When you want to play casino online for real money, the best way to start is by choosing a site with a valid gaming license. Gaming licenses are regulated by state authorities and ensure that casinos use secure encryption and test their games for fairness. A licensed casino will also offer a wide range of secure, convenient payment options. You can choose from a variety of credit and debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies and more.

Most reputable casinos online will offer a welcome bonus to entice new customers to join their sites. These bonuses can be as large as a 100% deposit match or free spins on select slots. Most online casinos will also have a variety of recurring promotions that reward loyal players. Many also have social gambling features, including a Community Chat forum where players can win prizes or earn additional bonus credits.

The best online casinos will also offer 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone or email. These channels should be clearly displayed on the website. They should also have a sticky live chat button that follows you around the site so that you can contact them quickly. Lastly, they will make it easy to access their contact details, as well as their terms of service and privacy policies.

Currently, California does not have legalized online casinos. However, the introduction of sports betting in the state could lead to the eventual legalization of online casinos in the near future.