Beginner's Guide to Online Casinos

The sole purpose of this website is to guide players who fancy a little flutter online to only the very best, honest and trustworthy Online and Mobile Phone casinos.   This page is specifically designed to help new or novice players learn “the ropes” as quickly as possible, so please spare a few minutes of your time to read our Quick Guide below.

As the main author of this site, I have been gambling at online casinos virtually daily since January 2001.    I have signed up to and played at over 300 different online casinos, I read player forums every day, visit industry events (where I meet some of the casino operators face-to-face) and read gaming news articles, so without wanting to sound too big-headed, I do know a LOT about online casinos.  

When I first look at a new casino I haven’t previously reviewed, it normally only takes me a minute or two to decide if it’s a goodie or a baddie, despite the statement that “we are the best thing since sliced bread” that nearly all casinos claim on their websites!   Players should be aware that there ARE a lot of rogue operators out there - casinos who are only interested in getting their hands on your money, no matter what they have to do.   But do not worry - if you use any of the casinos on this site you will be in safe hands with people you can trust.  

Newbie’s Guide

I could quite easily write an entire encyclopaedia on the subject on Online Casinos – but who actually reads encyclopaedias? Exactly!   So on this site I try to convey all the most important information with as few words as possible – no waffle and no bullshit. To help me achieve this I do use quite a lot of common abbreviations, so if you are totally new to this world, please take a couple of minutes to read the table below.

 These are the main abbreviations you need to know in order to make the most of this site:

Term
Meaning
SUB
 
Sign-Up Bonus: The first bonus you are offered when joining a new casino.
Also sometimes called a Welcome Bonus or First Deposit Bonus.
NDB


No-Deposit Bonus: A free chip given by the casino for you to try out their games risk-free, but still have the chance of making a real money cash-out!
Usually you only need to supply minimal information to open an account and take the freebie (e.g. just your name & e-mail address).   You will only be asked for full ID if you win & cash-out.
WR




Wagering Requirements: When you take a bonus, this is the amount you usually need to bet before being allowed to cash out.  
This involves Wagering a set amount of money on specified games. e.g. If you played 100 spins on a slot machine @ $1 per spin, you will have wagered $100 towards your WR, regardless of whether you won or lost during those spins.  
D, B, and D+B


Used in conjunction with WR – this is how you work out how much you need to wager:  
D = Deposit   
B = Bonus Chips   
(D+B) = Deposit + Bonus Chips
Cashable

Cashable Bonus: As soon as you complete the WR for your bonus, you can cash-out everything; Deposit + Bonus Chips + Winnings.
Phantom


Phantom Bonus: When you have completed the WR for your bonus and make your first withdrawal request, the amount of the original bonus is deducted from your account.  
i.e. You can only cash-out; Deposit + Winnings and NOT the Bonus Chips.
Software




This is a general term used, which actually means the Games Provider – the companies who actually produce the casino games.
e.g. RTG (RealTime Gaming), Rival Gaming, Saucify, etc...
It is important to know which software each casino has before you sign-up, so that you’ll know if they have your favourite games or not.

 
Newbie FAQ's

Never played an online casino before? Please read these VITAL things you need to know:


Question: Answer:
Is it safe? All the casinos listed on this website are 100% safe and secure.
Any information you supply them is totally confidential. I have personally played at over 280 different casinos since 2001 and never had any problems at any one of these casinos. 
When you win and cash-out – you WILL get paid. (If no T&Cs were broken)
Are the games fair? Absolutely yes. I only list casinos whose games have been fully tested and audited by 3rd party regulators. All games are run from a true RNG which means, for example, card games and roulette play exactly the same as they would in a real casino.  
The slots are also 100% random and have pay-outs typically in the 95%-97% range, which is much better than you’ll find in games arcades and real casinos!
Bonuses – what’s the catch? Just about all casinos offer fairly large bonuses to tempt you to give them a try.
The only “catch” is that you have to meet the specified Wagering Requirements (WR) before you are allowed to cash-out anything (including your deposit).
Bonuses are usually one of 2 types: Cashable or Phantom.   See table above for definitions.
What about all those T&Cs? Like all responsible businesses, online casinos have to have terms to protect themselves from fraud and abuse.
It is ABSOLUTELY VITAL that you read ALL the T&Cs connected to any bonuses you take to ensure you comply with the rules. Failure to do so could result in the loss of your bonus and winnings.  
Also it is wise to check the General T&Cs for these key points:    
>  Are you allowed to play from the state you live in?   
> Are there any maximum bet limits while using bonuses? (Might not be in bonus terms)  
> By what method will you be able to withdraw? (This is not always the same way you deposit)  
> How long will my withdrawal take?
What age must I be? You must be at least 18-years old to play at any online casino. Some casinos and some countries may have a higher requirement (e.g. 21) – if in doubt, check with the casino.
Will I have to supply I.D. documents? Almost certainly. Because of the delay it would cause, casinos do not ask for ID before you deposit – the vast majority only ask when you come to withdraw.
You will usually be asked to supply the following: 
>  A form of Government Issued photo ID (Passport, ID card or Driving License)   
>
  A recent utility bill in YOUR name and YOUR address. 
You might also be asked to verify other details about your deposit method.  
For this reason, it is VITAL that you only supply 100% correct personal information when you sign-up – if anything is found to be false when you come to cash-out, it is very likely that your winnings will be confiscated.
Anything else? If you have any other questions about online casinos, or think there's something we should add to these FAQs - please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Admin @ usaOKcasinos.com (Remove the spaces)


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