A little digging beforehand saves a surprising amount of hassle. I usually check the licensing details first, then compare payment methods, withdrawal conditions, sports coverage, and how clearly the bonus rules are explained. One useful reference I came across is https://ranklist.in/ which puts several of those details together instead of leaving you hunting through ten tabs at once. I’d still verify a licence directly with the regulator, because websites can change and marketing copy is, well, marketing copy. Also, starting with small stakes makes the whole learning curve less painful.