It can be all too easy to be dazzled by a generous bonus at a casino—I’ve certainly been guilty of it myself in the past! Unfortunately bonuses aren’t the only thing you need to look at – and it’s vital to make sure you also look out for other green flags that really indicate a casino is safe and worth using.

However knowing what exactly to look for is much easier said than done; I’m here to give you a little crash course on what to keep your eye on when picking between online casinos. Anyway that’s enough waffling from me—let’s kick off this list!

1. They Take Safety Seriously

It’s easy to be initially swayed by the flashy games on offer or the bonuses that help us make the most of our money – but really your first thought should be safety; Any casino worth using will have your safety as a player at the very forefront of their mind – and they’ll reflect that throughout their pages!

The first thing I look out for is their responsible gambling practices; I want to see a dedicated page or hub absolutely packed full of helpful resources that promote responsible gambling.

What Should You Watch Out for in Terms of Safety?

There should be educational materials to help players understand exactly what is actually meant by responsible gambling – and also things like questionnaires or checklists to help players reflect on their gambling relationship; It should be completely crystal clear that gambling needs to be viewed as a fun activity—never as a way to make money—and if that changes then it’s become an issue.

On top of educational resources there should also be tools to help players control their behaviour; I’m talking about things like time limits to help players manage how long they spend playing – and deposit limits to help them control their spending.

Although limits are the most popular tool they’re by no means the be-all and end-all of responsible gambling; there should also be others – like reminders, breaks, and self-exclusion. The latter is a more permanent solution that allows players to stop themselves accessing a provider for a period of time – usually between six months and years at a time.

2. Effective Customer Support

The next place I’ll head to at an online casino is any page – like ‘Contact Us’ or ‘Help’ – which allows me to assess how effective their customer support is; Obviously it goes without saying that there should be at least some form of support on offer – whether that’s email, live chat, or a phone number. However you should also remember that not all customer support methods are created equal – and some are actually a whole heap more useful than others!

Which are the Best Forms of Customer Support?

Determining the very best type of customer support is a bit tricky as a lot of it comes down to the actual site you’re using; However my preference is for something where there’s a faster response time – like a live chat—where responses can even be instant!

AI bots are used to scour the Internet in order to find an accurate response. However that can come with some downsides – like mistakes or questions the AI can’t answer; Whenever I see a live chat at a casino I only mark it highly if it’s coupled with a human backline where I can take my more complicated queries.

Phone lines also get an honourable mention as they provide an opportunity to speak to a real person and get a rapid response; The negative to calling is that lines are usually only open between set hours – and it can sometimes take a while to get through to a representative.

Are There Any Support Options I Tend to Avoid?

I do tend to mark a casino down if I see that email is their only available contact method; When you email a casino, you can often be left waiting days for a response – on the odd occasion I’ve even had to wait weeks! That’s why I don’t think email is adequate as the only contact option for something that moves as quickly as playing at a casino.

3. Praise From Other Players

If you’re anything like me you’ll be scouring the reviews of a product or service before you even consider purchasing; We should really be considering casinos in the same way and making sure they have solid reviews from other players across third-party review sites.

I carefully read a wide selection of the reviews of a casino across all the different star marks. Most of us tend to hone in on the reviews at the extremes of the spectrum – but actually the most accurate reviews are consistently found to be those in the middle (think two or three stars); I keep an eye out for any patterns that emerge – for example if players are often praising the recommendations and staff.

What If I Can’t Find Any Reviews?

It’s not necessarily a red flag if you can’t find any reviews for a casino at all—it could just be a new option! My next move is usually to turn to social media sites – especially Reddit – to see if there’s any chatter on them about the casino; If I can’t find anything at all I will be pretty cautious about choosing the site—but that’s just my preference.

4. Variety of Bonuses and Games

A worthwhile casino will offer all the different types of bonuses out there – like free spins, deposit matches, and cashback; To make sure everyone can enjoy bonuses there should be a good variety – with low budget options like low and no deposits.

Be Cautious With Bonuses

Remember not to just be suckered in by incredible sounding bonuses! You need to make sure to carefully read the terms and conditions so you understand the wagering requirements before you add the bonus to your account; From personal experience I can tell you that if a bonus seems too good to be true – that’s often because it is!

A Good Game Selection

As someone who loves to flick between different games – I always look out for casinos that offer a wide range of games; When I’m reviewing I’ll look for the big software names to see if they’ve got the right options for a range of players.

5. Reputably Licensed

It’s really important to make sure the casino you’re considering playing at has a reputable licence from the likes of the UK Gambling Commission; Only casinos that meet high standards in terms of safety and security are awarded these licences – so you know they have your best interests at heart.

There are different levels to the licences that casinos can hold; I look out for casinos that highlight their specific licence number – and I always make sure to cross-reference this with the licence provider. The UKGC and Malta Gaming Authority are my gold standard when it comes to licensing and I stay away from any casinos that don’t hold a licence at all.

What Should You Look For in an Online Casino?

There’s quite a bit to keep in mind to make sure you pick a safe casino where you’re also likely to have the best experience; I tend to start with things like responsible gambling tools and licensing to ensure the casino will prioritise my safety. I’ll also do a deep dive on what other players have to say about the casino across review sites and social media to make sure I’m not in for a nasty surprise.

Then I’ll move on to other things that will also ensure I’ll have a good experience at the casino – such as the range of games and bonuses and the customer service; The ultimate green flag casino is one that perfectly balances player safety with enjoyment – and by keeping an eye out for the things in this list you can find the right one for you.

Dermot Heathcote is a leading specialist in online casinos who has almost a decade of experience in the industry behind him. Not willing to rest on that knowledge alone, he also tops up his understanding of the industry by attending conferences like Sigma and iGaming Next.

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