You may or may not be an experienced online casino player but whatever your level of experience you can always gain more. Remember that our site experts are not just there to tell you which sites you should be playing at, they're also here to offer advice.
Here are some tips compiled by our experts to help you get started.
Gambling means taking risks, you're bound to win sometimes and lose sometimes. The thrill of not knowing when and if you will win is what makes it so exciting. However, chasing your losses is not a good idea. Some people think that if they do badly on a particular day that they should ignore it and carry on so that they can ‘make up’ their losses.
Some people also bet higher and higher stakes to ‘make up’ for the losses. But this often means that they stand a chance to lose even more money. Even experienced people with well managed betting strategies sometimes do this. Be disciplined and walk away from losses, it's the only way.
Winning and losing streaks can be dangerous. If you're on a winning streak, you might be tempted to bet more than you should on a particular hand or spin. If you're on a losing streak, you might also start betting too much because you are panicking about your losses. Be very careful of ‘betting systems’ that can drain the reserves of your bankroll very quickly which leads to the next tip.
Manage your available cash for online gambling very carefully. Many of the games use sophisticated random number generators (RNGs) and you cannot affect their outcomes. This means that you have to manage the one thing that is directly under your control - and that's your own cash. It's important you always set realistic limits for the amount of money you are prepared to wager.
Nothing forces you to play at an online casino for hours on end or even all day long. The games will still be there and you will still have the same chance to bet and win if you take some breaks. The odds are always random every time a new hand or game starts whether you are playing or not!
Drinking alcohol could lead to risky behaviour and you can end up losing large amounts of real cash if you are not careful. It is not worth spoiling your enjoyment of online casinos simply because you drank too much and played with false courage.
Make sure that the online casino offers a generous welcome (sign up) bonus. The reputable sites that we recommend all offer good bonuses! Your initial deposit and ongoing business should be rewarded by an online casino with real cash and with bonus conditions that are not too restrictive. Be on the lookout for regular reload bonuses and loyalty programs too.
There are many different games at every international online casino that welcomes New Zealanders. Start with the ones that you are most familiar with and perhaps test out some new ones by playing one of the free games to learn how they work. You should also be on the lookout for those that happily accept NZ dollars.
Often, playing a brand new game can seem a little daunting, especially when you're going to be risking your real cash on it. This is why we always recommend that you try the free play version first, giving you time to learn the ropes and develop your own playing strategy. Then, when you feel you're ready you can start making calculated real cash wagers.
Every casino must be using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology to protect their customers’ personal and financial information. If you don't know what that is, or cannot find where to look, then there are ways to shortcut the process. Go to the bottom of the homepage and look for the eCOGRA seal of approval. You could alternatively scout independent review sites like ours who have industry leading experts analyzing the casinos for you.
Often known as the ‘the maturity of chances’ or the Monte Carlo fallacy. Some people believe that if something happens more frequently than usual during a particular period, it is likely to happen less frequently in future. However, this not based on truth or logic. Gambling at online casinos is a game of chance and does not follow this rule. Do not fall into the trap of playing games according to this kind of wishful thinking.
Rounding off everything we've discussed, it's important to remember one thing! The best online casinos are there for entertainment. They are not there to steal your money, nor are they there to be tricked and scammed by hackers.
So enjoy your casino games and get as much fun as you can, don't take them too seriously and always gamble with money that you can afford to lose. One final point to remember, our top recommended casinos pay out millions of dollars every day. This means that in the process of having fun, you could actually change your life in a big way just by getting lucky!