2. A reputable online gambling casino will usually list the payout results of their previous games – this provides a good indication of what can be expected but players should still play those games that will give them the highest payout.

3. Players should make sure that the online casino they are using is in possession of a valid license. Legitimate online casinos usually operate in specific areas, such as Argentina, Israel, Australia, South Africa, Mauritius, Austria, India and Canada and an online casino with a license is more reputable and trustworthy.

4. Any reputable and trustworthy online casino should have an ‘About Us’ or ‘Company Information’ section on their website. The casino should be transparent with regards to their history, management structure and origination. Beginners are encouraged to stay away from those online casinos that are reluctant to divulge company information to their prospective or existing players.

5. Customer Support is integral when using an online casino, as errors and problems do occur. Ensure that the online casino you want to use has a support line available – these can be email, chat or telephone options but the Customer Support information should be clearly displayed on the website.

6. While there are a vast number of online casinos available on the internet, a credible online casino will use software from a reputable software manufacturer, such as Microgaming, Playtech and Real Time Gaming.

7. The Terms and Conditions of Play are also important and should be displayed on the online casino’s website for players to read. Items such as payout clauses, geographic restrictions and other clauses will be listed here and these can differ from online casino to online casino.

Okay, so how do I start gambling online?

One of the best ways of choosing an online casino is to follow the recommendations of an online casino / gambling guide, such as this one. The websites and online casinos recommended have been testes and vetted by the editors of the gambling guide sites.

The first step is to choose an online casino site. Go to the chosen site and click on the ‘Download’ software button that should be on the home page of the gambling site - this will place the software you need to play the games onto your PC. Next click on the ‘Save’ option and select where you want the programme to be saved on your hard drive and once the file has finished transferring select the ‘Open’ button.

This will open up the online casino software on your PC and you will be able to install the programme from here. This should take between 5 and 10 minutes and once this is completed, you will be asked to open an online account at the casino you are visiting.

You will be given a choice of ‘play money’ and ‘real money’ accounts when creating your online casino account. Make your choice and follow the prompts to fill in your personal details, such as name, address, contact details and age (remember you must be over the age of 18 to gamble). The ‘play money’ and ‘real money’ accounts are separate and if you want to move between the accounts, you will need to register them separately.

If you choose to play for ‘real money’, you will need to locate and click on the ‘Cashier’ button in order to add funds to your account. There are a range of secure online banking options which can be used. Most online gambling portals offer welcome or new player bonuses – remember to take these up!

Once you have opened your account and deposited your funds with Cashier, you will now be able to choose a game from the casino’s lobby menu and open this game to play. Once the game has opened you will be able to select the value of your bets and tailor the game according to your budgets and needs. Try to read the rules of the game before playing as this will give you some helpful tips.