Top 10 Tips for Playing at Online Casinos
If you are thinking about getting started with online casino gambling, there are a few things you should know before you sign up. While playing casino games for real money can be fun and extremely profitable, there are some issues that can crop up which can negatively affect your overall experience. With this in mind, we are going to take a look at the top 10 tips for playing at online casinos.
No.1 – Finding the Right Casino
One of the most important decisions you will make is deciding on which online casino to sign up with. While some players look for the best bonuses, others focus on game selection. A good tip is to find a casino that covers all the bases. This means finding a casino that is 100% legal, secure and easily accessible. The casino should also offer a wide range of games, offer good banking options and provide competitive bonuses.
No.2 – Keep it Local
In New Zealand there are a number of top-class online casinos to choose from. Playing at local casinos means that you can transact in local New Zealand dollars and not have to pay conversion fees when you deposit or cash out your winnings. It also means that you can speak to local customer service operators when you run into any issues.
No.3 – Set a Bankroll
One mistake most players make is not setting a specific bankroll for online casino gambling. Even if you are only planning on playing a few times a month, it is always a good idea to set a bankroll that is independent from the rest of your finances. If you blow your bankroll in one or two days, you need to reassess your finances and possibly force yourself to wait till the next month to play again. This will ensure you always have money to play and never dip into your personal finances.
No.4 – Find out the RTP
All online casinos have a payout ratio known as a return to play percentage (RTP). This is expressed as a percentage and is often a good way to tell how trustworthy the casino really is. Most online casinos have a RTP between 96% and 98%. This is the percentage of funds the casino returns to the players in the form of winnings. The higher the percentage, the more winnings are paid back. Casinos with over 98% RTP are highly unlikely and should be regarded as suspicious. Similarly, anything below 95% should be avoided.
No.5 – Casino Bonuses
Online casino bonuses can be very lucrative if you find the right type of bonus. If you are planning on playing for real money, it would pay to find a casino that gives you the best rewards for your money. The industry standard is to offer a 100% cash match welcome bonus up to a certain cash limit, usually around $200. Some casinos though offer a bit more including free spins on the latest pokies and maybe a second bonus on your second deposit. When looking for prospective online casinos, try and find casinos with decent bonus that are not too high as these might be misleading and often come with ridiculously unobtainable wagering requirements.
No.6 – Playthrough Requirements
You may not be aware of it but all online casino bonuses come with specific wagering requirements known as playthrough requirements. It doesn’t matter what size the bonus may be or how much you deposit, all bonuses have requirements that must be met before you can withdraw your bonus or subsequent winnings. These are expressed as a multiplication such as 5x or 10x. Here you want to look for the lowest number possible as this will mean wagering 5x or 10x the total bonus amount before you can cash out. Casinos might offer huge bonuses but then they also have playthrough requirements of 30x or more which means you will have to wager thousands of dollars before you can cash out.
No.7 – Low House Edge Casino Games
While the golden rule of online casinos is to have fun, if you want to stand a chance of winning any real money, the way to do it is to play low house edge games. These are casino games where the chances of you winning are a lot higher than other games. Depending on the type of game you play, you could be playing a house edge of anywhere between 0.5% all the way up to 19%. Games with a low house edge include single deck blackjack, video poker and basic baccarat bets.
No.8 – Use the Free Play Feature
One of the biggest benefits of playing online is being able to play for free. This is extremely useful if you are keen on playing card and table games like craps or blackjack but don’t quite understand the rules. Playing casino games for free lets you hone your skills and gives you the confidence to learn as you play. Once you understand all games completely, you can swap over to playing for real money at any time. It also means you can try out all the latest pokies and check out the bonus features without worrying about how much you are winning or losing in the process.
No.9 – Pokies Games and Progressives
Pokies games are online casino games with one of the highest house edges at the casino. This means that your chances of winning can be pretty slim. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a real shot, in fact, many players have won boatloads of cash in pokies games. The point is that if you are going to play pokies, you should always go for the biggest jackpot you can find. This means playing on progressive machines. Unlike fixed jackpot pokies, progressives can pay out millions if you hit the right combination.
No.10 – Always Have Fun
The first and most important reason why you should be playing casino games online is to have fun. Many players forget that casino gaming is supposed to be enjoyable and get caught up in trying to recover winnings or get to a certain level before the end of the day. If you find yourself feeling tense or not enjoying your experience, it is a good idea to take a break, think about why you are playing in the first place and reset your expectations.