Online gambling is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, and its popularity seems to just keep on growing. However, if you have never placed bets or played real money games over the internet, then the very idea of doing so can be a bit daunting. Decide upon your favorite casino game you’ll be playing - it’s fatal to have some skill in order to succeed the games of casino. At this time, you need to choose your favorite game you’ll be playing online. Keep checking your games odds – the higher odds will enable you in winning more.
Online gambling has gained immense popularity over the past decade. The total number of online players has sky-rocketed and the casinos have taken notice.
I regularly have casino gamblers and even novice players asking me how to enter the world of online gambling. Some of you that ask are geographically disposed from going to a brick and mortar casino. Others are simply looking for some variety in their gambling habits. Then there’s the contingent that wants the convenience factor.
I’ll admit, the prospect of settling in for a blackjack marathon wearing only my boxer shorts and socks, posted up in my favorite chair with a cold drink and my favorite show on TV appeals to my antisocial sensibilities.
I assure you that online gambling is not just for the introverts. Many players simply enjoy the convenience factor of jumping on a table for an hour or 2 and getting back to yard work or helping the kids do their homework.
Where does one begin though? I’m going to answer this question and others, by the end of this article you should have a good start on your way to becoming an online gambler.
Check Your State’s Laws
The United States does not have a federal law prohibiting online gambling. Most states do have laws in place that forbid gambling or online gambling on some level.
Online gambling here is considered illegal activity.
Conversely, the states of Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania have all passed laws making online gambling legal.
The movement to legalize online gambling seems to be gaining traction. More and more citizens are getting their political representatives on board. It is only a matter of time before most or all states have legalized online gambling.
Picking an Online Casino
Choosing the right online casino for you can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Though there are thousands of online casinos to choose from, don’t get overwhelmed with the vast availability of options.
Yes, many of these look the same with flashy lights, familiar games and bonuses upon bonuses. Take a deeper look and the differences start to become clear.
I recommend joining 2-3 gambling sites. You then have an extended variety and game choices. You’ll then also be able to select the best prices for sports betting and have more tables to join for online poker.
By keeping the number of casinos you join to a minimum, you’ll avoid being so spread out that you aren’t accumulating player points and rewards.
Some of the offers you can find are extremely generous. Yet, it is imperative that you have a grasp on how these bonuses work and understand the terms and conditions of the offer.
One type of bonus you’ll find is the “no deposit”. Online casinos will bait new customers with free cash with no deposit required. I mean, who doesn’t love free money? This can be a great way to get a jump start on your online gambling career, but please read and understand the terms of a no deposit bonus.
Typically, with this bonus you’ll be asked to register a credit card before claiming the free cash. The casino is not trying to steal funds from your card (probably). Many reputable online casinos use this as a safeguard against people poaching multiple bonuses.
It also can help the casino distinguish the players that sign up strictly to burn the bonus money from the legitimate player. Some online casinos also require players to make a small deposit before cashing out winnings from a no deposit offer, again due to bonus abuse from other players.
No deposit bonuses typically have wagering requirements and game restrictions that apply.
Another bonus you are likely to come across is the “matching deposit”.
This one is fairly straightforward. The casino will offer to match a percentage of a player’s deposit. So, let’s say, a casino offers you 150% and you make a $100 deposit, the casino will then deposit another $150 in your account.
Bonuses of this nature range from 10-250% and I have sometimes seen even higher matches. If you do receive this bonus offer, expect to be required to wager through your initial deposit and the bonus several times. Again, there will almost certainly be game restrictions and wagering requirements.
The “sticky bonus” may at first make some players turn up their nose. After all, it doesn’t look as sexy at first glance.
You’ll never be able to draw this money out to put gas in your car or enjoy a nice dinner out.
So, what good is it? Well, with more money in your account you’ll be able to gamble longer. Gambling after all is a numbers game and if you’re playing slots your theoretical chances of hitting a jackpot go up with every pull. I’ve always found it’s easier to stack up a good pile of chips at the blackjack table with $500 than $100.
I’ve seen online casinos offer this type of bonus up to $400. Sticky bonuses sometimes don’t carry any wagering requirements. So, it may just be worth it for you.
Wagering requirements can get pretty high at most online casinos. Some casinos require players to wager up to 20 times your deposit (including bonuses) before cashing out. This is largely to protect against abuse.
Game restrictions are restrictions on what games apply to meeting the wagering requirements. Where it’s not unusual for slots to count toward the wagering requirements. It is uncommon for games like blackjack and roulette to be excluded from the wagering requirements.
I’ve covered a lot here. If you’re new to online gambling it may be confusing. This is why it’s so important to read the terms and conditions.
Play on Player
Okay, now to the fun stuff. I try not to bog down in the details, but it’s important to understand the angles. Enough of that, I’m going to go over the most popular online casino games and offer some beginner friendly tips.
I’m sure you’re familiar with “loose” slots. While this refers to a time when mechanical slots had some sort of defect which resulted in more payouts, it may apply today.
Look at the rate of pay out for particular online slot machines and the odds may just shift in your favor.
To attract new players or try to get old players back to the casino, many online casinos offer free spins on specific online slots.
Take advantage of this chance to play for free. Free spins are a great way to test the waters of a specific online slot or to get a feel for how best to place your bets and, quite possibly, win without spending a cent.
Always max bet. Play all the lines. Even if you need to bet less per line. I do this because I give myself more chances to win small amounts (it all adds up) and to trigger bonus rounds or jackpots. But, overall, I do it because I have more fun.
Online blackjack is another hugely popular game and a personal favorite. Remember these tips and you won’t be a beginner for long.
Want a better edge against the casino? Skip the side bets and additional options, like perfect pairs or insurance. All these do is increase the house advantage.
Always split aces and 8s (when allowed). This is oversimplifying hand-splitting, but this is an easy rule to remember – and one of many you should start memorizing. Avoid the temptation to split ten-point hands. This includes tens, jacks, queens and kings. 20 is a strong enough hand to stand on.
Get a blackjack strategy chart. I’m not aware of any rules prohibiting the use of these handy tools online (and who’s going to know anyway). Besides, there aren’t other players at the table casting judgmental or annoyed looks in your direction for slowing down the game.
Conclusion
Going forward, I think you will be able to make the right choice for your online casino play and I hope Lady Luck smiles on you. Most importantly, gambling is meant to be for entertainment. So, find a casino you enjoy and settle in for a good time.
One question the Gorilla often gets is, “How to start gambling online?” But answering this question is always a bit of a tall order. The Gorilla has identified two main reasons for this:
- First, he says that the term “Online gambling” is ambiguous. He can’t tell the casino games you want to play or where you are residing. It is, therefore, almost impossible for him to give specific, actionable, and good advice to such a loaded and open-ended question.
- Next, the Gorilla has been in the gambling industry since its inception, making an online gaming guru and easy for him to forget that not every punter is as experienced as he is in all matters gambling. This makes it difficult for him to explain how to start gambling online since it is all too “common sense” for him.
But you guys want to know how to start gambling online, not excuses. Luckily, the casino gorilla loves its newbies. So, he had a little exploration while on his way to find dinner, put his head down, and got down to business. He shared the following top 10 tips on how to start gambling online.
1. Go Through Your Online Betting Laws
Stat by finding out if gambling is lawful in your country or state, and whether you are of the legal gambling age. You can get this information from the relevant online gambling regulatory authority. For example, if you are in UK, check with the UK Gambling Commission. If in Malta, check the with Maltese gambling authority.
2. Choose the Right Online Casino
The Casino Gorilla has identified a few critical things you should consider when choosing the perfect online gambling platform for beginners. These are:
- Know the type of casino you would want to play at (mobile casino, download casino, or instant play casino). Ideally, select a website that overs a great pc website, mobile casino and apps for both iOS and android devices for gaming on the go.
- Go through the casino reviews and ratings and get information about the history of the casino. Choose a casino that has won lots of positive reviews and praises from punters. Website that has won gongs from EGR B2B Awards, Global Gaming Awards, Gaming Intelligence Awards, International Gaming Awards are great choices.
- Software Providers – The best casinos for new punters foray together games from numerous top developers. Look for games from developers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Playtech, IGT, Isoftbet, ElK studios, Ash Gaming, NextGen, Quickspin, Novomatic, Extreme Gaming and more.
- Casino Games – The Gorilla knows you are new to online gambling. For this reason, he suggests selecting a gambling platform with vast variety of casino games. Look for slots, table games, scratch card games, bingo games, video poker, live casino games, instant win games and more.
- Consider the banking options. The Gorilla truly loves website that offer a plethora of deposit and withdrawal options. Confirm the website supports instant and free deposits through eWallets such as PayPal and Skrill, debit and credit cards, wire and bank transfers, and pay by phone options such as Boku.
- Withdrawal and deposit limits. The best gambling platforms offer low minimum deposit and withdrawal limits (£10 is the industry average) and high maximum deposit and withdrawal limits.
- Go through the terms and conditions and make sure you are okay with all the provisions. Some import aspects to check here include withdrawal policy, wagering requirement on bonus funds, bonus validity and so on.
- Interact with the casino’s support team and see how they respond to your questions. The best gambling websites for new players offers help 24/7 through phone, live chat, WhatsApp, and an extensive FAQ section. They are active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+
- Check the website’s rank – some of the top-ranked sites are certified, having greater value. They maintain a regularly updated blog section that share insights on how to start gambling online, have fun and make money responsibly.
Make sure that you get the truth from the casino you want to register with before you deposit your hard-earned money.
3. Stay Safe When Betting Online
How To Gamble Online In The United States
This is one of the most important aspects of online gaming as you should only bet at safe and secure web casinos. The important things to look out for include:
- License and reputation of the casino – It is a lawful requirement that all gambling websites be registered and hold licenses to operate in specific areas. For instance, UK casinos should hold licenses from the UK Gambling Commission. The Gorilla Says, “Never wager in unlicensed online casinos.”
- Blacklisted casinos – Avoid casinos that has been blacklisted for unsafe payments, slow payments, not paying out winnings, etc.
- Independently audited – Make sure that the internet gambling platform you are considering is audited and certified by independent bodies such as eCogra. Such certification guarantees that the outcome of bets at the specific casino are purely random and fair.
- Online security – This is assured by SSL encryption that makes sure that all your transactions and financial information are safe when being shared/transmitted online. Also, the best casinos add an extra layer of data protection by having robust data storage and handling policy.
4. Try the Free Games First
Whichever online casino you choose you will most likely be given the opportunity to play for free before playing for real cash. The Gorilla says, “Grab this opportunity with both hands.” It will help you get a feel of the website and its various games without risking real money.
Online Betting Sites Legal
You might need to register an account to access the free/demo games (don’t fret out; the best casino won’t debit your card unless you give them the green light).
How To Gamble Online And Win
Also, casinos are able to separate your real money wagers from your free plays at the end of the day. You will only be charged if you choose to deposit funds into your account. Some online gambling websites even offer punters free no deposit bonus which they can use to play for real money.