How to Set Up a New Online Casino Account

Contributor

With so many online casinos available, including all the new casinos launching to the internet each year, it can be tough to know where to start. Here is a useful guide to choosing an online casino, what to check before signing up, and what the registration process involves.

Choosing an Online Casino

Decide which online casino best suits you by considering:

Transfer/Deposit Methods: whether you want to earn cashback with a credit card, protect transfers with an e-wallet or limit your spend with a prepaid card – check your favoured method is accepted
Currency: online casinos don't necessarily accept all currencies, so check whether your native currency is accepted and, if not, whether they will convert it for you
Bonuses: as well as headline figures, you'll need to choose between matched bets, matched deposits and more – don't forget to check wagering requirements before signing up

Background Checks

When you set up a new online casino account, there are some key things that you should confirm.

Casinos operating in the UK will be subject to EU law, and are often registered in Gibraltar. You'll find the country of registration in help sections or on page footers
Customer funds should be kept separate from company money, details of which can be found in Terms & Conditions
Maximum payouts, which limit how much a casino will award on certain games/bets
Independent monthly payout stats, which show that games are fair. Usually found at the base of the casino page, they look like this

All operators listed on Gambling.com are subject to the above steps and must pass them before they can appear on the site.

Sign-up Details

When registering with an online casino, you'll be asked for your personal details. This is to prove that you're a resident with the legal right to gamble, that you're over the legal gambling age, and to keep your account secure and protected against fraud.

Common fields in registration forms are:

Name
Sex
Date of Birth
Email Address
Telephone Number
Full Address (where you live for most of the year)
Username (your login)
Password
Security Question (e.g. Mother's maiden name)
Betting Currency

Sign-Up Options

Other fields frequently found on sign-up forms are:

Newsletter sign-ups, which often contain special offers/bonuses
Where to receive your newsletter (e.g. phone, email, post)
Deposit limits, which can help ensure you don't overspend
Promo Codes (to claim special offers)

Deposit Process

Once you've signed up, you'll need to transfer money into your account:

Go to the Deposit page
Check whether your chosen payment method has time restraints or charges before making a deposit. You can find this in the casino's Help section or terms and conditions
Select your desired payment method
Input the account details
Choose whether to save them or not
Select your deposit amount
Confirm

Identity Validation

Most casinos allow you to play immediately after your first deposit has cleared. However, there will be limits until you provide supporting documents confirming your identity, age and address. This is because online casinos, like all financial companies, are subject to 'Know Your Customer' laws.

You'll be asked for a scan/fax of photo ID, which can be a passport, driving licence, or a photographic National Identification Card, and an official letter from the last three months – either a utility bill, or a bank statement.

Once you've followed all the above steps and supplied these documents, your account will be fully functional.