What Is An Online Casino?

Casino games are played by millions of people around the world. Ever since the first online casinos popped up, this type of gambling has soared in popularity and today, it’s easier than ever to play your favourite games without leaving the house.
According to experts, Asia is one of the fastest-growing gambling markets on the globe. Despite this, the idea of playing online for real money can be daunting. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you better understand what an online casino is.

How Online Casino Works

How Things Work At Online Casino Sites

Online gambling has been a thing for over 20 years now. Since the first sites, though, there have been a lot of changes to the industry, especially in terms of laws and regulation.
There have also been massive improvements in terms of quality. Earlier sites are nearly unrecognisable compared to today’s leading online casino sites.
Fundamentally, everything works the same as it did in the mid-1990s. Even though online gambling may sound complicated, we’re here to put this misconception to rest and explain what an online casino is and how it works.

Legislation And Regulation Of Online Casinos in Asia

what is online casino legislation Each country in Asia is responsible for passing its own gambling legislation, and the laws are vastly different from one country to the next. This can make things complex, but to understand how online casino sites work, you need to know the basics about regulation and legislation and how it affects you.

Firstly, it’s rare for it to be explicitly illegal to play at online gambling sites. The majority of online casino legislation is targeted at the casino operators and not players. But it’s still important to know your local laws.

Secondly, licensed and regulated online casinos are the safest to play at, even (and sometimes especially) if they are not based in your country. Most sites are licensed and regulated in a jurisdiction.

To obtain licences, casinos must meet very strict criteria according to the relevant licensing authority. Reputable operators are always transparent about their licensing.

Common licences you’ll come across at the best online casino sites include:

Alderney Gaming Control Commission
Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority
Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
Lata Gaming Authority
United Kingdom Gambling Commission

You should know that the legitimacy of licensing authorities differs. Some agencies are simply stricter than others.

Another point to consider is why online gambling regulation is important. Its number one purpose is to protect you. You should be able to play at online casino sites with the confidence that you’ll be treated fairly and that your details and funds are safe.

The Basics Of Online Casinos: How It Works

Online gambling takes place on gambling websites that you can access by clicking on a link or typing in the relevant URL in your web browser. Some sites offer a range of games, while others specialise in just one type of gambling.

One thing they have in common is that these sites all sport advanced software that makes it possible to gamble online for real money. The software is built into the site, or you may have to download it to your computer.

Online casinos use software that allows you to play games on a computer or mobile device.
Sportsbooks use software that allows you to find and place wagers.

To use these gambling platforms and play for real money, you need:

A device with internet access
A casino account
A gambling budget.

Step 1: Start With a Device with Internet Access

This is an obvious one. You can’t access an online casino if you don’t have internet access and a computer or mobile device. Always use a stable and secure internet connection for online gambling.

Step 2: Create a Casino Account

To get an account at an online casino, you need to go through a registration process. When you visit a site for the first time, you’ll notice a “Join Now” button or something similar. When you click on it, you’ll be taken to the sign-up page where you need to enter a few personal details.

Step 3: Fund Your Account

Deposits are how you put real money into your online casino account so you can start playing games. There are plenty of different options for this, from credit and debit cards to bank transfers, e-wallets and even prepaid vouchers. Deposits at online casinos are usually instant once you’ve completed the transaction.

One of the most important parts of online gambling is responsible gambling. Any reputable casino will have a page dedicated to this topic along with tools to help you keep your gambling habits in check.

Types Of Online Casinos

The Main Types Of Online Casinos

In land-based casinos, you walk through a door and head to the games you want to play. So, how does it work on online platforms?

Currently, there are three main types of casinos to play at, each with its pluses and minuses. Let’s look at each one.

1. Downloadable Casino Software

When online casinos first hit our computer screens, you needed to download and install software from your platform of choice.

Then, you’d launch the programme on your computer. The software would automatically connect to the casino’s service provider, and you could play all the games you wanted to.

Some casinos still have this option today. Downloaded casinos offer reliable gameplay and slick graphics, as well as access to the full lobby of games. But you can only use the software on the computer you install it on.

Thankfully, internet speed and casino technology have improved in leaps and bounds, and the benefits of downloaded casinos aren’t as apparent as they used to be. Today, it’s easy to access the best online casino sites through your web browser.

2. Web Browser Online Casino Sites

This is the most common way to access online casinos. All you have to do is type the casino’s URL into your web browser and create an account or log in. Granted, it’s somewhat slower than playing through downloaded software, because the graphics and games are loaded through the web.

But, if you’re not comfortable downloading and installing casino software on your computer, this is the way to go. There’s also the flexibility of being able to securely log in on different computers and browsers.

On the upside, modern online casino sites are built to be responsible, so you can play on any device provided you have a reliable internet connection.

3. Mobile Online Casinos

We all spend inordinate amounts of time on our phones, and online casinos get this. Today, all the best casinos offer Android and iOS apps that you can download to easily access your favourite gaming platform.

Apps make it easy to navigate a casino on a smartphone or tablet. The loading speed, graphics and designs can be much quicker than if you’re trying to access the casino through your device’s browser.

Like browser-based casinos, though, you can indeed play through your tablet or phone’s web browser. Many of the modern games are HTML5-optimised, which means they translate beautifully onto smaller screens without any compromise to sounds, quality and gameplay.

Types Of Online Casino Games

There Are Different Types Of Online Casino Games To Choose From

Land-based casinos offer up a sparkling, flashing, shrieking plethora of games, and it’s much the same at online casinos. Once you’ve chosen a platform to play at, set up an account and funded it, you have a multitude of options.

Just like brick-and-mortar establishments, online casinos have a full variety of games, with some even boasting a full sports betting section. All of these casino games give you the chance to play with and win real money.

The games are played much the same way as they are at land-based casinos, but with the element of computer-generated chance.

Since you’re playing with real money, casinos must ensure that games are regulated and fair. They do this by regularly having their games audited by external bodies like:

iTech Labs
eCOGRA
Gaming Laboratories International

Now, let’s look at the most popular types of online casino games.

Slots

Online slots work similarly to real money slots you’d find at casinos. You initiate a spin and hope the reels land on a winning combination. One of the nicest things about online slots is that they often offer bonus rounds, free spins and other ways to win.

The main difference between land-based and online slots, though, is that online casino slots use a Random Number Generator (RNG).

The RNG ensures the fairness of each game by allowing the games to produce random sequences every millisecond. Each slot has its own RNG and an algorithm to make each spin unique. The RNG does not store memory in terms of specific combinations, so nothing is pre-programmed and everyone has a fair chance of winning.

The RNGs are tested regularly by independent bodies such as those we mentioned above. The testers check that the Random Number Generators are running as they are meant to. They also verify the RNG’s theoretical return percentages.

Types of slots you’ll find at online casinos include:

Classic 3-reel slots
Video or 5-reel slots
Progressive jackpot slots

Dice And Card Games

A casino just isn’t complete without table games, and online casino sites have their own virtual options in the form of card and dice games.

Card Games – poker, baccarat and blackjack are popular card games online, and you’ll even find Asian favourites like Andar Bahar, Dragon Tiger and Kabaddi.

Dice Games – roulette, Sic Bo, Craps and Teen Patti are amongst the favourite dice games at online casinos.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games bring all the interaction of a real casino to your screen, complete with a real person dealing.

This removes the need for RNGs, and you get to see the dealer shuffling cards, throwing dice and manning the game.

Live dealers are live-streamed from studios with the help of top of the range cameras. There’s a fun social dynamic to these games, as you can chat with the dealer and other players as all the action unfolds in front of you.

Popular live dealer games include:

Blackjack
Roulette
Baccarat
Craps
Dream Catcher
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Monopoly Live
Deal or No Deal
Dragon Tiger
Teen Patti
Andar Bahar

Casino Games From The Best Software Developers

Top Games From The Best Software Developers

Since the first casinos popped onto our screens, software developers have been a core part of the iGaming industry. Online casino operators can’t always create games themselves, so they partner with reputable developers that can.

Some of the leading online casino game developers include:

RealTime Gaming
Microgaming
Playtech
BetSoft
NetEnt
Evolution Gaming
IGT
Yggdrasil
Quickspin

What Is An Online Casino Bonus?

Besides the fact that you can play your favourite casino games at home or on the go, one of the biggest appeals of online casino sites is bonuses.

All the best online casino sites offer incentives to appeal to players to sign up and to keep playing on the site.

Popular bonuses include:

Welcome bonus
No deposit bonus
Free spins
Match deposit bonus
Cashback
Reload bonus
Deposit bonus
Referral bonus
Loyalty programmes

No matter what’s on offer, you need to take note of the small print. Just about all types of online casino offers come with terms, conditions and wagering requirements that you need to meet before you can withdraw your bonus funds and winnings.

Most online casinos also run loyalty and VIP schemes for frequent players and high rollers. The perks and requirements differ from one site to the next, but it’s always worth checking out what value you’ll get for your gameplay at any casino site.

Time To Choose Your Favourite Online Casino

Now that you know all about online gambling, it’s time to pick a casino and get started. The entire process only takes a few minutes!

1. Choose A Casino

First, choose a casino you want to join. This is going to be a site that caters to your gaming taste and budget. Take some time to think about what’s important to you, such as:

Variety of games
Currency
Payment options
Bonuses and loyalty programmes
Minimum and maximum stakes

2. Register An Account

Before you can start playing online, you need to open a casino account. It’s as easy as this:

Find the casino’s Sign Up/Join Now/Register button and click on it.
Complete the registration process by providing the required details, like your name, date of birth, email address, home address, contact number.
Choose a secure username and password.

Depending on the casino, you may receive an email or text message with a link. Click on the link to verify your new account and log in.

3. Make Your First Deposit

Now things start to get exciting. Log in to your new casino account and head over to the virtual cashier. Choose the deposit option and then pick your preferred payment method, such as:

NetBanking
MuchBetter
Pay by Phone
Credit or debit card
E-wallet
Bank transfer
Cryptocurrency

Enter the amount you’d like to deposit (take note that different online casino sites have different minimum deposit requirements, and those can differ from the minimum deposit required to claim a bonus).

Complete the transaction. Most casino deposits are instant or take up to an hour at most. Once the funds reflect in your account, you can claim the welcome bonus and head straight to the casino’s lobby to find your favourite games.

4. Let’s Get Playing

With funds in your account, and hopefully bonus funds to extend your initial bankroll, it’s time to play. Some online casinos offer instant games and downloadable games, as we mentioned earlier. Either way, you’re sure to find more than enough to keep you busy.

It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the games before you start playing for real money. If a casino allows it, try out a few games for free in demo mode first.

Safety And Security at Online Casinos

Safety And Security Are Essential When Gambling Online

Do you need to worry about your personal information or money when you play online? Of course, you do. But when you play at licensed and regulated casinos that accept Asian players, you’re assured a secure gaming experience.

Safeguards that online casino sites use include:

SSL data encryption
Random Number Generators
Third-party game payout verification and fairness evaluations
Seal of Approval from independent game auditors
Penetration testing and security audits
Privacy policies
Gaming licences

What’s more, online casinos go to great lengths to verify your identity when you sign up, or at least before you can make your first withdrawal. This ensures you are of a legal gambling age and that you are who you say you are, so your money doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

How We Choose The Best Online Casinos In Asia

Before an online casino makes our top list, our experts put it to the test. We create accounts at the sites and check out things like:

Registration process
License and registration
Deposits and withdrawals
Payment options
Bonuses
Variety of games
Game fairness and payout rates
Safety
Software developers
Responsible gambling policy

So, if you find a casino on our site, you know you’re going to be playing on a platform that is secure, safe and fair.