1. What is an online casino?

An online casino is an internet-based mechanism of gambling that allows real people to play in a virtual environment. Although you do not necessarily have to gamble real money, you have the option to participate in real, live bets with other players and the online host. Most casinos offer the spectrum of classic games like Blackjack, Poker, Roulette and Slots, but there is also an emerging area for alternative games.

There are two types of casinos: The first are the Download Casinos which include the majority of online casinos. Download casinos require you to download and install a free software program before you can play. It usually takes no longer than 15 minutes to complete this process and it is worthwhile since these download casinos have the best flow, graphics, sounds, and features. The second types of casinos are No Download Casinos. They offer you instant play from any web browser because they use Flash or Java Technology.

2. Is it safe for me to play at online casinos?

When we began playing at online casinos, we were naive in terms of what casinos were safe to play in and which weren't. However, with over 6 years of experience and having played at more than 300 online casinos, we can confidently say that online casinos are safe. In all of our experience, we have never experienced any kind of misuse of our credit cards or account information. A good indication of whether a casino is a reliable site is by which software they use. The biggest software providers (Boss Media, Cryptologic, Playtech and Microgaming) are quoted on the stock exchanges, and would not dare risk their reputation and place a priority on securing the money of their customers.

Most casinos use a 128-bit encryption which means that the possibility your information would end up in the hands of others is 1 to 340,282,366,920,939,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. With odds like those, it seems it is safer to play at an online casino than physically crossing the street to get to your local casino.

3. Is it legal for me to play in online casinos?

There is not one, overarching answer to this question. Different countries have different laws in regard to gambling and online gambling. If you have questions regarding the laws in your area, please contact your local authorities.

That being said, I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for playing in an online casino. One thing to keep in mind is that when an online casino accepts you address in the registration form during the sign-up process, the casino absorbs all responsibility. The casino will be the one targeted if it is not legal for you to play online.

4. Are online casinos fair?

With more than 2,000 different online casinos on the web, casino are highly competitive to win the gaming time of their customers. Online casinos recognize that if a customer is not satisfied, they are not more than a click away to switch to a different casino. Therefore, the major software providers make sure that the software they provide ensures the highest quality game with the best payouts. Additionally, the best online casinos also have accountants that manage their game payouts. For example, PriceWaterHouseCoopers gives a monthly statements of all casinos using the Microgaming Software to all continual monitoring of their casinos' activities. These statements can be viewed at the casino's homepage.

Compared to traditional land-based casinos, the payout from online casinos is notably better (between 96-98%) which is due partly to lower expenses and higher competition between online casinos. Online casinos still however bring in enormous profits. Because they recognize they can still bring in grand revenues while offering great games and fair payouts, it is advantageous to them to offer honest, quality games in order to maintain both their reputation and their bottom-line.

5. Can I really win?

As in all casino play, gambling is a risk. There will be games you will win and games that you will loose. However, you can definitely improve your chances of winning and optimize your gambling experience by playing well and choosing the right strategy.

It is definitely possible to win big while online gambling! We have seen several examples from our very own Best Online CasinoTop users with photos of their big wins and stories about winnings that exceed the thousands of dollars.

6. How do I withdraw my winnings?

There are usually several options to retrieving your winnings. Each website has its own specifics. Below are the four most common withdrawal options:

Cheque: You can choose to receive your winnings on a cheque. This will be sent to you via the postal mail and will take a few days to get to you. Some casinos might charge you £1 for the mail fee but usually this service is for free. Also remember that your bank might charge you a small fee to deposit the money into your bank account.

Cheque via Courier: For immediate delivery you can have the cheque handled by quick companies like UPS or FEDex who will make sure that the check is in your hands within a few days. Depending on how much you’ve won, they will charge you about £30 for their service.

Wire Transfer: With wire transfer you can have you winnings transferred to your bank account right away. It is quick and easy but usually the casinos will charge you a fee for this service, so it is only recommendable if you win a lot.

NETeller account: This company is quoted at the London Stock Exchange and provides secure transfer service of your money online.  You do not have to pay any fees and you winnings will be transferred to your account in a couple of days, making it a convenient option for your deposit/withdrawal needs.

7. How do I deposit money in an online casino?

There are several ways to make a deposit at an online casino:

Credit Card
You can deposit money right away at all online casinos with a credit- or debit card. Cards like Visacard, Mastercard, Dinnners Club, Eurocard, etc. are accepted at most online gaming sites.

Neteller Account
In case your credit card has been denied due to bank restrictions or deposit limits, then NETeller is another option for you to make a deposit at an online casino. As mentioned above, you can create an account for free and use it to make deposits as well as withdrawals.

Wire Transfer
This method will transfer money from your bank account to an online casino. However, it does take some days for the transaction to be completed and is therefore only recommendable if you cannot make a deposit by credit card or if the deposit you wish to make is too big to be completed by credit card transaction.

Paysafecard
This card can be purchased in your local shop and can be used for payments on several internet sites. To use it you have to type in the PIN code and Password (these you will find on the paysafecard) and the current amount you bought will be transferred to the casino accordingly.

8. Am I a compulsive gambler?

Although intended to be an exciting, entertaining and enjoyable experience, gambling can become an obsession. When one feels an uncontrollable obsession to win that consumes their life and distorts their judgement, they can be diagnosed as a compulsive gambler.

People become addicted to gambling for several reasons--it allows them an escape from reality, offers them a bit of excitement and distracts them from life outside the game. Compulsive gambling can result in bankruptcy, debt, ruined relationships and a plethora of other problems. There is surely a blurred line to this phenomenon that makes it difficult to say precisely when you are obsessed about playing or just eager to win in a healthy way, but a golden rule is that you should never play with money you cannot afford to lose. Also remember that gambling is meant to be fun.

If you might have a gambling problem then please consult your doctor or visit: www.gamblersanonymous.org

9. How are the casinos rated at Best Online CasinoTop?

We put a great effort into carefully trying and testing casinos before we review and recommend them at Best Online CasinoTop. 

• The quality and quantity of the signup bonus and other promotions
• The quality and quantity of games, the software design used and other advantageous features
• The quality and quantity of support – for example if live help is offered and if they give precise and fast answers to our questions
• The time it takes to complete payments

10. Which games and strategies are the best?

In our opinion Blackjack is the best game to play online due to both the high payout potential and the overall thrill the game incites. It is a game that requires both skill and strategy on how to play your hand -- therefore I find it more exciting than games that only depend on pure luck.
It is always enjoyable to play other classic casino games. Games like Roulette, Video Poker and Slots also can provide a great time, depending on what you like and what are your goals for your play.

See all our recommended tips and tricks to get the most out of your casino experience.