Choosing which new online casino to join in 2024 is much easier said than done, especially for new and inexperienced players who don’t really know what to look for in a good online casino, but also for seasoned users like me who have joined countless sites.
There are hundreds of sites to choose from today, and fortunately, the vast majority of them are fully licensed, regulated, and controlled by reputable operators. However, there are a few bad eggs that must be avoided at all costs.
On this page, I will reveal five crucial signs to look for in a good online casino that tell you it’s a safe site worth joining, ensuring you never sign up to a bad site that will let you down.
What Are The Five Tell-Tale Signs Of A Good Online Casino?
There are many things a gambling site customer should consider before joining the first online casino they find, but before we discuss them all, let’s take a closer look at the five most important tell-tale signs to look for above everything else:
- Licensing and regulation
- Ownership
- Website/app security
- Games and software
- Payment methods/withdrawal times
Some of the other tell-tale signs to look out for when searching for trusted and safe casinos are things like excellent customer feedback and positive reviews from experts on sites like AskGamblers.
For example, before joining an online casino you think is safe, it’s best to conduct your own basic research, and one of the easiest ways to do this to save you so much research time is to read the reviews.
If the casino you are about to join has terrible reviews from the experts, then avoid joining that site.
On the other hand, if the reviews are positive, then you know you will have nothing to worry about. When I compare the reviews, I also like to make sure that the site has achieved a score of at least 8.00 on the CasinoRank rating system and has received the ‘Certificate of Trust’ seal of approval.
What Else Should I Be Looking For?
Although the welcome bonus is one of the first things that players look for when deciding which sites to join, I only think about the bonus after discovering that all of the above checks out.
If the website is above board, only then will I look at what kind of sign-up bonus it’s currently offering all new players like me. However, I don’t just look at the initial offer. I go that one step further by reading the terms and conditions attached to that bonus.
The Ts and Cs will tell you everything you need to know about how you can get the most out of your bonus. For example, in my opinion, the best online casino bonuses are ones with a 0x to 40x wagering requirement attached (the lower, the better).
I tend to avoid claiming bonuses with a 50x, 60, 70x, or higher wagering requirement attached and will only occasionally claim them with a 45x wagering requirement. Also, the Ts and Cs will tell me if my preferred deposit option is included or excluded from the promotion and how long I have to complete the wagering requirements.
The other sign of a good online casino is that it will accept multiple payment methods, including a range of eWallets, credit and debit cards, prepaid cards, bank transfer methods, mobile wallets, and cryptocurrencies.
They will be known for processing instant deposits and rapid withdrawals (e.g., cashouts will usually be processed in under two hours), and the trusted sites will also use a range of digital cybersecurity measures and privacy policies to protect my sensitive personal data and bankroll.
Also, the customer support will always be available 24/7 via email, live chat, and telephone. With regards to the games, the best sites will only ever have content from well-established, fully licensed and regulated software providers.
On many of my favorite sites, I can play anywhere from 3,000 to 7,000 computer-generated and live dealer online slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, scratchcards, craps, poker, Slingo, keno, bingo, and more.
The best sites will allow their customers to access their favorite gameplay versions from any modern smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, and they will work equally well on all devices and in most web browsers.
Some of my favorite providers that I tend to keep an eye out for are Games Global, Playtech, Evolution Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger Gaming, NetEnt, Relax Gaming, and Play’n GO. That’s not forgetting Yggdrasil Gaming, iSoftBet, Light & Wonder, Push Gaming, Playson, Skywind Group, Novomatic, StakeLogic, IGT, Inspired Gaming, ELK Studios, Thunderkick and Big Time Gaming, to name a few.
The top sites also use AI-powered tools to make the best game suggestions and offer the most relevant promotional offers and bonuses.
Final Thoughts
One of the other important things I’ve noticed that all of today’s safest and most secure online casinos have is a section filled with safer gambling tools that gamers like me can set manually. To ensure you don’t spend more than you can afford when playing on sites like this, I recommend setting win/loss limits, session time reminders, and/or deposit limits.