Now that bingo has become such a popular pastime on the web, more and more new bingo sites are trying to attract players, making it increasingly difficult for newcomers to choose the right online bingo website to suit their needs. If you are looking to get started in the world of online bingo, here are a few pointers to get you on the right track.
First and foremost, you should only ever play at a bingo website that is licensed by a reputable gaming authority. The big UK sites will generally be licensed in Alderney (in the Channel Islands), the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Malta. These authorities demand that their licensees operate to the highest levels of security and fair play.
Bingo sites licensed in these territories will normally offer a good range of deposit and withdrawal options - Visa, MasterCard and Delta are the most widely available credit cards, while eWallet solutions, such as Neteller and Moneybookers, are well catered for. Reputable sites will also handle transactions with the latest in security and encryption technology.
However, as every online bingo player has different tastes, what should next be taken into consideration are the games and features provided. Every site will offer the standard bingo games, but there will also be extra additions, including slots, side games and sometimes even casino games, such as Blackjack or Roulette.
There will, of course, be other extra features to consider, such as a site's chat facilities, but especially for newcomers to the game, bonuses and promotions will be a hugely important factor.
Bingo sites will normally have a 'signup' or 'welcome' bingo bonus to attract new players. They can sometimes advertise generous offers of free money or even up to 200% of the deposit value, but don't expect this extra cash to be handed over to you straight away.
Any funds earned through a bonus promotion will be added to a special 'bonus' portion of your account and a wagering requirement will need to be met in order to make the cash available to withdraw. It is the wagering requirement that will usually dictate whether a promotion is right for you. Some sites will have higher wagering requirements than others and certain online bingo games may be excluded from the promotion.
As easy as it is to find these bonuses, it is becoming more popular for sites to offer free bingo to new players, without the need for a deposit. This will be the best way to grow accustomed to a site before you make any commitment and it can still be possible to win money, although it will still come in the form of bonus funds.
So this is all good news for newcomers to online bingo, but choosing the right site doesn't stop there - what happens after you take advantage of these introductory offers is just as important.
It will be worth checking a bingo site's promotions page to see what bonuses and incentives they provide to regular customers. Most of the big-name sites will have one-off games and competitions with huge jackpots - great way to win big at bingo.