Online Casino Tips for Beginners

In recent years, online casinos have grown in popularity, giving players a fun and convenient opportunity to play their favourite casino games from the comfort of their homes. The online casino experience, though, might be a little intimidating for beginners. We'll go over some pointers in this blog post to guide you in navigating the world of online casinos and ensuring your online gambling experience is as hassle-free and fun as possible!

When looking for a safe casino in 2023, you should consider the following factors:

1. License and regulation: Look for online casinos that are licensed and regulated by reputable organizations such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. Avoid casinos licensed by less-reputable jurisdictions like Curacao or Costa Rica.
2. Player reviews: Research the casino's reputation by reading player reviews and ratings. Stay away from casinos with a lot of negative reviews or those that have a history of not paying out winnings.
3. Security measures: Check if the casino has implemented security measures such as SSL encryption to protect player's personal and financial information.
4. Game RTPs: Check the return to player (RTP) percentage of the casino games before playing. Generally speaking, it's advisable to choose games with an RTP of 96% or higher.
5. Bonus terms and conditions: Read the full terms and conditions of any bonuses offered by the casino, including the wagering requirements.
6. Responsible gambling: Check if the casino promotes responsible gambling and if it provides tools and resources to help players set limits on their play.
7. Customer support: Look for casinos that offer multiple ways to contact customer support, such as email, phone, and live chat, and that have a good reputation for providing timely and helpful assistance to players.

In this article, we will delve into each of these factors in more detail. If you are new to online gambling and looking to get started, we recommend checking out our home page for more information and guidance.. As always, do your own research and due diligence - and if something doesn’t look or feel right, don’t be afraid of finding a different site to play at. There’s thousands of sites to choose from - and if in doubt, stick to one of the bigger online gambling operations.

Choose a Safe Casino

Choosing a trustworthy and reliable casino is the first and most important part of your online gambling experience. You should always look for online casinos that are authorised and overseen by a trustworthy organisation, like the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority.

Try to avoid online casinos licensed by less-reputable organisations like Curacao or Costa Rica; these jurisdictions are known to allow shady businesses to operate, and there are endless complaints of players not being paid at sites licensed in these territories.

One of the main benefits of playing at a UKGC or MGA-licensing casino is that these regulatory bodies make sure that the casino abides by tight rules on security, integrity, and restrained gaming. For example, in the UK, all licensed casinos are required to ring-fence customer funds to protect your money in the case of insolvency.

If you'd like to learn more about a casino's reputation, you can also read internet reviews and ratings. Simply Google “Casino Name Review” and look at what real players have to say about their experiences. Stay away from casinos with a lot of bad ratings or those that have a track record of not paying out winnings.

Claim Bonuses (And Wagering Terms)

To entice new players into joining their site, many online casinos provide incentives and sign-up bonuses. Each online casino is different, but generally, these bonuses include free spins, welcome bonuses, and cashback deals. However, before claiming any bonuses, it's really important to read the full terms and conditions - and check the wagering requirements.

Bonuses are advertised to look as appealing as possible - but you’ll sometimes find that the fine print is so strict that it makes claiming the bonuses - essentially - pointless. For example, some online casinos will give away 100 free spins - but if the wagering requirements are 100X, then you stand almost no chance of actually converting the bonus funds to real, withdrawable cash. So, what are wagering requirements?

Wagering requirements dictate the number of times you need to wager your bonus funds before you can cash out any bonus winnings. For example, if you claim a matched deposit bonus at an online casino (a typical welcome bonus offered to new players), you may find that the wagering requirements are 30X. This means you’d need to turnover the bonus a total of 30 times before withdrawing.

Say you claimed a £50 bonus with 30X wagering requirements; you’d need to wager £1,500 before you could withdraw it. It may sound like a lot, but you’d be surprised at how fast wagering requirements can be completed when playing casino games!

Check Game RTPs

When you play any online casino game, there will be something called an RTP - the return to player percentage. This determines the amount of money a game is expected to pay back to players over the long run.

It’s pretty important to look at the Return to Player (RTP) % before beginning to play any casino games. Generally speaking, it’s advisable to choose games with an RTP of 96% or higher. What this means is that - on average - for every £100 wagered through a game, the expected return back to players is £96; the online casino can expect to make a profit of £4.

Of course, in the short-term, RTPs can vary greatly - but if you plan on playing a lot, the RTP can play a major part in determining the amount you win/lose. In the UK, it’s a legal requirement that the RTP of a game is displayed in the game’s rules. If, for any reason, you can’t find information about the RTP, ask the customer support team at the online casino you’re playing at, as they’ll usually be able to provide you with the relevant information.

Check Variance

When you’re playing casino games - especially video slots - there will be something called variance (although this isn’t always the easiest information to find.) However, where possible, variance should be taken into account while selecting a game.

The variance of a casino game determines the amount of risk. For example, high variance games (known as high volatility games) generally provide a greater chance of bigger wins - but it’s also a lot more likely you’ll go bust while playing.

Low variance games provide - generally - smaller rewards, but the hit frequency (the rate at which you hit wins) is higher. For players who are ready to take chances and want to go for those “once in a lifetime wins”, high variance games are likely the way to go.

Players who prefer a more laid-back gaming experience with frequent bonuses and features, regular wins - and less risk - will be better-suited playing low variance games.

Study the Game Before Playing

Before you start placing real money bets on ANY casino game, it's really important to familiarise yourself with the rules of the game you’re looking to play. This doesn’t apply to video slots as much - as it’s pretty clear and straightforward how to win.

However, if you’re playing casino table games - Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat are some good examples - it’s well-worth being aware of the rules and strategies, so you don’t end up throwing money away.

Before beginning to place bets, read the rules - and consider trying out the game in demo (free-to-play) mode. Almost all online casinos provide free versions of their games, although if you’re in the UK, you will need to verify your age and identity before playing.

Use Fast and Safe Payment Methods

The whole point of playing at online casinos is to win money, right? That’s why it’s important to choose a site that not only accepts the payment methods you want to use - but also ones that offer fast deposits and withdrawals.

Try to find online casinos that accept a variety of payment methods, such as bank transfers, e-wallets, and debit cards. Avoid gambling establishments that have limited payment alternatives or charge expensive fees. In fact, UK regulations now state it’s illegal for online gambling businesses to charge for deposits.

One of the best payment methods to use is PayPal; deposits and withdrawals are often processed instantly, there’s no fees involved - and once the money is in your PayPal account, you can withdraw it to your bank account in a matter of seconds.

To find out rough estimates of how quickly an online casino will process withdrawals, again, see what other players are saying; see what the pending period for withdrawals is, and look at whether lots of players are complaining about stalled, or delayed withdrawals.

Set Responsible Gambling Limits

Another really important part of gambling online is responsible gambling. Putting time and financial limits on your gaming is an excellent way of ensuring things don’t get out of hand - and even if you don’t think you possess the traits of being a problem gambler, they’re well worth thinking about before you start spending.

Thankfully, all UK-licensed casinos are required to provide players with a wide variety of responsible gambling tools. For example, you can set a deposit limit - which limits the amount of money that you’re able to deposit into your account on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Some sites also allow you to set up a wager limit - which puts a limit on the amount of money that you can wager on a single hand/spin. All UK-licensed casinos are also now required to show you how long you’ve been playing for, and tell you your profit/loss figures.

If you feel that your online gambling is getting out of control, you can also opt into a self-exclusion agreement. This completely blocks access to your online gambling account for a minimum of six months - and during this time, you won’t be able to login, deposit money, or place any bets. 

Faq

What should I look for in a safe and reputable online casino?

You should look for online casinos that are licensed and regulated by reputable organizations such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. Additionally, you should research the casino's reputation by reading player reviews and ratings.

Are there any red flags to watch out for when choosing an online casino?

Some red flags to watch out for include casinos licensed by less-reputable jurisdictions like Curacao or Costa Rica, casinos with a lot of negative reviews or a history of not paying out winnings, and casinos that lack basic security measures such as SSL encryption.

How do I know if a casino game has a high return to player (RTP) percentage?

The RTP percentage of a game is usually displayed on the game's page or in the game's rules. A general rule of thumb is to look for games with an RTP of 96% or higher.

What should I be aware of when claiming bonuses at an online casino?

Before claiming any bonuses, it's important to read the full terms and conditions and check the wagering requirements. Be aware that some bonuses may have strict requirements or high wagering requirements that make it difficult to convert the bonus funds to real, withdrawable cash.

How can I ensure that I am gambling responsibly at an online casino?

You can ensure that you are gambling responsibly by setting limits on your play, being aware of the risks associated with gambling, and taking breaks as needed. Many online casinos also provide tools and resources to help players gamble responsibly.

Is it safe to provide personal and financial information to an online casino?

It can be safe to provide personal and financial information to an online casino, but it's important to make sure that the casino has implemented security measures such as SSL encryption to protect your information. You should also verify that the casino is licensed and regulated by a reputable organization.

What should I do if I have a problem or issue with an online casino?

If you have a problem or issue with an online casino, you should contact the casino's customer support team. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can also contact the casino's regulatory body or the relevant authorities.