How to Play Online Casinos

If you're looking for the excitement of a Las Vegas casino but can't get out of the house, try a virtual vacation to an online casino. Online casinos offer real casino gambling in the privacy of your home or office, turning your desk or laptop into an online casino featuring all your favorite casino games.

Online Casinos - Finding a Good One

There are many online casinos to choose from, running the gamut from simple poker rooms to deluxe Internet casinos with all the bells and whistles of a real live Las Vegas casino. Visit a few casinos online and check the Casino Directory to see if your favorite casino game is available online. Of course, the right casino games are only part of finding the best online casino for you. You might prefer a No Download casino that allows you to play right on the site or a No Deposit casino that lets you pay as you play.

Free Casino Games

Online casinos usually let you play free casino games online before you commit any money. The graphics and casino game play - ranging from rudimentary to realistic - are usually similar to the "real money" casino games, so this is a good way to find out if an online casino site is easy to navigate, if the casino games are simple to understand or if you like the way your favorite casino game is designed.

Free online casinos usually give you an account of points you use to buy chips in casino table games or credits in casino slots and video games. You decide how many points to wager and your account total goes up or down depending on whether you win or lose. Note: While most of an online casino site's casino games are usually available, progressive jackpot games and some high-limit casino games are often excluded from the free casino games menu.

Online Casinos - Playing For Real

While there are some no-deposit online casinos, most online casino sites require a deposit of at least $5.00 and most minimum deposits are at least $10 or $20. Starting an online casino account can be a little tricky. Most sites accept credit cards, but most credit card companies aren't quite as accommodating. Go-between sites like FirePay and NETeller are there to bridge that gap - for a small fee. It can also take from a few hours to a day or so for your deposit to clear and your account to be activated.

Online casinos usually offer an online casino bonus, but BEWARE! Some of these bonuses come with many, many strings attached - so know what the rules are before you put your money in.

Once the money is in, real money play is a lot like playing with credits. Casino games like video poker and slots are very similar to the "real" casino games - the only things missing are buttons to push and the clang-clang of your money when you cash out. In casino table games like roulette and blackjack, you use your mouse to place virtual "chips" on the table and virtual dealers run the games. Just remember - the casino may be virtual, but the money is definitely real. Play responsibly, read the fine print beforehand and you may end up walking away from your online casino with a little extra cash.