Before you can start playing online casino games in the real money mode, you must start by registering a free account. To do so, you must be the legal minimum age or above in your jurisdiction.
Here are some useful tips and tricks for getting started at today’s best online casinos.
What’s the minimum age to play at online casinos?
In most countries, you only need to be 18 or above to sign up to an online casino, but in other parts of the world, it’s different. It could be 19, 20, or 21. Before you register a new account at any reputable casino site, always check that you are of legal age.
What to remember when opening a new online casino account
To play games for real money, you first need to register your new account by filling out the casino’s online registration form, which can usually be completed in under a minute. Before signing up, try to find out some of the following:
- Who owns the casino? Try to find out of the website is owned and managed by a trusted name with a great track record
- Make sure that it’s fully licensed to offer real money gambling services, preferably by a top-tier licensing authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission
- Check the casino has been optimised for smartphones and tablets and that it’s not just accessible from laptops and desktop computers. 32Red mobile casinos is a great example of a casino that’s accessible across most computing devices with Wi-Fi/internet connectivity
- Take a few minutes to find out what kind of games they have, if they have a decent selection, and if the games are supplied by trusted software providers
- Head to the cashier section and make sure that your preferred payment method is accepted
- Read through the general casino policies and bonus terms and conditions before accepting the bonus
- By clicking on the padlock icon in the website address bar, you can learn more about the security of the site. Ensure the casino you are about to sign up to has the necessary SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption certificates
What else do I need to be aware of when signing up to an online casino?
At some point, you will need to prove you are who you say you are by completing the account verification process, also known in some regions as the KYC (Know Your Customer) process.
It’s required by law to prevent underage gambling, multiple accounts being opened by the same player, and other fraudulent activity.
When adding personal details to the online registration form, always add truthful and the latest information about yourself. If you lie, you will be found out, and you won’t be able to play at the casino.
The casino’s verification department will request a proof of ID and address, which you must supply; otherwise, your new account will be temporarily frozen until you do.
It usually only takes a maximum of 48 hours for your details to be checked, and it’s easily done by the casino after you send them a scanned colour copy of your ID (which must be valid) and a copy of a bill, bank statement, or similar document with your name and address on.
As soon as it’s done, if your account was temporarily frozen, you will now have full access to it again, and you will be able to deposit, play, and withdraw without any more obstacles getting in your way.
Many players don’t realise they have to complete the verification process, so knowing that you have to do it and having your documents ready to send can help speed up the process.