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An online casino offers gaming and betting fans a 24/7 option for betting, and with endless options there is something for every type of player out there.

Here, we’ve put together a guide with info on how online casinos operate, some of the benefits and how you can cash in while having fun.

Online Casino: Gaming from the comfort of your home

Online casinos bring the game to you, giving you the best seat in the house – your own house. Instead of making the effort to go a physical casino, you can simply sit back, relax and play from wherever you want.

With the internet offering 24/7 access, you can play poker, blackjack, roulette, slots, baccarat and much more whenever you want, with no empty tables or restrictions on the time of day you choose to play.

Playing securely at an online casino

One of the best aspects of the game is the amount of security that goes into online casinos. You can feel safe and assured that you’re not walking around with a wad of cash or chips, unlike the casino floor. If you win a game on online casinos, payouts go straight to your account allowing you to either play on or cash out. Your digital wallet is secured with technology and data encryption. 

If you’re a frequent online casino player, change your password often as an extra security layer.

Popular online casino games

There are an endless amount of games, slots or card games available at online casinos, making it sometimes hard to choose which one to start with. We’ve picked out the most typically played games online:

Online Slots

From the classic fruit machine-style games to immersive 3D and explosive animation on-screen. The world of slots always provides satisfaction when you hit a line or jackpot. The game holds the same basic principle across all the variations, each offering different bonuses and perks.

Online Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games at any online or land-based casino. While playing against the dealer, the aim of the game is for you to get the closest to 21 without going bust. Once you get the hang of the game, there are plenty of variations of the game online, giving you different playing styles and rules to explore.   

Online Roulette

The ultimate game of chance, as the dealer sets the ball spinning on the roulette wheel, coming to a stop either dropping on red or black. The classic game of roulette has been played for years with online casinos offering variants of the game. The game wagers on the likelihood of the ball landing on a certain slot with inside bets and outside bets available to the better.

Online Baccarat

Played amongst two players, the Banker and the Player. Online Baccarat sees you betting on which hand will be nearest to 9. Although a limited amount of plays in the game, there’s a degree of strategy that needs to be picked up to increase your chances of winning. 

Video Poker

If you are familiar with Texas Hold’em or Five Card Draw, video poker is an easy game to grasp at any online casino. With Video Poker, you are dealt five cards from a standard card deck. With the cards dealt, you have two options which are hold or discard them. Any cards that are not held will be redrawn to form a hand. Based on the strength of your hand, the computer determines whether a winning set of cards is formed. Which pays out depending on the combination. 

Live Dealer games

Everything that you would expect at the casino gets transformed in front of your screen. Live dealers give players the authentic casino experience using real tables, cards and dealers to make it feel real. The only difference is you can enjoy it from the comfort of your home. Online Casinos typically offer Live Hold’em Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette with plenty of different tables to choose. Simply place your bet and watch the game live!

Bonus online casino offers

Many USA online casinos will offer you free cash for signing up, typically in the form of small amounts ($10 – $25). To capitalise on the free sign-up bonus, offers or promo codes make sure to shop around to see the best offers. Some online casinos will include bonuses of up to 500% on your first deposit. Here are our top tips when considering to sign up:

  • Look for deals with the smallest wagering requirement, some offers will ask you to place a certain amount before claiming the offer. 
  • Check whether the bonus or offer is playable on all online casino games or reserved for only table games or online slots.
  • Some matched welcome bonuses have time limits, so ensure you play the required games or amount to benefit.
  • Playthrough requirements are a crucial element to make sure you achieve your bonus. This is the number of times you need to wager your bonus money that you received after sign up before you can withdraw it.

Online casino payments

This is the important part, how do you cash out from all your winnings? Because of the legislation, there are a few options when it comes to getting paid from any online casino. Most of the time the method will be automatically chosen down to the deposit method you initially used as well as the different offerings the casino provides. 

Payment options:

  • Debit card: Although straightforward this is limited down by regulated states and some casinos that have branded prepaid cards.
  • PayPal: This is a common method online and allows a level of security as your bank account is not shown to the casino. If you made your deposit through PayPal, you might also be able to withdraw through it.
  • MoneyGram or Western Union: If you don’t want to particularly use an online app or prefer to deal with cash, one of the many locations for MoneyGram & Western Union will help with deposits and withdrawals. Take note that you will need to have a unique reference code when withdrawing, with the addition of fees from both parties.
  • ACH transfer or bank transfer: An e-check can be wired electronically to your account, giving you access to funds once the payment clears.
  • Paper check: Traditional method, but will guarantee payment from the banks once the check is cleared. Checks will be mailed to you which may take a couple of days once requested.
  • Cash at cage: If you are playing through an online casino which also has a site, then you can collect your winnings at the cage of the license held casino. This applies to regulated states where gambling is legal.

Innovation in online casinos

Over the years, online casinos have developed systems and programs which run entirely on the internet meaning you can play your favourite games simply through an internet connection. Previously, and when first starting out, some online casinos required a certain program to be installed, which limited your choice of options of where to play. Since then there are endless options from where you can gamble responsibly online. 

With the advancement of digital currencies, many online casinos have now started accepting Bitcoin as a way of payments and deposits. The advantages of using digital currency are that it allows US players to gamble anonymously. Due to it being a digital entity it also is processed a lot quicker than other methods. If you use a digital or cyber wallet, this may be the perfect solution for you.

Online casinos are favoured by many people as it brings excitement and enjoyment with your favorite games at the touch of a button. Gambling enthusiasts and amateurs enjoy the many benefits online casinos brings to the game. Typically the only way you could enjoy casinos was by getting in the car and driving to the nearest land-based one, but with the introduction of the internet, many have been able to enjoy the same thrills online.

Online Casinos gives you plenty of options to enjoy the same games or slots you’d find in a casino if you’d step into one today. Some even offer more choice than traditional casinos. From online slots to popular card games like Holdem Poker to the whirl of the ball on roulette, the digital versions of the games allow you to bet comfortably from your cell phone or mobile device.

Legislation of online casinos

The United States has a rich history of casino gambling, which dates back to the early 1990s. Originally casinos solely operated through land-based sites, dating back centuries with tribal origins. Over the generations, the industry has exploded and online gambling has grown with it. Players online have enjoyed the added security and the speed the digital games bring, with many nowadays accessing through their cell phone and apps. 

Online casinos are currently legally available in several states, with many still considering and planning to make online gambling legal in their districts. Currently New Jersey, Delaware, Colorado, Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania all have passed legislation for legal gambling, paving the way for online and mobile betting. Other states such as New York, California and Massachusetts have all tried to pass bills through lawmakers, with the topic still very much in a debate at the legislative level. 

To understand why online casinos are not legal in many states you have to go back to 2006 with the introduction of UIGEA, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which regulates online gambling in the United States. The act itself, introduced by President George Bush, prohibits gambling businesses from “knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law.”

It is perfectly legal for American citizens to gamble at online casinos, because there is no federal law banning gambling throughout the country.

The UIGEA just makes it illegal to operate an online gambling website anywhere in the US. Therefore many of the gambling or online casinos are situated abroad or offshore. Our top tip is to always check if your state allows it before you sign up.

If you aren’t in one of those states you still have the option to play at sweepstakes casinos, which is a fun way to enjoy all the usual casino games for real cash draws and prizes.

About Kris

Kris Hunt is a content editor with over 7 years experience. Kris is an expert on all matters iGaming & sports in the USA. Kris is an Arsenal & Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow Kris on Twitter or on LinkedIn.