Over the last decade or so, the popularity of gambling and betting online has skyrocketed. In the USA alone, independent analysis valued the sector at almost $2.2 billion in 2021 and it is projected to enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.3% over the coming five years. Obviously, that has led to a surge in the number of online casino operators, as more and more sites vie for a lucrative piece of the pie.
That’s excellent news for the consumer, since greater competition means a broader range of sites to choose from and more attractive sign-up bonuses and loyalty promotions. However, it can also mean that the sheer range of breadth and depth is somewhat overwhelming when selecting an online casino. With that in mind, here are a handful of things to consider the next time you’re on the hunt for a new place to try your luck.
Licensing
First thing’s first – you want to stay on the right side of the law when gambling online – and you want to ensure that your chosen casino does, too. As a result, it’s important to ensure that the operator you opt for holds a valid license from the gaming commission or authority in their local jurisdiction. This information should be displayed on their site, normally on the home page.
Data encryption
Aside from verifying whether the casino itself is legitimate, you’ll also want to check whether it takes the requisite steps to guarantee that your sensitive data is safe. That means deploying a secure sockets layer (SSL) to encrypt all information sent to and from the site in question. To check whether it does, look for a small padlock in the address bar and check it uses a https:// domain rather than a http:// one.
Game selection
Now that we’ve gotten the boring nuts and bolts out of the way, it’s time to get down to what really matters – the gameplay! After all, visiting an online casino is supposed to be fun, so you’ll need to know that the portfolio of titles offered by your site meets your expectations. Choosing a well-respected site like Guts New Zealand, for example, can pay off here, as they consistently have access to the latest and most exciting releases.
Payment methods
How you plan to deposit your funds and withdraw your winnings may also make a huge difference to the options available to you. Would you like to use US dollars, euros or another fiat currency? Perhaps you’d prefer gamble with Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency instead? And will you be sending money directly via your bank, through a debit or credit card, via an e-wallet or with another payment platform? Check the site supports your preferred payment method.
Bonuses
As mentioned above, the plethora of online casinos today means that operators often try to outdo one another with regard to the perks, promotions and other benefits they offer consumers to sign up and stick with them. Leverage this to your advantage by shopping around to ensure you receive the best bonuses available to you.
Narrowing down the list of online casino candidates can seem like an exhausting ordeal – but follow the tips above and you’ll find a site that’s right for you in next to no time.
