Beginner's Guide to Online Casinos

If you are new to the world of online gambling, the range of choices on offer can be a little confusing, and at times intimidating. With that in mind we have prepared a short guide for beginners to help you get started. Then, in the next article in this series, I'll show you how you can build your $100 bankroll into a $1000 in a couple of days with minimal risk.

Is it safe?

This is the first question that everyone has and with good reason. Simply put, the answer is yes. Quality online casinos are regularly audited to ensure their games are fair and organisations such as eCOGRA have been created in order to accredit online casinos that meet strict standards of fairness and honesty.

Now as in almost any industry there are less reputable (and even plain dodgy) casinos, but this is where we come into play - our extensive set of online casino reviews here at Casino Listings are an invaluable resource you can use to separate the quality establishments from the also-rans. Keep in mind that if a casino is not listed here, then it isn't worth spending your time or money on.

Explanation of Casino Bonuses

With hundreds of online casinos to choose from, it is a very competitive industry. So to attract new players the casinos offer a variety of incentives known as casino bonuses for new players to sign up with them, or even just to play more each month. What this basically means for you is that the casinos are giving away money just to attract your business. And there is nothing to stop you from signing up to multiple casinos and claiming multiple bonuses to help fatten your bankroll. In fact, in our Beginner's Guide to Casino Bonuses we detail the different types of bonuses, where to get them, and how to use them to turn $100 into $1000 quickly, easily, and with very little risk.

How does it work?

For the most part, online casinos require you to dowload some casino software and install it onto your PC. The downloads are usually fairly quick, and at a size of around 5mb it takes about the same amount of time as downloading a song from iTunes for example. Many casinos also have a no download casino option, which allows you to play from inside your web browser using a flash casino. This proves handy for Apple Mac and other non-PC users.

Is online gambling legal?

This varies from country to country, and even state to state within countries. It is up to you to verify that online gambling is legal within the jurisdiction that you live, and for a person of your age.

Online casinos for US players

The Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act (October 2006) makes it illegal to transfer money from a US finanical institution to an online gaming site. It does not prohibit online gambling at casinos which are not located in the USA. This is why we recommend that US players set themselves up with an "e-wallet" account with an institution located offshore from the USA. Once this is done you can deposit money into it via various methods. The money is then considered off-shore and you can do what you like with it. Nonetheless, some online casinos disallow US players from a restricted set of states, while other disallow US players completely. We have flagged all the casinos on the site that are free from these restrictions - look for these flags next to the casino names within our site:

• The flag indicates that the casino accepts all US players
• The "half flag" indicates that the casino permits some US players, usually based on their state

Please note that we are not lawyers here at Casino Listings, and the above does not constitute legal advice. As always, if in doubt contact a lawyer within your own jurisdiction.

How do I transfer money?

Online casinos accept a wide range of money transfer options including credit cards, bank wire transfers, and e-wallet companies. The best option is to open an e-wallet account at one of the array of online banking organisations that facilitate instant transfers into and out of online casino accounts in a variety of currencies. The best choice for non-US citizens is Neteller. Neteller no longer accepts accounts from US citizens, so there are a variety of other companies you can use such as ewalletXpress, QuickTender, or ePassporte. Once you have a Neteller account (or alternative), you can deposit some initial money into it (personally I used a Visa card to deposit $100) and you are ready to go. The beauty of having a Neteller account is that it is separate from your credit card or bank account, and you only need to supply your credit card details to one place.

Did I just say turn $100 into $1000 with hardly any risk?

I sure did. In the next part of our guide, I'll show you how you can use casino bonuses to tip the odds in your favour and buid your $100 bankroll into a much healthier $1000 in a short period of time. No tricks, schemes, guaranteed-to-win "gambling systems" or other such nonsense - it is easy and anyone with a bit of spare time can do it.

» Read on for our Beginner's Guide to Casino Bonuses.