And relax... In an increasingly noisy and stressful world, play is an essential human need. Finding time to play ensures that we make social connections, exercise different parts of our brains, and have an outlet to relieve stress. Some people like to dismiss game playing as 'childish', but anyone who enjoys adventure, puzzle, casino, or casual games knows that games and game playing can be good for our welfare and health.

Sadly, most of us do not have as much time to play as we would like. Play is something that has to fit in around the responsibilities of adult life, like work, shopping, household chores, and dull admin. Some of us also have childcare or other family responsibilities, and it can be hard to find 'me time'. Experts advise allocating 20% of your time to interesting hobbies, and online games are certainly interesting! Those clever game developers design them to ensure that!

Choose wisely

So now you have self-prescribed some gaming time, how can you decide which games to play? Obviously, it all depends on what you enjoy. In the US, it also depends on where you live because not all options are available nationwide. This is particularly true when it comes to online casino gaming. Only seven states (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Delaware) allow real-money online casino games. However, social casinos and sweepstakes gaming are covered by different legislation and can be accessed in most states.

Wherever you are playing from, it is always worth checking out the legalities of where you are and finding the very best sites available. Fortunately, this does not have to take hours of research on your part, and it does not have to be hit-or-miss either. There are independent review companies like Casino.org that do the hard work for you. Rather than players having to waste time (and possibly money) playing on lots of sites to find the ones they like, a great review site has an expert-rated list of the best online slots compiled for you. This allows players to check out 1,000s of top-rated games and find the best bonuses from the top providers.

Different vibes and opportunities

Obviously, everyone is looking for something slightly different when they play at an online casino, but entertainment should be the top feature. When you are spending your leisure time and money on a site, it needs to be enjoyable, fair, and safe. You also need to find those that are legal in your jurisdiction. In the US, sweepstakes casinos generally have much larger game libraries than real-money platforms. This is because the providers can release a higher quantity of games as the 'social casino' overall market is much larger in absolute terms.

Making it fair

Regardless of whether online casino games are being played for real money or in a social or sweepstakes context, games are only entertaining if they are fair and people feel they have a decent chance of winning. While it is important to acknowledge that online casinos are a business and have to make money, playing should not be stressful (remember the main objective of play is supposed to be stress relief and suspending reality). Real-money sites are subject to particular scrutiny.

Game outcomes are determined by Random Number Generators (RNGs), and players need to have confidence that the system is not rigged against them. In addition to regulatory approval, the best online sites ensure that the games are verified by an independent external body such as eCOGRA.

Understanding the basics

You can also find the best playing opportunities by understanding some simple basics, like how the bonuses work and what RTP and terms like volatile mean.

Bonus, terms and conditions, and wagering requirements

Bonuses always come with terms and conditions. The wagering conditions are particularly important to understand because they affect how much a player has to put in before they can cash out any winnings. They often come with time limitations, too. The essential thing to remember is that big bonus figures are not always the best ones, and they are not always obtainable within the time constraints. The essential thing is to study the small print (or trust an independent expert reviewer).

Understanding RTP

RTP (return to player) is the term used to describe how much a game pays out compared to what is deposited in the long term. Online casinos are businesses and are there to make money. However, a player wants to find those that offer the best RTP rates. Games can vary hugely, with third-party character games often having lower RTP (as there are more parties to pay license fees to). Older games often have a higher RTP (as they have already covered the development costs) but can still be enormous fun to play.

The RTP is measured as a percentage - so RTP 98 means that for every $100 wagered, the game pays out $98 on average. What players need to remember is that this is not a straight-line calculation but a time-adjusted equation. So, if someone wins $150, down the line, there is going to be a larger player loss to adjust for this, otherwise the casino would go out of business.

Volatility explained

Volatility describes the balance between the frequency of wins and the size of the wins. Low volatility games will deliver lots of small wins, while high volatility games promise potentially huge wins that do not happen very often! Low volatility slots are lower risk and recommended for new and casual players. High volatility slots are not for the faint-hearted, but for those chasing jackpots, they can be thrilling.

Develop healthy habits

One of the secrets to finding the best opportunities is knowing when to stop playing and take a break. It is really important to play responsibly if you want to have a healthy relationship with the online platforms (and the rest of your life). The expert advice is to establish your playing budget before you start and not to exceed it. The budget should never be more than you can afford to lose, and never borrow money to try to win back losses. Also, take frequent breaks and remember to keep it fun and light! It is worth remembering that there are plenty of sites that offer free demos and social games, so you can play without risking your bankroll.