Once you have found the online casino that you wish to play at, opening an account is fairly easy. Most of the casinos have step by step instructions for their users to make downloading the software they require as pain free as possible. The hardest part about making on online account is coming up with your user name and password.

In order to open your online casino account you will start out by downloading the software to your computer. Many of the sites will also allow you to register your account while the software is downloading. Some sites will require you to register before you download. They will let you know as you start the process. Follow the rest of the installation instructions to load the software onto the computer, open it up, and start exploring your new gaming environment.

Some online casinos may have a poker room or sports book division that will require an additional registration. In these cases where the gaming ‘group’ does not have a one user name fits all option, you will be allowed to have a duplicate real money account. Keep in mind that each of these divisions may offer a new player bonus and you may only qualify for one of them. Check with the sites rules and regulations. Also, shared computers such as ones used at a library, work, or university, can only register once. The online casino will keep a track of the ISP address. This is to ensure that no fraudulent activity is taking place.

You have the option on most online casino sites to play for free or with ‘play money’ provided by the site either before you have downloaded the software or right after it as many of the software companies bundle this option with the real money games. You would still register for an account and then choose which type you will play. If you choose to play for free, you will be awarded so much in ‘play money’ to gamble with. Some of the sites do not even require you to register or download the software. You would play as ‘Guest User’ using a Java Flash version of the casino.

Once you have registered your account and have played for awhile with the ‘play money’ if you opt to do that, you have the option to upgrade to a real money account. As mentioned before, you may have to download software or at the very least, download additional add-ons to the existing software so that the games become real money games. When you go to a real money account, you will need to make a deposit into it so that you can play the games. You may find that many online casinos play their games in American Dollars, but allow their players to deposit their money into their accounts using British Pounds Sterling, American Dollars, or Euros. Some online casinos offer even more currency denomination options. They will tell you what they accept when you make you deposit. They also offer players a wide range of ways to both deposit and withdraw your money from bank transfers to online wallets to credit cards. No matter which way you deposit or withdraw, the currency you choose when you register is the curency all your real money will be calculated in once you are down at the gaming tables.