If you’re new to the world of virtual online gaming but would like to play at an online casino, there are some important things you should know before you dive in. In this blog, we’ll take a quick look at some of the key factors you should keep in mind before you start playing.
How to stay safe
The biggest thing a new player can do is pick the right online
casino. Here’s what you should keep in mind when deciding where you should play:
Is the site legitimate?
Players should be aware of fly-by-night operations that are just out to make a quick profit, or worse, scam people out of their hard-earned money. You can confirm that a site is indeed legitimate by checking its licence and seeing if it matches up with the respective gambling authority in your country. UK readers can of course confirm this information with the
UK Gambling Commission.
Is it legal for you to play there?
If a site is legitimate, it still may not be legal for you to play there. Certain countries limit their citizens to only playing on certain sites, so check where you can play before you accidentally find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
Check user reviews for the site
Even if a site is safe and legal for you to play on it, it might not offer the greatest service levels. Check out casino reviews, forums, and social media sites for complaints (or praises). Be sure to keep in mind that an absence of compliments or positive reviews may not necessarily mean that a site is terrible. It may mean that the majority of customers are happy and satisfied with the service so they have no need to post a complaint online.
Consider the payment/withdrawal options
Whether you’re making a deposit to play some games, or withdrawing your winnings, you’ll want to make sure that you can make use of multiple financial providers. A site that only offers a single financial channel could mean that you’d be stuck if it had a problem with the provider. Also see what the casino offers in terms of deposit and withdrawal limits, or if there are any other regulations around the payment or withdrawal of funds.
Make sure the site works on all your devices
Whether you own a PC, Mac, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, make sure that the site works on all the devices you might end up playing on. This will help you avoid disappointment and frustration later if you need to switch from your regular playing device to another.
Signing up
Most
casino online have fairly straightforward registration procedures, although the specific requirements may differ from region to region. When you
register at an online casino, you’re usually expected to provide the following information:
- Your personal information, including name, surname, address, and contact information
- Your online account details, including a username, password, and a way to recover your username and password
Some virtual casinos may require you to send through additional documentation to prove your identity and that you are legally allowed to play. These documents include financial statements, identity documents.
Once you have provided the basic information and verified your identity, you can enjoy all the casino has to offer.
Take advantage of any promotions that are on offer
Once you have signed up and are ready to play, you should take a look at the different types of promotions that the casino currently offers. A few of these include:
Welcome bonus – When you sign up, the casino will offer you extra funds to play with as a one-time perk.
Deposit bonus – The casino provides you a percentage of your deposit as a bonus for making a deposit.
No deposit bonus – With this bonus, you don’t have to do anything. The casino will put some funds into your account for you to enjoy.
Reload bonus – This is similar to a deposit bonus, but only applies to people who’ve made a deposit before and isn’t available to new players. This is also known as a loyalty bonus.
Cashback bonus – If you’re on a losing streak, the casino may return some of the losses as funds in your casino account.
If you do decide to use any of these bonuses, you should be aware that they often come with terms and conditions. For example, a player might be required to wait a certain amount of time before withdrawing any winnings made with a bonus, or even spend a certain amount. It’s always worth reading the small print!
Choosing the right games
Whether you like to
play slot games, online poker, or any of the other exciting casino games on offer, it’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you part ways with your hard-earned cash.
Whether you’re someone who likes to take it easy, prefers games with an element of skill, or you like to mix it up, the best way to find the game that’s right for you is to try it out. Many casinos offer free games, even though you won’t win any prizes. If the casino doesn’t have a demo version of the game, then you can focus on other factors, such as the theme of the games you enjoy, the odds that it offers, or how much the lowest bet is to help you decide whether or not you want to play.
Finally, make sure you choose an online casino that has a good mix of the kind of games you’d like to play – so for example, if you enjoy card games, slot games and roulette in equal measure – but also love playing bingo – you’ll need to do your homework to find the site that ticks all those boxes.
Are you ready to play some games?
Now that you’ve finished reading our guide, join us for some fun at Mecca Games! At our online casino, we have a great variety of casino games for you to explore. Enjoy the spinning reels of our online slots, the real-life gaming experience of live casino games, or the excitement of the perfect combo between slot games and bingo:
Slingo.
