If you want to play casino games online, you may be surprised at just how many casinos there are to choose from on the internet. Of course choice is a good thing…. until you have too much, that is! So out of the hundreds of online casinos, how are you supposed to know which are the best for you to play at? Well, for starters, you could use this quality guide to the best online casinos in the UK. You can also test and compare operators yourself using the following criteria:

Security – Hands down the most important factor. When choosing a casino, you need to be certain that it is safe and secure. The simplest way to do this is to confirm that they hold a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission. This government body licences and regulates all operators who provide services to UK players. In order to get a licence, an operator must adhere to strict standards. These include the use of sophisticated technical security, such as encrypted transactions, to ensure players are protected against fraud. They must also use an independent, commission authorised testing agency, to analyse game results and payouts to ensure they are fair and random.

Game selection – Next on the list is a good game selection. This does not simply concern how many games are on offer, but also the variety and choice available. Say your favourite game is blackjack. You will find some operators provide a wide selection of tables, along with interesting and unique variants. On the other hand, there are some casinos that will offer you little other than the classic version. It is also worth checking out an operator’s mobile casino app. Again, there can be big differences in the quality and quantity of mobile games available from one casino to another.

Bonuses and Promotions – With so much competition in the online gaming industry, you will find that pretty much every operator provides some kind of welcome bonus to entice you to join. There are a variety of offers available, and the best one for you will depend on the type of player you are. The welcome offer usually consists of a match deposit bonus, giving you a bigger bankroll to play your favourite games with. There are also offers available such as free play, free spins and no deposit bonuses. A good casino will also reward loyal players with regular promotions and special offers. Of course, all casino bonuses come with certain conditions that need to be met before you can withdraw them, so always check the t&c prior to accepting a bonus to ensure you are getting a good deal.

Payment Options – Of course, if you want to play your favourite casino games for real money, then you will need to make a deposit. The best operators provide a wide variety of payment methods, to cater to all types of players. As well accepting credit and debit cards, many casinos also accept payments using an e-wallet, such as PayPal or Skrill. There are also prepaid options available, and even payments through your mobile phone bill. It is also worth checking how quickly transactions are processed, and whether there are any fees involved. The top online casinos will process your payments in a swift and straightforward manner, with no fees incurred.

Thus far, only three states in the US have legalized online casino, poker and other gambling activities done over the Internet, namely – New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada (which is world-famous for its physical casino resorts, most of which are located in Las Vegas). While numerous attempts have been made to officially legalize and regulate online gambling in other states, such as Florida, nothing has come to fruition as of yet, and as of July 2016, these three states still remain the only ones that allow gambling fans to play poker, slots and place bets over the Internet. However, within only a few short months, that all might change! Currently, Pennsylvania is heavily considering legalizing online gambling within its borders. After several proposed bills were rejected, the latest one – proposed late last month – was finally approved by Pennsylvania’s House, and will move over to the Senate for further consideration this fall, according to the Associated Press.

Currently, the Senate – which did not go in recess for the summer, as planned – is in discussion about the state’s budget for the next year. Legalizing online gambling will inevitably rake in a lot of profits (as the bill that was approved by the Senate suggests taxing online casinos 15%), but the process of creating and funding the appropriate organs which would handle the various regulations necessary would be a pretty large initial investment on its own, and it could be one that has no place within the state’s budget. In addition, many (both politicians and ordinary citizens) oppose the notion of legalizing online gambling, for several reasons. People are skeptical of whether the legalization will even bring the projected $300m a year in the long run, considering how legalizing physical casinos doesn’t bring nearly as much money to the state in taxes as it once did. Another major concern is whether it’s worth risking a gambling addiction epidemic within the state (of the same kind that countries with a lot more lax gambling laws, like the UK, are having) just for money, especially when similar sums can also be gained by increasing income tax by 0.1%. Others, however, wholeheartedly support the legalization. “Here’s something opponents of these online bills forget…or don’t want to admit: Pennsylvanians are ALREADY gambling online, at off-shore sites where (a) the state gets NO tax revenue, and (b) there are NO consumer protections,” one commenter writes.

Honestly, I might be slightly biased when it comes to this, but I believe that the legalization should happen. At the end of the day, we’re all humans who have our free will and, as such, should have the freedom to make our own choices. I think it’s a bit hypocritical when certain people claim to know what’s best for others – at the end of the day, online gambling opponents aren’t our parents, and as such shouldn’t have the right to tell us what we can and can’t do. I’m not from Pennsylvania, myself, but I can certainly sympathize with wanting to gamble online and being completely unable to do so without going out of your way to sign up for potentially unsafe foreign casinos. Here’s hoping that things will turn out okay for gambling-minded Pennsylvanians!