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Nowadays, more and more people are choosing to play in online casinos. However, if you’ve never visited an online casino before, you first have to find out what it can offer you as a player. Well, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide. Not only will we tell you what you can expect to find but we’ll also inform you about the games and bonuses available. Finally, we’ll examine whether playing online really lives up to the Las Vegas experience.

Choosing an Casino

There are countless casinos available online at the moment, but don’t just play at the first one you find. When on a website, the first thing you should do is scroll to the bottom of the page and find out where it’s licensed.

If the casino is licensed in ‘white listed’ (UK Government approved) jurisdictions such as the UK, the Isle of Man Malta, Alderney, Gibraltar, Tasmania or Antigua, you can rest assured this casino is fully regulated and secure. If your chosen casino is licensed in Curacao, or Kahnawake, your money should be safe here too because the local government offices regulate and licence casinos in their jurisdictions. We do not however recommend you play at an online casino which doesn’t provide a jurisdiction license as these casinos will be largely unregulated.

Next, once you’ve found out whether your prospective online casino holds a license, you should take a quick look at the casino games section. Here you can find out about all the games on offer. The game pages are usually accessible from the homepage menu bar.

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Casino Games

What really separates online casinos from ‘offline’ casinos based in Las Vegas, or Atlantic City, is the sheer amount of games on offer. Online casinos such as Microgaming software powered ones offer over 250 different games, including over 100 slot machines. In an online casino, you can expect to find classics such as blackjack, as well as roulette, craps, baccarat, slots plus speciality games such as keno.

If you’ve never played a casino game such as slots before, we recommend you first read up on how to play the game. Then, using a free play account (which means you don’t have to place real cash wagers), test out the games. While you won’t win any real cash prizes using a play for fun account, you will be able to learn how to play your chosen game without putting your cash at risk.

You now have the chance to claim even more great bonuses than usual, whenever it suits you, as Bet365 introduce their brand new £3,000 Bonus Bundle.

It allows you to claim a series of 20% bonuses on deposits/transfers of £50 or more, up to £200 each time. You can make the most of this great offer up to four times each week – meaning there's over £3,000 in bonuses available every month.

Simply select the offer code BONUS3000 every time you make a qualifying deposit/transfer and enjoy a batch of frequent bonuses, whenever you feel that your bankroll needs a boost.

Big Jackpots

Most sites tend to offer large progressive jackpot games. These are games in which the jackpot (the biggest prize available) is always increasing. These jackpot games are connected by a network – so all of the casinos that are powered by Microgaming all offer the same progressive jackpots. When a player wagers on a progressive jackpot, in any of these connected casinos, a percentage of that wager goes towards the jackpot total. This is how the jackpot constantly increases to offer huge cash prizes.

In 2009, there were two massive jackpot wins on Microgaming progressives. One lucky player won €6,374,434 on Mega Moolah, a progressive slot machine and another won a massive $8.69m on a progressive jackpot game.

Casino Bonuses

Once you’ve figured out how to play the games on offer you should then consider making the all important first deposit. As an incentive for depositing your usually get a ‘welcome bonuses’, and perhaps even a monthly bonus. A welcome bonus is available on your first deposit and is usually a “match” bonus. This means that if you deposit say £/$100, the casino promises to match this 100%, giving you another £/$100 = £/$200 to play with!

Monthly bonuses also tend be match bonuses, so, on your first deposit of every month, you’ll be able to claim another match bonus. Before claiming any of these bonuses, always make sure to check the terms and conditions.

Finally, there is a third bonus option available; a no deposit bonus. These bonuses are available to players as soon as they sign up, and you don’t have to deposit in order to claim them. Not all casinos offer no-deposit bonuses, so check before you play.

It’s also worth noting that a lot of sites now offer game specific bonuses. So if you love playing slots you most likely find a special online slots bonus that gives you more than what you’d get if you played a wide variety of games.

Depositing and Withdrawing

So, now you’ve checked out whether your casino is safe, the types of games on offer and also the bonuses, you now need to make your first deposit. Any reputable casino allows you to deposit in a variety of ways, including using your credit/debit card, as well as e-wallets such as PayPal and NETeller. If you need any help making your first deposit, always contact customer support.

On the other end of the spectrum, once you’ve deposited, played the games and hopefully hit the jackpot, you may want to withdraw your winnings. Again, you can do this in a variety of ways, although some methods, such as bank transfer, can take up to 21 days to clear. Furthermore, some casinos will often ask for a Faxback form to be completed. This form is so the casino you can check all of your details are correct, as well as make sure you are who you say you are. When submitting a faxback form, you may need to provide a copy of your photo ID and a utility bill. This is simply so the casino can be sure they’re paying the right person the winnings.

If you’re worried about sharing your details online, then we recommend you voice your concerns with your chosen casino, before you make a deposit. Most, if not all sites are protected by 128-bit SSL security, which means your payment and personal details are encrypted and secure.

Las Vegas vs. Online Casinos

Now you’ve learnt all there is to know about online casinos, you may wonder whether the online gaming experience can either beat the bright lights of Las Vegas? Well, while some might prefer the Vegas Strip, with an online casino, you don’t have to book a flight or hotel to visit, you don’t have to tip anyone and you can play in the comfort of your own home. If you’re looking to maximise your bankroll and not waste it on tips, casino merchandise and other extras, then an online casino is for you.