How to Choose an Online Casino in 2024
These days, it seems like there is a new casino being launched every day. While we can assure you that isn’t actually the case, there are still hundreds if not a thousand or so options for those looking to play their favorite casino games online. If you glance at any of these sites, they all seem to look the same – flashy graphics, some sort of bonus, and all the same games.
There are, in fact, many differences that you probably haven’t noticed once you get past the home page of these sites. We want you to make the right decision when you are making a choice to play casino games online, which is why we have dedicated this entire page to how to best choose a casino. By the time we are done, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that takes into consideration everything that matters to you about each site.
Recommended Online Casinos
Now, we know that many of you don’t have the time to read through this page, or maybe you just want to get to playing, so in the interests of those of you, we have compiled a list of some the casinos we have recommended the most over the years. These sites, which appeal to a wide audience, feature some great game choices along with some of the best promotions we have found in the industry. By starting with any of these sites, your casino journey will indeed be a pleasant one.
Different Ways to Access Online Casinos
When the industry first started, there was only one way to play games from your home. Nowadays, there are several delivery methods for these games. Let’s take a brief look at those now.
Download Casinos
Originally, the files required to play casino games were so large that you had to download a piece of software to your machine.
These software packages sometimes could take hours depending on the strength of your internet connection, so in some cases, it was easier to send someone a disk with the software. Thankfully, we have come a long way from those days, but there are many players who still like to download the software right onto their PCs.
No-Download Casinos
As early as 2001, the first casino games that did not require a download were released. These games, built in Java, were buggy and very slow (again based on the average person’s internet connection speed). As the speeds grew faster, it became easier to play from within a browser, and with the introduction of better languages like Flash and HTML5, these days, the no-download games are just as good as the ones originally downloaded to machines.
Mobile Casinos
With the introduction of the mobile phone came the first mobile casino games. Of course, the screens on these devices were very small and weren’t great from a detail perspective, but there were still ways to display the results of a hand of blackjack or spin of the reels. As the smartphone was introduced, there was a much better display with which to play games, and today there are hundreds of casino games that you can play right from the browser of your phone or tablet.
Casino Apps
The industry has come full circle with the introduction of downloadable casino apps for Apple and Android devices. These apps allow you to store your login info as well as have graphics that are slightly crisper. They are quickly becoming the favorite way for players to access casinos sites, although Apple and Android still block certain countries like the United States from downloading these apps.
What to Look for in an Online Casino
Now that you have seen the different options as far as where you play the games is concerned, it is time to turn our attention to what you should be looking for in a casino site. Our team of experts has reviewed hundreds of casinos for this site, and we asked them to come up with this list of the most important attributes of online casinos.
Safety and Security
This is one of the most important factors in choosing an online casino. You are sending your money digitally to a company and counting on it being there when you want to withdraw it or play your favorite games. We look for sites that have gaming licenses from recognized jurisdictions, so we feel more comfortable if something were to go wrong.
We also want the games to be playing properly, so we look for software companies whose games have been certified by a third-party auditing firm. These companies are proud to tell you that they have passed regular audits, so you will see the logos of these auditing firms openly displayed on websites of casinos and their software partners.
Game Selection
As we mentioned, you may think all casinos are the same, but when it comes to available games, they can be vastly different. For example, did you know that you could find a casino with well over a dozen variants of blackjack alone? With no physical real estate limiting the number of tables, an online casino can offer literally hundreds of games in their lobby (and many do).
Of course, the quality of the games is just as important as the volume, so we look for sites that offer games from the top vendors. This ensures you an excellent user experience when playing your favorite slot machines or table games. Companies like Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech lead the field from a technology point of view, so if you find a site with one of these logos, you are in good hands.
Promotions
When you are playing at a casino, the house always has the edge. So, to try to win back some of that edge, you need to find sites that offer the best deposit bonuses and promotions. These give you a chance to win extra money, which goes straight to your potential for profit. Bonuses can be in the form of match play bets, free spins, or straight bonus dollars which must be converted by playing a certain number of hands or spins. Casinos are well aware of the costs of these programs, so the edge is still in their favor, but if you play things right and maximize your potential for free stuff, you could find yourself on the right side of the ledger.
Many casinos also offer a loyalty or VIP program as an incentive to keep players loyal to their brands. As with any loyalty program, the more often you play, the higher your VIP status, and this can unlock the door to enhanced bonuses, free cash, and even VIP travel. The main thing is to register for a VIP program at any casino you play – sometimes it isn’t automatic, so make sure you don’t miss out on anything!
Customer Support
The final piece of the puzzle is the one we hope none of our players ever really need – customer service. We look for sites that make it the easiest to get a hold of them in the unlikely event that you have an issue. Sites that offer live chat agents allow you to contact them in real time without having to make a long-distance call. We also love when a site offers social media customer support, as it shows they have nothing to hide from the public eye. Sites offer all different levels of support, and our reviewers test the departments before rendering a recommendation.
Conclusion
We weren’t kidding when we told you at the beginning of this page that by the end you would be able to make an informed decision! Now, you can still head to the sites we recommended above, but you will know what you are looking at and will also know how we came to the conclusion that those are the best sites.
For those of you who may be more adventurous, you can also check out our review section where we have hundreds of casino site reviews ready for you to read.
Best Deals for Online Gambling Sites in 2024
Select one of casinos recommended by Exclusive Chips. This list contains a mix of casinos recommended for various reasons, including big brands, smaller casinos with great bonuses and customer care, and other carefully selected alternatives. Better options, of course, appear first.
Genesis Casino - Welcome Bonus - Up to €1000 Bonus + 300 Free Spins
The New Player Welcome Bonus is only available to players who create an account and make their first deposit at Genesis Casino. To be eligible to claim the New Player Welcome Bonus, players must deposit a minimum of £10 in one instance.
Dunder Casino - Welcome Bonus - 100% up to £100
18+. Minimum deposit: £20. 100% bonus up to £100 valid on first deposit only. Wagering on bonus: 80x. Wagering must be completed within 30 days. Max bonus bet £5. Bonus is valid for a total of 21 days. Game weighting, payment method and standard bonus terms apply.
Play Frank - Deposit Bonus - 100% Bonus up to £100 + 50 Bonus Spins
18+ New Customers only. Welcome bonus includes 100% up to £100 match up bonus + 50 Bonus Spins on Starburst slot. Minimum deposit of £20 required. Deposits made through Neteller and Skrill not eligible. Wagering requirements for bonus funds are 35x. Wagering requirements for bonus spins are 40x.
Why using this list is a smart choice
- - We didn’t just choose some casinos and decided that they were the best. We regularly go over all active online casinos and pick the best options for our visitors to choose from.
- - Our casino lists are used by players all over the world, and we want to make sure that everybody gets the best possible recommendations. Our testers help us with that.
- - We treasure fair gambling and want to recommend only casinos which share this value. That’s why the top positions in this list are reserved for honest online casinos.
Captain Spins - Deposit Bonus - 520 BONUS SPINS WELCOME PACKAGE
18+. New players only. One welcome package per player. Max bonus bet £5, Min deposit £20. 1st deposit: get 100 bonus spins, 2nd Deposit: get 120 bonus spins, 3rd deposit: get 140 bonus spins, 4th deposit: get 160 bonus spins. All spins are on slot game Book of Dead only. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days and bonus spins within 7 days. Max winnings from bonus spins are equivalent to the number of spins awarded. Spins winnings credited as bonus. Bonus funds separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering and withdrawal requirements. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.or
Mr.Play Casino - Deposit Bonus - 100% up to €200 + 20 extra spins on Various games
New players only. 18+, rgf.org.mt (Responsible Gaming Foundation). Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller have 2,5 £/$/€ maximum bet restriction. You'll also receive 40 additional free spins on a second and third day of the bonus. All winnings received from free spins must be wagered 35 times. Maximum cashout from free spins is limited to 100€
PlayZee Casino - Welcome Bonus - 100% up to €300 + 100 extra spins on Starburst
New players only. Terms apply, please gamble responsibly. 18+, rgf.org.mt (Responsible Gaming Foundation). Bonus is valid for 30 days. Deposits made via Neteller and Skrill are not valid for this promotion. 500 loyalty points as a part of bonus. You also receive additional 10 free spins daily for 10 days following your deposit. The maximum withdrawal from free spins is capped at 50$/C$/£/€ (or currency equivalent)
Keep In Mind
This independent comparison website helps consumers choose the best available gambling product matching their needs. We offer high-quality advertising service by featuring only established brands of licensed operators in our reviews. Please note that although we endeavor to provide you with up-to-date information, we do not compare all operators on the market.
Wazamba casino - Welcome Bonus - BONUS: 100% up to €500 + 200 extra spins on Various games
1st Deposit Bonus, + 200 extra spins on Various games. Minimal deposit: €20. Wagering requirements: 30x (bonus + deposit). Maximal bet: €5. Bonus valid for 10 days. Free spin winnings must be wagered 40x. Free Spins will be awarded at a rate of 20 free spins per day, for 10 days each day. Deposits made via Neteller and Skrill are not valid for this promotion. Each slot game contributes differently to the wagering requirement.
GG.BET - No Deposit - 4 Bonuses + £150 Worth
18+. First 4 deposits of £10+. Certain deposit types excluded. 4 bonuses available once, in chronological order. 40x playthrough within 14 days. Real money first when playing bonus. Available currencies are GBP, EUR and CAD. Conversion £1 = €1 = C$1. Weightings apply.Further Terms and Conditions apply.