Online Casinos for Beginners

The online casino industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Millions of users log on every day to try their luck at the huge variety of games on offer, including poker, blackjack, roulette and slot machines. Playing online is a great way to relax at the end of a busy day, and now that most people have smartphones, they are able to play online casinos anywhere, either in their mobile browsers or downloading an app.

Most online casinos also feature chat rooms, so you can socialise while you play. Meeting at an online poker table is a great way to keep in touch with people you don’t see very often, like old school friends and distant family.

But online casinos can be daunting if you’ve never played one before, even if you are familiar with how to play the games. So we’ve put together a quick guide to help you find your way around an online casino and get playing straight away.

Picking Your Online Casino

 

For the best experience, choose an online casino with lots of reputable reviews.

There are hundreds of online casino sites operating on the internet. Some are big brand names, while others are newly opened. In the UK, they all have to be regulated and licensed, which offers users some protection against bad practices. But even so, not all casinos are the same, and there is plenty of information out there to help you decide which online casino to choose, from user reviews to site write-ups.

You also need to think about what you want from the site. Make sure you do your research to find one that offers the kind of games you want to play - there’s no point joining a site that primarily offers high-stakes poker tables if you want to play with pennies. Lots of sites also offer joining bonuses and incentives, but don’t be suckered in by the promise of free cash – make sure you always read the fine print about how it’s granted, and check the user review to make sure it isn’t a scam.

You can’t go wrong with 888 Casino, they have a very good selection of games to cater for all tastes and playing styles, so you’ll be sure to find something you like. They also offers great bonuses to new players, and with their decades of experience and excellent customer service, you’ll feel like you’re in safe hands at this UK online casino.

Making a Deposit

Once you’ve chosen a site and created an account, you’ll need to add funds to it, often before you can take advantage of those juicy bonuses. Online casinos have made it as easy as possible to upload your cash by offering lots of different methods. You can use a debit/credit card, go through an e-wallet like PayPal, use prepaid cards, and some will even let you deal in cryptocurrencies. Make sure you choose your preferred method and don’t let a casino bully you into using something you’re not comfortable with. 

Once you’ve uploaded your funds, you’re ready to play your first game.

Playing a Game

The advantages of online casinos over land-based casinos is that they are not limited by the size of the building they’re in. Hundreds of virtual slot machines won’t take up much space on your device, so online casinos can offer players much more choice. Simply use the navigation menus to select your choice of game and then browse the different options.

Review sites will analyse slot games for you and let you know the rate at which they pay out (the RTP), how volatile they are – do they pay frequent small amounts or infrequent large prizes – and generally let you know which are worth playing. 

It’s difficult to rate table games in the same way because they involve human opponents, but you will always be able to see the limit and standard betting amounts on each table before you join, so you can pick ones that suit your budget, skills and level of risk you are comfortable taking.

Top Tips

While it’s easy to register and get started at an online casino, there are many other aspects to consider, like how to maximise your chances of winning and making sure you stay within budget. Here are the most important things you should remember about playing casino games online:

• Stay within your budget. It’s easier than you think to get caught up in a game and find yourself losing more than you planned. Set deposit limits and make sure you walk away if it stops being fun, even if that means leaving with losses.

• The house always has the advantage, and there are no exceptions. You are more likely to lose in the long run, but there are ways to minimise these loses if you play wisely. Choose games with a low house edge and make sure you know some basic strategies before heading for the table games. 

• A win is never guaranteed. When you’re in the middle of a losing streak, it can be tempting to continue with the thinking that a win is due. In situations like this, it’s

• better to stop, rather than keep chasing your losses. And stay away from strategies like the Martingale, which encourage you to increase your bet after a loss. You could end up losing a lot more than you were prepared for that way.