Every online casino player needs to be discerning about the sites they choose, and while veterans of the scene might have developed a good idea about what separates top platforms from their less-capable counterparts, if you’re a relative newcomer, you might be in the dark. To save you time and money, let’s talk through the checks to make when deciding whether to register with a casino you’ve never used before.
Is it Licensed?
While it sounds obvious, so many people don’t do the basic check of looking into the licensing status of an online casino. This should be displayed on the site in an obvious place. For instance, on a reputable platform like Tikal Casino, you’ll find licensing info, along with contact info, on the bottom of every major page.
How Can You Pay and Withdraw?
Payment and withdrawal methods are your next tick-box item to look out for before registering with an online casino. Most will list these clearly and explain them in-depth, whether on a dedicated ‘Banking’ page or an FAQ section.
You should be looking for sites that support your preferred payment method, whether that’s a debit card or bank transfer, or even crypto depositing. Also, check payment processing times, both for deposits and withdrawals. You don’t want to be twiddling your thumbs for days on end when you win big, after all.
Lastly, check up on what fees apply to payments. Not all casinos will charge for deposits or withdrawals, but some may, and this can even vary by method, so read the small print closely.
What are the Bonus Requirements?
Usually, you’ll sign up to a new casino in order to unlock the benefits of a generous new player bonus. That’s fine, so long as you check the terms and conditions that apply to the incentive you’re redeeming before you make a commitment.
The problem here typically comes down to a minimum wagering requirement. If a casino gives you a $100 bonus with a 40x wagering requirement, you have to bet $4,000 of your own money before you can withdraw any winnings from that bonus. Look for wagering requirements between 20x and 35x; anything over 45x is incredibly hard to clear.
Is it Secure?
This applies not just to casino sites, but to any online service you register with. Cybercrime is a global threat, and in the case of your personal information and financial details being at risk, you can’t be too careful.
A properly licensed and regulated casino site should be a secure prospect as a baseline. However, you can still do your own checks, keeping an eye out for the connection being SSL-encrypted, as represented by a padlock symbol in most web browsers. And of course, it’s a wise move to only sign up and play via a trusted connection, which means public Wi-Fi is off the cards.
With that, you’ll be in the strongest position to make the right decision when looking into any online casino site as a brand new player.