So you are an avid gambler who has recently discovered the world of online casinos but are unsure of how to get started. Getting started with online casinos is easy, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines and learn to play by the rules of the individual online casino.

First, there are two major types of online casinos, the no-download and the downloadable software casinos. Don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t need any downloads to begin playing in the no-download casinos, as you will most likely have to download a Java-based browser or you may be required to use Flash or Shockwave. Depending on the speed of your internet connection, this may only take a matter of minutes, though, and will be set on your computer to use each time you visit the casino. If the online casino you are interested in using requires a software download, this means you will actually have to download the software onto your computer to begin playing. Most downloadable programs require between 5-15 MB of space from your hard drive, so you may need to take into consideration whether you have the space for the program. Of course, if you have a dial-up connection, the downloadable software is ideal, since you will have difficulty catching up to the other players on a no-download casino.

Once you have figured out what type of casino program you want to use, you will also want to look at the different financial requirements to play. Some casinos offer “play money” areas where you simply play with fake money and nothing is lost or gained when you turn off the computer at night. Other casinos you find online will require you to start with a certain deposit, usually of at least $50, and will require you to have a certain amount of money in your account at all times. Usually for financial transactions you can use a Visa or MasterCard to deposit money, as well as PayPal, FirePay, NetTeller, and even echecks or wire transfers. Be aware that if you are considering gambling from certain locations, like the US, you may be unable to use your Visa or MasterCard because many credit card companies will consider this an unsafe transaction.

One of the more enticing parts you’ll see when beginning to play at an online casino are the bonuses offered by that casino. For instance, an online casino may offer you a 100% bonus match for your first initial deposit, meaning if you deposit $50, they will also put $50 into your account. Before depositing any money into an online casino account, be sure you clearly understand the rules of the casino, including any fees that will be charged for transactions such as removing money from your account. You may also only be allowed to remove a certain minimum amount, such as $50 or $100, so be clear of these types of fine print regulations before you start gambling with your own money.

Another consideration you want to make when beginning to play in online casinos is how many and what type of games does that casino offer. Often you’ll discover online casinos will offer a variety of video poker, table games, miscellaneous games such as baccarat and roulette but you want to be sure the games you like the most are available for play. Usually the casino will allow you to register with a username, password and email address and browse the lounge area of the online casino checking out the assortment of games they offer. Take advantage of this before you start putting money down to access entrance to the games.