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Choosing a Casino
Most casinos have a wide selection of games. But some specialize in certain areas- for instance, they have slot or blackjack tournaments, or live dealers, chat options, private tables, etc. Decide what features you want in your casino before you begin your search. Use this guide to find the points casinos with the points of interest you want most, and visit the site to sign up. Also look for the following things:
- Licenses- Make sure your casino is licensed by looking for a software license. The reputable casino software companies will not sell to a site that is not licensed (most of these licenses will be offshore).
- Software- The most common are MicroGaming, Cryptologic, Net Entertainment, Boss Media, Random Logic, Playtech and OddsOn. Since they only sell to reputable sites with licenses, you can trust these sites. Also, they offer the most up-to-date software with the most options available online.
Before You Sign Up
There are a few things you should be aware of before you start an account:
- Security- Check the site and make sure that they have encryption technology so that makes your personal information secure. Also make sure they won’t share your personal information with any third parties (privacy policy).
- Reputation- Though online casino gambling is usually safe, like anything you should still beware. Check a site like this one that has honest, unbiased rankings to see how well a casino rates. If it is listed here, it has an excellent reputation.
- Payouts- This is the amount of each dollar spent at a casino that gets returned to the customers as winning. All reputable casinos will have a link to this info somewhere on their website. Check to make sure they do, and that the information comes from a reputable, third-party accounting firm and not from the site themselves.
Opening an Account
This part is fairly simple- you get to the new account screen and fill in the necessary information. Name, address, phone number, etc. Once you load money into your account (explained in the next section) you can then begin playing (unless the method of payment was one such as an e-check or money order that takes time to clear).
How to Deposit Money into Your Account
Opening an account is only half the work- the other is loading money into your account to gamble with. Each casino has a list of the options they accept. Here is a breakdown of the most popular methods:
- Credit Cards- All casinos accept major credit cards. This is a quick and easy way to start your bankroll.
- Money transfer service- Also known as “wallets” these are services that transfer money from either your bank account or credit card to the site. It is similar to PayPal (which does NOT allow gambling payments). The best ones are NeTeller and FirePay, both of which allow you to open an account for free.
- Check/Money Order: This is a method if you don’t want to enter personal information online. However, these have to be mailed in, so you have to wait until the funds are received and have cleared before you have the ability to wager with them.
- Wire Transfer: Your bank or other service directly sends money to the casino. There is usually a fee involved for this and the payment may take a few days to clear.
- Electronic Check: Services such as Citadel allow this option.
- Phone Bill: Services such as TeleBuy offer you the ability to charge a certain amount to your monthly phone bill if you have no credit card or checking account.
Promotions
Most casinos offer some kind of bonus or incentive to sign up new customers. Here are the most popular types of offers and an explanation of each:
- Bonus match- This means the casino will match a certain percentage of your initial deposit, up to a certain amount. ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT! This doesn’t mean you can just withdraw the bonus and go home. There are always restrictions! You usually have to gamble the amount of the deposit a certain amount of times. For instance, “5x gambling requirements” means that you have to bet the amount of the bonus at least five times before you can withdraw as winnings.
- Redeposit bonus- Some casinos offer a match bonus for all subsequent deposits using certain payment methods. Check the terms and conditions for more details.
- Free money- This means you open an account, and the casino gives you a certain amount to gamble, at no charge. This is not a deposit or bonus match. It literally is free money. It is very rare, though and so don’t count on finding it too often.
- Loyalty/Comp programs- For repeat customers, many sites offer loyalty or comp programs. Some of these offer free money, sweepstakes entries, or points that can be redeemed for a number of things. As always, look for details in the terms and conditions when you sign up.
Withdrawing Your Money
If you have won money and wish to receive it, you must withdraw the money from your account (also known as cashing out). Now, this is not like an ATM, where you have instant access to your withdrawal. There are a variety of methods that may be used. Here are some of the most popular:
- Check- This can be by regular mail, certified mail or courier. There may be a charge for this service, and the time it can take varies from a few days to over a month, since the checks are likely coming from another country.
- Account Credits: If you used an online wallet such as NeTellers of FirePay, you can send the funds back to that account. This usually take just a few days and had little or no fees attached to it.
- Wire Transfer- This can take just hours to get the money to you, but you pay for the convenience- the average fee can be as high as $30, no matter the size of your withdrawal.
- Credit Card: If you used a credit card directly on the site, you may be able to get your withdrawal credited back to the same card. There may be a small fee involved, but this will only take a few days for the credit to show up.
Disputes
While disputes in the online casino industry are rare, they do occur. If you believe for any reason that there is a problem or error with your account or game play, immediately contact that sites customer service. They are usually available 24/7 live or via email and will be happy to help you. Remember, they are in the business of getting repeat customers, which means solving any problems with current customers in a quick and easy manner. If you have a further dispute, you can ask to talk to the webmaster or other supervisor and air your grievance with them.
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