Online casinos are the digital equivalent of land-based casinos. The online casino industry is an international market, accepting players globally. Stuck as to which online casino to choose? Read on to get the lowdown on how to choose an online casino which that fits you like a glove.
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Getting Started at an Online Casino Site
Here’s a list of the steps involved in setting up an online casino account in the blink of an eye.
Select Your Preferred Online Casino
For you to kick-start the journey of gambling in online casinos, the first step is to choose a casino site that you like. Ranging from customer support to the overall online reputation and b
Register an Account With Your Online Casino
Once you’ve made your final choice regarding an online casino, the next step is to sign up for an account. Signing up can most often be done by visiting the homepage of the casino website an
Make your first deposit
After setting up an online casino account, the next thing to do is make your first deposit. Deposits can be made via the payment page of the online casino. In most cases, online casinos offe
Online Casinos pros
Wide variety of games
When it comes to game selection, online casinos pretty much have the lot. They also often have more extensive game collections compared to traditional casinos, which feature fewer games to pl
Bonuses
Online casinos are well known for often mind-blowing offers. From welcome bonuses to Deposit Bonuses to free spins and more, you can be sure there’s a casino bonus with your name on it.
Accessibility
There’s hardly anything that can beat the accessibility of online casinos. You can easily place wagers as long as you have a smartphone and a reliable internet connection.
Online Casinos cons
Withdrawals
Online casinos deliver a slower withdrawal speed due to due diligence checks in place to protect both the operator and player alike.
Transaction Fees
When you make a deposit at a gambling site, you may be charged a transaction fee by your bank or credit card. Although these are usually minimal, they can add up over time. Withdrawals are al
Less fun
Spending time in a casino with your friends can be more exciting than staying at home and playing online slots
How to Choose the Best Online Casino
Like traditional casinos, there are certain things to look out for when choosing an online casino. We’ll be taking a look at the following considerations when weighing up an online casino:
- The reputation of an online casino
- User experience and optimisation
- Variety of games
- Bonuses
- Customer service
- The most popular games for real money
- Typical games found at an online casino
- Pros and cons of online casinos
- Some of the top online casinos
- How to sign up at an online casino
- Online casino stats
We’ll also pop in on a few FAQs to answer your niggling online casino queries.

The Reputation of the Online Casino
While some new casinos may pop up promising the moon on a stick, always check for licensing seals. These are issued - but not limited to - the following online gambling authorities:
● The Curaçao Gaming Control Board
● The Alderney Gambling Control Commission
● The Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission
● The UK Gambling Commission
● The Malta Gaming Authority
Players are advised to always check out official reviews of casino websites to ensure their reputation, as well as keep an eye out for legislative seals from one of the regulators listed above. These regulatory seals should then be cross-referenced with the applicable gaming authority.

User Experience and Optimisation
User experience plays a significant role in your online casino gaming journey. Today, there are so many online casinos that you can find with gorgeous site design, user experience, promotions, and non-fiat payment options (cryptos, basically).
Whether you use a mobile phone, a tablet, or a computer, an online casino is more often than not super optimized for all devices. With over 50% of players using a mobile device to enjoy a touch of online mobile gambling, casinos now offer top-of-the-range mobile apps.
Variety of Games
Every player has their favourite casino game and t’s always advisable to check out the variety of games available at a casino.
There are always reworkings of most casino classics, so gamblers are spoiled for choice.
Bonuses
While looking for the best online casino, bonuses are what keep players wagering. While we can’t promise you to take down millions on video slot Mega Moolah, bonuses are great for giving you a little more mileage to play your favourite games.
Players are often awarded free spins on their first deposit, commonly complemented with a Deposit Bonus. If you see a welcome offer which includes both, grab it with both hands.
Customer Service
Every online casino promises 24/7 customer support, and most deliver. To solve specific issues you might encounter while using a casino, you could urgently need to contact customer support.
This communication could likely be via live chat, email, social media, or phone.
The Most Popular Real Money Games at Online Casinos 2022
Blackjack
Blackjack remains one of the most popular casino games known to humankind. The very best basic strategy blackjack players can bring blackjack RTP (return to player) down to a diminutive 0.5%.
Often ranked as one of the simplest casino games, blackjack is suitable for newer players as it is it follows simple rules.
This game is usually played with six decks of 52 cards. Unlike in some casino games, players don’t play against each other in blackjack. Instead, they compete against the casino software or a live dealer.
Online Poker
Online poker is the real reason behind the overall popularity of poker games today. Recent research discovered that poker generates billions for the casino industry.
As far as online casinos are concerned, poker remains one of the most entertaining and fascinating games
That said, casino poker collections exclude the most widely-played form of poker, Texas hold ‘em due to software complications. The most commonly found poker games found at online casinos include:
- Five-card draw
- Casino Texas Hold ‘em
- Seven-card stud
- Three-card poker
- Omaha
Roulette
There are a load of roulette games, such as American roulette, European roulette, and French roulette.
Typically, Roulette wheels have 36 numbers, depending on the type of roulette. Numbers 1 - 36 are red or black, with the number 0 coloured green. American roulette has a double zero which influences RTP considerably. Compared to European Roulette’s 94.74% RTP, American roulette offers players 92.1%. A good reason to stay away from double zeros.
Roulette gameplay works by predicting the final destination of the spinning ball. Like most popular casino games, it’s a game that’s easy to pick up at both online and physical casinos.
Other Popular Real Money Online Casino Table Games
Bored of blackjack? Running cold on roulette? You might enjoy the following list of games:
- Baccarat
- Slots
- Bingo
- Craps
- Keno
Live Casino
A live casino online is where a live dealer (also known as a croupier) presents a casino game via a video feed to an audience playing on a tablet, desktop, laptop - or most likely - mobile phone.
All the casino classics are present and correct: roulette, blackjack, dice, sic bo, baccarat, along with other gaming variant classics for a modern audience. Popular live casino reinventions include:
- Lucky Streak Blackjack
- Cricket War
- Multi-language Roulette
- Cashback Baccarat
- Speed roulette, baccarat, and blackjack
- Salon privé games
Slots
The ‘90s saw the advent of the internet and the inevitable move from land-based casinos to the modern incarnations seen by gamblers who play slots online today. Microgaming is widely considered to be the online video slot machine producer, premiering its first outing in 1996. Cash Splash from Microgaming is regarded as the first jackpot slot of its kind.
Microgaming released a further five games in 1998; Golden Dragon, Pirates’ Paradise, Martian Money, Pharaoh’s Fortune, and Trick or Treat. Still holding a monopoly on online video slot production, 1999 saw Microgaming unleash their next wave of 23 titles, some of which are still seen in casino lobbies to this very day.
One-armed bandits, fruities, slot machines, video slots. There are a lot of names for this game commonly found at your online casino.
It can be hard to know where to start when learning about slots. If you’ve ever sat down hoping to play a slot with little to zero knowledge of the game, you’ve no doubt been overwhelmed with features, graphics, sound effects, and a whole load of whistles and bells.
Simply play the demo versions of a slot to become familiar with the gameplay and game features.
Sports Betting
You can bet on the outcome of any event in the world of sports betting, not only limited to sports. Although, the most common sports to bet on are:
- American football
- Australian rules
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing/MMA
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Esports
- Formula 1
- Futsal
- Gaelic sports
- Golf
- Greyhounds
- Hockey
- Horse racing
- Speedway
- Table tennis
- Politics

Bonuses at Online Casinos
Playing at an online casino comes with a bucket load of benefits. One of these advantages is the real money bonuses offered. Without a doubt, there’s a massive range of bonuses to choose from when it comes to gambling in online casinos.
Typically, there’s often a 50% - 200% welcome bonus which can reach into the thousands of your local currency. These offers will vary depending on the casino and region of a player.
Best Online Casino Bonuses
Many players believe that a casino is only good as the bonuses it has on offer. Bonuses not only give players the advantage of being able to get extra mileage from their deposit but also provides an opportunity for players to try new games.
Most online casino bonuses - especially free spins which are offered across a game collection - provides players with the chance to try games that they wouldn’t usually play. Humans (online casino players included) are creatures of habit and it’s very easy to play a game you’re comfortable with or a game that you feel brings you bigger wins. Free spins change all of this and open the virtual doors to new slots from different game studios.
As with everything that comes for ‘free’ there are a few caveats to consider before taking part in a casino bonus. We’ll be taking a look at some of the most common online casino bonuses, and the most frequently encountered T&Cs all players need to be aware of.
Free Spins
Offered on video slots, free spin promotions are gratuitous spins offered - as previously mentioned - across a game collection. These are often grouped thematically; Norse-themed, ancient Egypt collections, Space-styled slot packages - you name it, no thematic stone is left unturned.
How do Free Spins work?
Also known as ‘super spins’, ‘[insert casino name] spins’ or simply just ‘spins’, free spins are - unfortunately - rarely free. Free spins often require a nominal deposit with free spins awarded with a value of around 0.10. Depending on the deposit amount and the casino promotion mechanic, you could be offered free spins numbering from between 10 to the hundreds.
As we touched upon - free spins are offered on a single game or a collection of games. The majority of online casinos often offer free spins on the most popular slot known to humankind - Starburst. It’s important to remember that you can’t choose a random game to play. Online casino customer support departments are filled with players that can’t find their free spins, usually because they’re looking in the wrong game.
So, you’ve made a deposit and been awarded free spins. Good stuff. What should you do next? Firstly, check the T&Cs to learn which game or games is included in the offer. Head down to a game noted in the terms and conditions and you’ll see a button that reads ‘claim free spins’ or something along those lines.
Play through your free spins, and any winnings will be created as bonus funds which are usually subject to restrictions detailed in the T&Cs. More on these in a bit.
Welcome Bonus for New Clients
Welcome bonuses range from diminutive to massive awards that can reach into the thousands. An important point to remember is that the more generous the promotion, the greater the restrictions laid out in the bonus terms.
Welcome bonuses are often a deposit bonus, free spins, or a combination of the two meaning you can play a greater variety of games, with table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and casino poker variants being a popular choices.
No Deposit Bonuses
A no deposit bonus is exactly as you’d imagine - a deposit bonus that doesn’t require you to lay any cash on the line. It’s important at this stage to note that although the no deposit bonus is indeed free, it’ll be subject to higher restrictions such as time out limits, cash out limits, and wagering requirements. We’ll be taking a closer look at these terms and conditions, and what they mean shortly.
A no deposit bonus offer will provide you with free, playable funds that, unlike free spins can be used on any game.
If you discover a casino offering a no deposit bonus, grab it with both hands but always remember to become intimate with the T&Cs.
Free Sports Bets
Also known as ‘free bets’, free sport bets are for players that play the sportsbook vertical. Again, the promotion mechanic will be set up in such a manner that free sports bets are offered on a specific game.
While free, free sport bets normally require a deposit - so, therefore, is not technically free. You’ll more often than not have restrictions attached to the bonus, such as a wagering requirement on winnings.

Common Bonus T&Cs
There are a few key terms that are essential to understanding the bonus mechanic, what you can and can’t do, and further restrictions that will influence your participation in the promotion. The key, once again (and we really can’t stress this enough) is to read the terms and conditions comprehensively. If there are any terms in the contract that you’re unsure of, contact customer service and request clarification.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements, also known as “playthrough” or “turnover” is a restriction placed on a casino bonus so that players wager through their bonus at the casino that offered the promotion.
Wagering requirements are in place so you don’t accept a bonus, immediately withdraw your bonus amount and never log into the aforementioned casino again.
An average wagering requirement is somewhere around 30x, meaning that you’re required to wager through your winnings 30 times before you can withdraw your bonus funds.
For example, let’s say that you take part in a 100% deposit bonus up to a maximum of 100 with a 30x wagering requirement. To access the $100 in bonus funds, you must first wager 30 x 100, which equals 3,000.
Three things to remember:
- Both winning and losing bets contribute toward your wagering requirement
- If you withdraw your balance while the wagering requirement has not yet been met, you will lose your bonus
- Different casino games contribute varying percentages toward your wagering requirement
It comes as no surprise that you should always aim for the lowest possible wagering requirement when entering into a new casino bonus.
Cash Out Restrictions
A key term to your wagering requirement, often used in conjunction with time limits is a cash out limit. A cashout limit is usually a percentage of your total bonus amount. Going back to the example of a 100 deposit bonus, the casino might impose a cashout limit of 5x. This means you will only be able to cash out a maximum of 5x of your total winnings, in this example, this equals a total of 500.
Time Limits
Time
limits are put in place so that wagering is completed within a
specified time frame. When shopping around for a casino bonus, it’s a
smart move to select a bonus that has the longest time limit available,
providing you with ample time in which to complete the wagering
requirement.
How to Play Online Casino for free
Playing without actually depositing at a casino is a quality way of checking out if the casino is for you. Particular aspects of the casino you should consider are:
- The site design
- Game collection
- Customer service options
- Site navigation (Is it easy to find what you need)
- Deposit and withdrawal options
- User experience
Use Bonuses
Often, casinos offer bonuses without any financial outlay. You simply need to sign up with your chosen casino and use your bonus. Should the gods of the RNG (random number generator) be smiling down upon you with casino winnings, you’ll then need to submit verification documents that will be processed by the online casino’s due diligence team. Most withdrawals usually take between 2-5 business days to process.
Play Demo Versions
Casino licensing organisations such as the UKGC stipulate that every casino must offer a free-to-play version of every game offered on the site. Demo versions of games can also be found on game studio websites.
It’s important to find a game that’s a good fit be it roulette, a video slot, dice, keno, or bingo.
Mobile Casino
Gaming on the go! Pocket-sized gaming! Play as you commute! These low-hanging phrases are often used when describing mobile casino play. It’s no secret that mobile gaming has increased massively - as of January 2021 70% of all online gambling was done through a mobile device.
Mobile online games and the providers that create game titles have benefited hugely from the rollout of 5G. Game developer bigwigs such as NetEnt, Yggdrasil, and Play ‘n GO have forecasted the impact of 5G on mobile casino gambling and tailored games to suit the mobile’s smaller screen size.
WiFi is everywhere. The prevalence of WiFi wherever, and whenever is hard to ignore. As WiFi signals reach every corner of our lives, the natural progression of slipping a phone out of your pocket to play a few hands of blackjack or the odd spin of roulette is inevitable.
In-game designs have moved away from detailed illustrations and are now embracing a more iconic style, with mobile-friendly controls, perfect for players with a small monitor size. Some see this as the death of highly detailed graphics packages, while others welcome this aesthetic shift to a more minimal graphics offering.
While, yes, game graphics have become more simplified on mobile, this has served as a wake-up call for the providers who’ve been hiding behind firework display animations and glossy graphics to mask the game’s lack of engaging gameplay or innovative features.
So, you’ve decided that you want to play slots. Good choice. Slots have some of the most generous payouts that you’ll find at online casinos, and you don’t need a degree in applied algebra to play them. In fact, all you need to do is click ‘spin’ the game does the rest for you.
Many
people are drawn to playing online slots by stories of players hitting
the big time and taking down a jackpot prize. As in the case of
26-year-old Brit, Jon Heywood who scooped a prize in the
mid-double-figure millions from a bargain-priced spin on one of the best
online casino slots, MegaMoolah from Microgaming.
Jackpot prizes are often called progressives or progressive jackpots. Progressive jackpots are thus named as they become progressively bigger each time a player plays the game, with a proportion of the wager being added to the jackpot total with each spin.
Online Gambling Statistics 2022
Online gambling has been big business for years. Bringing a whole new experience to the table, more and more people are taking advantage of this opportunity to discover the best gaming experience.
Let us look at the statistics and possible predictions of the online gambling industry.
- 26% of the world's population gamble (about 4.2 Billion people)
- Statistics revealed that a whopping 17% - 23% of the total population play online gambling, depending on location
- According to other statistics from Statista, the online gambling industry is expected to be valued at mind-blowing levels by 2023
From the statistics outlined above, it’s evident that online gambling is as popular, and becoming even more so.
Final Thoughts
Aside from being the most convenient gambling method, there are so many games ranging from online table games to slots and live dealers in online casinos. As they say, variety is the spice of life.
As the
industry develops, we can expect a greater number of brands owned by a
handful of operators. Good news for companies acquiring smaller brands,
unfortunately, this could stifle the creativity of casinos with less
innovation due to the fewer casino marketing minds originally working on
smaller sites.
FAQ
Are games in online casinos fair?
Yes, games at casino websites go through rigorous testing and auditing from licensing bodies such as the UKGC or Malta-based MGA.
Which online casino should I use?
This is all down to a matter of taste, but also the most important factor in choosing an online casino is its legitimacy. Aim for household names such as bet365, Mr Green, Leo Vegas, 888 Casino, and William Hill.
Do I need to download anything before using a real money online gambling site?
Back in the day, some online casinos required you to install software to play games but these days are mostly browser-based. If you enjoy a few spins on roulette or a couple of hands of blackjack on the go, the only thing you’ll need to download is the app. Pro tip: Leo Vegas has an awesome mobile app and has taken home a heap of accolades.