Edited by Jude Goodwin

How do you choose an online casino? In a world where there are so many options, some people find it tough to make this choice, especially with all the offers and promotions we can find. I once had an experience when I signed up for a casino with a bonus code and it turned out that there were some really stringent restrictions on the casino code—ultimately, the bonus funds expired before I could even use them. 

In this guide, we’re looking into the basics of choosing an online casino to try, and what sort of things people should be clued up on before they decide they are going to sign up for an account.

LGBTQ+ Considerations

Of course, our site always has some LGBTQ+ considerations, and in the world of casinos, it is sometimes possible to explore whether the site is LGBT-friendly. Some sites even have certain games and events that celebrate the culture. At the very least, you can check that the people running the site (or the company behind it) are LGBT-friendly. I often do a bit of digging around, and Google the owners to see what their history is. It’s not always possible, but you might find some snippets of information. 

In real life, of course, LGBTQ+ casinos are easier to come across due to the fact that they often have events, and some make queer people feel very welcome. 

Types of Casino

Don’t forget that there are lots of different types of casinos out there now. In a lot of states, people are turning to sweepstakes casinos, which work in a different way and use a coins system. I have played with these casinos before, and they have been great for when I’ve been moving around the country as different states tend to have similar rules.

There are other types of casinos, the traditional online casino of course, and the modern option that so many people use, cryptocurrency casinos. 

There are other varieties of casinos in terms of what they offer and the way they operate, such as sweepstakes casinos and social casinos, which might have slightly different approaches. On top of this, there are also forms of casinos that have a lot of live dealer games to try to replicate the experience of a night out at a casino.

Deposit Methods

Something that has changed a lot in recent years is the number of deposit methods that people can use when they are signing up to a casino website. 

As well as being able to use bank accounts, bank cards, and bank transfers, there are some other ways people can transfer money now. Most people find that it is easy to use Apple Pay or Google Pay, depending on which devices they are looking to use. 

Some other casinos accept other forms of e-wallets. People can also use things like PayPal or more modern e-wallets and digital payments. Smart payments are usually much quicker than many other methods. 

Trust and Reviews

This is one of the most important factors when considering a casino and whether or not they are worth your signup.

Companies you deal with in the modern age should all have a high level of trust and a good track record of helping their customers. I find that Trustpilot is an amazing resource for looking up casinos and working out which ones have the best record. You can see how many different people have checked out the casino over time and then left a review. Trustpilot is an independent platform and I rarely place any kind of order online or part with money without checking it. 

Other ways to try to establish trust within the site is by reading all of the terms and conditions. A lot of people only skim these at most, but there is a lot to be said for actually checking them. This is especially true when it comes to promotions as it is possible that some of the terms and conditions may limit what you can win on your bonuses. The small print is always important.

Choice of Games

There are hundreds of developers working on games, including live dealer games that connect people to a dealer via a video feed, and a lot of other game types that are being invented and released onto the market. There are also variations of classic games, as well as loads of new casino games and slot games.

Many casinos are battling it out to be the best and to have the biggest range of games, so this means that there are often new and unique games. People all have their own preferences, and some like slot games while others might be more drawn to poker and other card games.

Bonuses and Promotions (plus loyalty promotions)

Whenever signing up for one of these accounts, you should definitely pay close attention to the bonuses that are available. 

Usually, there will be some sort of signup bonus. This may even be a no-deposit bonus, which means that there is a chance that you can actually try the casino games without putting money into the account first. A lot of the social and sweepstake casinos use their own coin system, and players may get free coins or free spins on the other games when they sign up for an account. Bonuses vary from one site to the next, of course, and some may have terms and conditions as well as codes you need to actually get the bonus funds. 

Some casino brands only really care about the signup, so it is even better if you can find a casino that cares about their customers to the point where they are looking to reward them. For example, some have loyalty bonuses or cashback methods for players who have been playing on their site for a long time. 

Final Spin

If you are looking for a way to find businesses that are LGBTQ+ friendly, there are a lot of ways to search for this, including directories. There are similar methods to look for other businesses, such as casinos, where you can check if they are trustworthy and the kind of quality they offer. 

Casino brands are always looking to improve and add to their selection of games. There is fierce industry competition, and this drives different companies to make different promotions and try to appeal to niches within the industry, such as those who like live dealer games. Check that the site offers the sort of quality you are looking for, and most importantly, try to establish that it is a trustworthy brand.