Online Casino Reviews & Ratings 2023

A license is the backbone of any online casino. When a player sees that a casino is licensed, they know they don’t have to worry about scams or unsavory practices. They know that, in order to receive a license, the casino must uphold strict standards of consumer protection, data security, game fairness, and more. Therefore, they can make deposits at the casino and play there worry-free.

A casino without a license, on the other hand, isn’t required to adhere to any regulations or standards. They are beholden to no licensing or regulatory authority and essentially have no oversight. If a player has a complaint, there is no one to turn to.

Fortunately, there’s a very easy way to check if a casino is licensed. All casinos display their licensing information at the bottom of their home pages, so you can simply scroll down and check. Alternatively, you can check the casino’s FAQ pages or ask customer support. But always — always — check the license status of a casino before making a monetary deposit. 

Today there are many new and exciting technologies that software developers are bringing to online casinos.

HTML5, for example, was released in 2008 and had a major upgrade in 2014. This technology allows players to play casino games on mobile devices and look normal, just as they do on desktop or laptops.

Live dealer games were introduced in the mid-2000s and they were an instant hit. Players flocked to them as they offered a way to connect with a live casino table and interact with a live croupier without the need to go an actual casino. The streaming technology makes the connection smooth and uninterrupted, which is why the concept works so well.

AR and VR, augmented and virtual reality, are even more advanced additions to the world of online gambling. Whereas AR enhances the real world using digital devices, VR gives a whole new worldview. Both technologies are being used by online casinos to deliver a much more immersive and interactive online gambling experience. With VR, you can “step into” a casino and experience visual and auditory sensations as if you’re actually there. Of course, all you’ve really done is put on your VR headset.

With each new advancement, security measures advance in tandem. Online casinos are at the forefront of digital security simply because players won’t sign up if the sites are not secure.

Online casinos have a wide array of features, including games, bonuses, mobile compatibility, payment options, and customer support — not to mention a comprehensive back office for casino operators.

Here we’ll take a look at some of these key casino features.

Games: Online casinos typically offer a wide range of games, including classic slots, progressive jackpots, video poker, table games, live dealer games, and more. Many online casinos also offer sports betting and different betting options.

Game features: Game features vary by game, of course. Poker and blackjack, for example, often come with multiplayer options, which allow players to compete against each other and often chat as well. Multihand options, usually available in card games, allow players to play multiple hands at the same time, increasing their chances of winning. Autoplay is another feature that most slots offer. It allows players to set the game to automatically play a certain number of rounds without the player having to take any action.

Bonuses and promotions: To attract new players and retain existing ones, many online casinos offer competitive bonuses and promotions. Free spins, cashback, and welcome bonuses are popular offers.

Mobile compatibility: Today, all casinos are optimized for mobile use. The question is whether the site has an app or can just be used directly from the player’s mobile browser.

Security and fairness: All licensed online casinos maintain strict standards for site security and game fairness. Sites are usually secured using secure socket layer (SSL) encryption technology, while games use RNGs (random number generators) to ensure results are random and, thereby, fair.

Payment options: Online casinos typically offer a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including credit and debit cards, eWallets, mobile banking, and bank transfers. Many today also accept cryptocurrency.

Customer support: No online casino is complete without some level of customer support, whether it’s 24/7 live chat or just a simple phone number. Players need to be able to reach someone to get help with issues that arise.

Back office: While players expect the best games, bonuses, deposit options, etc., casino operators also expect a lot of features from the software they use. Player management, payment processing, reporting and analytics, anti-fraud measures, marketing and promotions, and compliance are just some tools that comprehensive back-office systems feature. The more tools a casino operator has at their disposal, the more opportunities they can offer to players.

Since the online casino market is vastly competitive, almost all offer an array of different promotions to attract and retain players. Popular bonuses include welcome offers, deposit bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, free spins, cashback, loyalty bonuses, VIP programs, and more. Each bonus has its own terms and conditions that players must meet before they can claim and use it.

Most bonuses require players to input a bonus code in order to claim the bonus. These codes are found easily on the casino's website, or they’re provided to players via email, social media, or other channels. Some bonuses are specific to the device players use — for example, mobile bonuses are offered only to players who use the casino’s app or mobile site.

Other exclusive bonuses include high rollers or VIP bonuses, and these are offered only to players who meet certain betting criteria or standards. The same is true for loyalty perks — the higher a player climbs on the loyalty ladder, the more benefits and perks they get.

Casino bonuses and promos are wonderful, but remember, they all come with terms & conditions. Reading and understanding the terms and conditions is crucial before signing up for any bonus or promo! Not only do these conditions dictate how you can use the bonus funds, but they also dictate how and when you can withdraw your winnings.

For example, a promo might say “100% deposit bonus,” but the wagering requirements will say that you need to deposit x amount of your own money before being able to access any funds you won from the deposit bonus. Do you have x amount of money to deposit? Understanding the wagering requirements can help you make informed decisions about whether claiming a bonus is worthwhile for you.

Other T&Cs to note are which games are included in the promo, maximum bet amounts, and time limits for using the bonus. If you aren’t aware of these factors or don’t understand what they mean, you may end up frustrated, not be able to withdraw your bonus money, or spend more money than you intended.