With the enormous market for casino games that has been opened up by the Internet, hundreds of casinos now compete for business online and via mobile. The sheer range of choices available to casino games fans is in itself an advantage to punters; if an online casino disappoints in any way, it takes a mere click of a mouse or a tap on a touchscreen to move on to a competitor with a better offering.

Add to this the fact that online players are constantly connecting via discussion forums, chat rooms and review sites, sharing good and bad online casino experiences, and it quickly becomes apparent that these operations have only one area in which they can seriously compete to attract more business than the competition: by offering more players better bonuses and bigger pay-outs more often. In other areas, such as safety, security and user-friendliness at online casinos, there is no competitive edge to be shaved; no margin to exploit. The standard has to begin at “excellent”, and only go higher from there.

Safety and Security is a Two-Way Street

Anyone using online services that involve access to their banking details and other personal information needs to be aware of their own responsibility, as much as the casino’s, regarding safety and security. Ensuring laptops, desktops and other devices have regularly updated anti-virus software should be a primary concern of anyone transacting online, as should using encryption technology, where appropriate.

It is up to players to keep their passwords safe; to use different passwords on different sites, and to update them regularly; they must also be wary of phishing scams, and know better than to download and install unfamiliar programmes from unverified sites without first scanning them for malware. These are the basics that a player can do to maintain safety and security at online and mobile casinos; naturally, the casinos also have a vested interest in fulfilling their own responsibilities regarding safety and security.

Reputable online casino have their games checked for fairness by independent auditors; their sites will display certification that their games conform to certain standards in respect of payout percentages, house-to-player odds and actually paying out winnings. They will also display security certifications, assuring players that their data and their bank accounts will remain protected.

User-Friendliness: a Modern Must

User-friendliness at Rival online casinos is another must-have, and the concept embraces several areas. Online gamblers tend to seek a variety of entertainment online, and speed of access is one of the ways to hold their attention. Whether they choose to play casino games directly through an Internet browser or download casino apps, speedy loading and play are a plus. Digital game designers who create the most popular games perfectly tread the fine line between creating more detailed graphics and sound effects, to replicate a more authentic casino experience, and streamlined, pared-down code to create the quickest interactions online.

Over and above that, the games must be simple and intuitive to play, so features like the auto-spin cycles on many slots games become important to user-friendliness. Free casino sites attached to real-money operations where players can try out games for fun; welcome bonuses for new registrations; regular free-bet bonuses for registered players: these are just some of the incentives online casinos offer to improve user-friendliness and attract more custom.