|
Internet
gambling can be as fun and exciting as a real casino.
Instead of waiting for
your lucky machine, you can just log on and play.
While this multibillion dollar industry grows at a
substantial rate, it does remain
non-regulated. The industry depends solely on
self-regulation.
Before whipping out your gold Visa card there are a few
things that you should know
first. When looking for an online casino to play, I
recommend that you follow the ten
points below. (Of course, the very first thing you should do
is join the Online Players
Association. Get details at www.onlineplayersassociation.com
)
1. Is the casino licensed by a sovereign government? If no,
find another casino.
2. Does the casino have a toll free customer service number
that is answered 24
hours a day? If no, find another casino.
3. Do they allow you to play for free? This is very
important: it gives you the chance
to check out their software before you spend any money. If
they do not, find another
casino.
4. What is the smallest denomination of their poker and slot
machines? You're
looking for a wide variety of denominations, such as
nickels, quarters, dollars and
five-dollar machines.
5. How many different versions of video poker do they have?
You're looking for at
least three. That tells you that the operator has spent a
lot of money on the software.
Beware of those casinos that tell you they only have one
version of video poker.
6. What is the smallest and largest bet that they accept on
craps or blackjack? This
is mainly for your own betting information.
7. Does the casino have a place where they keep track of
your purchases and
cashouts?
8. How is the customer service? There's an easy way to test
this: Send them an
email with a question and see how long it takes them to
reply.
9. What is the reputation of the software maker involved in
the casino? There is no
sense in gambling online if you do not know how you will
collect your winnings.
10. Make sure you read all the rules on bonuses and cashing
out procedures. Do
your homework before you gamble online, not after.
Before you wager one dime, call the casino's toll free
customer service number and
ask the following question, "If I buy in with my credit
card for $100 but cash out $300,
how will I get paid?"
Beware of those casinos that tell you they will send you a
check. Be sure to ask
how long it takes. Most casinos that send checks take up to
4 weeks. That is
unacceptable unless the site clearly states the time frame
for receiving your money!
The only answer that you are looking for is that they will,
within 3 days, credit back
your credit card up to the original amount of purchase, then
give you an option of
mailing you a check overnight or doing a wire transfer into
your account.
If you use these very basic common sense methods of checking
out a casino it will
save you a lot of problems in the end. And it would even cut
down on the number of
complaints that I receive on a daily basis. Don't just give
your credit card number to
the first casino you find. Please use your brain when
picking a casino.
Steve Adkins, President, OPA
The Online Players Association is an association of casino
owners, forum managers,
and online players working to "cleanup" the
industry, assist mutual parties in earning
complete trust, and establish integrity for us all. For more
information, or to join the
OPA, go to www.onlineplayersassociation.com
You can hear Steve Adkins' webcast at www.casinogazette.com
|
