I have enjoyed playing at land based casinos for several years, but still visit my local casino occasionally, but you will find some things that bother me. Being a smoker limits my playing options, as there are designated areas or rooms for smoking in Canadian casinos. I also hate how crowded it might get. People are constantly bumping your chair when trying to walk by, and it can take ages to get a drink. My wife and I go together, but can rarely sit side by side and play the slots. Then you see some couples sitting at two machines but only playing one.

I had thought about trying an online casino for years, but never did because I was always worried about getting ripped off. Finally one night when I had the itch to play slots, but did not want to bother with the annoyances at the casino, I decided to try playing online.

I had played at Maple Casino for fun as a 'guest' for quite a while and always enjoyed the games, so I signed up for a real money account and claimed their one hour free play bonus offer. Many casinos offer this sort of bonus. You are given a particular total amount to play with for one hour and they advertise you could keep the winnings with no deposit necessary. Reading the fine print tells you, for the bonus at Maple Casino, you may only claim up to $100 and you must deposit $40 so that you can claim it. On top of that, when you claim the bonus, you must wager it 30 times before you can cash out. It does not really seem fair to advertise it the way they do, but you will find it's still a really good bonus after seeing others.

Every online casino offers a welcome bonus, and it is crucial to read the terms and conditions of each bonus before you choose to claim it.

It is also quite important to do some research on the casino before signing up. There are some online casinos that don't like to pay their winners. A quick Google search of the casino name and adding the term "rogue" should give you a good idea.

When you decide to make a deposit at an online casino, check out the available payment options they offer. Some methods make it possible for you to play instantly, while some make you wait until funds are cleared. I prefer "Web Wallets" or "E-Wallets" like Instadebit or MoneyBookers, however you'll find usually a number of different options to select from and news it is best to figure out which one suits you most. Finding a method that is accessible for both deposits and withdrawals is the best way to go, since it is much faster when they process withdrawals to the method used for depositing.

At most online casinos, before you can withdraw any funds you need to provide identification, as the casino has to abide by money laundering rules and regulations. I recommend sending within the required documents, via email or fax, before attempting to make a withdrawal. Some individuals even recommend sending in these documents before you make your first deposit. Once your account is verified, withdrawals are usually processed quickly within the time stated within the casino conditions and terms.

There are lots of online casinos which are dependable and safe to play at. These casinos obviously realize the value of running the best business and being fair to their customers. Having happy customers, especially with the online business, can be very important because if things go wrong it is posted on related forums very quickly.

If you keep these few simple tips in mind, you may have a good time gambling at online casinos without having to worry about getting ripped off or running into issues.