Newbies Quickstart Guide To Bitcoin Casino Gambling
As recently as a couple years ago, bitcoin wasn’t an option at most online casinos. You could only deposit funds via a credit card, a bank wire, a money transfer from Western Union, or an e-wallet like Neteller or Skrill.
A lot has changed since then.
Many of the top internet casinos now only accept bitcoin.
Some online casinos only use bitcoin for wagering as well, with your money never being converted into normal US dollars.
Buy in with bitcoin, gamble with bitcoin and cash out bitcoin.
It’s pretty sweet to be honest.
Bitcoin and crypto currency in general are proving to be the way forward for online gambling.
It’s time to get set up and join the crowd.
Hell, there are even casinos that accept ethereum, the second most popular crypto.
You can make deposits by transferring bitcoins directly from your bitcoin wallet to your casino accounts and vice versa
This is a relatively new development in the online gambling space. Naturally, a lot of folks have questions. For example:
- What are the benefits to playing at casinos that accept bitcoin?
- What’s the deal with bitcoin only casinos?
- How does one obtain bitcoins to use for online gambling?
- How are bitcoins stored outside the casino?
- How does one make deposits and withdrawals with BTC?
- Are some bitcoin casinos better than others?
We’re going to cover these questions below. By the end of this quick-start guide, you’ll know everything you need to know about gambling at bitcoin friendly online casinos.
I’ll also cover the gambling sites I’ve found to be the most trustworthy and dependable. Here’s a sneak peak at the list:
New Bitcoin Users Guide To Online Casino Gambling
Without further ado, here’s your quick-start guide to bitcoin casino gambling.
How To Deposit And Withdraw Bitcoins At BTC-Friendly Casinos
Making bitcoin deposits is nearly as simple as using your credit card. It’s a different process, but trust me when I say it’ll become second nature once you’re used to it.
First, you need a bitcoin wallet for gambling (I’ll show you how to choose a good one in moment). Once your wallet is set up and you’ve acquired some bitcoins (more on this below), you’re ready to make a deposit.
Most casinos have a deposit page within the cashier window that gives the customer numerous options.
All you have to do is select “bitcoin” and enter the amount you’d like to deposit.
The next step is to retrieve the casino’s bitcoin address. This is a long string of alphanumeric characters. It’ll be displayed within the cashier window. Just copy it.
Lastly, go to your bitcoin wallet and paste the casino’s bitcoin address in the appropriate box. Then, send the funds.
That’s it. Easy peasy.
You’ll see the funds in your casino account within minutes.
Withdrawing your winnings via BTC is just as simple (even simpler, actually).
First, select “bitcoin” as your payout option and input the amount you’d like to withdraw.
Next, enter your bitcoin wallet address in the appropriate box. Then, hit send.
Again, your money will be available within minutes.
How To Acquire Bitcoins For Casino Gambling
Once you have your wallet set up (we’ll cover this in the next section), you’ll need to obtain bitcoins.
There are several ways to do it.
The most popular method is to use an exchange, such as Coinbase or Bitstamp. Another option is to use a peer-to-peer marketplace, such as LocalBitcoins or Coinffeine. Or you can use a bitcoin ATM if you can find one in your city.
Whichever route you choose, the main factors to keep in mind are fees, privacy, and security.
These aspects will vary by source. If you intend to use a BTC exchange, it’s a good idea to stick to a reputable one where thousands of people are buying and selling BTC on a weekly basis.
How To Choose A Bitcoin Wallet
Finally, we get to the bitcoin wallet. You’ll need one if you want to play at bitcoin friendly casinos.
Wallets come in a lot of different flavors. For example, You can choose a web based wallet, such as GreenAddress or SpectroCoin. Or you can opt for a mobile wallet like Mycelium or BreadWallet. If you prefer to store your bitcoins on your computer, Electrum is a good choice. You can also use a hardware wallet, such as the Ledger Nano or Trezor.
The most secure option is a hardware wallet. They allow you to keep your bitcoins offline, and are almost impossible to hack.
Computer wallets like Electrum are popular because they allow offline storage like hardware wallets, but with added convenience. Because a computer can be connected to the internet, bitcoins stored there are easy to transfer.
Cloud based wallets and mobile wallets are the most convenient. But they’re also less secure than hardware and computer wallets.
If you have a lot of bitcoins, consider using a combination of wallets. For example, use the Ledger Nano or Trezor to store the majority offline. And keep a web based or mobile wallet handy for small transactions. That way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds in terms of security and convenience.
Now that you know the basics, let’s take a look at seven online casinos that accept bitcoins.
Top 7 Online Casinos That Accept Bitcoins
There are dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of gambling sites that accept BTC. But you’ll want to tread carefully because not all of them are trustworthy.
The seven casinos profiled below are among the most reputable I’ve found. Each one has a solid track record. Each one also boasts thousands, in some cases, tens of thousands, of happy customers.
- Slots.lv
- Bovada Casino
- SlotoCash
- BetOnline
- Cafe Casino
- a “Super Play” 500% matching bonus up to $5,000. Note that it comes with a “10x maximum cashout” proviso.
- a “No Max” 100% matching bonus up to $1,000.
- A “Super Play”600% matching bonus up to $6,000. A 10x maximum cashout applies.
- A “No Max” 150% matching bonus up to $1,500.
- Ignition Casino
- CloudBet
If you enjoy playing slots, this casino should be on your short list. You’re unlikely to find any other gambling site that can match the number and breadth of its games.
Slots.lv offers a generous welcome bonus for new players: triple your first deposit and double your next eight deposits up to $5,000. Add to that a terrific reputation, availability of the most popular casino games, and the ability to deposit and withdraw in bitcoins, and Slots.lv is tough to beat.
Bovada has been a stalwart champion of Bitcoin casino gambling for the last couple of years. They’re also one of the “OGs” of the online gambling space. While the site launched in 2011, the Bovada brand actually has its origins in the Bodog brand, which has been around since 2000.
With that kind of track record, it’s easy to see why so many people love and trust Bovada. They’re not only one of the most recognizable brands in online gambling, but also one of the most highly regarded.
If you intend to use bitcoins while gambling, you’ll find that doing so is easy and convenient at Bovada.
Read my Bovada Casino review here.
SlotoCash offers an insane bonus to new players: a match ranging from 100% to 200% on your first five deposits up to $7,777, PLUS 300 Free Slot Spins. It’s worth noting that the bonus money, which also comes with free spins (up to 100), can only be used on slots.
Another feather in this casino’s cap is its flexible deposit options. In addition to making deposits with bitcoin, you can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, e-wallet services (Skrill, Neteller, etc.), and bank transfers. Your withdrawal options are virtually identical. The only exception is that you’re not allowed to withdraw funds to your credit cards (that’s true for all online casinos).
SlotoCash wants you to use Bitcoin. In fact, you can claim a 300% matching bonus up to $900 when you make a deposit in BTC (use the code “BITCOIN300”)
Read my SlotoCash review here.
BetOnline has been in the online gambling space since 2004. Like Bovada (see above), it has a long track record as a legitimate casino. It offers a smaller bonus to new players compared to other bitcoin-friendly casinos (100% match up to $1,000). But it comes with noteworthy features that deliver an engaging gambling experience.
For example, you can watch live dealers on webcam. You can also grab a 20% casino rebate if you finish the month down. Additionally, BetOnline offers game-specific bonuses, such as 100% matching bonuses (up to $1,000) on video poker and slots.
If you want to use bitcoin to deposit funds, you’re allowed to claim yet another 100% matching bonus up to $1,000.
Read my BetOnline review here.
Cafe Casino is one of the newer entrants into this field, having launched in 2016. But it has wasted no time in building a positive reputation among online gamblers.
One of its claims to fame is its welcome bonus. If you’re new to the casino, you can choose one of two bonus offers:
In addition, you can grab a $10 free chip to play at your discretion.
If you’re using bitcoin, you can choose one of the following two bonus offers:
Pretty enticing, right?
Read my Cafe Casino review here.
Ignition Casino offers an impressive selection of games. You’ll find nearly 200 slots along with every popular table game, from craps and blackjack to roulette and pai gow poker. It also boasts a poker room (it absorbed Bovada’s poker base in 2016), lots of promotions, and flexible banking options.
If you’re new to Ignition Casino, you can claim a 100% match up to $2,000.
But here’s where it gets interesting. If you’re using bitcoin, you can claim a 200% match up to $2,000. What’s more, you’ll be eligible for unlimited reload bonuses (25% up to $1,000).
Clearly, Ignition Casino loves bitcoin!
Read my Ignition Casino review here.
CloudBet, as mentioned earlier, is a BTC-only casino. They’ve been around since 2013, and have grown to become one of the premier bitcoin-exclusive online casinos.
CloudBet had a rocky start. But it has always been operated professionally, which has helped to endear it to gamblers who prefer to use bitcoin.
As a new customer, you can claim a 100% matching bonus up to five BTC. While you’re there, take advantage of the casino’s Live Dealer feature. It makes for a uniquely-fun gambling experience.
Just one teeny-tiny little bit of bad news here. Those players that are located in the US will not be able to play at Cloudbet. The man had decided to protect you from your money. Thanks a pant-load gov’ment.
With respect to online gambling, you can bet that bitcoin is going to become increasingly popular as a banking option. It’s fast, secure, and drop-dead simple to use.
You now know everything you need to know to use BTC with confidence. I strongly recommend sticking to the seven casinos profiled above. Each one has been thoroughly vetted so there’ll be no surprises!
3 Advantages To Using Bitcoins For Casino Gambling
There are a lot of reasons to play at bitcoin friendly casinos. And the list is even longer at bitcoin ONLY casinos.
Let’s start with three advantages you’ll enjoy at online gambling sites that accept BTC as one of several deposit methods. Here, we’re talking about sites like Slots.lv and Bovada.
Lower Deposit Fees
- Visa: 4.9%
- MasterCard: 6.9%
- American Express: 8.9%
Lower Withdrawal Fees
Faster Delivery Of Withdrawals
You’re usually charged a fee whenever you use a credit card to deposit funds into your account. These fees vary by casino and the type of card you use.
For example, following are the fees at Bovada, one of the largest and most reputable online casinos in the world:
By comparison, the fee imposed on BTC deposits is 0.0%.
This isn’t just the case at Bovada. Bitcoin deposit fees are nominal at most gambling sites. This means you can move funds back and forth between your wallet and your preferred casinos without worrying that fees will erode your bankroll.
It’s not only the deposit fees that are low (or even non-existent) when you use BTC. Withdrawal fees are also low.
At Bovada (a reasonable proxy for all online casinos), your first withdrawal for each 90-day period is free. But if you want to withdraw funds again within the same 90-day period, you can expect to pay a $100 fee. This fee is levied on every subsequent withdrawal.
By comparison, you can make one withdrawal every five days via bitcoin for free.
The numbers (e.g. time frame, allowed frequency of payouts, etc.) will vary a bit from casino to casino. But the gist is that withdrawal fees associated with Bitcoin are nominal.
Not only will you pay lower fees when withdrawing funds using bitcoin, but you’ll gain access to your funds more quickly.
For example, let’s say you request a withdrawal of your winnings by check. You’ll probably have to wait nearly 10 business days before you receive the check in the mail.
How long would you need to wait if you requested this same withdrawal using bitcoin? Thirty minutes at the most. You’ll often gain access to your funds within five minutes.
Bitcoin-Only Casinos: Additional Upsides
Some online casinos are 100% bitcoin. The only way you can make deposits and withdrawals is via BTC. A good example is CloudBet, one of the casinos on my “most trusted” list.
Gambling at places like CloudBet offers additional advantages. For example, you can gamble anonymously, which is useful if privacy is important to you.
It’s also common to be able to play your favorite casino games, such as craps, blackjack, and roulette, with a lower house edge. This is due partly to the lower costs associated with operating a 100% Bitcoin casino. A portion of the savings are passed along to customers in the form of a lower edge.
Another benefit is that the games are “provably fair.” At bitcoin only casinos, the cryptographic hash functions preclude human intervention. Every action and response on every game is completely randomized, from the roll of the dice on craps to the outcome of splitting eights on blackjack. This makes it impossible for the casino to cheat.
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