Are Online Casinos Out to Steal my Money?

Any new online gambler is weary of online casinos stealing their money. You put a lot of your private information online and hope they are trustworthy. There are steps to insure that your information is safe. First, you should make sure the casino is certified by an auditor like eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) or TST (Technical Systems Testing). They exist to protect you. Once you find a casino you like, research some reviews on it. If you skip these steps, you may encounter a fake online casino. As the online gambling industry has evolved, these sites are being weeded out with new regulatory agencies but some are still around. This is how to spot them and avoid them.

Doing a quick Internet search can save you a lot of problems. There are quality sites that just review online casinos. Look up who owns the casino. Do they own other reputable online casinos? There are a lot of groups so you will probably run into plenty. If they use one of the big software operators, that is a good start. These software providers include Microgaming, Rival Gaming, Playtech, Vegas Technology and Wagerlogic. Realtime Gaming has run into a few problems but they are overall trustworthy.

A lot of fake online casinos share content. The easiest way to check this is to copy a paragraph or block of text from the site and paste it into a search engine. If the same content comes up on a few different sites, you could be in for trouble. While groups share the same types of bonuses, these rogue online casinos share everything so you should be able to spot them. As always, look for hidden wagering requirements. If they seem more unfair than usual, it could be a precursor to bigger problems. The same goes for payout procedures. Fair online casinos pay out on a weekly or daily basis. Monthly payouts are not a good sign.

Taking Advantage of Timed Welcome Bonuses

Some online casinos are drawing in new gamblers with timed welcome bonuses. Online gambling is a competitive industry and whoever finds the most creative way to draw people can come out the winner for their business. Most online casinos use a match bonus after joining that applies to your first deposit or first few deposits. They have hidden wagering requirements where you must play through to a certain amount and only apply to certain games. Timed welcome bonuses are easier.

With these bonuses, players get free play on one or more casino games with no deposit for a certain amount of time. The general duration is 60 minutes for timed welcome bonuses. The bonus may apply to any combination of slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, video poker, etc. When the time is up, you pocket the winnings. Sometimes, the money earned is deemed as credits. You may have to reach a certain goal of credits within 24 hours. If you meet the goal, you get whatever bonus amount they are offering. If you don’t meet it, any credits or money is lost. It is a good way to keep you excited and check out the different games at the online casino.

Timed welcome bonuses are usually free and provide plenty of extra entertainment to your gambling experience. Certain terms and conditions may apply so read the fine print carefully to check for wagering requirements. But they won’t be as strict as what you would find at many match bonuses or no-deposit bonuses.

Bonus Codes are Worth the Effort

A lot of online casinos give you a welcome bonus just for joining with no problem. You sign up, make a deposit, gamble enough, and then get paid. But there are other bonuses that require you to put in a code. Some people view it as a hassle and just accept the easy bonuses. But, the truth is, finding online casino bonus codes are worth the extra effort.

Sometimes, they are available right there on the casino’s promotions page. For example, Go Casino has a few currently running. The code GO244 is good for a free entry into a tournament within 30 days of signing up with the online casino. Usually, the codes are cryptic like this, but they’re pretty easy to figure out. Not only do bonus codes give players more wagering power, but they help the online casino stay organized. When you input a code, it’s clear that you are signing up with that promotion. Sometimes, when you sign up with an online casino, it’s easy to agree to a bonus without reading the terms and conditions. Always read the fine print on any bonus to make sure it is worth your while, because the money isn’t as free as it first appears. Bonus codes make it clear that you want the bonus.

Codes that require a bonus are subject to wagering requirements as well. Bonus codes can be found on a variety of promotions but you will especially see them for slot tournaments, since those are the most popular form of online gambling.

You can search online for bonus codes for your favorite casino, but it’s always smart to sign up for the online casino’s mailing list. Join the player rewards or VIP program. They will likely send promotions with bonus codes to the preferred members who made an effort to join the e-mail list. Other than that, bonus codes can be found on their promotions page. Be sure to check it before you log in and play because you may be gambling on an eligible game without even knowing it.