Online Casinos

Believe it or not there are some positives to the Government seizing three online poker sites last April. If Black Friday didn’t happen April 15^th 2011, then it was bound to happen after that. Many experts speculate th

at it is a good thing because it got the Government to start considering regulating online gambling at a Federal level. If you are an avid online poker player then you have most likely heard about Black Friday. If not, it was the day the Government seized Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, leaving thousands of players without their deposits or earnings.

 Although some of these sites are still actively working with the Department of Justice to get these players their money, players are still apprehensive to place bets online without Federal regulation. The reason the indictment was good is because it got the ball rolling for the industry to hopefully receive regulation and taxation at a Federal level. Although The Federal Wire Act of 1961 was just revised by the DOJ, it only involved intrastate gambling, and didn’t include sports’ betting.

According to an article on http://www.bing.com/news which featured Gambling expert Nelson Rose, the online gambling industry is somewhat of a “cash-cow.” He says that “Congress will continue to do nothing while internet gambling will explode across the nation when it is made legal under state laws.”

Although there are many negatives to April 15^th it may have been a blessing in disguise. Were you personally affected? What do you think about the future of online gambling?

Where do you like to play online? Do you like to play at game specific websites, or actual online casinos? Do you only play at Realtime Casinos, or maybe you only like casinos with certain licenses?

For me, I try to only play at casinos with a license from Curacao. This may sound strange, but it is very important to me. Some casinos may not seem secure. Or a secure casino may not be that interactive, casinos that you find on Ciga.an are both. Casinos with a license from the Curacao Internet Gaming Association, like Aladdin’s Gold Casino are some of the best in the industry. Aladdin’s is a Realtime Gaming facility and has been white listed b the UK Technical Systems Testing. This means that they have passed their auditing for utilizing Random Number Generation which keeps their casino random and fair.

Acquiring a license from Curacao is no easy feat. They are very particular as they have been in the business for quite some time and have developed quite the reputation.

If you have the mindset that you are only playing for free so it does not matter where you play, this could actually be detrimental to your playing. If you decide you would like to eventually place actual bets you will want to be at a reliable and reputable casino. You wouldn’t trust a questionable online vendor with your financial information, why would you trust an online casino?

No matter how you pick your place to gamble online, but make sure that you trust them and you are having a good time.

There is always something developing in the online gambling industry. New laws are being constructed, bills are being passed, and casinos are acquiring new licenses. Like Casino Bodog that recently switched to Casino Bovada and is now operating under a license from the UK Gambling Commission. There are other casinos that are making similar changes that can be found at http://www.gamingdirectory.co.uk/. But other than the UK, and other regions, the United States has had a lot of good things happening for the industry.

Just a few weeks ago the US Department of Justice made alterations to the Federal Wire Act of 1961 making intrastate gambling legal, except for sports betting. What this means is the states are responsible for the regulation of the individual states’ gambling habits. What this doesn’t mean is the Federal Government will not being regulating or taxing the industry.

Nelson Rose, Law Professor at Whittier University, feels that Congress should play a more active role in the regulation of online gambling. He says that “congress will continue to do nothing while internet gambling will explode across the nation when it is made legal under state laws.” Rose also wants Congress to have more of a handle on gambling addiction and child gambling. The industry is what some describe as a “cash cow” and the face that taxing online poker alone could produce up to $40 billion in just ten short years makes it seem like an easy decision for the US, but it seems to be quite the opposite.

Gambling in Australia has always been an issue. It is not illegal to gamble online in Australia, although some officials argue that this issue needs to be addressed due to increased popularity of online wagering.

A recent study administered by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Gambling Education and Research found that out of 6,500 online gamblers, more than half started playing online in the past six years. Although this is valuable information, it is not surprising. Online gambling only got its start in 1994; it only makes sense for it to take a decade to catch on. But lead researcher Sally Gainsbury says that online gambling is taking off much faster than any other method of gambling leading Australians to spend nearly $600 million dollars wagering annually.

Internet gambling is very easily accessible and has definitely increased problem gambling, but that’s not to say there aren’t enough resources out there. GamblersAnonymous.org is one of the most prominent sites out there and I can personally say it is one of the bests. It helps to prevent problems before they start.

There has been some pressure by researchers for the Government to implement certain guidelines to prevent gambling problems. Ideas such as having a pop-up notice come on the screen notifying the gambler how long they have been playing.

Gambling in a casino is harder to track the problem gamblers, so in a way online gambling has many advantages over gambling in a Brick and Mortar casino, as far as addiction prevention is concerned.

When I was a child my dad would always be showing us new games. He loved card games, especially casino games. He didn’t know it at the time but he was gearing me up to be an expert blackjack player when I eventually turned into an adult. I like playing in Vegas, but I very much enjoy playing online. There is something so soothing about playing cards in the comfort of my own living room on my big comfortable couch.

The thing that I find a bit disturbing is when my kids want to play also. Granted I feel as though I’m being a big of a hypocrite, it quite different from playing with my father when I was younger.  We would play strictly for fun. My dad would even educate us about the responsibility that comes along with wagering actual money.

I was actually reading an article the other day at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/06/onlinegambling.shtm that was highlighting the different perils that surround underage gambling on the internet.

The National Council of Problem Gambling and the American Psychiatric Association Committee on Treatment Services for Addicted Patients found that online gambling and kids is a bad bet, this is obvious, but let’s go into the specifics of the study.

It’s not just the FCC, it is a common fact that your child could lose their own money, or perhaps your money. Kids often do understand the responsibility of credit cards, much less credit in general. Hurting credit earlier in life can lead to a lifetime of poor credit. Kids are often too young or naïve to understand this. Another horrible side effect is the possibility of addiction. It is also very illegal for any minor to gamble at an on-line casino, or to wager money in general.

There is no escaping social media these days; the best thing to do is embrace it. What I mean by this is; you are already spending a significant amount of your day on these websites so you might as well make them work for you. I’m going to go over a couple of the most popular social media outlets and tell you the best way to use the sites when it comes to casino games. It really doesn’t matter which casino game you fancy, they are all great for every game, poker might be one of the favorites though among networks.

First let’s look at Twitter. This site has gotten a bad reputation because many people think that it is just a narcissistic playground where everyone goes to talk about themselves. Granted, there are a lot of self promoting topics, there is also a plethora of information to be obtained. Starting a Twitter account is easy, and free. You can follow anyone you desire. Professional players, casinos, online casinos, casino review magazines. Everyone has a Twitter account these days, making gathering this information easy and lucrative. Also there are plenty of promotions available only through Twitter. Companies will tweet a code only through Twitter.

Facebook is useful in similar ways. Instead of following a Twitter account you will be “friending” them or “liking” them. This will give you an inside look at many different online casinos, casinos that you can even play through an application on Facebook. So the next time you are online check out these tips.

There is a lot to be said about Blackjack strategy. What if I told you there is just one thing you can do to greatly improve your blackjack game, therefore blackjack winnings. It’s quite simple, and very easy to obtain. This one small thing will take you from just an average blackjack player to a great blackjack player. Would you like to know what I’m talking about?

I’m talking about apps. Everyone uses apps these days, there is no avoiding them. I know it sounds silly, and you may have the common misconception that apps are only for mindless videogames and taking pictures, but there are some applications out there for your computer and phone that are game-changers, literally.

I decided to find the best blackjack apps not only for blackjack strategy but also for entertainment value as well as aesthetic appeal.

The best one overall was Blackjack Multi hand. This game allowed me to play three hands at once all the while giving me tips and strategy to improve my overall blackjack game.  This game does cost a dollar though. I know, doesn’t seem like much but you would be surprised how many people will not spend the amount of a hamburger on a valuable casino tool.

If you are not willing to spend a dollar the best options are Blackjack88 and Blackjack Classic. Both of these games are decent, easy to navigate around and also are very generous with their bonuses.

If you liked this blog stay tuned because I will be going over all of the other casino games as well.

By the end of 2011 Casino Bodog will no longer accept US players. Not just casinos though, US players won’t even be able to access any Bodog brand websites. Considering how large of a brand Bodog is, this could prove to be somewhat detrimental to US citizens.

Bodog operates under Morris Mohawk Gaming based out of Canada, although they are a U.K. brand. This license will expire at the end of December when Bodog will start operating under a license from the U.K. Gambling commission, which they obtained in July of this year. This will take their website from “Bodog.com to Bodog.eu. A license from the U.K. Gambling Commission carries with it prestige and added trust that the brand is in favor of considering they have many growing markets right now, including Asia.

The cutoff has nothing to do with Morris Mohawk Gaming; however, it has a lot to do with the April 15^th indictment involving three poker sites. Many off shore casinos cut off American players all together, and Bodog was one of the few that stuck around, so to speak.

Calvin Ayre, founder of Bodog brand says that the new business venture is just what his company needs, and everyone involved is very excited about the change.

After all Bodog is ranked 13^th in overall online casino traffic and 2^nd among casinos still accepting US wages.

According to Wikipedia, Bodog strive to be “not unlike the Virgin brand venture,” and have marketed themselves all the way into the coffee industry.

We are in an age of technology where it’s easy for you play your favorite online casinos from home or while you’re on the go. It’s also easy for people to steal your money and personal information if you’re not careful. Most online casinos are safe and secure thanks to third party organizations like eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) and TST (Technical Systems Testing), which certify casinos for their player protection. A little background research before signing up with a casino can save you a lot of money and frustration. There are fake online casinos out there looking to cash in on an uninformed player.

The easiest way to check the legitimacy of an online casino is to do an Internet search on it. It only takes a short time to find some valid reviews. Look beyond the name of the casino. Find out more about the company behind it and what they represent. Make sure the casino is licensed and find out what their software provider is. The biggest and most reputable software providers are Microgaming, Playtech and Real Time Gaming. You can usually trust the casino when they use a trusted software provider.

Check to see if the content is copied on the site. Copy a paragraph from the site and paste it into an Internet search engine. Fake casinos sometimes share content. Read the terms and conditions carefully to see if they are clearly stated. Don’t fall for hidden requirements on bonuses. This is the biggest problem with new gamblers. Don’t open more than one player account at each casino as you might be considered a bonus abuser and banned from the site and their affiliates. Before signing up, make sure it is legal to gamble in your jurisdiction and you are of the legal age to gamble. The last thing to check is the procedure on payouts. Casinos that pay out on a monthly basis, rather than weekly or daily, could be illegitimate.

There are a lot of things people look for when searching for an online casino at which to play. People look at the graphics, the overall look of the website, which games are offered, the number of tournaments, bonuses and more. No factor is more important in an online casino than safety, though, and that should be your number one concern. After all, it doesn’t matter how well animated the games are if they’re ripping you off. Similarly, a fun casino experience cannot make up for having your identity stolen due to poor site security.

For that reason, making sure an online casino is safe should be your top concern when looking for a place to play. But how do you know what sites are safe?
The first thing you need to look for is licensing. Many online casinos are licensed and regulated by the governments in which their sites reside. Those governments regulate the casino and ensure that they are safe and fair. If that is not the case, though, there are third-party regulators, such as the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), that inspect online casinos.

eCOGRA inspects websites to make sure they have the proper encryption to make sure all financial transactions are safe. They also look at the game software, make sure it is fair, protected from cheating, and pays out an appropriate percentage of the time. They also can work as an arbitrator if there is a dispute between a customer and an online casino. Simply put, if eCOGRA gives a website their seal of approval, you can feel assured that it is safe and fair and thus, a good place to play.
Another thing to look at is the game software designers. Instead of designing their own games, most online casinos buy licensed software from third-party developers. There are many developers out there that have built a solid reputation for fairness and safety and any casinos that use their software should be a safe place to play. Industry-leading software designers who have good reputations include Rival Gaming, WagerLogic, Microgaming, PlayTech and more. Each of those software designers have been shown through rigorous testing and player feedback to be safe, fair and also fun. Therefore, if an online casino uses software designed by any of those prestigious companies, it should be safe.

The other thing to look for is simply the overall reputation of the online casino. When customers are angry, they will vent and give bad reviews to websites on message boards, review websites, and a variety of other sources. On the other hand, when they’re happy sometimes they’ll write glowing reviews. Before joining an online casino, it is a good idea to do research on customer feedback for the website. If the majority of the feedback is positive, that’s a good sign. If the majority of feedback is negative, that could be a bad sign and I would recommend further investigation before joining.