When I first started looking into online gambling sites, I realised that there were so many to choose from and yet so little good choices. But of course, that was back in the day, when operators were not monitored by international organizations and the competent regulatory bodies that they answer to today. Truth be told, when I started playing 10 years ago I had never imagined that were so many ways these sites could prove the safety of their software and the transparency and fairness of the games they offered, not to mention help links for gambling addiction and child control. Nowadays, things are a lot different than before and still it’s hard to know if you’ve made the right choice before it’s too late. To make a long story short, I have gathered a list of crucial characteristics that separate the best from the rest and if you follow these guidelines, you are sure to find your perfect match.

1.Licensed and regulated by competent authorities in your jurisdiction – Needless to say this is the most important trait, without which I wouldn’t even consider playing at any site, no matter the size of their bonus or the number of games it offers. For those of you that are unaware of the recent developments in gambling regulations, be advised that as of November 2014 all operators that which to offer their services to British players must have a valid licence from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Moreover, renowned sites have a solid collection of safety seals from independent organizations and security certificates, such as eCogra, GamCare, McAfee, VeriSign and others. These are indisputable proof of a safe and transparent gambling environment.

2.Uses a state-of-the-art, flawless software platform – An online casino site is nothing without a stable, smooth-running software platform. I mean what good is playing fun games with high-definition graphics, if they make your computer or mobile device feel like it’s possessed? Starting with Microgaming, Playtech and NetEnt and all the way to Cryptologic, Evolution Gaming and IGT, operators switch from one provider to the other with the purpose of upgrading their services and offering the very-best to their users. So make sure you try before you buy, as most gambling sites will allow you to play their games in demo mode or with the help of no deposit bonuses. Another factor to take into consideration is the variety of the games offered and your game of choice in particular. I mean it’s not much fun joining a mostly slots casino site, when you would much rather hit the blackjack tables, right?

3.Many free of charge and safe payment options to choose from – I think that this a truly important aspect to consider when choosing where to play. Although most renowned operators offer a wide range of payment methods, some of them simply prefer to stick to the most common, like Visa, Mastercard and Moneybookers. However, there are cases in which fees apply for such payments, which is a little bit unappealing to say the least. This is why it’s best to check if your preferred banking option is accepted and no charges apply. I would suggest my personal favourite – PayPal. Although some operators may charge a small fee for using it, PayPal is usually the fastest and safest way of handling funds at casino sites.