
- Does the site use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protection?
- Is the casino supported by a customer service team?
All of the online casinos you’ll find recommended here at CasinoSites.com.au tick all of these boxes, so we’ve done the leg work for you, but it always helps to know what constitutes a good online casino.
Top advice for beginners
When it comes to choosing a legitimate, reputable online casino, we’ve outlined the top factors to look for:
Legal casino licensing
It’s imperative to determine whether an online casino has received licensing by a legitimate gambling jurisdiction. You can find this information either listed at the very bottom of the casino home page or in the ‘about’ section of the casino. The best and most reputable gambling jurisdictions aren’t necessarily as recognisable as you may imagine, in fact you should avoid casinos that claim to be licensed by places like Australia or the United States as this just doesn’t happen. The casino jurisdictions you want to see include Malta, Curacao, Alderney, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Antigua and Kahnawake.
eCOGRA certification
eCOGRA is the leading regulatory body for the online gambling industry, working as an independent third party to assess the safety and legitimacy of online casinos. eCOGRA checks online casinos for things like proper security, responsible gambling practices and payout percentages while ensuring that genuine random number generators (RNGs) are in place. This body also works as a voice for online players, helping Internet punters resolve any issues they may encounter with a casino operator. Approved sites contain the eCOGRA seal of approval, usually listed at the bottom of the home page along with the casino license information.
Game variety
Unless you’re a diehard fan of one particular game and wouldn’t dream of playing anything else, game variety is very important when picking an online casino. Once you’ve registered with a casino and made a deposit, you’ll want as many gaming options as possible so you don’t get bored of the site. The best online casinos offer hundreds of online slot titles, plus multiple variations of blackjack, roulette, video poker, craps, baccarat, keno, lotto, live dealer games and mini games like online scratchies and bingo. Our recommended casinos are constantly adding new games to their collections, so you’ll never be scratching your head for what to play.
Software providers
It’s super important that the casino you choose uses games created by reputable gaming software providers. Names to look for include Microgaming, NetEntertainment (NetEnt), BetSoft, NYX Gaming, Next Gen Gaming, Play’n Go, Ezugi and Playtech. These software developers create beautiful, captivating games that use the highest quality graphics, animation and special features, giving online punters the most entertaining gaming experience possible. Playing games by these developers ensures you won’t be wasting your hard earned money on any lacklustre casino game.
Deposit options
You should always check what deposit options are available at an online casino before registering for a real money account as this will ensure that your preferred method is offered while also giving you further insight into whether the casino is legitimate. The best online casinos offer an array of secure deposit options including Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, EntroPay, Paysafecard, ecoPayz, Flexepin and direct bank transfers. Check which currency options are available, as most reputable online casinos accept payments using multiple currencies. For instance, this means if you are Australian, you will be able to deposit in the AUD; or if you are from the United States (USD) or England (GBP) you will be able to display your balance in the local currency. The currencies accepted vary from site to site.
SSL protection
In order to protect players, reputable online casinos employ a minimum of 128 Bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) security encryption anytime personal or financial details are required. This highly advanced security software scrambles all details sent over a site, making it impossible for a hacker to intercept. You can tell if a page is protected by SSL as the URL bar will contain an additional ‘s’ in the web address (eg. https:// instead of just http) and the address bar will also show a small padlock icon. Some sites will even have the URL bar highlighted entirely in green to make it even easier for a player to determine that the site is SSL protected.
Customer support
Just as you would expect from any establishment you’re spending money at, from retail stores, to restaurants, to land based casinos, online punters deserve to be treated like the genuine customers that they are. The best online casinos are backed by friendly support teams who are typically available 24/7 via a live chat option, or can be phoned or emailed in order to help players with any queries they may have. Casino support members can help with questions regarding welcome bonuses, deposit options, withdrawal times, game instructions and just about any other question you might need help with, so you never have to feel like you’re left in the dark just because you’re playing online instead of in a real life venue.
Our recommended casinos for newbies
If this all sounds like too much information for you to deal with, just say stuff it and click on any of the links below. Our top-rated casino sites are also listed in the table at the top of this page, which has been geo-targeted only to recommend casinos that accept players from your country. We’ve scoured the Internet to find the best casinos for new players including:
- House of Jack: Large selection of online casino games available for instant play with no downloads required.
- Mucho Vegas Casino: An entertaining and cheerful casino site perfect for beginners
- G’Day Casino: Real money gambling with generous beginner welcome package bonuses.
- Slots Million: specialising in online slots but with a range of table games and live dealer titles available, and great for new players wanting to stick with the simplicity of slots.
- Royal Vegas Casino: Leading online casino with Microgaming games, known for their intuitive and player-friendly design.