While online casinos are pretty accessible, it can still feel like stepping into another world on your first visit. There’s lots of terminology such as live casino, RTP, KYC, and RNG that can make the whole thing confusing.

We’re here to help with 10 tips that’ll get you off to the best start when you visit an online casino for the first time. Exploring a site and its catalogue is an excellent idea before you commit. Check out our straightforward advice to help you navigate and make sense of it all.

• Know Your Game Categories

Many online casinos have vast catalogues. You could find yourself browsing thousands of games. It’s useful to know that you can narrow the selection by looking at specific categories. Most sites divide their titles into slots, table games, speciality, and live casino options.

Slots are played on reels, and there are several subcategories. Table games include blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Speciality titles often cover scratchcards, keno, and video poker. The live games connect you via stream to a studio with a dealer, host, or croupier.

• Take Advantage of Offers

Almost every online casino will offer a promotion. Many of them are worth claiming as they give you extra funds or free spins to help you explore. If you don’t look at them as free money that you can cash out, you’ll enjoy using them.

Having some winnings to withdraw is a different matter. When you look at a bonus, check the wagering requirement. The higher the number, such as 40x, the more challenging it’ll be to meet.

• Bet Responsibly

With all the excitement of a first-time visit to an online casino, it’s easy to get carried away. If you make a habit out of responsible gambling from the beginning, you’ll enjoy the experience more. 

Online casinos are open all hours, and you’re already at home, so there’s no prompt to get up and leave. Set yourself a time to stop and do something else. A couple of hours with breaks in between is enough time to explore and fit in a few games.

• Set a Budget 

Another prompt that can give you an idea of when to stop is if you set a budget for your session. Once you’ve bet that money, you walk away with whatever winnings you have. 

You can work out your budget by deciding how long you want to play, how many spins of the reel or hands of blackjack and how much each bet will be. Finally, check that you’re happy to spend that much on your entertainment. Never bet money that you need for daily living.

• Understand How Casinos Work

Ever heard of the house edge? It shows, theoretically, the percentage that the casino gets from each type of game over a long period. Some people use that amount, or the RTP, also known as return to player, which is the other portion of the percentage, to choose the best value games.

However, the main lesson is that casinos are businesses that need to make a profit to run. You won’t win every time, so make sure you just enjoy playing.

• Expect High Standards

While it’s fair enough that casinos need to make a profit, there are still certain ways they should go about it. You should expect the games to be run professionally, with high-quality service and transparent rules and policies.

Playing at a licensed casino is essential. The regulatory bodies ensure that operators meet certain standards, including fairness.

• Get Social

Your first impression of an online casino might make you feel that it’s quieter than you imagined. Compared to the casino floor, which is packed with other players, you’ll be alone with the chance to focus.

While that’s mostly a good thing, you can also interact online. Live dealer options specifically have hosts that talk to players, and there’s usually a chat or community function too.

• Understand the Processes

The heart of the online casino experience is playing games. However, there are several actions you’ll need to take to make it possible. Creating an account is your first step to gaining access. After that, you’ll need to line up a suitable payment method.

It’s best to check the banking page to see how long deposits and withdrawals take. Remember that you’ll need to use the same method for both transactions, so choose accordingly. It’s a good idea to gather some documents to upload to verify your identity too.

• Check for Fairnesses

A license is an excellent sign of fairness in a casino. However, you can also look for a few other indications to get peace of mind. Games from reputable software providers, like NetEnt and Microgaming, are encouraging, as is a statement about random number generator (RNG) usage.

• Have Fun

It can seem like a lot to remember, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it. The most important thing is to relax and have fun, as an online casino is a fantastic source of entertainment.

Published by HOLR Magazine.