Since most of online casino sites require that you download and install their casino software on your computer’s hard-drive before you can start playing your preferred online casino games. Downloading online casino software is a very simple task, you simply click on the download button, choose where you want to save your download too, and click OK.

All leading online casino software providers offer their casino software in 2 versions:

• Download Versions – This has to be permanently saved and installed on the hard disk of the player’s computer. The download version of the software offers greater stability, more online casino games and features and therefore most players prefer this version.
• No Download / Instant Play – This can be played from the browser being used to access the Internet without permanently saving it on the computer.

Downloading and installing online casino software is an extremely simple process. Players need to access the online casino site and download the software from there. After downloading the software the players need to install it on their hard disks by running the set up application. Even though the software is installed on their computers, players need to be connected to the online casino through the Internet in order to play the games.

As with all software online casino software has a license agreement which you must accept before the software can be installed on your computer. Among of the most reputable online casino software providers are the following:

• Microgaming Software Download – Microgaming has by far the largest download package consisting of over 400 online casino games. It recommends the use of a 1 GHz processor, 128 MB system memory and 250 MB of free space in the hard disk. With a dial up connection the download can take 8 minutes, but with a broadband connection this could come down to less than a minute.
• Playtech Software Download – Playtech specifies that its software is compatible even with Windows 95. However, Playtech offers over 100 online casino games. It recommends a 32MB system memory and a 20MB free hard disk space. The average download time is about 10 minutes using a dial up connection and 2 minutes with cable and ADSL connections.
• Vegas Technology Software Download – Vegas Technology offers more than 100 games. It also makes modest requirements on system capabilities. It recommends 200 MHz processor with 64 MB system memory and 100 MB free hard disk space.
• Cryptologic Software Download – Cryptologic is the second largest software provider with more than 280 online casino games. It recommends large system capabilities with 1.7 GHz processor, 2GB of system memory and 1 GB of free hard disk space.
• Rival Gaming Software Download – Rival Gaming offers more than 70 online casino games. It recommends 450 MHz processor with 256 MB system memory or RAM and 200 MB free hard disk space.
• RealTime Gaming Software Download – Realtime Gaming offers more than 120 games. It makes modest requirements on system capabilities. It recommends 300 MHz processor with 64 MB system memory or RAM and 50 MB free hard disk space.

In general downloading anything from the Internet is becoming riskier. The presence of viruses or malicious software embedded in the downloaded application cannot be ruled out. Therefore the latest operating systems have incorporated features to counter this. Download online casino software, no matter from which software provider runs on Microsoft Windows.

The next step after you have accepted the license agreement and installed the software on your computer would be to create an account with the online casino. Creating an account is a no brainer, simply fill in the form provided by the online casino and you are done. Of course you should have all your personal information readily available when creating your online casino account, you know credit cards info and so forth. Remember, after the initial installation a player may find that initially not all games are available. However, this is because online casino will continue to download casino games as a player plays. Usually a player can force a specific game to download if they want to play it immediately.