We’ve all seen adverts for the growing number of online casinos, but if you want to see what all the fuss is about, where do you start? There are now so many casinos online, all offering a bewildering choice of games, that it can be hard to tell one from the other. All online casinos should fulfil some basic and here we take a look at those.

Although many sites allow you to play games for free just for fun, the main draw is that you get the chance to win some real cash. As with any online transactions involving your own money, you want to be doubly sure that the site you are playing on is fair and that it is safe from hackers who may wish to access your bank or credit card details. Any site worth its salt will detail the encryption technology it uses, so you know that you’ll be protected against fraud.

If something should go wrong while you’re playing at an online casino, or if you have a query about anything to do with gaming rules or the site itself, you want to be able to ask for help. These sites allow you to play 24/7, so it is only fair that they provide support to their customers 24/7 too. Look for sites that offer this 24 hour service, whether it is via email, live online chat or by telephone.

Forums are a great place to hear all the latest news about online casinos. Not only will you meet some interesting people here, but you’ll get to swap gaming tips too. Word travels fast on the net and this means that news of the best bonuses or big payouts will soon become available at the forums, and any online casino that has disappointed its customers will soon be talked about online too. This provides a handy guide to favoured sites as well as sites to avoid.

Look for sites that are audited by an independent body. This will be made clear on reputable websites. Your best bet is to stick to sites that are popular, like 32Red.com – to find out more visit their Casino They have won the Best Online Casino award for 8 years running and their customer base is huge.