ONLINE CASINO REVIEWS

Generally, any registered member can claim a welcome bonus provided they make the required minimum deposit. Having said that, you should know there’s also a number of online casinos with a list of country restrictions (allowing you to play but not with their money), while some exclude deposits made via eWallets (usually Skrill and Neteller).

If you’re ok with the attached terms and conditions, why not? Be careful of the latter, though; wagering requirements may be too high to meet, or you may be required to clear them in an unrealistically short period of time. Also make sure to check game contributions as the games you like the best may be contributing peanuts or nothing at all.

It depends. You’ll frequently be able to withdraw the bonus along with winnings as soon as you meet play-through requirements. However, some bonuses are sticky, meaning they can be used to play but will never become available for withdrawal. The related T&C should tell you if the welcome bonus is sticky or not.

To start with, it should have a valid operating license, preferably one issued by stricter organizations like the MGA, the UKGC and the Gibraltar government. These bodies demand that their licensees implement industry-standard security measures such as SSL encryption and keep players’ funds in a separate account.

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer - a technology which establishes an encrypted link between a server and a client, in this case the gaming site and your browser. Using the SSL, all the information you share with the casino via the internet, such as your personal and payment details are encrypted and thus unreadable by any third party that has no business knowing them.

As long as you’re playing at a properly licensed site with a good track record, you’ll be as safe as when making any other online purchase.

The list of deposit options varies from one online casino to another but frequently includes Visa, MasterCard, Skrill and Neteller. Sites that are more user-friendly will also offer other eWallets, such as PayPal and MuchBetter, a variety of Instant Banking options, per-paid cards, mobile payment methods like Zimpler and Boku, and potentially also cryptocurrencies.

Deposits are almost always instant, regardless of which payment method you use.

The best casinos will process and approve your withdrawal request in a matter of hours and then it’s pretty much out of their hands; you’ll receive the money the same day if using digital currencies or eWallets, but it may take 2-3 days if collecting via credit cards and at least 5 working days if withdrawing via Bank Transfer. Be aware there are also operators happy to hold on to your cash for 48 hours and possibly more.

Many venues will process payments for free but it’s not uncommon to find those that attach a fee to certain or all deposit and withdrawal methods. In view of this potential additional cost, it’s usually best to pay via Bitcoin or eWallets.

Downloading casino software is pretty much a thing of the past. Most gaming sites are nowadays instantly accessible online though some still additionally offer downloadable software as an alternative.

The vast majority of online casinos make their sites accessible via iOS and Android smartphones, and many can also be launched via Blackberry and Windows phone (assuming there’s still someone using the latter). You can normally play games online (via your mobile browser) and sometimes also have the option of downloading an iOS/Android app.

Cookies are files designed to hold a small amount of information related to your visit to a particular online casino and your activities on the site. Their use is by no means restricted to the online gaming industry; cookies are stored on your computer when you visit different web pages and they record your preferences with the aim of improving your browsing experience and delivering a more personalized service.

Instant play or no-download casino games are those that don't require installing additional software on yoru device to play. On the other hand, download casinos have mobile apps that players download from App Store or Google Play. However, a limited number of casinos are downloadable nowadays, and browser-based sites are more popular with gamblers.