UK Casino beginners guide.

What are online casinos and how do they work?

Online casinos operate in very much the same way as normal casinos. You use your credit card to deposit your stake money.The online casino uses random number generators to give the outcome of the casino games. When you win, your winnings are paid to you, either back onto your credit card or by sending you a cheque.

How safe are online casinos to use?

It's impossible to vouch for every online casino available on the internet. However, the casinos we bring you on Casino Groove are all leading poker sites renownded for their security and fair pay out rates. Most casino pay out rates are monitored by PriceWaterHouseCoopers, the world's largest accountancy firm. All transactions made to them are secure so you can deposit money with confidence.

Are online casinos UK or overseas based?

While some do have UK offices, all online casino transactions are completed on offshore servers, usually under the jurisdictions of Canada or Gibraltar although there are others; as there is no law allowing online casinos to operate in the UK.

So is online gambling legal?

Yes. Unlike in the US, no law passed in the UK to date states that is illegal to use online casinos. The UK government is perfectly aware of online gambling.

Could these online casinos cheat?

As we only feature leading, reputable online casinos on the Casino Groove site, you can feel more assured that they are fair. Indeed, if any online casino is found cheating, it would have its license revoked. From the casino's point of view, it is not in their long term interest to be anything other than fair in order to retain their online customers. All online casinos on our site use random number generators for their results.

Which is best, my Credit or Debit Card?

Most, if not all, casinos allow you to play for fun, without having to put money down. This is a great way for you to learn how to play a better game before you start staking money. Your odds of winning are no different whether you play for fun or real money. When depositing real money, you can usually use a credit or debit card, although we would advise you use a debit card. Debit cards are easier for the casinos to process, and they can pay winnings back to debit cards in some cases as opposed to a cheque. Some casinos, 32Red for instance, offer better bonuses for debit card users.

What's all this about 'Free Money' and 'Bonuses'?

Most casinos offer a 'free money' incentive or 'bonus' to join their particular casino. Here in the UK, these are usually in pounds sterling and although there are terms and conditions applied, they do mean what they say.

When selecting a bonus, make sure you find out whether its an instant or delayed bonus. Some casinos pay you straight away (instant bonus) whilst others will pay you within 24 hours(delayed bonus).

To gain your bonuses requires a 'turn'. For example, a '£25 bonus with a 20 times turn' means you will need to wager £500 through the casino before you can withdraw (20 x £25 = £500). Although this might sound like a lot of money, it actually isn't, as transactions occur as you go up and down against the dealer.

Which games should I start with?

Our advice is simple. From day one, simply stick to what you know. Find a simple game such as Blackjack or slots. this will help you to get a feel for the casino, how it works, the payment mechanisms and the technical support team.

Then when you feel more confident, try other games - for fun at first - until you figure them out.