Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

Casinos and Gambling Blog's picture

A Quick Guide for Finding a Reputable Online Casino

This guide offers expert tips to navigate the world of online gambling safely. From verifying licenses to scrutinizing user reviews, we've got you covered.

A Quick Guide for Finding a Reputable Online Casino

Finding a decent online casino can be hard these days. It seems like new ones are popping up every minute, and not all of them are looking out for your best interests. If you're thinking about getting into the world of online gambling or you're a veteran looking for a new casino but don't know where to start, this quick guide should help you get on track. If you'd rather cut to the chase, you could use a review site like https://bstcasinos.com/, which does all the hard work for you. Otherwise, here are four tips to keep in mind the next time you're looking to bet online.


Look for a License

The number one tip when searching for a reputable online casino is to look for a license. Online casinos almost always have to have a license to operate legally in a country. A license also means that they've been vetted by a government agency and have shown to be provably fair and payout winnings. Organizations like the Phillippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) or the UK Gambling Commission are just two of many reputable agencies that vet online casinos. 

Most online casinos will list their license at the bottom of their website and often include a badge displaying one of those agencies. Just seeing this license number and badge isn't enough, however. You should head over to the agency's registry and verify that the online casino is listed in it. There are plenty of scam online casinos out there that claim to have licenses and even make up fake certificates to fool unsuspecting players. Always verify that the casino is in the registry and use the domain names listed on the license in the registry to avoid accidentally playing at a look-alike casino. 


Read User Reviews

User reviews are one of the most powerful forms of feedback there is. While some online casinos will buy fake reviews or hire people to talk positively about them, you can easily weed those out if you know what to look for. The best place to start is social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. These sites are treasure troves of information. Look for posts or comments about the online casino and see what people are saying. Are they complaining about not being paid? Does the site barely function? If they're saying good things, dig a little deeper into the person's profile. Look for obvious signs that they're a bot or a shill for the casino. If they only comment positive things about businesses and never have anything bad to say, look elsewhere for an honest review. 


Take a Look at their Software Providers

If you're unaware, software providers are the companies that provide online casinos with virtual slot machines, table games and live dealer tables. Online casinos partner with software providers to host their games on their sites. Once you've visited a handful of online casinos, you'll notice the big players like Playtech, Microgaming and Pragmatic Play. These software providers are known for their quality, reliability and fairness. If an online casino has software providers you've never heard of, it's not an immediate sign of a scam, but it's definitely a reason to look more carefully. 


Test their Customer Service

This is a great way to see if an online casino actually cares about its players or if they're truly just in it for your money. In 2024, online casinos should always offer some form of 24/7 Live Chat. There's no reason to have only an email or telephone number as a point of contact in the digital age. If a problem arises, you want to be able to get a hold of someone and have it fixed. Email can take hours, and a telephone number is only good if someone picks up. 24/7 Live Chat ensures that someone is always available and ready to help with any problems or questions you may have. 

The easiest way to test customer service is to use it. Open up their Live Chat and start asking genuine questions you may have about the site. Ask about bonuses and promotions, licensing and any other questions you can think of. Pay close attention to their response. If they give a general answer or are extremely slow to respond, it might mean that they don't have the best customer support. Outsourcing support is very common these days, and if an online casino outsources their support, the representatives will have almost no power to help you. Keep this in mind while you search for an online casino.