Online Casino Reviews

Online casino gambling has become hugely popular in recent years and has spread to all areas of society. The lure of instant access provided by today’s high-speed internet means that you can now experience the excitement of the casino in the comfort of your own home at any time of day or night. Online casino games offer a much higher payback percentage than many other gambling alternatives, providing you with potentially hours of entertainment.

The number of online casinos is believed to be approaching the 2000 mark and that is a daunting prospect for a newcomer. The best place to start is to look for an online betting directory or guide that can narrow down your choice to the most reputable online casino sites. There are several that advertise regularly on television and you will recognise them instantly. By reading the reviews and visiting the sites yourself, you will be able to find a comfortable environment for your online casino experience.

To illustrate the rapid growth in the online casino industry, the turnover generated in 1998 in the US was just short of $1 billion. Within six years this had rocketed to around $15 billion and by 2011 this had reached a staggering $34 billion. Forecasts suggest that this figure has yet to reach its peak and the growth is being replicated across the Western World.

Online casinos offer plenty of bonuses and incentives to attract new players and to make sure that you keep coming back. The first temptation is a Welcome Bonus that is usually added to your account when you make your first deposit. This is to encourage you to try out several of the games on site for free. Rather like the free bets associated with sports betting, your welcome bonus is often the equivalent of your initial deposit but can only be used for play and cannot be withdrawn as cash. You may have to turn over that bonus several times before you can withdraw any winnings. Some online casino sites will offer a No Deposit Bonus but this is usually a very small amount and applies to only pre-selected casino games.

A Reload Bonus is given to players that have made at least one deposit and are rewards for playing a set amount of online casino games. These can be quite substantial and have lower wagering requirements than the welcome bonus. The majority of online casino bonuses can be cashed out once the wagering demands are met. However, you should familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions as sometimes games such as Roulette and Black Jack will not count towards the wagering requirements. Once you are established on the site, there will be regular competitions with big prizes including tickets to major events or even holidays.

Whilst the bonuses on offer are an important part of the decision process in choosing your casino, the games selection and software requirements are also vitally important. All online casinos offer Blackjack, Video Poker and Slot games but the quality and range available varies enormously. The casino software should provide you with a gaming experience comparable to real thing and be easy to use. Customer support is also extremely important. There is no harm in contacting them with your questions early on to see what sort of response you get. A good quality casino will offer live chat, email or telephone customer support.