In this latest entry in our ongoing series on gambling technology, we take a look at what makes for a great online casino.

Are you on the hunt for a new and exciting online casino to join? If you have already started looking, then you are probably aware that there are hundreds, if not thousands for you to pick and choose from. This can be slightly overwhelming when you are first trying to decide which one to join, however, the great thing is that with this much choice every casino has to really up their game and make you an offer that you cannot refuse. The power is in your hands, but before you go ahead and join the first casino that you find, it is important to do some research first into your options and know exactly what you are looking for.

There is no need to fret, however, as below we take you through what exactly it is that you should be looking for when joining a new online casino.

What Welcome Offer Should A Great Online Casino Have

As a new player to an online casino, the first thing that is bound to catch your eye is the welcome offer that is available. Online casinos are always competing to offer you the very best bonuses and special perks, so you need to make sure that when you are taking full advantage of this when signing up.

There are a few different welcome offers normally available to you. The first is the no deposit required offer, however, this offer is not found very frequently at online casinos anymore. With this offer, you can simply sign up at the online casino and they will instantly credit you with a bonus. This is normally a small bonus and you can use it to play a range of games on the site.

The most common type of welcome bonus available is the deposit bonus. With this type of bonus, you can sign up to the casino and make your first deposit to receive a percentage on top as bonus cash! This is normally at least 100% but it can be much more if you look hard enough. You can then use this cash to play a range of games on the site. While it is tempting to simply go with the casino that has the highest deposit bonus, you should always have a look at the wagering requirements too before you dive in as having a bigger bonus normally means higher wagering requirements. You should also look out for welcome offers that offer extra special perks such as free spins and loyalty points. We would recommend that you look for an online casino offering a welcome package, as this will offer you a deposit bonus on not just your first deposit, but also your second and third deposits too!

 What Games Should A Great Online Casino Have

After you have taken a look at the welcome offer available, it is time to take a look at the library of games. If there is a certain type of game that you love to play, then there is no point in joining an online casino that does not offer it! For example, if you love to play table and card games, you’ll need to check that the site does not just simply offer slot games.

If you are a newbie to online casino games, we would recommend joining a casino that offers you a little bit of everything. Slots are normally the main attraction at an online casino and so you will be looking for one that has a wide range to pick and choose from and from a number of gaming providers. This can include big gaming software names such as Thunderkick, NetEnt, NYX, NextGen, Blueprint Gaming, Eyecon and Microgaming. It is also a good idea to have a variety of different slot variations to play such as classic three reels games, five reel games, new releases and progressive jackpot games. Slot games can be extremely lucrative, but if you want the opportunity to take home the big bucks then you will need to be playing the exciting progressive jackpot games in which the jackpot cash prize will continue to rise until one lucky player wins it all! This can sometimes even be millions of pounds!

Many players also really like to enjoy a few table and card games between playing slots. This can include games such as blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat. You can play the basic versions of these games and many casinos now offer live versions too. This means you can immerse yourself in a real life casino experience with a real casino dealer but all from the comfort of your own home.

Finally, you may also want to check out a few of the scratch card games on offer! Scratch cards are incredibly easy to play and you’ll simply be scratching away to try and uncover symbols for a big cash win.

If you love to play games on the go, it is also worth checking to see if the casino is mobile compatible or offers a mobile app, as otherwise you may end up depositing cash at an online casino that can only be played from your desktop PC.

 Safety and Security at an Online Casino

Of course, while the welcome offer and games available are important when choosing the best online casinos to join, your safety and security is always paramount and should be at the top of the checklist. Most online casinos are completely safe to join, however, you should always double check before signing up and depositing any cash. To ensure that the casino you are joining is safe, we would recommend looking at the licensing and regulation of the casino. There are a few standout countries that are reputable within the iGaming industry and this includes Gibraltar, Malta, the Isle of Man and the UK. You can always protect yourself further when playing at an online casino by joining one which offers a range of payment methods such as the popular e-wallet PayPal.