Online Casinos 2012 - Comparative Look

With years of experience, reporting about, and reviewing online casinos, we have taken on comparing the best brands in the business, according to the following criteria:

• Player Experience
• Bonuses and Promotions
• VIP Programs
• Customer Support
• Payment Methods

In the end of the video, we offer our recommendation - the top 4 casinos we strongly recommend you join and play.

Innovations in Online Gambling

Several notable online casinos have celebrated a decade in the past year - some even longer. Naturally we expect them to bring something new to the table in 2012, and some are certainly doing so.

William Hill Casino sport the one-account system, with which players can make a deposit at the sportsbook and use the funds to play at the casino, and across all platforms. Streaming high-definition video footage from the Live Casino is another technological innovation from William Hill.

888casino is taking personalization to a new level, with a new version to its casino. Here the system identifies games the player likes, and allows adding games with drag & drop to create your own personal gaming portal. 888casino's 3D games are continuing to grow in popularity.

We've also learned more about the new system from Bet-at.eu, which is unique in the casino landscape. They call it: Return to Player, and it provides real-time stats for players that allow them to track their progress towards claiming whichever bonus they have chosen.

Bet365 Casino's approach is not a ton of games, but rather the best games, cherry-picked from a number of game developers. As a matter of fact, bet365 Casino features games from about 27 different game developers!

Bonuses and Promotions

One of the first questions players ask when signing up to a casino is about the bonuses. William Hill realize that, and offer just about any bonus a player can dream of: first deposit bonus, high roller bonus, monthly loyalty bonuses, refer a friend bonus, free cash and more.

Other brands are identified with a flagship offer. In the case of Swiss Casino it is a €400 Welcome Bonus, which consists of four steps, each a full 100% bonus of up to €100 on every deposit.

Players will also be wise to select promotions depending on where they are playing from. For example, GrandReef Casino, which designs its promotions for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

VIPs and High Rollers

Competing for your patronage, casinos have especially developed their VIP Clubs and High Roller offers. Take 888 for example; they fly their VIP players around the world!

Swiss Casino presents a simplified 3-tier VIP Club, with faster withdrawals, better conversion rates on comp points, and higher game limits.

At Bet-at.eu, the same Bonus Program applies to regular players and high rollers, with the option to choose your bonus structure in advance.

Customer Service

The customer service at Swiss Casino is the highest ranked in our books. Quick and responsive Live Chat escorts the player throughout all stages; having a representative answering your questions in real-time makes everything much easier.

Bet365 Casino has Call Back service, where a Customer Service advisor calls the players back at the earliest possible opportunity.

We also got this advice, from 888 Casino, about the best way to contact the Help Desk: it's either phone for urgent matters or email for the reliable way which allows you to keep a record of all communications.

Payment Methods

Casinos have also expanded the list of payment solutions accepted for deposits and withdrawals. We enter 2012 with more payment methods available for players than ever before. Some casinos excel with their offering:

51 payment methods including exclusive methods William Hill Casino and over 40 at 888casino, for example.

Check out the drop-down menu on the Cashier at Swiss Casino, where you can pick the country where you live and see a list of payment options available in that country.

A similar table tailored to the player's locale is available at bet365 Casino, although here you can choose with which currency you wish to make the deposit or withdrawal.

Notice e-Wallets allow players full control and oversight of their deposits. e-Wallets are funded to certain amounts and cannot exceed these amounts, which is a big reason they are growing in popularity and can be found on our recommended casino brands.

Bottom Line

And so, based on field research and interviews we've held recently, comments we receive from players, 12 years of industry experience, and trying the casinos hands-on, we bring you the top 4 casinos - all trusted brands with proven satisfaction levels:

• 888 Casino
• Bet365 Casino
• Swiss Casino
• William Hill Casino

Please leave your comments below from your experience at these and other casinos. Have fun and remember to play safe!