Internet casinos for dummies

[Just Learning]

HELP! I need an online casino for the new and easily confused.

That's right! When it comes to online casinos I am a total dummie. I would like to start playing BJ at an online casino, BUT I am very cautious. It scares me that I can't go knock on the casinos door and get my money. What if they cheat me? I am a person that belives 10% of what I hear and 50% of what I see.

Is there a reputable online casino that will stay around. Also, will they pay me ontime. Do they have good rules? I don't want to download any software that contains spyware.

This BJ fourm has the best info because it comes from the regular people that vist all types of casinos. So if you could please let me know what you think.

Also a BIG thank you to Ken Smith for running this web site. It has been a gold mine of information for me. Also if you (Ken Smith) would respond to this thread, I am sure everyone would like to know your opinion.

[KenSmith]

I'll give you a few recommendations for a first-time player:

Microgaming casinos are probably the easiest software to use, and that's a great place to start.

Here are links to a couple of Microgaming casinos:
Mummy's Gold Casino (I've been playing some good promotions here recently.)
Wild Jack Casino

However, Microgaming is mostly single player. (A few now offer a multi-player version, but I'm not impressed with it.)

If you want to play multi-player blackjack and interact with other players at the table, consider one of these Cryptologic-powered casinos:
Intercasino (busiest multi-player tables)
Sands of the Caribbean

After trying out Crypto and Micro software, the next group I would recommend is Playtech software.
Here's a good one:
Kiwi Casino

Before you do anything, be aware that your credit cards are probably not going to work for depositing. I recommend funding your accounts from your bank account via http://www.neteller.com
Don't be in a hurry to get going. Depositing into Neteller is free if you use the EFT method (not InstaCash). It'll take about a week for the funds to be available at Neteller. After that, you can easily deposit from Neteller into any casino.

I've named a few names here, but they are just a few among many reputable places you can gamble online. If you see a casino advertised on this site, it is because I deem them to be reputable, reliable, and fair. I also have a no-frills list of many good casinos separated by software, here:
http://www.slotcharts.com/casinos.php

For blackjack, Microgaming Vegas Strip Blackjack is the best choice among their many choices. Cryptologic rules are typical 8-deck, except they do offer a single-deck with a $25 minimum and OK rules (H17 though). Playtech's best game is Blackjack Switch, but that requires a complicated strategy. The best normal Playtech blackjack game is Blackjack Surrender.

I know this is a blackjack site, but I'll also talk a little about slots. I rarely play slots at a land-based casino, but it's not that unusual for me to play some online. There are three main reasons for that: First, I sometimes play bonuses that require slot play for the wagering requirements. Second, my experience has been that online casino payouts on slots are more generous than at land-based casinos. And third, I find the games online at Microgaming and Playtech casinos to be much more interesting than land-based slots.

Hope this helps, -Ken-

[TimeKeeper]

But all these online casinos you just listed shuffle after each hand right Ken?

[KenSmith]

Almost all do. In that list there are two exceptions. At Sands and Intercasino, if you play the multi-player version of blackjack, they deal 2 decks out of 8 between shuffles. It's not much, and it takes a big spread and lots of patience to make a small expected profit by counting, but at least it's good practice.

Note that the single player versions in these casinos shuffle every hand.

[newbie]

Are any online casino's owned and operated by the real life walk in casino's. I would think that if the real casino has an online casino, then if there is a problem, we could go to the real casino?

[newbie]

Originally Posted by TimeKeeper

But all these online casinos you just listed shuffle after each hand right Ken?

A few years back I seen an online casino advertising somewhere(don't remember where) that they use "real live" dealers to deal the blackjack cards. You make your bet and the real dealer dealt the cards. The camera was on the dealer, so were watching every move he made(if he shuffled for instance). Has anybody heard of this online blackjack game or if it still exists? Website?

[Tony Roq]

I recently bought Arnold Snyder's book on Internet gambling and I'm chomping at the bit to get started but I find that the terms and conditions on most casinos have got much tougher since the book was published (which was only last year). For ex, the casinos that won't allow blackjack to meet the WR, etc. Would just like to get an opinion on the current state of online gaming, if it's still worth it now to go chasing those bonuses. Seems like it still is, judging from all the talk.

[KenSmith]

I don't know if it's still worth it or not. I'm not playing bonuses much anymore, but maybe that's because today's profit potential is nothing like the "good ol' days" of 2000 to 2004. Surely some of you visitors are still working this. What's the word these days?

[ScottH]

There are still some good bonuses out there. But as Ken mentioned, it's not as great as it used to be. More and more sites are making blackjack count for only 1/2 the WR, or have a really high WR. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before making your deposit. However, it is still quite profitable if you look hard enough. It's not even that hard, many of the good bonuses have been discussed right on this forum.

In my opinion online bonuses is a great thing for a beginning AP. You can play thousands and thousands of hands to get BS down cold, all while building yourself a nice little bankroll. I highly recommend bonus hunting, but you should be aware if there are any legal restrictions where you will play.

[Tom007]

I played online casinos to build my bankrole for counting at landbased casinos. I chased bonuses until they were too hard to find and made $1500 in about 5 months. I rarely busted out but always bet minimum until I cleared the bonus.
highly recomended.

Good luck

007