Finding an online casino in 2020 is much more challenging than ever before. Here’s why. New gaming websites crop up every month, and many of them have beautiful sites, lots of games, and bountiful bonuses.
So, how can you spot a good online casino? Take your team and choose a website with all the features you’re looking for. If you need guidance, here are some of the factors to consider.
A License from the UKGC
Every online casino operating in England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland must acquire a license from the gambling commission. It doesn’t matter where the company is based. If it targets Britons, it needs a permit from the UKGC.
The Gambling Commission does an excellent job of regulating online casinos. So, when you join a UKGC gaming website, you can be confident it will be genuine and safe.
All casinos licensed by the UKGC publish their license number at the footer section of their sites. They also include a link you can click to visit the UKGC website to confirm the casino is safe.
In case you’re wondering, having a license assures you of these critical things:
- A casino is legitimate.
- It’s operated by trustworthy people
- Has up to standard security measures
- Has systems to protect problem gamblers
- Works with safe payment methods
Convenient Payments and Policies
These days, depositing money into a casino is fast and easy. You can use debit cards, e-wallets like PayPal, or cryptocurrencies to fund your account. Most operators don’t charge fees for deposits but check around for confirmation.
The withdrawal process isn’t always smooth, though. And this is an area you need to research a lot about before you join a casino. Read online reviews or ask people who’ve used the website before how long it takes to withdraw money.
Ideally, you want a casino that allows you to withdraw small wins (say £20 to £100) and big wins effortlessly. A cashout through PayPal, Skrill, or Trustly shouldn’t take a week. And neither should a wire transfer take a month.
If you’re ever in doubt, find safe casinos on review websites. You’ll get a recommendation of the best five, 10, 20, or 50 gaming sites in the UK. Crucially, these are not randomly picked operators.
Casino review websites do the heavy lifting so that you don’t need to. They do background checks and use these casinos to find the best among them. When you get a nod to join a specific site, you can be confident it’s safe.
An Easy to Use Website or App
The best online casinos are a breeze to use. They have fast-loading websites with neat categories. You get a ton of games recommended for you even before you figure out what to play.
You can choose slots from a sea of software providers. Or you can set up your web camera and play poker and blackjack with your friends. Importantly, the websites are managed 24/7 to ensure games run smoothly always.
In contrast, an unreliable gaming website is easy to spot. Their website takes too long to load. Some games are unresponsive, or the deposit process is a challenge to use. For the better, many casinos have professionally designed websites. So, this is not a challenge you’ll experience often.
Offers Games you Like
There’s a growing trend of casinos offering hundreds of slots and card games. It’s a welcome move because it adds variety for players. But regardless of how many positions a website provides, you need games you can enjoy.
If you’re new to casino gaming, find high-payout games. With slots, search for games with RTP rates of 95% and 99%. On the other end, play games with a low house edge. For example, pick European over American roulette.
Experienced casino players already know the drill. They have a mix of games from renowned software providers and upcoming developers. For example, they can choose Thunderstruck II from Microgaming, Starburst from NetEnt, and a few titles from small companies.
Of course, you don’t have to get stuck with a select number of titles. Casino games cost as little as 10p for both slots and card games. If you spot a game that looks great, try it. There’s a chance it could be available on a demo mode—you won’t be charged.
Irresistible, Regular Bonuses
One of the reasons it’s challenging to identify an excellent online casino these days is that they all offer bonuses. For unsuspecting players, the best gaming site might be the one with the most generous welcome package.
But that’s hardly ever the case. Big bonuses don’t always mean offers you should claim. Sometimes a small offer with friendly terms and conditions is better than a $1000 offer.
That said, these are some of the bonuses to expect from modern online casinos:
- No deposit bonus/free spins
- Welcome package
- Reload bonuses
- Loyalty/VIP programs
No deposit bonuses are a godsend for several reasons. You don’t need to deposit money to claim the betting credit. And still, you can use it to play casino games and win real money. The rest of the bonuses come in all forms and shapes.
But get this—read terms and conditions before you accept any casino bonuses. If the terms sound good, claim the bonus and enjoy it.
Quality Customer Service
Sometimes online casinos experience technical challenges, and you could get caught in the mess. You could be playing a slot, and it crashes after you win. Or you might want to withdraw money, and you get locked out of your account.
The best casinos will always come to your rescue when you have problems. They offer customer service through live chatbots, email, and phone calls. Unfortunately, you can be sure how useful these contact channels are unless you initiate communication.
You can send an email to asking a random question to determine whether you’ll get a response and whether it will be helpful. Alternatively, you can visit review sites to discover what people say about the casino. Logically, join casinos with top ratings.
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