Online casinos have been a part of the industry for enough time now for benchmarks to have been made and for established customers to know what they like. Newer customers may not yet know what to look for, but those who have some experience will be able to tell if a website is suitable for them instantly. But what is the most important aspect of an online casino site?

Source: Pixabay

The Game Selection

Ultimately, online casino users are there to play something. As CasinoWings.com shows, the game selection is important to the marketing of the site itself. Some provide quantity and others quality. Some sites focus on their delivery of hundreds of slot games based on a wide range of themes and with many different reels.

Other sites understand the pull of live casino options – such as live poker, roulette, and blackjack – so focus on promoting these games. Indeed, some players may just want to engage with the live dealer elements. Other sites link to their sportsbook elements and most have some kind of welcome bonus that ties into their star product offering.

The Payment Methods

Payment methods are increasingly becoming a significant factor in where people choose to engage online. This doesn’t just reflect the online casino industry, but for retail and wider entertainment. A multitude of options shows a commitment to the future of modern finance. People may have moved away from PayPal and towards an e-wallet.

Others may have a digital-only bank, while some may want to even pay with cryptocurrency. The majority will pay by the same means as always but having multiple options can show that the site is committed to providing the best possible experience for its user base.

Source: Pixabay

The Look of the Site

Some people are traditionalists. What we see with our eyes is important and influences our consumer actions. The branding of an online casino site can be the differential factor between gaining a customer and losing one to a rival. Indeed, according to MarketingWeek.com, the brand is one of the most important aspects of actually attracting customers. But there is no hard and fast rule about branding a casino site.

Some are sleek, sophisticated, and modern. Others are fun and playful. The casino experience ranges from the two aesthetics, so most sites choose something on the spectrum of serious to light-hearted. This influences the customers who might be inclined to click through and can complement some of the games on offer.

The Website Itself

Finally, some people may just choose the site they feel offers the best user experience, as the Adobe.com blog reinforces through their suggestion that the homepage shouldn’t be the sole focus for designers. We’re used to clicking on hundreds of websites per week and know which ones we instinctively return to. The best sites are those which have a simple layout, allow easy digestion of information, and can be navigated easily.

Casino sites should initially showcase their welcome offers and then immediately allow customers to find a variety of games. If customers have to search for something without it being readily presented, then they may simply choose another site.

Every element of the online casino experience is important. Ultimately, it comes down to the customer. Some choose based on the games, others on payment choice, while some just pick the website they like the look and feel of the most.

The UK Betting and Gaming Council (BGC)

In late February, the BGC called for reopening betting shops and Casino’s once the UK began to exit the current nationwide lockdown.

More than 44,000 UK residents are employed through Casino’s and betting shops, giving the council a favourable argument to reopen with other businesses. The BGC can only assist the post-lockdown economic recovery if they can reopen as the other sectors will.

The body states that betting retailers should reopen in unison with non-essential retailers, whilst casinos should start-up alongside restaurants, pubs, and clubs within the hospitality sector.

“As the vaccine rollout continues and the country begins to emerge from lockdown, it is important that businesses can plan effectively for reopening,” said Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council.

“Betting shops must be allowed to reopen alongside other non-essential retail. Last summer, when most betting shops were able to open, they showed that they have the best0in-class anti-COVID measures compared to any other part of the high street to protect customers and staff. Ministers must allow them to play their role in stimulating the high street and other non-essential retailers.

“Likewise, casinos are eager to help Britain get back on their feet. The night-time economy has taken a hammering during the pandemic, and draconian restrictions, including the 1-pm curfew, have made a difficult situation more desperate for many businesses.”, Dugher added.

The Big Announcement

A week following the BGC’s public statement, betting shops in England are now set to reopen on April 12th, with adult gaming centres, bingo halls and casinos scheduled to follow on May 17th. The UK government’s plan to reopen the economy.

Aintree’s former managing director believes moving the Randox Grand National until after the proposed opening of betting shops in England on April 12 is something he would be considering if still in charge at the racecourse.

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) February 23, 2021

The UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his plans for the country last week, including an announcement for the economy restart starting March 8th. The speech itself did not mention casinos, betting shops, bingo halls or gaming centres.

With that said, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that betting shops would open in the second stage – starting on April 12th. Simultaneously, the remaining sectors of gaming/entertainment will all open in stage three – expected to begin on May 17th.

Betting/Gambling legislation is problematic for casinos without a worldwide pandemic, so the mood of gambling commissions this week has been festive.

The Good News, Or Is It?

Whilst the betting and gaming industry prepares for its return, Simon Thomas, CEO of Hippodrome Casino, does not sound utterly confident in the government: “The government has spoken! So, it’s with cautious optimism that I can announce that we will reopen on Monday, May 17th.

“You can imagine how delighter we all are, and in the next few weeks, we’ll be finishing off the work we’ve undertaken while we’ve been closed. There’s a brand-new casino floor in the gods high up on the fifth floor, a new poker deck with many more tables, and other improvements to make us bigger, better and busier.”

“Keep an eye on our social media in the days to come for news of a raft of special entertainment outdoors on the new terrace, the return of Magic Mike London, menu updates in Heliot Steak House and much more. Till we meet again…stay safe, happy and well. We’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Johnson insisted that reopening must be a one-way road, with the aim of no reintroduction of restrictions once they are lifted.
While the rules apply for England only, the Prime Minister has vowed his local governs are working with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the lifting of restrictions.

The coronavirus has taken its toll on the gaming industry public sector whilst booming in its online services; the national lockdown has impacted gambling at home. Commissions involved with online services won’t have many complaints, whereas casino owners and betting services that work with the public have been financially affected for close to a year.

I’m not the most demanding of people to be perfectly honest with you. Outside of working hours, give me a cup of coffee and a TV remote and I can happily ‘while away the time’ for a few hours without too much fuss. However, of course we all like to get out and about occasionally, either for a typical night out consisting of a couple of pints, or something more of an ‘occasion’ like going to a fancy(ish!) restaurant, a concert or a casino. We live in strange times though, and a global pandemic now stands in the way of such carefree nights on the town. I have considered many a time trying to gain permission and access to my local casino via smoke signals, or by whispering secret entry codes and passwords outside of the door, but to no avail. During this lockdown I don’t have a cat in hell’s chance of getting in!

In decades of old, that would’ve been a complete disaster, but thankfully in the modern era, there are viable alternatives that offer just the same if not an even better and more varied casino experience than exists ‘offline’. So often, the problem with a local casino is that it’s something of a captive market; the only show in town, and they just know it. The online world is a completely different environment though. There are a considerable number of online casinos all vying for your custom and so they up the ante in terms of what they offer casino goers. They do so by offering incentives that make them stand out from the crowd. It becomes necessary to read trusted assessments of the top 10 online casinos and the like to really separate the best from the rest. This really is the only way to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck as well as an authentic online casino experience.

One important factor when assessing online casino sites is reputation. If comparison sites consistently declare a website to be trustworthy and standing out from the crowd, they likely do so for good reason. In this highly competitive environment, it’s also important to make sure that you have your eye on the best welcome bonuses for new customers, as this will ensure that you have more money to play with when you first join. Along the same line some casino sites offer free slots spins to their members and so there are numerous opportunities to gain ‘money for nothing’ (though there are sometimes wagering requirements and the like). Bet boosts and ongoing offers for existing members are also sometimes made available.

Casino review sites often also highlight the types of payment methods available with a particular online casino. This can really be a time saver. Other factors that differentiate casino sites can be the variety of games on offer. When you attend your average bricks and mortar casino, sure you’re going to find a few different slot machine options from time to time, but the change of pace may well be pretty glacial. In comparison it’s a different world online, there are hundreds of existing slots options, with new ones becoming available all of the time. If you have a favourite movie, or celebrity or slot theme you can bet there’s a slots game out there that ticks the box. So all in all, lockdown or not, if you love to play slots, roulette, poker or any of the other top casino games, a convenient and authentic casino experience is still available for you right now, and it’s only a click away.

Casino games have never been so popular as they are today. The internet, smartphones and tablets have made it possible for people to enjoy their favourite slots and table games from the comfort of their own homes. Before the late 1990s, the only way to play them would have been by travelling to a physical casino. 

According to data recently published by TechJury, more than 2.5 billion people now play these types of games. To serve this vast market, thousands of online casino sites have popped up all around the world. 

With so many sites to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one to choose, especially if you’ve never played in an online casino before. 

Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to help you decide which one fits your needs the most. 

Step 1. Check if the Casino is Licensed

When you deposit money to and play games in an online casino, you want to be sure that your money and personal information are going to be kept safe. Thankfully, there are some really easy checks you can do to make sure. 

The first is to confirm that the casino is licensed. Here in the UK, all online casinos must be registered with the Gambling Commission. This is a government regulator that enforces the laws relating to betting and gaming and issues licenses to companies that want to serve customers from Great Britain. 

You can check that the casino has been issued a license as details of it should be displayed at the bottom of their website. You can also verify this yourself through the Gambling Commission website. Its public register can be searched by company name, domain name, or license number. 

For added peace of mind, you can ensure that the casino uses encryption on its website by checking for the padlock symbol in your web browser.

Step 2. Find Casinos Offering Generous Promotions

There is a lot of competition in the market, which means many online casinos offer promotions to encourage new customers to sign up with them rather than a competitor. 

The types of offers usually fall into a few categories:

• No deposit bonus – this is where you get a small amount of bonus credit to play the casino’s games for free when you sign up

• Deposit match bonus – where the casino matches your deposit amount (or a proportion of it), giving you more to play with

• Free spins – these allow you to play slot games for free

Some casinos may also give you free spins for partaking in certain promotions or being loyal. Some slot games may also award you with free spins when you unlock certain bonus features or land on certain symbols. 

With so many bonuses on offer, shop around and find the one that will be most valuable to you by considering the types of games you will play and how much you intend to deposit.

Step 3. Find Casinos That Offer the Types of Games You Enjoy

There’s little point in registering with an online casino if it doesn’t offer your favourite game, so it’s best to check first. Thankfully, this is really easy to do since most sites allow you to see their catalogue of options before joining. Some even have search boxes so you can just type in the name of the game you want to play and see what comes up. 

For lovers of blackjack and roulette, you’ll find that they’re available at practically every casino. Most will even have several variants of each so you’ll have plenty of choice. 

Other table games like baccarat, pai gow, and Caribbean stud poker are less common, so you may have to check a few sites first. 

If slots are more your thing, then you’ll find hundreds (or even thousands) offered by most online casinos. However, if you have a particular title in mind, you may have to search a little harder as the games offered by a casino will depend on the software provider(s) it works with.

Step 4. Have Fun

Once you’ve found the online casino that works best for you, it’s time to sign up, make your deposit and have fun playing your favourite games.