Your Ultimate Guides to Online Gambling and Casino Games in 2023

The best way to dive into an appealing title or to refresh your knowledge of an oldie but goodie is by following an OCR gambling guide. These contain the ins and outs of casino games, including rules, tips, tricks, strategies, overviews, pros, cons, and other insights. Take your gaming to the next level and align your gambling session to your unique needs and wants with our extensive library of guides.

Overview

The Michelin tire company encountered a comically difficult problem in the 19th century. While their tires allowed customers to travel longer distances and take in the freedoms that contemporary technological advancements delivered, the locations and quality of restaurants throughout France remained an enigma. In their desire to provide customers with quality restaurant recommendations and incentivize travel, they launched the Michelin Guide in 1900.

We at OCR encountered a similar predicament almost two decades ago. The internet was making waves, and a blossoming online gambling industry was spreading like wildfire. However, there were very few guides. The ones that we came across were barebones and lacked what we, as passionate punters, wanted from gambling guides. The natural next step was to start producing guides of our own.

After more than two decades, we are as proud as can be of our various casino game and gambling guides that help both beginners and veterans. Gambling knowledge is a mosaic, and everyone is at a different stage of its assembly. Our guides, therefore, help beginners by introducing online gambling, game rules, terminology, strategy, and basic gameplay. Moreover, our banking and cryptocurrency guides allow first-time punters to set up cutting-edge payment solutions that open the door to leading online gaming venues. But the fun does not end there. Veterans and dedicated newcomers have access to various online casino gambling guides, which allows them to discover the ins and outs of popular and niche casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, craps, video poker, baccarat, slots, keno, bingo, video slots, and more.

However, we are fully aware that this is not enough, which is why we also run you through the process of opening a gaming account and making your first deposit and withdrawal. These guides are especially important because of the variety of modern online casinos, their wagering requirements, terms and conditions, bonus variants, licenses and auditors, and more.

An Overview of Guide Types

Modern online gaming is an ocean of possibilities, which is why picking the right casino type and game for your next gaming adventure can be an absolute nightmare. We, therefore, recommend that you check out the following breakdown of our guides and pick a few from the categories that interest you the most.

  • Gambling guides - Are you a beginner that does not know where to start? These guides will show you how to pick the perfect venue, open an account, choose your ideal payment method, claim a bonus, deposit your funds, place your first wagers, and make your first withdrawal.
  • Guides with game overviews - Uncover the secrets of your chosen casino game with our game overview guides, which feature everything from game history, tips, and rules to the countless variations that you can play at our recommended casinos.
  • Guides to free play games - Explore an enchanting title free of charge or learn the ropes of your dream game with our guide to free casino games.
  • Guides to real money games - Dive into your first real money online casino game the right way by checking out our real money game guides.
  • Guides to live casinos - Take part in the latest breakthrough in online gambling by following our guides to live casinos. Discover the pros and cons of leading live casinos, and allow us to help you distinguish the best from the rest.
  • Guides to online casino bonuses and promotions - Can you not decide which bonus to claim? Check out our breakdowns of bonus variants, their associated wagering requirements, terms and conditions, and more.
  • Guides to modern online casino banking and cryptocurrencies - Use the best banking method for your deposit and withdrawal, or simply discover the usefulness of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, in these rewarding guides.

Game Guides Overview

Our game guides cover an enormous assortment of classic and brand-new titles in several genres. You can find everything from classic card and table games, the likes of blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, slots, and sports betting, to modern wonders such as live dealer, virtual reality, video slot, daily jackpot, instant win, and cryptocurrency games. A few examples include:

Slots

Gaming's biggest hit continues to reward punters the world over with fantastic jackpot wins and unforgettable spins. Modern online titles have elevated the humble one-handed bandit concept with stunning graphics, ingenious themes, and crisp audio. However, these often distract punters from RTP, payout tables, jackpots, and other nuances, which significantly impact your odds and payouts.

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Table and Card Games

These two genres have been the favorites of skilled punters for generations. One simply cannot ignore the allure of using the perfect strategy to potentially win at blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps. What is more, the various tables, subsequent house edges, special features, game variations, and quirky modern takes on classics make this genre an endless supply of excitement.

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Live Games

Live casino games allow you to experience the atmosphere of a real casino from the comfort of your living room. Games are streamed directly from dedicated studios or even real-life casinos, with professional croupiers, whose added entertainment factor is priceless. The game roster features live roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, poker, Hi-LO, slots, lotteries, and more. You can even chat with your dealer or your fellow punters, which adds an unforgettable social aspect.

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Video Poker

Video poker is a combination of two incredibly popular genres, poker and slots. You can exchange cards and climb up the reward ladder all the way to stunning payouts. This gaming platform allows for almost countless game variants, with prime examples being Deuces Wild, Aces and Faces, and Jacks or Better. Each of these comes with unique rules, mechanics, gameplay, bonuses, and reward systems.

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Tips

Starting your online gaming journey can be a daunting experience unless you use our amazing crash course tips. Discover what it takes to go from a ballpark budget to an amazing gaming session in just a few minutes.

Getting Started

Are you ready to start your gaming journey but simply do not know which venue to pick? Have a gander at these quick steps and start wagering real money at a leading online casino today!

1 Stick to Reliable Sources

The internet is packed with scammers and con artists. Make sure that you do not fall prey to phishing websites, phony casinos, non-payment scams, identity theft, pirated games, rigged games, or any other form of malicious operation by sticking to reliable sources. A website should always have a small lock icon next to its URL and a clear history of customer reviews. Check out our expert casino reviews if you have any lingering doubts.

2 Review The Casino’s History

Customers will leave reviews about a casino’s conduct, especially when they have a bad experience. We recommend that you check these for signs of reluctant payments, phony promotions, and rigged games.

3 Evaluate Licenses and Overall Appeal

A casino without proper licensing and audits from independent third-party organizations should be avoided like the plague. What is more, a casino that does not invest in an intuitive UI with attractive visuals should be ignored. Note that you should also consider compatibility with your chosen Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.

4 Consider Banking Methods

Make sure that the available banking methods align with your needs and wants. A modern online casino, be it conventional, live, or crypto, should accept multiple payment options ranging from bank transfers, credit cards, prepaid cards, and online money brokers to e-wallets and crypto. Make sure to look into banking processing times, withdrawal processing, and withdrawal limitations.

5 Explore Bonuses and Promotions

Check if there are appealing bonuses and promotions for your desired playstyle. Note that modern venues offer welcome, no deposit, depositing matching, reload, cashback, tournament, high roller, loyalty, free spin, and even birthday bonuses. You can find all of these in our dedicated guides.

6 Explore the Game Library

Make sure that the game library features genres and titles that you want to play, especially if you have unorthodox tastes. Games in categories such as blackjack, poker, video poker, slots, craps, baccarat, bingo, roulette, scratch cards, and keno are the bare minimum. Games featuring sports bets, virtual sports, progressive jackpots, and live action are a great sign.

7 Conduct a Stress Test

You never know when you will need help, but you know that you will want it to be responsive and useful. Conduct a stress test by reaching out to support during rush hour, a Friday night, or such, and see how long it takes for them to respond. What is more, make sure that your desired contact method is available.

8 Test the Waters

Before you claim a bonus, deposit funds, and spend them on various wagers, make sure to test your chosen casino. Play a few free or demo games, preferably without making a throwaway account, and see if the gameplay lives up to your expectations.

9 Start Small

There is no point in wasting an entire fortune on your first few wagers. While maximum bets do unlock all of your chosen game's features, they quickly burn through your bankroll. We recommend that you start small, get the hang of the game, and have the freedom to shift to a different title with minimum losses.

Terminology

A punter cannot successfully partake in a casino game if he or she is not familiar with the terminology at hand. The latter extends past conventional phrases such as bet, pot, toke, and grind, as the world of gambling has terms and slang as diverse as its participants. We at OCR want to give you the best shot at achieving your gaming goals, which is why we have collected gambling jargon that you probably have not heard. Check out our glossary and ensure that you are always in the know.

Gambling Glossary

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FAQ

Yes! A beginner can definitely use our guides to become familiar with online gambling and start his or her gambling adventure with a bang. Our guides cover everything from opening an account and claiming a bonus to the ins and outs of popular real-money casino games.

Yes, they definitely are! Our guides cover the nuances of everything from the latest live casinos and exciting VR games to brand-new crypto-banking solutions. These breakthroughs are often overlooked by veterans that stick to tried and tested gaming venues and titles.

Our industry experts are an in-house team of gambling aficionados that follow industry news, review games and venues. You can find the fruits of their labor in all of our guides. Note that our 12-step review process can help you distinguish the best online venues from the rest.

Yes, we do! We firmly believe that punters, especially beginners, should invest time into acquiring hands-on experience with their chosen titles. This is especially important prior to making large wagers or investing high-roller sums.

Yes, they do! We have witnessed the rise of countless genres, from the first video poker titles to live casinos and the emergence of crypto. While it is impossible to predict where the industry will go, we will make sure to stay on top of things. Note that we do not shy away from niche subsets such as Esports or VR gaming.

Yes, they do! Cryptocurrencies are amazing for staying anonymous, especially in an increasingly monitored world. Our guides on crypto, its dedicated casinos, and games will help you achieve just that.

Yes, they do! We realize that conventional payment methods such as bank transfers or even real-life deposits are on the decline, which is why our banking guides touch on leading online solutions, ranging from e-wallets to various smart payment operators, that help anyone deposit and withdraw. What is more, we keep anonymity preferences, such as crypto and prepaid cards, in mind.

Yes, in a way. While we cannot impact RNGs (random number generators), we can teach you the gameplay, rules, tips, tricks, and nuances of various casino games. This knowledge, combined with the perfect bonus and banking method, can help pave the way to wins.

Yes, they definitely will! We at OCR pride ourselves on offering the best bonus or promotion for every kind of player. We, therefore, showcase the latest and greatest bonuses and promotions that can help turn a mediocre gaming session into an unforgettable adventure.

We recommend that you add them to our Casino Comparison Tool and see the nuanced pros and cons of each. Keep a close eye on the licensing, game libraries, payment methods, and our expert insights. Note that you can compare multiple casinos at once, so you need not limit yourself to two!

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