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Online Casinos
How to Rate
them
by
J. Phillip Vogel
This
article provides 20 Questions to assist with rating online
casinos
As an
authority on Internet gaming, I am asked a lot of questions by gamblers
who are
contemplating taking the plunge into the sea of online casinos.
These questions
typically include topics like
“Is it safe?” or “Do you have to play for real money?” and can vary to
include
subjects as diverse as banking, taxes, legality and software.
By
and large, however, the question I am asked most often is “How can I
tell if an
online casino in any good?”
With
the number of online casinos steadily rising to meet the public’s
insatiable
appetite for gambling, it’s becoming increasingly tedious to wade
through
the
mire and pick out only the very best sites.
While
worries regarding less-than reputable or “scam” sites have lessened
over the
years as
the industry has started to come together and better regulate itself,
there are
still more than enough bad apples left in the bunch to warrant
continued
scrutiny.
Complicating
matters further,
there is often a wide gap among legitimate sites in terms of how “good”
or
worthwhile they really are.
For
example, some sites prefer to stay on the cutting edge by updating
their
software and game selection continuously, while others opt to “make do”
with
outdated software, rather than suffer the added expense of growth.
These
“lazy” sites, as I call them, may not be criminal, but they sorely lack
much of
the value and professionalism found in leading sites.
As such, it is always to the player’s benefit
to find the very best site that suits their gaming tastes while always
looking-out for an even better one.
The
first step in finding a good online casino is simple: Do your homework.
Rather
than rely
on advertisements or broad search engine categories, visit a reputable
gambling
portal--in fact several--and read what reviewers have to say about a
site.
Also,
read books, magazines, newsletters--anything
pertinent--and look for information about online gambling sites.
Once
you’ve found a couple of online casinos that appeal to you, study them
page by
page,
looking over the game previews, promotions, banking issues, security
features--even
company background if its offered. (Hint: Try the “About Us” section.) As you examine the site,
ask yourself some
key questions:
“Are
the graphics and overall design professional grade?”
“How
long have they been in business?”
“Do
they post their payout percentages and how well do my favorite games
pay?”
“How
many games do they offer? Are
their
enough games that I’m likely to play?
“How
do I contact them if there is a problem?”
These
are just a few of the important questions that you need to answer
before you
bother to download the software, and certainly before you deposit any
funds.
To
further help you develop a clear picture of the site(s) you’re
considering, I
have included a brief checklist designed to rate casinos based on their
merits
according to several categories.
Note,
however, that while this “test” can serve as a general guideline for
rating an
online casino, it is by no means definitive and players should be sure
to
thoroughly research any site before playing.
Rate
your online casino
Below
are 20 questions divided in four major categories: reputation,
software,
security & banking, and player incentives.
For each question, circle the answer that best
suits your current
casino.
Reputation
1. How
many awards has the site won?
A. None/information
not offered
B.
1-2
C. 3-4
D. 5 or more
2. Their
monthly payout percentages are:
A. Never
mentioned on the site
B. Reviewed
by an independent auditor
C. Audited
and available for examination by
players
3. Are
they affiliated with a traditional casino
or gaming group anywhere in the world?
A. No
B. Yes
4. Are
they affiliated with or a member of any
online gaming regulatory group such as eCOGRA?
A. No
B. Yes
5. You
heard about them through:
A. E-mail
directly from company
B. Found
a banner ad on a web site
C. Read a
review in a magazine
Software
6. How
many games does the site offer?
A. Less
than a dozen
B. 12-25
C. 26-75
D. 76 or
more
7. Does
the site offer any multi-player games
with chat options?
A. No
B.
Yes
8. The
software is available via:
A. Download
B. Download
and Java or Flash
C.
Download, Java or Flash and CD
9. How
realistic are the site’s graphics and
sounds?
A.
Not at all
B.
Like an old arcade game
C.
Nice, but not entirely realistic
D.
Fantastic 3-D images and realistic game sounds
10.Do they use a
Random Number Generator (RNG)
to assure fair outcomes?
A.
No/They don’t mention a RNG
B.
Yes
Security,
Support & Banking
11. Are
all financial transactions
supported/protected by the latest encryption software?
A. No
B.
Yes
12. How
fast are withdrawals processed?
A.
Once a week
B.
Every 48 hours
C. Within
24 hours
13.
What types of customer support do they offer?
A. None
B. E-mail
C. 24/7
E-mail and toll-free telephone
D. 24/7
E-mail, toll-free telephone and live
chat
14.
How many different ways can players make deposits and withdrawals?
A. 1-2
B. 3-4
C. 4-5
D. 6 or
more
15. Do
they offer security features that allow
players to check their deposits or game results?
A No
B. Yes
Player
Incentives
16. Does
the site offer a loyalty, returning
player or “Player Reward” program?
A. No
B. Yes
17.
How much is the initial sign-up bonus worth?
A. No
bonus
B. Percentage
or cash up to $50
C. Percentage
or cash up to $100
D. More
than $100
18.
Do they offer bonuses for players using specific deposit methods?
A. No
additional bonus
B. Yes,
up to 5%
C. Yes,
more than 5%
19.
Do their “Player Reward” points carry-over each month?
A. No,
they expire at the end of each month
B. Yes,
they carry over from month to month
20.
Are there referral bonuses available?
A. No
B. Yes,
5%
C. Yes,
10%
D. Yes,
20% or more
The
Results
How well
did your site do? Add up the totals from each section according to your
responses (A=0 points; B=1 point; C=2 Points; D=3 points) and compare
that
value to the table below:
Score
Site Rating
10 or
less Poor
11-24
Average
25-34
Pretty good
35+
Excellent
Online
Casinos Rating is followed by Games: Unique and New Products
OR
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