5Casinos beginners guide

If you have never played at an online casino, you should read the guide before getting started.

Beginners Guide to Online Casinos

The emergence of the first online casinos came about in 1997 and since that time hundreds of new sites have come into existence and even more as every day passes. So of course, sorting through them all is a hard task to manage on your own. For the most part, any player just wants to find a good site and get to playing (and winning money!)

At 5Casinos.co.uk we try to make your choices simple. By working with only the top, trustworthy online casinos that have proven they can provide our players with the best possible gaming experience, we can provide you the player with the best possible options.

Our team at 5Casinos are a dedicated bunch with over 20 years of experience in both online gaming and with some of the worlds biggest and best gaming sites. And we put that experience to work to help you choose the best, safest, most reliable site that will satisfy all your gaming needs.

Important Considerations When Choosing an Online Casino.

Games What’s your style? Playing a classic card game like Blackjack, having fun with the bonus rounds on a slot machine or testing out your skills at video poker? The types of games you like to play could help you narrow down your site choices.

Payout PercentagesThese are important to take note of because they dictate what your returns will be on your bet. All legitimate sites will post their payout percentages so take a look before you play. Check if they on par with or better than the payout percentages offered in Vegas and make sure they are equal to or more than 95% – if not, don’t bother with them!

Casino Software It’s safe to assume that almost any online casino you visit will require that you download their software before being able to take advantage of everything they offer. Usually casinos will also offer a limited amount of ‘play for free’ games. This is a great way to test out which software you like and which games suit you and will allow you to play anywhere you like without downloading anything. Generally casinos will offer a no-download version for players however these versions are often limited to between 10-30 games. The download version of the casino will offer you the complete experience with hundreds of games to play and the ability to get new game release that come up around 4-12 times a year.

Playing for Real So you’ve taken a gander at some of the free play games on a casino website and now you’re ready to put some of your hard earned cash to work. Your next step should be to register an account and deposit some money in exchange for chips. There are lots of ways you can deposit your money, credit and debit cards being the most popular, but there’s also services like money bookers, Neteller and Paypal. Most casinos will also offer you an attractive sign-up bonus (often with free cash to giveaway!) so make sure you check out the bonus details too!

Bonuses If casinos want you to head over to their sites (and play) they need to grab your attention away from all the others out there. They do this by offering attractive incentives and offers to give their casino a try. They will also offer VIP or loyal customer rewards if you stick around long-term. Bonuses can take the form of extra cash, chips, bonus codes, prizes and more.

Almost every site will offer a Welcome Bonus to new players where they will match a set percentage on your first deposit. The bonus usually has a maximum payout amount but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage – after all free money is always welcomed! Be sure to check out the terms and conditions of the bonuses as many come with wagering requirements attached. This could mean for example that in order to have your winnings released you need to bet a certain amount or a certain number of times.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about the bonus offers, online casinos have excellent customer service representatives and free call numbers to serve you better and answer any questions you might have. If that doesn’t resolve the issue we can certainly try and help you out – you can contact us.

And because the online casino market is so competitive you can really find some incredible promotions available. Make sure you check out our bonus review section as promotions and offers change all the time. We’ll keep you informed of all the up-to-date information from the top online casinos.

Wagering Requirements These refer to the amount you need to wager before you can cash out on your bonus money or winnings. For example if you deposit 20€ to get a 100% bonus of another 20€ sites will often require you to bet a minimum amount of times, for example 10, before you can withdraw any of that money. There will also often be games that are excluded or restricted, meaning if you wagered on one of these games it would not count towards the wagering requirements. Excluded or restricted games will always be listed for you to see.

So that’s the basics of the online casino world! The next thing to do is to get out there and start playing!

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FAQs

Taking that leap into playing at an online casino for the first time can be a daunting experience. It brings up many questions that need to be answered so at 5Casinos we’ve created a list of some of the most frequently asked questions and answers.

At 5Casinos we understand players will have a variety of questions and concerns, some of which may not be listed here. If this is the case, please contact us at your convenience and one of our casino experts will be more than happy to help you in a timely manner.

Banking FAQ’s

I’m worried about using my credit card at an online casino. Is it safe?

All of 5Casinos listed sites are safe, online casinos offering 100% secure services where only you can view your credit card information. If you prefer not to use your credit card you can also use a web wallet service such as Neteller or Paypal.

How are the online payments protected?

All of 5Casinos listed casinos are digitally encrypted in the form of SSL (Secure Socket Layer) (128-bit). This is the preferred method, used around the world for online banking services.

What are the different deposit methods?

Each casino may have a variety of preferred methods of depositing money to be more convenient for you. It is safe to assume most will accept debit cards, credit cards, web wallets, wire transfers, echeques and pre paid cards.

How easy is it to withdraw my winnings?

Winnings are usually paid by the same forms as deposits can be made – by cheque, transfer to a debit card, web wallet transfer or wire transfer. Again, convenience for the player is the key.

Bonus FAQ’s

Why is there so much free money available?

Basically it comes down to the amount of competition out there. Online casinos want you to play at their sites and what better way to do that then to offer you free money!

What’s the catch with free money?

There really is only a small catch as most sites have requirements attached to their bonuses but the offers are legitimate and worth taking advantage of.

What are wagering requirements?

Wagering requirements are rules that players must comply with in order to withdraw any winnings. For example, if you have a wagering requirement of x4 on a 20€ deposit you would be required to wager €60 before being able to cash out. Essentially wagering requirements are there to stop players from taking too much advantage of an online casino. After all, they are a business so in order to stop players from just taking the bonus and hitting the road the casinos put wagering requirements in place to ensure you at least place a few bets in their casino.

Am I free to play any game I want to clear my wagering requirement?

Most likely the answer is no. Online bonuses often restrict the type of games you can play because some games carry a higher edge. For example, Blackjack will have higher requirements attached to them because the player odds are better.

Do I need to make a deposit in order to claim my bonus?

Yes, in most cases you will be required to make a deposit before you can claim your bonus.

General FAQ’s

Are the games rigged?

Definitely NOT! We at 5Casinos can say without a doubt that it is never in the interests of an online casino to rig the games simply because it would ruin an online casinos reputation as soon as someone caught on. All online casinos use random number generators to ensure the fairness of all their games. And you can be sure that all casinos listed at 5Casinos.co.uk have fair, listed payout rates from an independently audited source.

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Casino Bonus Guide

The 5Casinos team has loads of experience working with online casinos so we know how to spot a fantastic bonus! We watch out for casinos with lengthy terms and conditions and those that only appear to offer great bonuses – in essence, we do all the work for you! We only work with trusted, proven online casinos that provide great value for your money and keep that money safe and secure so you can deposit and withdraw it easily and securely.

Here are some important questions you need to ask before choosing a bonus:

What are your favourite games to play? This question will help you decide on a bonus because the games dictate how good the bonus is. Take slots for example – with this game you are more likely to receive a better bonus because the house edge is higher than say, blackjack.

Are you required to make a deposit to receive a bonus? Most sites will require that you sign-up for an account and make a deposit of a certain amount to get your bonus money.

Do you need to play with both your deposit money AND the bonus money? Most casinos require you to play with both as playing online with only the bonus money is classified as bonus abuse.

Is the money actually real? You might think this an odd question to ask but a lot of online casinos will give you ‘free casino chips’ or vouchers to play with. This means that you can play to your heart’s content with the chips but you cannot withdraw them because they don’t actually represent any real money.

What are the wagering requirements? It’s often common to require players to deposit a minimum amount AND wager a minimum number of times before the casino will release your original deposit. The average amounts and number of times varies with the games you play. Luckily, if you prove to an online casino that you are a valuable player they will often lower the requirements.

Are there any monthly bonus offers available? Getting a great sign-up bonus is fantastic but what other bonuses are available to you? If you don’t find many others listed you might want to look elsewhere, after all you should be rewarded for your loyalty and game play.

So is there a catch? Wondering how they can give away so much free money?

In actuality there are no catches. The competition among the hundreds of sites out there is so strong that online casinos need to offer attractive bonuses in order to get your attention AND to keep you playing at their casino. Even software provider giants like Microgaming, Wagerworks, WagerLogic and Playtech all offer specialised bonus software that ensure all the terms and conditions have been met before handing out your money.

Remember, at 5Casinos we’ll only recommend to you the best, most trusted, secure online casinos that are willing to go that extra mile for you and your money – after all, the bonuses are designed to allow you the time to enjoy your gaming experience while getting the most out of your money! Think of it as a big thank you from the online casinos for choosing them!

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Online Casino Tips

Bonuses

Remember to always take a look at the wagering requirements on bonus offers so you know how much of your own money you need to wager before you can withdraw.

Slots

Progressive slot machines are a great option to take advantage of. Not only will you get to play some exciting video slot games but you’ll also be able to take a crack at winning a huge progressive jackpot, a jackpot that climbs as every player takes another spin!

Blackjack

Learn and practice playing the best strategy for Blackjack on our Strategy Page.

Roulette

There are two kinds of Roulette, American and European. American Roulette is the favoured casino game because of the extra ‘00’ spot on the table.

Choosing a Casino

Look for more than just great sign-up bonuses. Your time is worth a lot to an online casino. Make sure they reward you for your loyalty as well with things like comp points and VIP programs.

Beginners

Decide whether you’d like to play download-free or with a download. Remember, no-download casinos are often limited in the number of games they offer but are more convenient.

Did you know?

We only list casinos that are independently audited by a third party to ensure games are fair and random.

We only refer online casinos that have proven to be safe and secure at handling personal details and information.

The verification processes at online casinos are designed to be strict to ensure your safety and identity. There are numerous validations being done behind the scenes and at times you will be asked to provide validation information such as your address – a standard process conducted for your financial safety.

Payments

Make sure you’ve located and read the payout times for withdrawals – there is nothing worse than winning a nice sum of money and finding out you have to wait three weeks to get it!

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