After reviewing scads of online casino sites, we've started to get a real clear idea of what players are looking for in a site. The best online casinos offer a variety of gameplay (different types of slots, blackjack, roulette, etc.), a clean and intuitive lobby with ample stats, and a secure cashier with reliable payouts.
Oh, and one other thing: freebies. The best online casino players are looking for the best odds, and getting something for nothing is about as good as they get. That's why, following our list of the best online casinos overall, we've also listed those sites that give the best bonuses, both matching/deposit bonuses and the “freest” of freebies, No Deposit Bonuses.
Our research has concluded that these are the overall best online casinos: Golden Palace Online Casino, 7 Sultans Casino, InterCasino, Casino-on-Net, UK Casino Club, Black Jack Ballroom Casino, English Harbour Casino, Spin Palace Casino, and Casino Fortune.
When looking at the best online casinos with No Deposit Bonuses, remember that No Deposit Bonuses come with wagering requirements that you must meet before you are permitted to withdraw them (or whatever's left of them after the wagering requirements have been met). Even the best online casinos with the best No Deposit Bonuses have wagering requirements so high that it'll be quite the challenge to keep the bonus fully intact before you've qualified to withdraw it.
But if you go into these best online casinos with the intention of using their No Deposit Bonus to test their waters, to feel out the online casino and its patrons before deciding to commit your own hard-earned money to your chip stack, then you'll maximize your use of the No Deposit Bonus with no unrealistic expectations of actually pocketing the bulk of that $10 or $15 at the end of the day.
The best online casinos with no deposit bonuses that we've found include the following: At 25 pounds sterling, Gaming Club Online Casino; followed by $25 (Jackpot City Online Casino), $16 (Captain Cooks Casino, Casino Kingdom, Miami Paradise Casino), $15 (7 Sultans Casino, Aces High Casino, Piggs Peak Casino and Sci Fi Casino).
It's much easier, however, to walk away from the best online casinos with some of your deposit bonus/matching bonus intact. As the wagering requirements are typically more reasonable for the bonuses that do require a deposit first, you can really make an entrance whenever you sit down at any new online casino's tables for the first time backed by an intimidating chip stack.
The best online casino bonuses we've found include the following: $200 bonus for a $50 deposit (Lucky Nugget Online Casino, AllJackpotsCasino and Gaming Club Online Casino); $300 bonus for a $100 deposit (Golden Palace Casino, Aspinalls Casino); $150 bonus for a $50 deposit (Spin Palace Casino); $90 bonus for a $50 deposit (VIP Casino); $250 bonus for a $125 deposit (Lasseters Online Casino); and $200 bonus for a $100 deposit (Captain Cooks Casino and Royal Vegas Online Casino).
Of course, bonuses and bonus structures are changing all the time, and which casino is truly the best online casino is up to you, the player. What's important to you at an online casino? Certain games? Certain stakes? Promotions? Atmosphere/ambience? Celebrity endorsement? Heck, the best online casino for you may not even be on these lists, but we've at the very least given you a jumpstart on your search and a solid guidepost by which to gauge any other online casinos you investigate.