Beginners Guide

Is it the best experience?

In this step by step guide we’ll answer these questions and more so you can feel safe and confident in your choice.

What’s the Best Site for You?

When deciding on where to play it pays to do a little research first. Consider some of the following questions when making up your mind.

Are They Definitely Legitimate and Trustworthy? There are a few “rogue” casinos out there. Be careful you don’t fall prey to one by not doing a small amount of research first. Check our recommended casinos page.

Do They Allow Transactions in USA dollars? If the answer to this question is no, you may have trouble getting your money on and off the site without losing out on currency conversions with each transaction.

Do they Have 7 days a week if you need help with something outside of normal business hours, it will be a big help if you’re chosen casino offers round the clock support.

Playing Without Downloading

Many casinos now also provide you with the option to play directly in your browser, without having to download any software. For this option, the game uses the Flash software in your browser to operate the games.

The advantages to this mode of play are that you can play from anywhere, not just on your home computer, and it’s a viable alternative if you don’t feel comfortable having the casino software on your computer. This is also advantages to some Mac users, whose computers may not be compatible with the downloadable versions of a casino.

The advantages to this mode of play are that you can play from anywhere, not just on your home computer, and it’s a viable alternative if you don’t feel comfortable having the casino software on your computer. This is also advantages to some Mac users, whose computers may not be compatible with the downloadable versions of a casino.

Increasingly, gamblers are using their mobile devices as homes for their casinos. Most of our recommended casinos feature mobile apps that make it possible to take slots and table games on the road on a smartphone or tablet device.

There are a few ways to play on mobile devices. Many casinos feature downloadable apps that are great options if you use an iPhone or Android device. Many are also available for streaming through browsers, or through download via links through SMS text messages. For more, check out our page on mobile casinos.re Bonuses and Promotions

In an effort to get you in the virtual door, almost all casinos offer some sort of welcome bonus or promotion. The size of these offerings can fluctuate a great deal — some will offer a huge match bonus right off the gate, while other casinos will limit the size of their welcome bonuses but will match multiple deposits after you sign up.

Just as important is to know the wagering requirements and payout percentages for those bonuses. Casinos will force you to wager through the amount of the bonus many times before they let you cash out. Some casinos are kinder than others in this regard. You can read more about casino bonuses, including one of our favorite rewards, free spins.

Registering Your Account

Before you can play for real money, you’ll need to register an account with your chosen casino. To register an account you will need to provide to following information:

They’ll often also give the option to list a mobile phone number in order to make your account more secure, and may also give the option to accept promotional material from the casino.

Choosing Games

Whether you like to play slots, roulette, blackjack, video poker or something more unusual, by choosing one of our recommended casinos, you’re sure to find the game for you. Take a look around at the selection of casino games on the casino’s website and in the lobby of their software to see the full range.

Many casinos also have special game types such as progressive jackpots, where the jackpot is pooled amongst various games – or even amongst various casinos in the same network – and just keeps growing until someone wins it. Progressive jackpots have been responsible for some huge payouts, so keep an eye on your chosen casino’s progressive jackpot rules.

Free Games

You’ll find the option to try your luck and play free casino games before you take the plunge and play for real money. This is a great way to see if the software suits you and to get the hang of a game you like the look of.

Not all games have a free play mode, for example some slots games can only be played for real money (usually the progressive slots), but you should still be able to find a decent variety of free games to play at your chosen casino.

Deposits and Withdrawals

USA players are offered a wide range of options for making deposits or withdrawals from their accounts. As well as all the major credit cards, there are also various e-wallet options such as Instadebit and Neteller.

You’ll normally need to withdraw any winnings via the same method from which you made your most recent deposit – at least up to the amount you deposited, after which time you can withdraw via any available method. This is necessary for the casino to comply with anti-money laundering laws.

In most cases the withdrawal methods will be more restrictive than the deposit options, so make sure you can withdraw your winnings with a method of your choosing when the time comes.

Usually, you do not have to pay for withdrawals, but may pay a fee if you withdraw more than once in a given period, or for certain withdrawal options. Be sure to check the fine print on your chosen casino’s website to make sure you won’t incur unreasonable fees for withdrawing.

Support

All of our recommended casinos offer exceptional support for their customers, including USA players. This support usually includes 24/7 live chat and phone support. This is great if you run into trouble or have a question about something, as a real person is right there to help you, no matter what time of day or night it is. By keeping the above basics in m ind when choosing and playing at an online casino, you can ensure you are fully prepared and able to play safely and confidently.

Conclusion

Obviously, there’s a lot you need to know to make an informed decision choosing a casino, but we don’t want you to feel overwhelmed, either. If there’s a red flag in any of the above areas, we’re going to know about it and let you know. We have years of experience at these casinos, and we know the standards they should meet. If you have any doubts or need somewhere to start, work through our casino reviews and compare for yourself which casinos seem like the best fit for your needs.