The online casino industry has seen a huge increase in demand over the last couple of decades which has orchestrated a tremendous rise in the number of sites available to players from Ireland. New online gambling sites are popping up almost every day, joining an already highly saturated market. For experienced online casino players, this is a welcome occurrence as the vast choice in sites provides more competitive bonuses and a wider choice of games. However, for the online casino beginner, this can be an overwhelming experience with individuals not knowing quite where to start.This guide provides handy tips on choosing a reputable online casino and how to sign up for an account. Plus, any other helpful tips that we discover along the way!
Key factors to consider
It’s important to realise that not every site is all that it’s cracked up to be. In other words, there are some rather unsavoury sites out there just begging to take your money away from you with no return. These rogue sites won’t have an illuminous beacon telling you their intentions but will hide behind the façade of what appears to be, an all-singing and all-dancing platform. Here are some key pointers for choosing a safe, high-quality online casino:
License and regulation
All reputable online casinos will be licensed and regulated by a trusted gaming authority, such as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). You can find the relevant information in the website footer or the terms and conditions for the casino.
Safety and security
The best online sites will utilise SSL encryption to protect all sensitive data transactions as well as your personal information. Only trusted payment methods are offered which guarantee instant deposits and efficient withdrawals. For player’s safety, protection tools such as deposit, wager and session limits as well as time-outs are offered as standard.
Games and software
The top online casinos Ireland has to offer typically have extensive games portfolios that appeal to both beginners and seasoned players. Some sites will even offer free-to-play games for you to practice on before wagering real cash. Games are supplied by leading software providers and tested for fair gaming compliance.
Bonuses and promotions
In such a competitive market, most online casinos will offer tempting welcome bonuses to entice you in. However, upstanding sites will also offer fair and achievable terms so make sure you read these. Some rogue sites will demand high wagering requirements to be completed within an impossibly short window of time.You can also expect to find a decent range of regular promotions for existing members, which could include cashback offers, deposit reloads, free spins and loyalty programmes.
Payment methods
The best online casinos will offer bettors from Ireland a decent choice of payment options for completing deposits and withdrawals. These will typically include debit/credit cards, e-wallets and mobile pay. Popular providers include PayPal, Mastercard, Skrill, Apple Pay and Visa. Many of the top sites will waiver any fees and withdrawals should take 72 hours or less to process. Making a deposit is a straightforward process and should only take a matter of seconds to complete. Some online casinos may impose a deposit or withdrawal limit on how much you can put in or take out at any one time.
Mobile compatibility
The majority of top online casinos provide fully optimised mobile platforms which can be launched directly from your device’s web browser. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, these platforms support instant play and adapt to any size screen without compromise. Some sites still offer a mobile app and it may even let you claim exclusive mobile-only bonuses.
Customer support
Every once in a while, we all need a spot of help, and the best online casinos will provide 24/7 support through a friendly and responsive team. You can usually get in touch via live chat, which should offer an immediate response to your query, or email which should be answered within 24 hours.
How to register at an online casino
Now that you know what to look out for, it’s time to register for an account at your chosen online site. This is usually a quick and simple process, taking just a few minutes to complete. Make sure to have your banking details ready as these can be entered to save time and enable deposits. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started:
- Select a reputable online casino
- Hit Join/Sign Up/Register to begin
- Enter your email address and create a password
- Enter your name, address, telephone number and birth date
- Hit Join/Sign Up/Create Account/Register to complete the process
Note that you must provide a valid telephone number and email address as these may be used to verify your account details. Reputable casinos will also require you to submit documentation for ID verification, and this is necessary to activate withdrawals from the site.