Many people have tried gambling in different online casinos. Choosing an online casino can get difficult, especially if you are a newbie. There are so many online casinos to choose from, so how will you know which one is reputable? Well, here are 10 criteria in choosing a reputable online casino.

1. Licensing

For an online casino to be considered reputable, it must have an Internet gambling license for that local jurisdiction. For instance, Las Vegas casinos must be licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission. If the online casino has no license, never play there, or you'll risk getting scammed and losing money. Studies show that around 1 in 5 online casinos is unlicensed, so you must look for the license before playing in any casino. Also, countercheck with the licensing company if the casino’s license is really legitimate. You might be fooled by a fake license or posted seal or logo.

2. Software provider

Online casinos usually have a separate software provider. Most reputable casinos invest on high-end software and reputable software providers. In some cases, if the operators of an online casino do not have a lot of money, they opt to make their own software. Unfortunately, this can be very risky because it is more prone to hacking. On the other hand, an independent software provider ensures the security of the software that a casino is using.

The online casino’s software is the platform by which you can play games. The software determines the variety of games, graphics, and features. It is also responsible for fairness and security. If the online casino has no license, the biggest and most reputable software providers will not allow the casino to use their software. This is specially true forng publicly traded software providers, wherein any news about cheating or hacking can ruin their reputation. Among the biggest reputable software providers are Boss Media, Cryptologic, iGlobal Media, MicroGaming, Odds-On, PlayTech, RTG, and Water Logic.

3. Audited payouts

Who will want to play at an online casino that doesn’t give its payouts? Many unlicensed casinos do that, so how will you know if the casino really gives its customers their winnings? Look for their monthly report of audited payouts.

For an online casino to be considered reputable, it must have its payouts audited and certified by an independent accounting firm. This ensures honesty and fairness in the operation of the casino. Most online casinos publish their monthly audit reports on their sites. Just make sure that the accounting firm is an independent and reputable one.

4. Payout rates

Payout rates are different for every online casino. The payout rate is the percentage of all casino bets that is being paid out. For example, if an online casino offers a 95% payout rate, you must not assume that you will get back 95% of your bets. The 95% payout rate means that 95% of the total casino winnings are being paid out to its customers. Therefore, it is best for you to look for online casinos that give the highest payout rates to its customers. Just remember that these payout rates should be verified and audited by an independent accounting firm. You can only be sure of the honesty and credibility of the payout rates if these are audited.

5. Customer service

Addressing its customers’ needs should also be one of the featured services of a reputable online casino. Customer service can be made through free telephone calls, email, fax, and chat. Customer service should also be provided around the clock because players can be found in different countries, which have different time zones. Furthermore, customer service agents should be friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. An online casino that invests on good quality customer service means that it wants to take care of its reputation by being customer-oriented.

6. Popularity

An online casino will never become popular among players if it is not considered reputable, honest, and credible. You can find out if a casino is popular by the number of satisfied customers. The popularity of online casinos is usually based on its services such as high payout rates, software provider, bonuses, and customer service.

7. Banking options

Reputable online casinos can provide world-class banking options to its customers. Offering a wide range of banking vendors reflects a casino’s security and flexibility. Check if the online casino that you are playing at offers these banking options: credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid credit or debit cards, Neteller, Ukash, PaySafeCash, UseMyBank, Moneybookers, ClickandBuy, EcoCard, direct bank transfer, Entropay, and EZIPay.

8. Confidentiality

When playing at online casinos, your number one priority must be the security of your banking details. Check if the online casino offers 100% confidentiality and data protection agreement. You can become a victim of identity theft if transactions are not confidential. Or, you may get loads of spam emails and sales phone calls.

9. Reviews

Check out the different reviews that a certain online casino is getting. There are so many sites that you can use as resources. If the online casino has been blacklisted, never play there. Although reviewers can get paid by online casino operators, it is still best to use honest review sites as guides.

10. Physical address

Does an online casino have a physical address? Yes, you must also verify an online casino’s registered address. For example, online casinos like Ruby Fortune Casino and Spin Palace are part of the Palace Group. The casinos' banking transactions are handled by Eproc Ltd., which is located at Hadfield House in Library Street at Gibraltar, United Kingdom. You can find information like this through the casino’s website. You can contact them to verify the location.

There is a big risk when signing up to play at online casinos because you will be asked for your bank details. You may lose a lot of money if the online casino that you are using is not reputable and could get hacked. Furthermore, you can get scammed after signing up if you find out that the casino doesn’t really make payouts. Better use these 10 criteria in choosing a reputable and secure online casino for you to play at.