The humble online casino has quickly become one of the most popular and effective forms of digital entertainment. And the resulting iGaming industry is now huge, with players of all levels and experience finding a platform on which to enjoy the latest in online poker and casino game action. While there are hundreds of attractive offers out there to entice first-timers into the digital rooms, if you’ve been an online player for some time, you may be thinking about upgrading your online casino. If this is the case, this guide has you covered!
Reputation and Reliability
These days, hackers and online scammers use all manner of sophisticated technology to fool unsuspecting consumers. That’s why it’s imperative that any new casino you consider joining has an impeccable reputation with real players. Reputable online directories are an excellent place to find trusted casinos to play in, especially since you can find out key information about a broad range of online casinos and read customer reviews.
A reputable casino invests in top security measures to ensure that your data and financial information remains safe and secure. Typically, in a good casino, you can expect (at a minimum) 128-bit SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption, which keeps its customers’ private data safe and well-protected. You can also verify a casino’s legitimacy by the presence of a license from a known gaming jurisdiction, such as the U.K. Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, etc. Licenses are operation permits granted only to those operators that meet the requirements of the extensive application procedure. A licensed casino only features gaming software that is frequently audited (by external bodies such as the eCOGRA or GLI) and have all the security measures in place needed to combat online fraud.
Bonuses That Make You Go “Ooh”
As a seasoned casino player, you’re no doubt well-acquainted by now with the variety of bonus offers and promotions available. Pretty much every licensed online casino offers some variation of bonus to new customers as well as ongoing promotions for loyal players and seasonal rewards. The specifics of each bonus vary from casino to casino but are usually in the guise of no-deposit/minimum-deposit offers, game-specific bonuses, high-roller bonuses and freerolls or spins.
Since you want to upgrade your online casino, it’s worth doing a bit of research into those casinos that offer high-wager bonuses. However, new players to the online realm should avoid high-wager bonuses. But as an experienced player, you’re likely to place large bets in your favorite games, so you are much more likely to fulfill minimum-wager requirements (which also vary from casino to casino). It almost goes without saying, however, that you should first look for those casinos that have bonuses in the games you know you like to play. All the free spins in the world are useless if online slots aren’t your thing.
A VIP reward scheme typically offers above and beyond what a standard loyalty program does, so if your gaming habits mean that you can afford to spend a lot in the casino, it’s also worth checking out what is available in the platforms operating within your local jurisdiction. You’ll find most bonuses assigned based on tiered-levels and can include perks like higher comp points, exclusive offers, higher withdrawal and deposit limits, access to customer service, high reload bonuses and even cash rewards.
High-Tech Extras
Finally, you’ll want to consider what your tech requirements are from a new casino. Virtual reality, cryptocurrency, mobile, PayPal, etc., they’re all the latest buzzwords in the iGaming industry, but how crucial is it for you that your casino is Bitcoin-friendly, for example? Speaking of PayPal, more and more operators offer exclusive promotions and bonuses to customers who use PayPal, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for incentives if you like to use this wallet to make deposits and withdrawals.
If you’re one of the millions of online casino players who like to game on the go, you should prioritize looking for an operator with an extensive selection of mobile-friendly games and features. It’s not the casino operators themselves who determine whether a game will go mobile or not, but instead, it’s up to the software developers. Some of the best developers who create games for mobile devices (like tablets and smartphones) are as follows: Betsoft, NetEnt, Playtech and NextGen Gaming. Selecting a casino operator that partners with these mobile specialists and has an extensive mobile version of its desktop casino means that you will be good to go!