Online gambling has grown in popularity over the years and is enjoyed and trusted by many millions of happy players and the numbers just keep on growing. However, if you are new to online gambling then this new world can be quite daunting. At the most basic level is just choosing which site to play at as the options are endless!
This beginner’s guide is the perfect place for you to get a basic understanding of what to look for when making that all important decision. It has taken many years of knowledge and experience to put together this beginner’s guide to help you out.
The first thing you should know is that online gambling is very similar to gambling in real brick and mortar casino’s – you deposit money either with credit cards or many other reputable e-wallet payment options, you pick the games you are interested in and enjoy many hours of entertainment. Only players over the legal age are allowed to play and many online establishments have rigorous checks in place to ensure this requirement is met.
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1. Know your country’s gambling laws!
These laws differ from country to country – so always make sure that online gambling is allowed. Our NZ Gambling Regulations will help help provide clarity but you can always contact your local authorities if you have any doubts . In New Zealand it is perfectly legal to deposit money, play and withdraw any winnings from an online casino as long as that casino is based overseas. So, check the site for where they are based and as long as it is not based in New Zealand you are off to a great start.
2. Learn about the casino you are interested in.
A great way to start is by reading casinos reviews at independent review sites like this. I constantly have to check in at online casinos to review any updates of the top sites available for Kiwis. I often find that if a brand has been around a long time, has no previous legal issues, no issues with paying out winnings and have competitive games then that is a site that I am happy to review and promote.
Be curious about the site and what they offer – Who owns them? What software do they run on? Is there a 24/7 customer support line? What are their banking methods and do they suit you? What are their rules when it comes to withdrawals? What are their bonuses like? And so on.
3. Play for FREE first!
No matter which casino you choose to go for they will offer you the option to play for free before having to deposit real money. Use this opportunity to get a feel for the site, the games they offer and their rules before you dive into the deep end. Its like buying a car – you never buy a car without taking it for a test drive! At least I never would. You will still have to open an account however they will not take any money from you until you actively choose to deposit real money.
This is just basic at any online casino so do not be nervous to fill out all your details – you are not committing to anything as of yet. Some online casinos may even offer you a free no deposit bonus so that you can get started without making a deposit. Just remember that should you win there will be very strict deposit and play through requirements before you are able to make a withdrawal.
4. Check out their Bonus Offers
Every online casino offers a variety of bonuses to their players. As discussed here in our section on Bonus Types (link to article) this is a way that casinos use tempt new players and also reward regular players for their continued loyalty. These bonuses vary from site to site so make sure you chose a casino that gives you good Bonuses. Always make sure you understand their rules, as they say “Nothing in life is free!” so read the fine print, ask a support agent and just know what the sites requirements are when it comes to Bonuses and Free Money offers.
5. Their payouts
You never know, you may get lucky and hit the mother of all Jackpots so it is very important to understand what payout methods and rules the casino offers on winnings. Read up on how long they take to process pay outs, what methods they offer, will you be charged anything for the withdrawal and so on. This is vital as you need to understand all this for when you strike it lucky! Again, this is where reviews will come in handy!
5. Their Support staff
Consider this step as part of your test drive. Contact support before signing and test response type and knowledge of their Support Staff. This is the first thing that I do when testing a new site and you can get an instant sense of how well supported you will be in just a few short minutes. If I am playing online I want to know what support they offer – phone and email is great but if they have in software chat functionality then I am happy as can be. I like to know that I have access to Support 24/7/365!
I have gone through a lot of the leg work for you and reviewed some of the best sites available to Kiwis so have a look at them and let us help guide you on this fantastic journey
