- Casino
- Best Online Casinos
- Fast Paying Casinos
- Live Dealer
- Offshore Casinos
- Safest Casinos
- Best Sites by Game
- Sports Betting
- Best Online Sportsbooks
- Election Betting
- Football Betting
- Offshore Sportsbooks
- Safest Sportsbooks
- Entertainment Betting
- Best Sites by Sport
- Poker
- US Casinos
- Reviews
Home » Gambling
How to Gamble Online – Complete Guide
Author: Ben Morris | Last Updated: August 2024If you want to learn how to gamble online, we’ve got you covered.
The world of internet casinos and sportsbooks can be a daunting place, with hundreds of different websites to choose from. Granted, there is a lot to learn, so we created this uncomplicated guide to help you get started and be successful.
Can you make money gambling online? Absolutely! Continue reading to get up to speed on the basics of online gambling, how to join a betting site, and of course, how to earn money gambling online.
Our Top Picks
Gambling Online: The BasicsGambling Online: The Basics
Before you think about anything else, you need to understand the basics of online gambling. If you nail the fundamentals, you will give yourself a far better chance of being successful.
Are you serious about learning how to gamble online and make money? If your answer is yes, be sure to begin with our step-by-step guide.
1Step 1: Choose a Gambling SiteThe first thing you need to do is choose a gambling site. Your decision will be influenced by a variety of external factors, as well as your personal preferences.
Start by determining which forms of gambling you want to partake in. If you enjoy playing slots and table games, you’ll want to explore online casinos. If you prefer wagering on sports, you’ll want to explore online sportsbooks. There are also sites dedicated to poker and other forms of gambling.
Next, we recommend considering what the site offers outside of gambling, including:
- Licensing – It’s important to check that your operator holds a legitimate gambling license, and the site is regulated by an official organization.
- Bonuses and Promotions – Nearly all gambling sites offer bonuses and promotions, but they vary in size and value. Remember to check the site’s selection of offers before deciding whether to sign up.
- Banking Options – Some gambling sites prefer debit/credit card payments, while others specialize in crypto. It’s your job to find a site that suits your banking preferences.
- Game Selection – Do you want to play slots, table games, or video poker? Are you interested in live dealer games? Do you want to try games for free?
- Bet Variety – If sports betting is your thing, be sure to check that your site has the sports, events, and markets that you want to wager on.
2Step 2: Sign Up and DepositOnce you’ve chosen a gambling site, you can sign up and create an account. Most sites require you to enter some personal details, such as your name, date of birth, email address, home address, and phone number. Some sites also require you to verify your account by providing a form of ID.
To start betting, you’ll need to add funds to your account. Head to the cashier section of your chosen site, select your preferred payment method, and enter the amount you wish to deposit. Also, remember to consider the minimum/maximum deposit limits.
Here are the common banking methods that online casinos and sportsbooks offer:
- Debit/Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin)
- E-Wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz)
- Conventical Methods (Bank Wire Transfer, Check)
Don’t forget to claim any available bonuses when making your first deposit. Nearly all gambling sites have some kind of welcome offer. Some bonuses require you to enter a promo code, while others are applied automatically.
3Step 3: Choose Your GameOnline casinos offer a wide range of games. The most popular options are slots, tables games, and video poker games. Some casinos also offer specialty titles and live dealer games. If you want to replicate the feel of a real-life casino, we suggest trying live dealer games.
The most popular online casino game types are:
- Slots (Classic, Video, Progressive Jackpot, Megaways)
- Table Games (Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps)
- Video Poker (Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, Aces & Eights)
- Specialty Games (Bingo, Keno, Scratch Cards, Game Shows)
- Live Dealer Games (Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Game Shows)
If you want to partake in sports betting, you can choose from a broad selection of leagues, events, and markets. Online sportsbooks offer tons of wagers across dozens of sports. Check out our beginner’s guide to sports betting for more information on how to get started.
4Step 4: Playthrough and WithdrawalThe final step of the process involves meeting the terms of your bonus and withdrawing your winnings. If you’re serious about learning how to make money gambling online, you can’t afford to ignore this step.
A wagering requirement – also known as playthrough or rollover – relates to the amount of money you need to bet in order to be eligible for a payout. For example, if your bonus is subject to a 5x wagering requirement, you need to bet five times the combined amount of your deposit and bonus.
When you’re ready to make a withdrawal, head back to the cashier section. Select your preferred banking method and enter the amount you wish to withdraw. Fast-paying online casinos can process your withdrawal within a few hours, while others can take a few days.
How to Make Money Gambling Online
Not everyone who gambles online intends to pad their pockets. Some people simply enjoy playing casino games or betting on their favorite sports team. However, if you’re looking to learn how to make money from gambling online, there are a few steps that you need to follow.
Of course, there is no secret recipe when it comes to learning how to gamble online. If betting was easy, we’d all be millionaires, right? That said, there are several steps that you can take to give yourself a better chance of being successful in the long run.
Here’s our advice on how to gamble online and make money:
Set a Budget
Setting a budget when gambling online is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, it gives you financial control. It ensures that you don’t spend more money than you can afford to lose, making it easier to stick to your limits and avoid impulsive betting.
Budgets also promote healthy habits and self-discipline. They encourage responsible gambling practices and make you aware of your betting behavior, so you’ll be able to enjoy gambling for longer without having to worry about losing large sums of money.
The best gambling sites allow you to set daily, weekly, and monthly betting limits to help you stay in control of your spending. We recommend utilizing as many budget-related tools as possible to keep gambling fun.
Practice for Free First
One of the best things about safe online casinos is their range of free games. Sure, casino operators always want to make a profit on their customers’ spending. But many sites offer free games alongside their real money options.
There are many benefits to practicing online casino games before parting ways with your cash. The most obvious advantage is risk-free learning. By playing a game for free, you can get to grips with the rules and understand how the game works.
On top of that, it gives you the opportunity to develop a strategy and hone your skills. For example, if you’ve never tried blackjack but want to start playing online, you can try a free version and learn the ins and outs of the game before putting any money on the table.
Most online casinos offer demo versions of various games, so you won’t struggle to find free-to-play blackjack games, poker games, and even skill-based slots.
Understand RTP, House Edge, and Volatility
If you already know a thing or two about gambling, you may have heard of terms like RTP, house edge, and volatility. Well, you need to fully understand each of these terms when it comes to mastering how to earn money gambling online.
Lucky for you, we explain each term here:
-
- RTP – Expressed as a percentage, Return to Player (RTP) indicates how much of the total money wagered on a game is expected to be returned to players as winnings over time. For example, if a slot game has an RTP of 95%, it means that, on average, for every $100 wagered, $95 will be returned to players.
-
- House Edge – The house edge represents the mathematical advantage that the casino holds over players. Effectively, it’s the opposite of RTP. If a game has a house edge of 5%, the casino expects to keep $5 for every $100 wagered. A game’s house edge is calculated based on the rules and probabilities.
-
- Volatility – Volatility refers to the level of risk associated with a casino game, considering the variability of the game’s payouts. Low-volatility games produce smaller wins more frequently, while high-volatility games produce larger wins less frequently.
Naturally, some games are more volatile than others. Slot machines with progressive jackpots tend to be high volatility, while table games such as blackjack and baccarat are typically low-to-medium volatility.
Understanding RTP, house edge, and volatility can help you make informed decisions about which games to play. If you familiarize yourself with the probabilities and dynamics of a game, you will only give yourself a better chance of winning money.
Learn Basic Strategy
Some games like RNG slots and roulette are based entirely on luck. While you can bet on different outcomes in roulette, the result is determined by where the ball lands on the wheel. However, some casino games require strategy.
For instance, people use strategies to help them beat the house in blackjack. Depending on your cards and the dealer’s visible card, you can utilize different methods to decide when to hit, stand, double down, or split. Card counting is another option, although it’s hard to master.
Poker games such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud also involve strategy. Not only can you understand poker probabilities and odds, but you can also work on reading your opponents and bluffing. This can come in handy when partaking in live dealer poker online.
Let’s not forget about sports betting, too. By following patterns and trends within statistics, sports bettors can utilize strategies to help them get the better of the bookies.
Ultimately, learning basic strategy can help you improve your chances of winning money. Knowing how to gamble online is one thing, but developing winning strategies for casino games and sports will take your experience to the next level.
How to Stop Online Gambling
Most people who want to learn how to gamble online intend to enjoy casino games or sports betting. Unfortunately, though, gambling can become more than a hobby and can even develop into an addiction.
Now that you know how to gamble online, we want to share a handful of helpful resources with you. If you or anyone you know battles with problem gambling, we strongly encourage you to make use of these resources:
- GamblingSites.org’s Help for Online Gambling Addiction Page – Our dedicated page contains information about how to spot the signs of a gambling addiction. We also recommend a range of organizations for problem gamblers.
- National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) – This helpline is operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling. They offer 24/7 phone, mobile, and chat support in all 50 US states, Canada, and the Virgin Islands.
- Gamblers Anonymous – This national organization offers both virtual and in-person meetings to help problem gamblers. They also have phone helplines for all 50 US states, as well as Puerto Rico.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-487-4889) – Operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, this helpline is open 24/7 and connects you to local support groups, treatment, and other resources.
How to Gamble Online Summary
So, can you make money from online gambling? Yes, you can! As we mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees when it comes to betting. But if you grasp the fundamentals and follow a few simple principles, you could make a tasty profit.
There is no shortage of options for online gamblers. Many people prefer commercial gambling sites, while others favor offshore casinos and offshore sportsbooks. Offshore sites are licensed internationally but are available in multiple countries, including the US.
If you were wondering how to gamble online, we hope that you now have a greater understanding of the ins and outs of the process. All that’s left for you to do is join a site a begin your journey. Good luck!