Alexander Korsager Explains How Casino.org Helps Consumers to Navigate Online Casinos Safely

Alexander Korsager, Chief Gaming Officer at Casino.org has been working in the iGaming industry for nearly a decade. During that time, he has made a name for himself as one of the industry's foremost and most affable experts. He started out as a content manager in Berlin in 2016, after completing his second degree at the University of Southern Denmark. His first (in law!) was at the University of Copenhagen.

After stints with iGaming.com and Time2Play Media, Alexander landed at Casino.org, where he took a job as General Manager in 2023. Now he holds the position of Chief Gaming Officer, owing to his extensive expertise and skills. No stranger to being in print, Alexander has been featured in a variety of reputable publications, including The Information, Adweek, and Gambling Insider.

Alexander's commitment to providing consumers with honest and straightforward online casino guidance was recognized when he won the iGaming IDOL "Manager of the Year" award in 2023. Never one to rest on his laurels, he has continued to take Casino.org to new heights by staying ahead of the latest regulations, platforms, and bonuses.

Willamette Week: Hi Alexander, nice to meet you! First, would you tell us a bit about Casino.org. 

"Hi there! So, Casino.org is the world's number one guide for players looking for information on everything iGaming. The team of experts has put together an array of reviews, tools, and guides so that readers can choose and play at online casinos with peace of mind. It's really important to us that everything we write is true, unbiased, and up to date. 

Casino.org has been on the scene since 1995. That's thirty years - about as long as online casinos have been around, so we've seen firsthand how much things have changed, and we know what players really want. Our team isn't just experts, we're fans. That's something I really love about working here. We're all passionate, and we really care about what we do!"

Willamette Week: Thirty years, I bet the scene has evolved a lot in that time! What does the online casino market in the US look like these days?

"There's a lot of growth in this area, and a lot of interest from consumers. Online casinos are for sure growing in popularity, but they aren't legal in every state. At the moment, online casinos are only fully regulated and operational in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. That doesn't mean that people don't visit online casinos in other states, though. They often head to offshore sites or sweepstakes casinos.

I think because of this, we're going to see online casino markets launch in other states over the coming years. As a rule of thumb, regulated markets offer better player protections with the perk of contributing financially to local economies. 

Let's take Oregon. Online casinos aren't regulated yet, but the state has already seen the benefits that sports betting and the lottery bring in. I know there's been resistance to expanding gambling beyond tribal operations. Maine just passed its own bill to license online casinos exclusively to its four tribal groups. That has never happened before, and could serve as a great model for states wishing to do something similar."

Willamette Week: What can consumers do to stay safe and avoid scams online?

"The first port of call for me is always finding out what other people think. You don't need to take an online casino on face value. Check out expert reviews, like the ones at Casino.org, to find out exactly what to expect before you make an account or spend any money. 

When you find a site that you like the look of, ensure that it is secure by checking for the padlock sign in front of the web domain. You should also check that the casino carries a trusted license by scrolling to the bottom of the page and looking for the logo.

Security is a priority when you're making online payments, so make sure that the platform caters to your preferred payment platforms and that its options are all trustworthy. I find it useful to keep my casino money separate from daily funds by using an e-wallet like PayPal. That also adds an extra layer of security between my private details and the casino."

Willamette Week: You're an expert, do you have any tips or tricks that you've picked up over the years that you'd like to share?

"I think something that can get forgotten amidst all the buzz around bonuses is the games. After all, that's what you're there for! If I find a game I really like, I've gotten into the habit of looking up the studio that developed it. Nine times out of ten, their other games are also right up my street. With that in mind, I often check which casinos have the games of certain developers when I'm picking somewhere to play.

Another thing I like to bear in mind is how a casino is going to treat me after my initial welcome bonus. I want to experience continuing perks like personalized bonuses and promos, weekly competitions, and attentive customer service."

Willamette Week: What do you think online casinos will look like in the future? I know that tech has changed video gaming so much since I was a kid. How does that translate to casinos?

"We're really seeing the industry move forward in leaps and bounds. The use of AI and VR is already creating immersive and personalized player experiences, and even from a design perspective, games are looking better and better. It's also interesting to see how tech advances are improving safer gambling practices by using pattern recognition to spot problematic behaviors. 

These tools are proving useful in spotting cheating, too, which makes things fairer for everyone. It's great to be able to have a more tailored experience by being pointed to the right games and the kinds of bonuses that I like, without being spammed by ads. Operators are really tapping into trends like gamification by adding more social features like leaderboards and contests. That's for sure going to continue. It's a really exciting time for players."

Willamette Week: Thanks so much for chatting with us, Alexander.