With loads of different online casinos to choose from, reading through a few online reviews is always a good idea. But where to begin? There are loads of different opinions out there, so which ones are you supposed to read and trust? Well, thanks to our guide, you’ll be able to read more casino reviews from sites that share your taste, so you can find your ideal online casino.

Why Read Reviews?

Reviews have always been a great way for customers to get a good idea of something’s worth, be it in art, literature, hospitality or even gambling. Online reviews and websites, give you the opinions of experts (and in some cases users too) so you can find out what a service or product has to offer. So, why exactly does this matter for online casinos?

Well, given the sheer number of online casinos that already exist and keep popping up, it might be quite hard to pick the best place to play. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best experience possible, with the latest available games, rewarding promotional offers and excellent customer support. 

So, rather than having to conduct your first-hand research, reviews can be the ideal way to get a clearer picture of what your options might look like. Ultimately, you need to fork out your funds to play at online casinos, so you want to make sure you’re playing at a safe and secure site that is both fair and rewarding.

Reviews go into lots of detail about everything an online casino has to offer, so you can easily decide on which site might be ideal for you. 

Biased and Unbiased Reviews

But, given the open nature of the internet, how are you to know who is behind these reviews and what agendas they might have? Sure, you’ll find experts who simply want to give you an honest look at an online casino experience, but some companies might even pay to have excellent reviews about their sites. So, how can you tell one from the other?

Paid reviews are also known as biased reviews. These are marketing tools used to promote an online casino and paint it in a very positive light. Rather than giving you an all-around analysis of both a casino’s pros and cons, these reviews simply give you a rundown of all the features and functions on offer. They’re sure to highlight the very best aspects of the site and never really mention anything negative. Review sites are obliged to mention if content has been paid for, so you can easily identify the difference between a biased and unbiased review.

On the other hand, unbiased reviews are free to tell you all about the bits that don’t quite work. They’re not tied down to any particular company and let you know all about their experience of playing at the online casino, without leaving anything out.

Finding the Right Reviews for You

Let’s say you’ve decided to look for unbiased reviews at online casinos. So, what are the main differences between one review site and another? 

Review sites are geared towards giving you different insights based on who their target audience is. Some sites might stick to a more general overview of an online casino, but others focus on specific elements of a site, emphasising particular elements that it has to offer. In some cases, sites might focus on loyalty programs and VIP clubs, while others might be more interested in specific games that the casino offers, such as roulette, poker and video slots.

Be sure to read up about the review site itself to get a better understanding of their ethos and goals. You can then decide to follow the ones with similar interests, review sites that share your enthusiasm on particular aspects of online casino gambling and in doing so can give you content that is more adequately suited to your tastes. 

It wouldn’t make much sense to follow the reviews of a site that focuses on live casino gambling if you’re only interested in playing video slots. You’ll also need to make sure that the reviews are based on versions of the online casino that operate in your region. There’s no point reading up about the bonuses that players are getting in Ireland when you’re playing in India.

Points to Look out for in Online Casino Reviews

Although reviews are ultimately subjective and relative, they all follow a similar structure and focus on common elements in all online casinos. This includes the variety of games they offer, the quality of their game library, promotional offers that both new and existing players can get and more. Always be on the lookout for these elements when reading an online casino, as they will give you a great idea of what you can expect once you sign up and start playing.

Game Selection

Sure, bonuses, loyalty programs, security and support are all incredibly important, but you ultimately sign up for an online casino to play games. So, the sort of game library that sites have to offer is incredibly important. 

• Variety – Some online casinos offer thousands of video slots, table games, live casino titles and more. It’s generally good to play at a site that has a bit of everything on offer, but you’ll need to make sure that the selection ultimately includes the games you’re most interested in.

• Quality – Reviews will tell you all about the quality of these games too, letting you know all about the providers that an online casino supports and the top games that they have to offer.

Promotional Offers

Online casinos like to offer something extra to draw in new players and keep existing users coming back for more through promotional offers. Reviews will highlight both the quantity and quality of these offers, and they’ll also give you an insight into the terms and conditions that come with them.

They’ll explain all about wagering requirements, expiry periods and maximum win caps, giving you a better idea of the actual value that a bonus has to offer. The best reviews will encourage you to go for the ones with fair terms and better value, while also warning you of the ones with unrealistic conditions that can be hard to clear. Promotional offers also include cashbacks, reload bonuses and free spins, and reviews will even let you know about any seasonal offers that sites might offer throughout the year.

Loyalty Programs

Promotional offers like reload deals can go a long way in keeping customers coming back for more. But nothing draws players in like a good loyalty program. Reviews will highlight these programs too, telling you all about their structure and rewards.

They’ll explain how tiers work in loyalty programs and how you can earn loyalty points to advance from one level to the next. You’ll also be getting a rundown of the perks and bonuses that these programs offer, so you immediately know if they offer anything that might suit your preferences. This includes tailored bonuses, personal account management, faster withdrawals and more.

Customer Support

Even when playing at the very best online casinos out there, you’re bound to run into an issue at some point. That’s why customer support at online casinos matters so much and reviews can tell you all about the service you can expect to get when this happens.

Online casinos should come with a range of options, so you can communicate with them via email, live chat, phone and even social media. The very best ones out there offer you 24/7 support, so you can get in touch at any time of the day or night. Reviews also give you an idea of the sort of response time you can expect from a casino’s customer support team, highlighting the ones with faster response times and experienced personnel.

Licences and Security

Your safety and security at an online casino are crucial, and reviews tell you all about the features an online casino has to make sure you get the best experience possible. One of the most important things to watch out for is gambling licences. Reviews will highlight the licences that online casinos do or don’t have, and in the case of the latter, they’ll generally warn you to stir clear. 

Licences are awarded to casinos that prove they are fair and safe, so you should only play at sites that have this proven certificate. The reviews will also tell you about additional security features such as the encryption technology that an online casino uses, as well as the KYC procedures that you’ll need to go through to play online.

Using Reviews to Pick Your Ideal Online Casino

With that in mind, you now have all the right tools to navigate through online casino reviews and hopefully find an excellent place to play. Be sure to follow a reviewer with similar interests and stick to unbiased reviews for a more transparent assessment of all a site has to offer.