At Casinonic we realize that not all our visitors have had previous experience with online gambling, so we've written the following brief document to help out. Please, always gamble responsibly, and ensure your local laws permit internet gaming in your area before starting.

Where do I start?
Where you start depends on whether you're looking for a particular game, particular games, or just looking to give anything a try. If you're searching for a particular game, you can find many places to play by searching Excite-Casino.com for what you want. Here are some quick links to blackjack, craps, keno, pai gow poker, slots and video poker.

If you're not looking for a particular game, you can search for online gambling or online casinos to find establishments offering a variety of things to play. Either way, read through what each casino has to offer, check out a few sites, and decide which casino(s) appeal the most to you.

What's Next?
The vast majority of online casinos permit you to try out their casinos with "demo" money, which means you can test out the games as much as you'd like before deciding to play with real funds. If you're new to online gambling, you'll probably want to try out a few different casinos for free before making a decision as to where to play for real. There are quite a few considerations when choosing where to play, including:

Is it a download or no-download casino?
Some casinos must be downloaded to your computer before you can start playing. They are full-fledged "programs" you download and install. Other casinos allow you to play through your browser without downloading a program, using Java or Flash technologies. Both are fine, download casinos usually have the advantage of better sounds and graphics, while no-download casinos can save time for those on slower connections.

Is there an introductory bonus?
As a welcome bonus to new patrons, many online casinos offer a cash bonus on your first deposit. These deposit bonuses range greatly, and usually have some minor strings attached. While it shouldn't be your sole decision when deciding where to play, it's nice to start a little ahead of the game with these bonuses, however you should carefully check over the casinos bonus policy beforehand.

Most casinos offering deposit bonuses require that you play your bankroll at least once before making a cash withdrawal. This prevents abusers from putting in money and taking it out along with the extra bonus money without actually playing. Generally speaking, the more generous the bonus appears, the more you have to wager before being allowed to make a withdrawal.

How do you make withdrawals?
Different casinos have different policies regarding cash withdrawals. If making a deposit with your credit card, you can usually withdrawal the amount you initially deposited back to your credit card funds, however this still leaves your winnings provided you've had a good day.

There are a number of ways to cash out your winnings, including checks, certified checks, money orders, bank wires and Western Union payments. Not all casinos offer the same withdrawal methods, and not all casinos have the same turnaround time on processing cash-outs. If speed is of the essence, be sure to choose a casino with fast cash-out policies. Some casinos will mail you a "PIN" number for your account that you must use to make a withdrawal, which reduces fraud but can slow down turnaround time as you wait for your mail to arrive. Some casinos intentionally delay cash-outs in the hope that you'll play your winnings while waiting. When in doubt, ask the casinos customer service before you deposit.

Also be sure to check if there's any costs involved when cashing out. Check withdrawals are usually free, but some establishments may change a processing fee for any withdrawal. Wire payments usually incur a fee, but some casinos may absorb the cost in some cases.

What kind of customer service is available?
Does the casino have a toll-free number you can reach them at? How responsive are they when you need an answer? If the casino is hard to reach, you should probably go elsewhere, you never know when you're going to need some help.

Is it fun??
There's plenty of places to play, if you're not enjoying what one casino has to offer, try somewhere else! From multiplayer tables to amazing graphics to innovative games, not all casinos are created equal.

That's just a few things to think about before you start your online gaming experience, ultimately you're the one that has to decide where to play. Your best bet, start off slowly until you're comfortable with a casino, and always try out the games for free first. Happy gaming!