Monday, 21 May 2012
The world of online gambling is huge, and for new players, it can be extremely overwhelming. That’s why we have put together this guide for new gamblers. Follow these top ten gambling tips will help new players ease into the exciting realm of gambling online.
1. Make sure the site is licensed
Online gambling sites should have a license in order to offer gambling services on the internet. This ensures that the site and its games are safe and fair. Gambling licenses are distributed by government authorities, and these authorities often offer a degree of protection to players who use the sites they license. Gamblign at unlicensed sites means no player protection, and no guarantee that the games they offer are fair. All gambling sites listed on Jackpot Finder are legally licensed, and all are safe to use.
2. Signing up a new player account
Once you are finished choosing an online casino, it’s time to sign up. Registering for a new account is straightforward, and should only take a couple of minutes. Be sure to use your real information if you expect to withdraw your winnings! Also, use a valid email address, because casinos often send out special promotions and bonus offers through weekly or monthly email newsletters.
3. Funding an online casino account
Getting money into a casino account is easy, but how it’s done depends on where you live. Many casinos accept credit and debit card deposits from players, but in some countries, topping up with a card isn’t possible. In this case, players use third party services called e-wallets. Check the banking page of your casino to see which online gambling payment methods they accept.
4. Credits, coins, and cash
Be aware of how your money is displayed on the casino screen. If it is showing in “credits”, this is usually equivalent to whatever currency you are playing in. Some games, like many online slots, show your balance in “coins”, and this amount depends on the size of coin you have chosen to play the slot with. These numbers can vary, so always pay attention to how your account balance is displayed so you don’t think you have more money in your account than you really do.
5. Bonuses
Bonuses can be confusing. At first they seem like free money, but they always have small print attached, with rules about “playthrough requirements” or “wagering requirements”. Basically, players have to earn the bonuses they get by wagering money in the casino. Use this guide to online casino bonuses to learn more.
6. Getting paid
Online casinos have strict rules about when players can cash out. These rules usually revolve around bonuses and bonus cash. Be sure to talk to a customer service rep if you’re not sure about the requirements. When you are ready to request a payment, be aware that most casinos will ask you to fax them a copy of your ID so that they can verify that you are old enough to gamble online. Check out our getting paid guide to learn more.
7. Don’t forget about free play
Most casinos on the internet today let members play their games one of two ways. The usual way is with real money, but online casino games can also be enjoyed for free. Players get play credits, and can wager as many of these as they like. Free casino games are a great way to learn the rules of new games, or to practice and hone your skills before betting real money.
8. What about software compatibility
For a long time, online casino software was only available for Windows users, but that is slowly starting to change. Some online casinos have begun to offer Mac versions of their games for players to download. Plus, all “no download” or “instant play” games will run on Mac, PC, Linux, and even on netbook OS’s like Android or Chrome. These days, very few players will have trouble with software compatibility.
9. Cheating
Don’t bother. First of all, most online casino games are run by computers, making it absolutely impossible to cheat. For games like online poker, where all the players are human, cheating sometimes takes place, with players working together online or by telephone to try and throw a game. Poker sites use sophisticated “anti-collusion” software to sniff these players out, and they always get caught. Cheating at online gambling sites just doesn’t work.
10. Legal issues
We’ve saved the toughest issue for last – is it legal to gamble online? The answer, of course, depends on where you are playing from. But because online gambling sites usually operate across international borders, the laws get confusing. The general rule of thumb is that if the computer that hosts an online casino is located in a country where online gambling is legal, then players from all around the world can use that site safely.
