The online casino industry has completely changed in just a few years. Where land-based casinos used to dominate, most players now load up their favourite online operator for spins, slots, roulette, and live blackjack.
Now that most African consumers have access to affordable smartphones and cell phone data plans, it’s easy to play right from the palm of your hand. With so many casinos out there, however, it can be a little daunting when you start off. With this online casino checklist, you can play it smart and get the most out of the experience.
Bonus Hunting
Each and every casino offers some sort of bonus, promotion, or offer to the new player. It’s their ‘hook’, how they stand out from their competitors. With industry growth at an all-time high, it’s a great time to be a consumer.
Of course, you need to be a little picky. You can’t exactly sign up for every casino out there (or can you?). The main thing you want to do is read the small print, the conditions to withdraw your bonus winnings, and how much of your own cash you need to bet in order to take advantage.
The best bonus found at online casinos, hands down, is the free no-deposit bonus. Some will require you to insert a code to maximize how much cash you can bet with, so make sure you don’t miss out on that.
Customer Support
When everything is going well, you never really think about customer support. They’re an invisible entity most of the time, but when you need them, you don’t want to be left stranded.
For example, when you are struggling to deposit or withdraw from your account, it can be incredibly frustrating. It’s at that point you’ll notice that a phone number is impossible to find, there’s no email address anywhere, and you get taken from one automated information page to the next, all to no avail.
Check whether customer support is gold by checking whether it’s easy to get in touch with someone. Many casinos have a button for a live chat agent, which tends to work quite well. You should at least be able to find an email address or form within a couple of clicks.
Can You Withdraw (Easily)?
Most casinos make it the easiest thing in the world to deposit money. They’ll take anything from established operators like the Western Union to traditional bank transfers to cryptocurrencies. If you have cash, they’ll take it.
But what’s actually important to you as a player is whether you can take the money out. It’s when you win that big jackpot that you want it to be a painless and quick experience.
Check what the withdrawal process is like. Security checks are understandable, but if it takes weeks, that’s unacceptable. If you can’t have your money within a couple of days, avoid the casino.
Green Light from the Government
The main thing you want to avoid when signing up for a new online casino is a scam. We’re not trying to scaremonger here, but when an industry grows this quickly, especially online, you will always find someone trying to earn a quick buck and take your money.
Before you sign up for an online casino you’ve never heard of, double-check whether it has a government license. This means the company has done all of the necessary hoop-jumping to guarantee they’re legit and 100% above board. For example, the United Kingdom’s government lists all licensed casinos on its Gambling Commission site.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the casino is particularly good or that the offers are solid. However, it does at least guarantee that you don’t have to be worried about being scammed out of your money.
Read Online Reviews
Every casino will tell you that they’re the best in the business, that their bonus offers are top of the range. But everyone says that, and it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the truth.
Instead, read online reviews for a third-party view that isn’t full of bias. We always recommend reading professional in-depth casino reviews, as they will know exactly what to look for. Google or Reddit can also yield some good information, should you want some extra opinions.
Gambling is a Game, Not an Investment
Slots are called games for a reason. They’re for your enjoyment, not a way to make money. Of course, there’s every chance you will walk away with a nice bonus or jackpot, but it’s not guaranteed.
Mindset is super important when it comes to gambling. Don’t consider it an avenue to add extra cash to your wallet, but simply as entertainment. Set a hard limit on how much you want to spend, and stick to it.
When you realize you’re no longer having fun, step away and do something else for a little while. There will always be another offer or promotion you can take advantage of tomorrow.