Online Casinos Faqs

Casino Bonuses

What types of casino bonuses are there?

There are over 10 different types of online casino bonuses. You can participate in number of various deposit and no-deposit promotions that allow you to reinforce your play funds. Presently, you can choose from promos such as:

• Welcome Bonus
• Free Play
• Free Spins
• No Deposit
• Reload Bonus
• Cashback
• Payment Method Bonus
• Loyalty
• High-roller
• VIP
• Refer a Friend

Each of these bonuses comes with its own specific wagering requirements (AKA rollover requirements).

What is a casino bonus code?

A casino bonus code is a special promotional code that casinos use to grant players specific rewards. An example would be WELCOME100 for a welcome bonus code.

The codes are used by some operators to help users choose from several welcome bonuses. You can have a bonus code for both a no-deposit and a deposit bonus. The most popular bonus codes are applicable to:

• Welcome bonuses
• Reload bonuses
• Season bonuses (NFL, NHL, NBA etc.)
• Others

Every player may choose whether they want to play with a bonus or choose another promotion. Ultimately, having a code is all about flexibility.

What is a casino welcome bonus?

The casino welcome bonus is a special promotion that can vary from $100 to $5,000. This promotion is granted to a player in the form of matched bonus cash that a user can benefit from. The matched amount is usually between 100% and 250%, but exceptions are very common.

For example: You deposit $20 and your money is matched by 100%, which grants you $20 in bonus funds. You now have $40 to play with.

All bonuses – including the welcome bonus – are subject to wagering or rollover requirements. Therefore, you cannot withdraw a bonus before meeting these specific criteria.

The welcome bonus is also referred to as a sign-up or new player bonus and it can be accessed for as little as $5 or $10, depending on the casino.

What are no deposit casino bonuses?

No deposit casino bonuses are bonus funds that are deposited directly into your account upon registering. All such promotions require no financial commitment on your part, hence the name. A no deposit bonus is usually not very high, but it still helps – the bonus sum can range between $5 and $20.

Another form of a no deposit bonus is free spins. No deposit free spins are allocated for a specific game – or games – and you use them at your own discretion. It’s important to note that no deposit bonuses usually have their winnings capped, so you can only win up to $50 and in some cases a little more with your no deposit bonus.

What is the best casino bonus?

The best online casino bonus is one that allows you flexibility – low wagering requirements, a good starting sum, and a selection of games. You want to make sure what you have to roll over first – whether just the deposit amount or the bonus amount and deposit both.

You also want to stick with bonuses that require you to roll the money either 35x or lower (some exceptions are made when you role just one of the two sums). Make sure to check the so-called wagering requirements and see which games contribute 100% towards your bonus fulfilment criteria. To sum up:

• Always check the casino bonus’ wagering requirements
• Check what games are available to play
• See what games give you 100% wagering contribution

Are casino bonuses worth it?

Yes, casino bonuses are worth it. However, you need to make sure that you are only picking those that you can play through on time. You don’t have to deposit the full amount a bonus is offering. Therefore a $4,500 bonus can have great conditions, such as 30x rollover requirement, but you may not have the time to roll $4,500*30.

If this is the case, deposit a smaller amount, such as $10, $20, $50 and benefit from the extra money. Some bonuses may be too steep, so we strongly advise that you pick only the ones that are recommended by reviewing services or those that you have studied yourself.

What are wagering requirements?

Wagering requirements – also known as rollover requirements – are the Terms & Conditions each bonus comes with. The wagering conditions will determine several important aspects of the bonus:

• The total amount of the bonus and the bonus percentage
• Applicable deadline for the promotion – usually 30 days for welcome bonuses
• How many times you need to stake the deposit and/or bonus amount to release the funds

Wagering requirements are the casino’s way to offer a fair chance to its players to walk away with more money than they have deposited themselves. Understandably, instead of giving away money for free, operators want you to play and win it fair and square.

Where can I look for the best casino bonuses?

Finding the best bonuses is a matter of doing your own research or choosing a trustworthy reviewing service. There are websites that specialize in studying individual bonuses and providing you with detailed information about each offer.

You can look up a website by typing up ‘best casino bonuses,’ or you can similarly look at social platforms – such as Reddit and Quora. It’s important to remember that some suggestions will be purely promotional and therefore not entirely worth your while. Try to focus on the ones that add value overall.

Casino Games

What are the most popular casino games?

Slots. Slots are the most popular games in online casinos, as they come with a very straightforward gameplay. Slots allow players of all budgets to play and enjoy fast gameplay without having to familiarize one’s self with over-complicated rules.

Other popular segments include table games, such as Roulette and card games such as Texas Hold’em, Blackjack and Baccarat. All table games are considered to depend on strategy a little more than slots, and therefore some strategies can be devised to beat the house in the short-term. Overall, the casino’s most popular games include:

• Slots
• Video poker
• Roulette
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Live dealer games

What casino games have the best payouts?

Blackjack, craps and video poker. Video poker can offer over 99% in RTP to players. Table games, similarly, have rates that usually beat 97-98% of potential payouts. To get the most out of your gameplay, you will need to choose from the table game selection.

Yet, titles such as Bloodsuckers – by NetEnt – offer over 98% payout already. FYI Bloodsuckers is a popular slot game and one of the highest paying ones. Playtech’s Chinese Kitchen – another slot game – also pays out a whole lot over the industry average at around 99%. Here’s a breakdown of the casino edge for individual games:

• Blackjack – 0.13%
• Craps – 0.60%
• Roulette – 2.70%

There are quite a few great games out there that will pay out a whole lot. While certain types of games pay more than others, you need to focus on each title individually.

How do I pick a good slot machine?

To find a great online slot machine, you will need to consider important metrics, such as:

• RTP
• Volatility
• Bet limits

Each of these will tell you a little more about the slot. The volatility will determine how often a payout occurs, whereas the RTP will tell you the theoretical return on every $100 you wager. As to bet limits, this is important for players who either want to play on a budget or want to high roll.

It often helps to read slot reviews as well as see what other people think about a specific slot machine before you choose one. Similarly, there are demo versions you can check first before committing real money.

What casino games have the biggest real money potential?

Progressive jackpots. By far progressive slot games offer the biggest payouts in the world. Mega Moolah, a game developed by Microgaming is the most profitable game. You can win over $20 million – if the current jackpot permits – with a single spin which beats the potential payout from any other game. Progressive jackpots, however, offer a very inconsistent payout. So, you can expect to see the big jackpot hit only once every few months. Sometimes, there are longer periods when the jackpot doesn’t fall.

Are casino games safe?

Yes, casino games are absolutely safe so long as they have been developed by a respected vendor. All games come with a Random Number Generator (RNG) that guarantees the randomness of each individual spin, bet and hand. RNGs are audited by independent third-party companies that make sure that all algorithms are random. Such companies include:

• iTech Labs
• GLI
• TST
• NMi
• BMM Testlabs
• SQS

What games have the worst odds in a casino?

Keno and scratch cards usually come with the lowest possible chances to win. Your odds of drawing a successful number in Keno, for example are 80-to-1 which is a negligible percentage to begin with. Both scratch cards and Keno prizes are very rare, other than being a rather small amount to begin with. For this reason alone, the games are far worse than online slots. While online slots pay often, Keno and scratch cards do not.

Can I play real money casino games?

Yes, absolutely. Online casino games are played with real money in the majority of the cases. Some players do opt for the demo versions, but only as a way to familiarize themselves with a game.

Playing for real money is the best way to approach any casino, especially when you can benefit from a fantastic bonus to top off your bankroll.

What are the best mobile online casino games?

All games developed for HTML5 will run smoothly on a handheld device, such as smartphone or a tablet. Casinos strive to optimize their websites to be fully mobile-accessible, and as a result you can play virtually all types of games, including slots, table games, and live dealer games.

Legal Online Casinos

Is online gambling legal?

Yes, online gambling is legal. However, there are a few things you should know. Every jurisdiction in the world has its own specific rules as to the legality of the activity. Individual states in the U.S., for example, have their own unique laws. Elsewhere, national governments determine whether online gambling businesses can operate in said country.

In Canada, for example, provinces have their own laws as to how online gambling is regulated. While the activity isn’t ‘legal’ everywhere, it isn’t considered ‘illegal’ either. Therefore, Canadians, for example, can play at online casinos that aren’t located in the country in the first place.

The legality of casinos is really not that complicated. More importantly, you as a player will never be subject to any legal action, so that’s good news.

Can you gamble online in the United States?

Yes, absolutely. You can play at offshore online casinos in every state in the country. Specifically, you can play online casino games in states, such as Nevada, New Jersey, and now Pennsylvania. You further have nothing to worry about as a player, as you can play at any casino you wish.

The sole condition is that you trust the casino, as there are quite a few unregulated gaming venues out there that might be better off not played.

What online casinos accept US players?

US players can play in both state-based and offshore online casinos. Players are unrestricted in their choice of casinos, unless a website uses specific geolocalization software. For example, in the United States, players in New Jersey cannot play at online casinos in Nevada or Pennsylvania, because of that software.

However, when you pick offshore online casinos, players from all states are permitted to participate. Some minor exceptions per casino exist, but for this, you will need to look up the T&C’s of each specific brand.

Is it safe to bet at online casinos?

Yes, so long as you pick an online casino that you can trust. You can use a number of ways to verify whether a casino is trustworthy in the first place. Furthermore, you can visit established forums of authority where actual players will discuss individual brands.

More importantly, you can look up whether a casino is safe all by yourself. As long as there is SSL encryption and potentially a license, then the casino you have chosen is deemed safe. Keep in mind that you will also have to look up a brand’s reputation and you will need time to create your own opinion of a brand.

Do casinos report your winnings to the IRS, tax authorities?

All gambling winnings are subject to tax. It doesn’t matter whether you have won $5 or $2,000 – you still need to report all earnings.

While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the specific tax authority in your province or country, won’t go after you for modest amounts, such as the aforementioned, you would rather have your tax balance sorted out.

If you win a big jackpot in the millions, you will have no choice but to report your winnings and subject them to tax.

What happens if I don’t report my casino winnings?

Depending on the place where you live, a federal investigation will be opened against you. While this is a very unlikely scenario for small-time winners, anyone trying to hide sums greater than $20,000 may see themselves a subject to investigation. Each jurisdiction will determine at what point you may become a subject of IRS or tax authorities’ investigation. Yet, do not just assume that $10,000 is a small sum either. You must pay tax on your winnings.

How much tax do I need to pay on Las Vegas winnings?

All winnings in Las Vegas are taxed with a flat tax rate. If you have provided your tax identification number before starting playing, you will be taxed with 25% and 28% if you haven’t. The good news is the tax is not progressive, so if you ever hit $10 million off a jackpot, you will still ‘only’ have to pay 25 or 28%, depending on your initial arrangement with the casino.

Can I play legally at Canadian online casinos?

Yes, Canada has both mainland and offshore casinos, which makes it very easy for players to join and participate at any trusted authority. A lot of UK casinos are now trying to break into the Canadian market, with brands such as 888, Betway, and even William Hill beckoning to Canuck players.

Can I bet legally as a Canadian citizen?

Yes, absolutely, Canadians may place their bets legally. While you cannot operate a gambling business yourself, it’s perfectly safe for your as a player to be wagering and withdrawing from casinos. Whether you choose to pay tax on your winnings is entirely up to you, of course, but no regulator or financial authority would object to you playing.

Are offshore casinos safe?

Yes, offshore operators are safe and they have a clear interest in staying so. The offshore industry is coming under a lot of pressure from legal operators, which means that in order to stay competitive, offshore companies need to take care of their customers.

While in the past some companies would try to stilt the rules in their favor, none of this remains. In fact, depending on your jurisdiction, some branded companies may hold a status of an offshore company in the specific place where you live.

Are UK players allowed to bet on online casinos?

Absolutely, the UK is the world’s largest online gambling market. Casinos there are under strict regulations and that makes it very easy – and safe – for UK gamblers to place their wagers. The sole condition that you need to meet as a UK bettor is that you are of the legal age to participate in gambling activities, which is 18 in the country.

Are offshore casinos legal?

When you choose to play at a good casino, you also won’t have to worry about the volatility of cryptocurrencies, as the casino will always fix the rate and pay you out without subjecting the payout to any sudden changes in the price.

Are there depositing and withdrawing limits?

Yes, deposit and withdrawal limits are very common at online casinos. The goal is to protect customers from overspending for the most part. In the majority of the cases, deposits are always set at a higher limit than withdrawals.

Some casinos prefer both matched, but you will usually be able to withdraw less than you can deposit into the casino. Lastly, some casinos will provide no limits on specific payment methods. However, you are advised to think twice and make sure you are playing at a reputable casino before you deposit.

How long does it take to withdraw from an online casino?

Withdraw speeds depend on the payment method used. This can be done instantly or up to 72 hours, or several days. For most bank cards, you will be able to withdraw up to 48 hours after placing a request. For e-wallets, your withdrawals could be processed instantly, but that will depend on both the casino you have picked as well as your status in the casino.

Bank wires take the longest, and you usually need to wait about 5-7 days to receive a withdrawal. Cryptocurrency can take up to 24 hours as well. Please pay attention that there are two processing times for each deposit – first the casino okays a withdrawal and then the designated payment provider will process the withdrawal.

Do online casinos accept PayPal?

Yes, PayPal has been returning to its popularity especially in the United States. The e-wallet company has kept away from online casinos in unregulated markets, but PayPal is available in places like New Jersey in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. PayPal’s a very selective e-wallet and that gives it a slightly higher level of security compared to most competitors.

How much can you cash out of a casino?

Some methods, such as bank wires, would allow you to cash out $50,000 all at once. However, it’s always good researching the history of each individual casino before you cash out any such amounts. Most commonly, you will be able to cash around $2,000 per transaction with most bank cards and e-wallets.

Limits will depend both on the casino and the payment processor and will vary from one gaming venue to the next. A casino may also have weekly limits on how much you can cash out, for instance – no more than $2,000 or $10,000. This leads to a monthly limit, as well.

Once again, every brand will have its own specific way of addressing the size of each individual transaction.

Can I withdraw a progressive jackpot win right away?

Progressive jackpots will usually be subject to specific T&C’s. Some casinos will allow you to withdraw in instalments over the course of several months. Others are happy to cash out the entire sum – unless it exceeds a pre-determined amount. In that case, you may be asked to withdraw in instalments. Before you start a progressive jackpot, it’s always advisable to read the specific T&C’s that apply to them. To sum up, you can withdraw:

• In instalments
• The whole sum (up to a pre-specified amount, then you need to cash out in instalments)

Casino Software

What’s the best casino software developer?

There are 100s of casino developers today and all of them meet the industry standards. Some of the best developers for slots include NetEnt and Microgaming, but they are not alone. Yggdrasil, Playson, Play’n Go and many others. For live games, you will probably want to check Evolution Gaming as well as Authentic Gaming – who stream from actual casino floors.

Who develops live casino games?

Presently, there are several prominent developers who specializing in live games. They include Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Playtech, and Authentic Gaming. Each company has its own unique footprint that allows it to stay on top of the industry.

Most popular is Evolution Gaming. NetEnt has been making steady forays into the segment, and Authentic Gaming offers live streams from real casinos around the world.

What are the most popular live dealer games?

Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and Texas Hold’em are still the world’s most popular games. They are available in dozens of various versions and can be accessed 24/7. Each live game has its own following. Roulette is more appealing to players who love to have a more casual experience – similar to Baccarat.

With Blackjack and Texas Hold’em, players tend to be a little more competitive. The choice of a live game is a personal preference. Most players try each game at least once.

Can you play online casinos from a smartphone?

Yes, all games today are optimized thanks to HTML5. The technology allows you to run all games from any device you may have on your hands – whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet. You will be able to access both the ‘regular’ games as well as the live casino.

Online Casinos

How do I find the best online casino sites?

Locating the best casino sites is a matter of doing your own research or going to a dedicated reviewing service. Often, you can do both. As a player, you will find many lists on the Internet that will shortlist websites that have been reviewed according to specific pre-determined criteria, such as:

• License
• Reputation
• Bonuses
• Games

Each of these methods matters, as it helps you establish a better understanding of a specific website that you may be interested in. You can single out each casino and examine it based on those specific criteria. As you progress and become a better player – and a more experienced one – you will know what casinos would be a better fit for you.

Can I trust an online casino?

Yes, although it depends on the casino in the first place. You need to make sure that the casino you have chosen to trust with your money and personal information meets certain industry criteria. Your information should be kept private, and the casino should have a clean record.

You can easily check how well a casino has performed in the past by running a simple search in popular search engines, such as Google. You are advised to always consider the opinion of third-parties, such as professional reviewing services and players themselves.

Do online casinos really pay?

Yes, all online casinos honor their payments and specifically those that hold a license and have a reputation to uphold. Payments usually take up to 24 hours to be processed, and then could take another 24 hours to process.

In the events when payments are dishonored, there are several steps that a player can take. A complaint with the regulatory body is one. Short of that, there are dedicated peer-to-peer portals where you can submit a public complaint, such as AskGamblers.

Casinos who value and seek to uphold their good name will always respond to such public complaints and provide a detailed breakdown.

Do online casinos track your winnings?

Yes, online casinos know how much you win naturally. There is a detailed history of your deposits and withdrawals where you can keep an eye on how much you have spent at any one point. Casinos will also make sure that the money you deposit actually meet your financial means, as part of AML and KYC practices that are required by all regulators.

Can you get banned for winning too much at an online casino?

No, you will never get banned, but your bets might be restricted if you are winning ‘too much’. This is an arbitrary number and is usually determined by a casino, although this is a very rare occurrence to begin with. In fact, there are almost no cases when a player has been restricted. Some progressive betting systems in roulette and blackjack, or video poker, can often be sanctioned by a casino and all casinos advertise their products as ‘for fun,’ rather than a serious source of income.