Tips

Know The Local Law :

In some places it's illegal to gamble on the Web. Learn about your legal status in your home state, province,
territory, country, before wagering cash. Online gambling laws are ever-changing and the best way to determine
the current laws that apply to you is by contacting your local authorities.

Know The Casino :

Good online casinos provide information pages that tell you where they are licensed, their game rules and cash
policies, and how to contact them for help. Also, check out our information pages accessed from the yellow
square alongside each casino on both the "top ten" and "casinos" pages.

Do Your Research :

Is the casino licensed by a government agency? How long have they been in business? Are they a member of
the Interactive Gaming Council, the primary "code of conduct" body for online gaming? Know who you're doing
business with before you haul out your credit card. Visit other gambling information sites. We represent
consortiums of casinos who have excellent reputations on the web and have investigated each one to make
sure they are reputable. It's possible that you may wish to play at a casino that we haven't listed - so obtaining
the above information is definitely relevant.

Play For Free :

We have 'Free Games' games on this site so you can familiarise yourself with how the games are played - and instructions so you are clear on what to do. BUT - almost every casino offers a "Play for Free" option and if they
don't, go elsewhere. You should always check out how each casino's games may differ. Playing for free is
primary since it's your way of giving the casino a test drive. This will help you uncover unexpected problems or
snafus that are part-and-parcel of the online experience.

Adequate Customer Support :

The better casinos offer toll-free telephone support 24/7, 365 days a year. Other customer support options
include 24/7 chat, local phone numbers, fax lines and, lastly, email. How available are they making themselves
to you? Try out their service by calling to ask a question, or hop on the chat to see if anyone is actually there. As
a prospective customer it's your right to see if anybody's home. If you do have a problem, you're going to want
them to be available and as helpful as humanly possible. A lot of that information is available on our site - go to
"top ten" or "casinos" and click on the yellow boxes in the far right columns. We have explored each and every
site we recommend and have information on those pages covering most of the queries you may have.

Know Your Payout Options :

The best payout plan I've heard of is UPS Express of any amount to any place in the world, free of charge -- usually arriving at your door within 1 to 3 days. That's exceptional but worth keeping in mind. Most online casinos will credit
your credit card up to the amount you originally deposited, and then send the remainder of your winnings to you by
check through the mail. Also, you can often request a wire transfer for a small fee.

I'd suggest saying "pass" on a casino that places a charge on basic withdrawals. Why should you pay them to give
you your own money? A good casino treats its winners (and losers) with respect.

Check Out The Bonuses :

Bonuses have become a standard means of attracting and keeping players. These range from sign-on and referral bonuses to frequent-player "comp" programs. The bottom line is that a good casino will thank its players for their patronage with these small gifts and gratuities, which means that your dollar will go a little further when you play with them. A no-bonus casino is a rare thing these days and generally deserves all the special attention it offers.

Know That All Games Are Not Created Equal :

The Internet is a world of software and that means that the payouts, house commissions, number of decks in play, number of zeros on the roulette wheel, and just about everything else can be set to whatever the software designers
like. As a result, some online casinos have better odds than others.

If roulette is your game, why play a double-zero game when you can play single-zero? Prefer craps? Find casinos
that let you plunk down double or triple free odds, or better. This information is generally published in the casino's
"rules and information" section. If it isn't, feel free to contact their support people and ask. If they won't tell you, find another casino.

Some casinos go so far as to publish their payout tables right on their site. To be taken seriously, these figures
should be audited and certified by a reputable accounting firm, such as Price- Waterhouse Coopers.

Protect Your Data :

When it comes time to actually sign up to "Play for Real", there are a few things you should ensure. For the sign-on process the casino should open a secure, data-encrypted link to protect your personal information from being
hacked into. You must protect yourself by checking the security of your link.

While the browser people will tell you to check the little lock (Internet Explorer) or key (Netscape) symbol at the
bottom of your browser, there's more that you can do to ensure your safety. In the address box of your browser
check that the sign-on page begins with "https://" instead of the usual "http://" - "s" stands for secure. Don't assume
that the casino will have a secure facility. We've seen one case where the casino made all the assurances that a
secure link would be provided and then just offered a plain Web page to fill in the data. Their "oversight" could've
cost a lot of aggravation if someone hacked into the information. If there's one golden rule of online gambling it's
caveat emptor, which is Latin for "buyer beware".

Play To Win :

Since you're playing online you can take your time to make your decisions. You can even use that handy video
poker or blackjack strategy chart to achieve optimal play. Also, check out the "Rules of Play" on this site. It's a
great way to learn more about your game, hone your skills, and make you a sharper player.

Enjoy Yourself :

When you choose to gamble on the Internet, you're forsaking the smoke, the free drinks, the hangers-on and all
the charms of the casino staff so you might as well do whatever you can to get the most out of it. Get comfortable,
smoke if you want, play your music, snack out, whatever. You're the floor manager when you play at home.