Online casinos are the virtual equivalent of traditional brick-and-mortar establishments that allow you to place wagers on casino games using your computer or mobile device. Almost all of the same casino games that you can play in person can also be found at an online casino, and in many cases you can play them for real money. In addition, online casinos have a number of benefits that traditional brick-and-mortar casinos do not offer.

In 1996, InterCasino became the first regulated online casino when it accepted real money wagers from players worldwide. Since then, the industry has grown dramatically and there are now over 1,000 licensed online casinos operating in various jurisdictions across the globe. In the US, there are more than 50 state-licensed sites offering a wide range of casino games. In addition, many of these sites are regulated by a recognized gambling authority like the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority in the UK.

Most online casinos accept a variety of different payment methods, and they should make these options easy to find on their websites. Popular methods include PayPal, which allows players to move funds between accounts quickly and securely, as well as credit cards and bank transfers. Some online casinos even offer cryptocurrency payments, such as Bitcoin. These are usually a little slower than the other methods, but they can provide added privacy and anonymity.

Some online casinos specialize in a particular area of the market, such as high-stakes roulette or generous casino bonuses. Others may have excellent game selection or rapid payouts, while still others are known for their commitment to responsible gambling initiatives. All of these factors contribute to a casino’s reputation, and you should look for one that fits your personal preferences.

A casino online can be accessed on your desktop, laptop or mobile device. Once you’ve chosen a site, simply click the “Sign Up” or “Register” button to create an account. You’ll need to provide some basic personal information, such as your name and address. Once your account has been verified, you can begin playing.

The best casino online will offer multiple customer support channels, including live chat and email. They’ll also be very clear about their terms and conditions, and they’ll make their contact details easy to find. The top casinos will even have a sticky live chat button that follows you around their website so you can contact them at any time.

There are currently seven states in the United States that offer legal online casino action, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. However, Ohio residents are unable to gamble at a regulated online casino, as the state’s voters rejected legislation to legalize the activity. The state does, however, have a few tribal casinos that accept in-person gambling action.