New Players Guide: How To Get Started With Online Casino Games
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No matter which platforms you use, caution is required. Our experts aim to help UK players find the optimal gaming site for their preferences. Do you want to explore more about online casino games? Check out our expert tips to see how you can avoid chasing losses and gamble responsibly!
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Choose the Right Online Casino in a Few Steps
We compiled a list of essential steps each new UK player should follow in choosing from all the online casinos on the market.
Since the focus is exclusively on top online casinos, there are many aspects to be taken into consideration when making your choice:
Licence
Make sure you only pick fully licenced and regulated gambling websites.
These have been put through various tests and audits from third parties and have proven that they can offer a safe and fair environment for all British players.
Always look for the UKGC licence, but remember that other reliable licensing authorities, such as MGA, are also available.
Niche gaming websites also need to have a UKGC licence. For instance, UK slot sites are not exempt from this rule.
Terms and Conditions
All casinos have Terms and Conditions, Promotion Rules, and Privacy Policies, which contain similar information. However, it is essential to check these out before signing up on a platform.
Read everything carefully and see if the terms are transparent and if you agree to their rules and requirements, and only after that should you create an account.
Payment options
It is always better to go for a platform with many banking methods, as you may decide to switch from one to another.
The most popular and trustworthy ones include Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Trustly, ecoPayz, Skrill, and Neteller. Some online casinos even offer cryptocurrency options if you prefer to use those.
For faster payments, use e-wallets instead of Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro. The first may take 3 to 7 business days to complete, as the bank has to verify and approve the payments, whereas e-wallets process transactions instantly and are easy to find at fast payout casinos.
Some casinos will only allow you to cash out using the option you have deposited with due to security reasons. Therefore, you should also consider the withdrawal when you choose the deposit.
Payment processing timeframes
While deposits usually take the same regardless of the payment method, withdrawals may differ.
Depending on your chosen cashout method, your money may take a couple of minutes, hours, or days to reach your bank account.
The cashout time is the sum between the time required for the casino to process and allow your payment and the time the banking method processes the payment.
Deposit and withdrawal limits
Deposits usually have the smallest limit, ranging from £1 to £50. On the other hand, cashouts also have the biggest sum limit, which varies from casino to casino.
The higher the cashout limit allowed, the faster you will get your earnings.
If you choose a casino with a low cashout limit, your earnings will usually be paid in increments. Also, if you request to withdraw a considerable sum, the casino team will perform additional verifications.
This may slow down the entire cashout time, but the process ensures you are the real winner.
Game collection and software developers
Pick online casinos that collaborate with many software providers and continuously update their game collections with new titles.
Also, make sure you can find Live Casino and table games. Some casinos will even offer in-house games. These are unique titles developed by the casino’s team. As they are in-house titles, they cannot be found on any other platform, so they may be a pleasant thing to try.
Choose games with a higher RTP (Return to Player) rate if you’re going to play consistently.
VIP programs
According to the newest regulations, VIP programs are no longer permitted in the UK.
However, operators can still provide their players with incentives, and many of them do so based on specific rules:
- Both established and new UK casinos feature promo wheels in high numbers. These wheels allow for daily or weekly bonuses that can be claimed under certain conditions
- Some provide promotions applied each month, particularly free spins no deposit
- Programs are also available via email, in which case your activity may be evaluated when deciding who receives the offer
Promotions and Tournaments
Promotions and tournaments are vital in maintaining the players’ interest in any gambling platform.
While tournaments vary widely and are usually preferred by experienced players, offers are created for all types of gamblers.
For instance, low-spenders are inclined to opt for free welcome no deposit bonuses, whereas high-stakes players prefer Blackjack bonuses or other table game offers, such as Roulette bonuses.
Customer support
All online casinos offer customer support, but the quality and communication may differ. Some only offer email assistance, which may turn out to be slow.
Therefore, you should look for online platfroms with Live Chat and Phone options for you to use. You are more likely to receive a quick answer via these communication ways.
Everything You Need to Know Before Gambling
- Always use correct information when signing up
- Choose a fast cashout method
- Claim a promotion
Always use correct information when login in
Our team advises players to use accurate information when creating their accounts. Otherwise, the casino might suspend the account.
Also, update the customer support team with every change to your information, such as a new address or phone number.
Choose a fast cashout method
Select a quicker cashout method, such as an e-wallet. This allows you to withdraw your winnings more easily, quickly, and completely safely.
Claim a bonus offer
When you first start playing on a new platform, it is best to claim a new player’s deal. These multiply your funds and allow you to play more and discover the casino website.
If there is a no deposit deal available, that is even better, as they allow you to try the gaming site without spending any of your money.
By following this simple guide, you can learn how everything works without risking much (or any) of your personal funds.
Once you feel confident enough, you can start developing your playing strategy, but starting slow for your first steps in online gambling is better.
Ways to Gamble Responsibly
Both new and experienced players should always pay attention to their gambling habits and keep it as a leisure activity.
Online betting can become addictive, and even if not everyone develops a gambling problem, some people are more prone to it than others.
Therefore, every player needs to make sure they are staying moderate.
Tips for keeping healthy gambling habits
- Always set a budget and do not go over it
- Keep track of your money
- Only gamble as a leisure activity
- Use the casino’s pop-up alerts
- Never chase losses
Always set a budget and do not go over it
To set a budget, consider the amount of money you would be comfortable losing. If you can lose £50 without any repercussions on the quality of your life, that should be your budget.
No matter how pleasant your gambling session is or how lucky you think you can get, never go over that budget. Just leave it for another day.
Use the casino’s pop-up alerts
Online casinos offer ways for players to keep track of the time spent playing. You can do this by setting pop-up alerts after a specific time.
Once the warning appears on the screen, it is time for you to take a break.
Keep track of your funds
Casinos also offer you a history of your transactions, and you must keep track of them.
This allows you to stay within your budget or decide if one day is not as lucky as you thought, and you take a break before even reaching your budget limit.
Only gamble as a leisure activity
Unless you are a professional bettor or plan to become one, gambling should only be done for spending your free time.
This includes paying attention to your emotions and never gambling out of anger or other negative feelings. This may lead to compulsive gambling.
Never chase losses
Gambling is based on luck, and some days are better than others. It is not worth pursuing your losses if you have been on a losing streak. You might end up losing more.
That is why it is essential to become comfortable with the idea that losses are just as expected as earnings are.
Betting more to recover those funds is never a good idea and rarely has good results.
Responsible gambling tools
- Deposit limits
Players can use this tool to prevent overspending. By activating deposit limits, you’re required to create a gameplay budget.
- Wagering limits
Besides the standard min and max wagering limits, you can personalise yours to spend less.
- Loss limits
To gain control over the amounts you lose during gameplay, this is the best tool you can activate.
- Session limits
Some operators have this feature incorporated into their websites, and they only allow you to opt for the number of minutes or hours.
- Time out
This tool is more extreme, as it logs you out after a certain amount of time spent online.
UKGC-licenced online casinos are now obligated to collaborate with Gamstop, a self-exclusion service we highly recommend to those struggling with gambling addiction.
Our Guide is Essential For Novice Players
This guide should help you navigate through all the phases of gambling online without any trouble, as our experts cover all essential areas if you want to start with online casino games.
If you, however, at some point notice that you start paying more attention to gambling than other essential areas of your life, it is time to take a break and maybe even get in touch with a professional for help.