What Features To Look for at an Online Casino?
The liberal approach of Canada when it comes to the casino industry has made it one of the leading countries for online gaming in the world. There are many casino games available at online casinos that Canadians can easily access.
However, there are a few key aspects a player should look out for when they want to play at an online casino. So if you’re a new player wanting to know how to select an online casino, now that Ontario has legally launched its online gaming market, keep reading to learn more about this exciting form of entertainment.
The Games Offered and Their Providers
The games catalogue is the first thing you’ll see when visiting an online casino, and it’s essential to know how to evaluate the quality of the offer on display. The best online casinos will feature varied games, including slots, table games, live dealers, and even some sports betting for the most versatile establishments.
Moreover, it’d be best to consider the variety present in each category. For instance, when considering online slots, you should see fruit machines, five-reel slots, Megaways, Hold & Wins, and progressive jackpots provided by top-notch studios such as Play’n GO, NetEnt, or Pragmatic Play.
The number of variants present for virtual table games and live dealers is crucial to ensure you’ll have the best experience. If you only see four live dealers all offering the same blackjack game, you know that you won’t spend too much time there. The best live dealers providers on the market are Evolution, Ezugi, Pragmatic Play Live, and Authentic Gaming, but other great providers exist too. The important thing is to have several of these providers present in the line-up.
Promotional Offers and Welcome Bonuses
Every online casino has promotional offers intended to attract players. These offers exist because the industry is very competitive, and for players, it’s an opportunity to get generous rewards. You can find all the offers the casino has to offer in the promotion section of the site, and the most common gifts are deposits bonuses, free spins for slots or free bets if the casino features a sports betting section.
Welcome bonuses are generally the most generous and will give you a deposit bonus on your first deposit as well as free spins. Still, you can also expect regular promotions and tournaments to keep you engaged.
However, if you want to know if an offer is really generous, you should always consult the terms and conditions of the bonus. For example, a casino can offer you an enormous deposit bonus, but if the wagering requirements are high, it means you’ll have to play with a lot of money before being able to withdraw any winnings, so watch out for that.
Licencing Information and Online Reputation
An online casino is only as good as its reputation. First of all, we recommend playing at properly licenced casinos, and you can find the licencing information at the bottom of the page. Licences are delivered by gaming commissions, which regulate gambling activities in their jurisdiction. The most common licence is the Curaçao licence, but the most strict licences are delivered by European commissions like the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) or the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.
Another critical aspect of the trustability of an online casino is its online reputation. To check this, you should always consult specialized reviews and some users’ feedback to see if the casino respects the rules of its gaming commission.
Customer Support Efficiency
When you play online, you’re bound to need assistance at some point, so it’s crucial to play at a casino that offers decent customer support. Once again, user feedback is precious on this front, but you can also check the casino’s site directly to see how you can contact them: the more ways you have to contact them, the better. An excellent online casino should offer support in several languages, by email, live chat, and optionally by phone.
Payment Options
If you want to play, it means you’ll likely deposit money, and you’ll want to withdraw your winnings in the end. The casino you select should offer an option that suits you to deposit but, most importantly, to withdraw.
Moreover, payments at an online casino need to be fast, offer high limits and without fees. A serious online casino will publicly disclose the banking information and estimated transaction times in a dedicated tab or in the FAQ section of their site.
The methods offered also matter because some payment providers will be more strict with the operators they partner with. Visa and Mastercard are the bare minimums, and the pickiest payment providers are entities like Trustly or PayPal. These companies will go through extensive verification of the sites before granting the use of their name.
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