Does the Covid-19 virus have you housebound and twiddling your thumbs? Here’s one activity that’s not out-of-bounds: visiting your favorite online casino.

Right now, everyone’s hunkering down for their health, and it couldn’t be more important. But hey, we still need to relax and have fun!

As you wait out the Covid-19 scare, digital entertainment will likely dominate your free time—and that includes online gambling.

What, you say you’ve never gambled online?

Well, it’s a snap, and it doesn’t have to be pricy. Most online casino and poker sites in the U.S. offer a wide variety of stakes for online play, including slots and traditional casino games. Most can be played for very small bets.

There are plenty of free-to-play games at social gaming sites. But those sites often include ways for players to buy extra tokens and other elements. Why not spice up the game with some real betting?

Getting Started
Starting an online account is safe and easy. If you live in a state that offers online casinos, such as New Jersey, Delaware or Pennsylvania, most sites require a small initial deposit, about $10.

Just fill out the online application—you’ll have to provide a Social Security number—then go through the geolocation process. Some sites require a quick download for geolocation, but most games can be played through your web browser or by downloading a mobile app.

What’s geolocation? All states that offer online casino gaming require that you be in the state when you play. You don’t have to live in the state, but you have to be physically inside its borders to access gambling.

By the way, online casinos and their tech partners have made great strides with geolocation software. Early problems—like players who lived close to state borders being shut out—are a thing of the past. There have been no major reported problems of players from outside states managing to fool the geolocation software. In short, geolocation works and works well.

New Player Bonuses
Most online sites offer bonuses for new players, usually through a deposit match—i.e., the casino will match your first deposit 100% with bonus money. Match limits can range from a couple hundred bucks to as much as $1,000, depending on the site.

Bonuses aren’t free money, of course, but they’re a way of getting free bets. When you’re awarded bonus money by an online casino, the money will likely carry a “bet-through” requirement. Say you get a $50 bonus, and the site has a bet-through of 10 times. That means you have to bet $500 to free up the bonus bucks in your account. Bet-through requirements vary widely from site to site. Some sites may require bets up to 20 times the bonus.

Meet your match at PlaySugarHouse.com. With your first deposit, you’ll receive a 100% deposit match, up to $250.

PlaySugarhouse.com, however, carries the lowest play-through: just one time, meaning you have to bet the full bonus, then you’re clear.

Obviously, some bonuses are better than others, but if you look at them as simply adding free money to your account balance, they’re worth it. Bet-throughs are just a way to keep players from signing up and immediately withdrawing the bonuses.

Some sites, such as CaesarsCasino.com, also offer a simple cash bonus to new players. Though there’s no play-through requirement, most cash bonuses are low, about $10.

How to Deposit
Online casinos know that making deposits and withdrawals has to be easy. In the early days, some players had problems with major credit cards, which initially did not allow transfers to gambling sites. Those glitches have been ironed out. You can now use most credit cards to make deposits.

But that’s just one of several options. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Credit and debit cards. Most online sites accept deposits from credit and debit cards. However, as we said you may still run into a problem with some banks, though most major banks now acknowledge online gaming as legitimate. You can also use eChecks and wire transfers from banks
• Most online gambling sites allow deposits through eWallets such as PayPal, Neteller or Skrill.
• Prepaid cards. Many sites began using this device to offset credit cards and they remain in play. You can also make cash deposits by physically going to the casino or sportsbook which partners with the online site.

Play your first games on the house! Just make your first deposit a CaesarsCasino.com, and you’ll get a $10 casino bonus—no deposit required.

The Games
Of course, all these preliminaries are just a prelude to the games!

Online casinos offer hundreds of slot titles from a number of game developers, including perennial favorites like Raging Rhino, PandaMania, Divine Fortune, Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly and a whole lot more. Graphics can range from creatively intense to old-school cool. You’ll find lots of things to entice you, from jackpot multipliers to bonus rounds and free spins.

Most online casinos also offer traditional casino games. Sites also offer a host of other games from bingo to virtual sports, such as computer-generated horse races. And, don’t forget, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania also offer live online poker.

Sign up to play at GoldenNuggetCasino.com, and match your first deposit instantly, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000! Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer!

Some sites such as GoldenNuggetCasino.com and others champion live casino games. These are actual live games, played from studios and sometimes casino floors with real cards, dice and dealers. While these games, too, are on pause until the casinos reopen, keep them in mind. They’re worth a visit once the viral scare has passed—which we all hope will happen very soon.

Until then, be well, and keep on playing.