What exactly is an online casino?

Online casinos are extremely popular these days as players switch from going to actual casinos to playing them on their mobile devices or desktop computer. They are also known as virtual casinos and in most cases they are an online version of traditional brick and mortar casinos.

These casinos enable players to place bets through using the internet and this is commonly known as online gambling. It is this ease of access that has made them so popular among players nowadays.

An attractive feature of online casinos is that they usually offer odds and RTPs (Return to Player) at a more attractive rate than traditional casinos. Most online casinos contain a variety of slot machines and in most cases, they will display the actual RTP of the game and this can usually be found in the rules of a slot machine. This is a big advantage compared to land-based casinos as you have to really look for the RTP in games or in some cases, ask the casino staff about it.

The majority of online casinos have deals with software developers in order to display their slots on their sites. Microgaming, Playtech, Play N’ Go, NetEnt, and Quickspin are some of the biggest software producers in the online gaming industry right now. However, there are some online casinos that have their own games developed in-house and this is a neat way of drawing players in with original games you won’t find anywhere else.

In the past, players would have to download a piece of software in order to play an online casino and some casinos still offer this service but almost all online casinos worth their salt are web-based and run entirely from an internet browser. Online casino games are usually flash or java based and these plugins are found in most internet browsers so no need to download any additional software in order to play these games.

Online casinos provide a vast range of games to browse through and these range from simple fruit machines, tv/movie-based slots through to themed-games featuring jokers, leprechauns, animals, nature and so on. Most games contain 5 reels and paylines can range from 15 all the way up to 243. They also offer bonus features such as free spins and additional games.

A lot of online casinos also offer a Live Casino section and this was designed to appeal to players who prefer a more authentic bricks and mortar kind of casino experience right from the comfort of their own home. In the Live Casino, players will deal with a virtual dealer or in some cases, an actual dealer via an HD live streaming video link. They can place bets and pick cards in various classic casino games like roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, and so on. These types of casinos are a lot more expensive to run because you need croupiers, more IT staff, cameras, and a live studio but it really does pay off as players seem to be flocking to them more and more now.

One last feature to mention about online casinos is that most are fully optimised for mobile and tablet devices so pages are fully responsive and games can be played instantly. This creates a very unique and interactive experience compared to the desktop version as players tend to use the touchscreen a lot more than a mouse and keyboard.