When I first started playing the world’s best online fruit machines and the classics, such as roulette and blackjack, on licensed and regulated websites, it was usually the new player welcome bonus that would help me decide whether it might be worth joining that site.
I think many other gamers do the same, especially newbies.
However, I’ve gained plenty of experience over the years to learn what makes a good site, and I have learned to consider more than just how generous the welcome bonus is before I sign up anywhere.
Besides a strong bonus, iGamers should always be on the lookout for several other tell-tale signs a site can be trusted, which I will be revealing right here.
If you can remember some of my advice when you next go online searching for a new site to join, it should make choosing a reliable site that won’t let you down much easier.
Let’s dive straight in to find out exactly what you should be looking for.
What makes a good site apart from the initial sign-up bonus?
Today, there are thousands of websites offering computer-generated online fruit machines from market-leading providers, which you can play in the real money mode using your hard-earned cash, provided you are of legal age in your country.
Where I’m from, you only need to be 18 to play on sites like this.
In fact, in most countries, you only need to be 18 to gamble at legally permitted websites. However, in places like Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec in Canada, it’s 19, and in several US states, such as Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, to name a few, it’s 21.
The fact that there are so many websites to choose from often makes deciding which ones to join challenging, especially for new players who don’t know exactly what they should be looking for. I know what to look for, so it helps me choose only the best sites and avoid the bad ones.
A good site isn’t just one that allows you to start playing instantly after your new free account has been activated. It will also have the following, which you should always look for before signing up:
- A license to operate. The best ones will have been issued by a mid to top-tier licensing authority, such as the MGA (Malta), UKGC (United Kingdom), GRA (Gibraltar), NJDGE (New Jersey), or GSC (Isle of Man), to name a few. I’ve found that the best sites are multi-jurisdictional, meaning they have obtained the necessary licenses to operate in several regions and have been through thorough background checks and strict vetting processes
- A trusted name behind the brand. In other words, only join sites owned and operated by companies with solid reputations and proven track records in the industry. I would never sign up anywhere if I couldn’t find any information about who controls the site I’m about to register with
- Safer gambling tools. Always look for sites that actively promote responsible gambling and have a range of effective ‘safer gambling tools.’ It enhances my trust in an operator when I know they have controls in place to help me stay within my budget. Examples include being able to set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits, session time reminders, and win/loss limits
- Excellent reviews. You know you have found a good site when it has countless positive reviews and high-ranking scores on globally renowned sites like AskGamblers. These sites also tend to have honest user feedback, and you often find that if the reviews are good, users also leave positive feedback
- Top-notch security. A good site will always protect user accounts, which means any sensitive information stored on their site, such as your name, address, preferred banking method details, and money, is safe 24/7. The URL will start with https://, and a strong encryption (typically 128-bit or higher Secure Socket Layer) will be used to keep cybercriminals at bay
- Reliable support and customer service. The best sites will demonstrate high levels of customer service, offering friendly, responsive, and helpful user support agents on standby 24/7. Many top sites provide toll-free telephone, live chat, and email support options
- Award-winning software. A good site you can trust with only use software from reputable, market-leading providers, whose content is frequently tested/audited for fairness and produces consistently high or above-average RTP% payout rates
Today’s most trusted sites will also have frequent, ongoing promotional offers and bonuses with low to medium wagering requirements, and their general policies and terms and conditions will be fair and realistic.
When I look for a site today, the welcome bonus is now one of the last things I consider. I try to find out all of this other important information first.
I also like to make sure that the site, its services, features and products work well on my preferred device and that it can easily be accessed from my preferred web browser.
To sum up, there’s a lot to consider before signing up anywhere. Try not to be too tempted to sign up anywhere just because the bonus sounds too good to be true without doing a fair amount of research.
If you don’t know where to look for the correct information, such as who owns the site or where it’s licensed, don’t panic because you can easily turn to AskGamblers. Their dedicated researchers and expert reviewers have many years of experience carefully handpicking the best sites.
They have done all the hard work so that you don’t have to, and they have made choosing which sites to join so much easier for players worldwide.
