Online Casino Spotlight

Gambling online can be a truly unforgettable experience.  However, it is up to you whether or not the experience turns out to be good or bad.  Here are five essential tips to make sure you remain safe and have fun when indulging in online gambling.

1.) Know the Local Laws

Before you even create a casino account and spin the virtual wheel, it is imperative to understand that online gambling is illegal in some areas.  While the final decision is totally in your court, you may want to think twice about proceeding where this act is not allowed.  If you are not sure about the laws regarding this issue in your region, inquire within your local authorities to get the full scoop.

2.) Research the Casino

It is not difficult to find an online casino that is willing to accept your money.  On the other hand, it may take you a while to find one you feel comfortable with.  There are many ways to go about researching the casino and it begins with checking into their license and industry background.  It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to give the casino site a good look over.  Check out their About Us page, read the fine print and anything else that could shed some light on just who you will be dealing with it.  A reputable online casino that plays by the rules should make this information easily accessible on their website.

3.) Determine Out a Payout Option

You will not be able to cash out your winnings without a viable payout method in place.  This means that you need to find a reliable eWallet service and also make yourself familiar with how the casino pays out their winnings.  These details are very important as some casinos ensure payouts over a certain amount of time, while others pay up to certain amount over a given time.  If you can’t agree with the payments terms of a particular casino, there is no need to even play there.

4.) Take the Free Games for a Spin

There are a quite a few online casinos that will allow you to test out their free games before placing a real wager.  If you are someone new to the internet gambling experience, following this tip is highly recommended.  With so many options, there is no need to slap down cash at the first casino you run across.  Use the free games for what they’re here for and get yourself accustom to the environment before putting up some real money. 

5.) Get the Best Support Possible

Support is one of the most vital aspects of online gambling and certainly an area you do not want to overlook.  It is imperative that you procure the best support available.  Look for casinos that offer phone numbers, email addresses and other ways to get in touch with them should you have a question.  Prior to signing up, you may want to test the level of support with an email or phone call just to see how they respond.  If you choose a casino that slacks off in the support department, you might as well as prepare yourself for a miserable experience.

Real Time Gaming has placed its stamp on the online gambling industry by delivering some of the most realistic gaming platforms around.  Definitely among the fastest growing casino sites, Lucky Red Casino is one of several powered by RTG gaming software.  Though a relative newcomer on the scene, the Lucky Red management team has been in the business for a number of years.  When considering the casino’s quick rise, it appears that these seasoned professionals know what it takes to be a major player in the realm of internet gambling.

One of the reasons Lucky Red Casino is constantly attracting new players and keeping them loyal is the plethora of free money promotions they have going on.  This casino is well known for its generous welcome bonuses, ongoing reload bonuses and routine special giveaways.  For new online casinos especially, it is important to roll out a large number of promotions in order to make themselves known and establish a favorable reputation on the market.  And while you can say that this is a step Lucky Red Casino didn’t necessarily need to take to make a name for themselves, particularly because of their association with world renown Club World Casinos, they have still gathered up an impressive portfolio of promotions to continuously attract new and experienced online gamblers alike.

Lucky Red’s latest free money bonus offering is a series of Weekend Game Bonuses that is available to all players.  These bonuses can be played with a variety of popular games including video poker, blackjack and slots as well as keno and scratch cards.  Although online casinos owned by Isagro Holdings such as Cherry Red and Rushmore are also run on RTG gaming software, these attractive bonuses are strictly available through Lucky Red Casino.

We have gotten word that Lucky Red is offering five free money weekend casino bonuses that can be used for keno, slots and scratch cards. These bonuses are worth 150% and up to $1,000 each.  In addition, they come with a 20x betting requirement, which is pretty reasonable when compared to other offerings on the market.  There are five total bonuses and the codes for claiming them with the cashier are LuckyRed1, LuckyRed2, LuckyRed3, LuckyRed4, and LuckyRed5.   As mentioned above, there also bonuses for blackjack and video poker as well.  These bonuses are worth 75% up to $750 each and call for a 50x wager requirement.  To claim these bonuses, use the RTG bonus codes of BigWin1, BigWin2, BigWin3, BigWin4 and BigWin5.

Perhaps the most attractive part of these 10 weekend bonuses is the favorable cash out policy.  Unlike most online casinos that have terms and conditions stating that only a certain amount of free money can be withdrawn from bonus wagers, Lucky Red Casino has no such restrictions.  While other terms and conditions do apply, particularly abstaining from wagers on restricted games and trying to make withdrawals before the betting requirement is met, you will find that Lucky Red’s are pretty reasonable and complimenting to the new bonuses.

You have probably noticed that most online casino games are specifically designed for Windows PCs.  This is great news for the majority as most users have Windows installed on their computer.  What does it mean for users of Macintosh systems?  Are they allowed to join in on the online gaming experience.  Well, a large number of online casinos make the claim that the instant versions of their gaming applications are compatible with both Windows and Mac platforms.  These claims are supported by the fact that the games are in the form of Java or Flash applets and can be played from a web browser and do not need to be downloaded to your hard drive.  Unfortunately for Mac users, this is not always the case.

Good News

You may wonder; what is the Mac user to do in this Windows-based computing world?  Is there any way for them to find an online casino gaming platform that actually works on their computer?  Thanks to recent innovations in technology, the number of online casinos that support Apple’s Macintosh computer is growing considerably.  There are a few software developers that have created platforms guaranteed to support Mac computer users.  In addition to this, more online casinos are working to improve their browser-based games to support Macintosh systems as well.  Not too a long, it was virtually impossible for Mac users to get in on a piece of the online gambling action.  And even though Windows remains dominant, the growing number of online casinos that support Macs gives users of the Apple system plenty to be excited about.

If you were to perform a Google search on Mac-based online casino sites or software, you might be surprised at the number of relevant results you get back.  In fact, there are a number of online poker sites that are specifically designed for this platform; no Windows users allowed.  There are also quite a few sites that offer casino software compatible with all three major operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.  You heard it right.  Those who prefer the open-source Linux platform can now join in on the excitement of online gambling.  These users can take their shot at popular games that range from poker and bingo to slots and roulette.

A Word of Advice to Mac Users

When shopping for online casino sites, it is recommended that you take the time to read a few reviews to see what other users have to say about them.  If Mac is the system running on your computer, you definitely need to find out if the site supports it.  Once you have this out of the way, it is important to go over all the basics such as making sure the casino site is secure and the gaming platform stable.  The online gaming community is rapidly opening up its arms to Mac users so get out there and take your shot at the jackpot.  Most importantly, be safe and have fun with the game of your choosing.

Anyone who plays casino games, especially the land-based variety, has probably noticed that these games have a certain lingo that goes along with them.  This is also the case with online game play and even some of the books you may read about casino games.  Each game has its own specific lingo and if you’re a newbie, it can make for a rather frustrating experience.  Blackjack is a big hit in both real-world and online casinos, so if this is your game, you will want to check out this short glossary on some of the most common terminology.

Blackjack - First and foremost, blackjack equates to 21 and represents the object of the game.  If your cards add up to 21, a blackjack normally pays out 3 to 2 unless the dealer also hits.

Bust - In the game of blackjack, a bust means that your cards total over 21.  For some players, it could also refer the complete loss of your bankroll.  Hopefully you won’t have to use the term in this regard too many times.

Break - This is often used interchangeably with the term bust.

Counting - This describes the process of keeping up with the number of 10 point cards remaining in the desk.  The main purpose of counting is for a player to raise their bet when the deck is rich with 10 point cards, a strategy that works in your favor.

Double - Often referred to as double-down, a double is when you couple an additional bet with your original bet.  Because it is like playing an additional hand, a double can greatly improve your chances of winning.

Double for Less - If you don’t have enough in your bankroll to go a full double, you can take the next best option and double for less.  This means you put up a wager in between a half bet and a full bet to get an additional card.

Five Card Charlie - This describes a situation when you draw five cards without busting.  In some variations of blackjack, a five card Charlie qualifies as an automatic win and bigger payout as well.

Hard Hand - This refers to a hand that can result in a bust if hit.  It generally describes any hand worth 12 points or more that does not include an Ace.

Insurance - If the dealer is showing an ace, insurance gives you the option to put up an additional half wager that the dealer has 21.  If the dealer indeed has blackjack, you break even on the hand.  If not, you lose half the bet and play proceeds normally.

Soft Hand - This refers to a hand that can’t be busted with an extra card; more specifically, any hand with a total of 11 or lower, or any two-card combo that contains an Ace.

Spanish 21 - This a version blackjack with the 10 cards removed.  As you have probably guessed, Spanish 21 is a rule that favors the house but usually has a higher payout.

Wonging - Named after pro blackjack player Stanford Wong, Wonging describes the act of watching a blackjack game and then entering the game when the point count is in your favor.  This is something you want to be very cautious with when playing in a real-world casino.

There are many online casino sites that require you to download casino software to your local hard drive in order to start playing games.  Although some are intimidated by the process, downloading casino software is a very simple task.  In most cases, all you have to do is simply click on a button and choose the destination of where you want the downloaded program to be saved.  Let’s go over the process to help you determine what you need to do to get the online casino software up and running on your computer.

Installation and Setup

As is the case with all online casino software, there is a license agreement that you must accept before the application be can installed and work properly on your system.  Once the download is complete, generally, all you need to do is double-click on the file you downloaded from the web, which should fire up the installation wizard.  From there, simply follow the prompts and step by step instructions that appear on your screen.  The next step typically calls for you to create a player account with the online casino site.  Just like the download and setup, creating an account is a simple process that can be done in a matter of minutes.  Simply provide the required information, click the submit button and you are done.  For the most part, all you need to do is have your personal and financial information handy and the account can be created with ease.

Finding the Right Software

Now that you know the basics of downloading and installing online casino software on your computer, it is time to do yourself a favor before taking that critical step to click the download button.  What we recommend is that you visit casino review websites to find out a little more about the online casino you intend to do business with.  Gather as much information as you can about their site, putting an emphasis on the company’s reliability, the type of money transfer systems they use, the stability of the gaming software and its developer, how long its takes to get your funds after a withdrawal and anything else you can find out.  A good portion of this information can be obtained by taking the time out to read reviews offering feedback from those who have actually played at a particular casino.  Many new players have found that online casino reviews make one of the best sources for first-hand information.

When shopping for online casinos, it is essential to realize that not all gambling software is made equal.  Some are of great quality, while others are downright terrible.  What we mean by this is that some of these software platforms are designed in a manner that no matter how many times you play, the deck is stacked against you and winning is next to impossible.  You also need to be aware of the casino software that isn’t what it seems, and is actually intent on harming your computer.  While downloading and installing the games onto your computer is a breeze, finding a platform you can rely on tends to be the most difficult part of the equation.

The game of blackjack is one that can be found in virtually ever casino on and offline throughout the world.  Despite its popularity, many players are often intimidated, believing that it is a difficult game to play.  In actuality, the main focus of blackjack is simple.

The Deal

Blackjack starts with each player putting up their wager and then being dealt two cards.  The dealer, perhaps the most critical player, also receives two cards.  All of your cards are dealt face up while the dealer only exposes one of their cards.  Unlike other games, it doesn’t really matter if other players can view your cards as you are essentially playing against the dealer and the house.

The Goal

With blackjack, the ultimate goal is to get as close to 21 before the dealer does.  The most important factor is that you can’t go over or you’ll be busted.  Cards go by face value with all picture cards being worth 10 and the Ace being 1 or 11.  If your initial two cards do not up add up to 21, or a number that is relatively close wherein you feel that you can beat the dealer, you can ask the dealer to “hit” you to get an additional card.  You are free to receive a hit until striking 21 and winning, or going over 21 and losing your bet.

Stand or Hit

Once you are satisfied with your point total, you can choose to “stand” and give the next player an opportunity.  When the dealer gets his or her turn, they get a chance to turn over their other card.  If the dealer has a total of 16 or less, they must take a hit.  They must stand with 17 or more.  If the dealer comes up with a soft 17, which is an Ace and 6 where a hit can’t cause a bust because they can use it as a one-point card, the rules vary among casinos on whether or not the dealer must take a hit.

If the dealer gets busted, everyone still alive in the game wins.  If the dealer does not bust, money is evenly distributed to players who have a higher point total.  When there is a tie in blackjack, no one wins any money.  Casinos make their money on the concept of if both the player and dealer busts, the house wins.  Although you don’t aim to bust, causing the dealer to bust is very important and a key strategy in the game of blackjack.

Additional Blackjack Rules

In blackjack, you also have the option to double down, which means you take an additional card for double your bet.  Another option is the spit, which is a situation where you use two cards of the same value that act as the as the initial cards for two new hands, which gives you double the bet as well.  You can also take what is known as an insurance if the dealer shows an Ace.  If so, you break even when the dealer hits blackjack and lose the bet if they don’t, in addition to what is won or lost in regard to the outcome of the hand.

One of the most effective ways to determine the quality of an online gambling site is through the casino software.  The platform must be easy to use and cater to a wide range of players.  Most importantly, it must deliver a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.  Here are some key factors you want to consider before creating an account and placing a wager.

Graphics

There are many factors to consider in terms of online casino software and the graphics is among the most important.  Although most card games can easily be enabled by simple boxes with indicators, this simplicity can really dull the experience.  Fortunately, the leading software developers have put much effort into designing games with excellent graphics.  In fact, some of the more popular games offer simulation that mimics the slot machines and tables you find in land-based casinos.  If you truly want to enjoy yourself, paying attention to the software graphics quality is a must.

Animation and Sound

Animation also contributes greatly to the overall quality of an online casino gaming platform. Even though you may not always see the cards being dealt out by the virtual dealer, animation can still enhance the excitement of game play, especially if you are lucky enough to hit the jackpot.  Roulette and slots in particular, are two games that rely heavily on animation to attract new players.  In many cases, the quality of the animation can be the determining factor to how well designed a casino game really is.  Sound is vital because it gives you the beeps, clicks and background music that makes it feel as if you’re playing for all the marbles on the Vegas strip.

Gameplay

Graphics, animation and sound are great, but the actual game play must be up to par as well.   This where user-friendliness comes into play.  The software should provide an easy to use interface so new and inexperienced players have no trouble adapting to the environment.  If you are looking for an application that offers multiple games, you may want to consider software that offers a generic console that supports all included games.  On the other hand, some casinos utilize different consoles to support their array of games.  One console may be for poker while another could be designed for different types of roulette.  If you do opt for a platform with different consoles, look for something where the interfaces share a basic design that doesn’t take away from the ease of use.

Stability and Support

Because online casino play involves wagering money, it is critical to make sure the software is stable and properly calculates your transactions.  It is advisable to check into the software’s reputation as well as the company that developed it.  Another thing you may want to do is find out how well the software is supported and if any patches or updates are available for the platform.  The last thing you want to do is choose a casino that has no form of technical support for their software.  These applications can become quickly outdated and when they do, technical problems are bound to arise.

For an online casino operator, security should be one of its primary responsibilities.  The site’s security team should never rest in their efforts of constantly focusing on implementing new processes, monitoring tools and security mechanisms to keep their players safe.  Although different operators may take different measures, the ideal security environment consists of these two core elements: transaction security and account security.

Transaction Security

The internet casino you choose to play with should have a full-proof system in place to process financial transactions.  Aside from protecting the site’s gaming software platform, the system should also provide protection for sensitive data transmitted over the internet.  The operator must utilize state of the art e-commerce solutions to support events in which electronic funds are financially insolvent and if customers sustain losses that result from fraud or errors made on part of the casino staff or any third-party processors involved.  The endless reach and no-holds barred mentality of the internet makes it terribly insecure and without adequate transaction security, your funds could be up for grabs to anyone who wants them.

Account Security

Account security can be considered the most vital element simply because it involves so many different areas.  An online casino that truly makes security a priority will prove it by taking the following measures:

Secure Access to Funds - Most online casino operators maintain customer balances either in cash or cash equivalent.  In either scenario, they should ensure that 100% of each and every customer’s balance is made available for immediate withdrawal and subject to PIN verification.  Going back to transaction security, all real-time deposits and withdrawals should be secured by an efficient security system.

Controlled Access - Any online casino you do business with should only allow customer accounts to be access via an authorized, unique user name and password.  To be on the safe side, you may want to consider playing with a casino that does not store your user name and password on their servers, yet require you to enter these credentials each time you want to log in to your account.  This is very important as high-profile servers are a target of hackers and various network attacks.  While the casino should do its part in enforcing a password policy, it is up to you to be responsible with your login credentials.

Personal Information Verification - You can gauge the level of security an online casino provides within the early stages of setting up your account.  A respectable operator will require that all users registering for an account supply their full legal name and mailing address.  If such information isn’t requested, your internal red flags should pop up immediately.

Security is a full-time job but a challenge an online casino operator should be up for.  Aside from the measures identified in this article, the company should also take the necessary steps to ensure that their servers are protected against virtual threats and even physical instances such as theft, vandalism and natural disasters.  When placing your faith in an online casino, you need the assurance that your personal data and funds are completely safe and secure.

Traditionally, U.S. gambling regulations have been reserved for state governments as opposed to ruling at the federal level.  A prime example would be the Wire Act.  As we all know however, federal law often finds a way to overthrow state legislation.  The DOJ (Department of Justice) has expressed on a number of occasions that the act prohibits all variations of internet gambling in the United States.

Enter the Wire Act

Enacted in 1961, the Wire Act was passed to prevent bookmakers from taking sports wagers via telephone.  At one time, accusations of violations were typically accompanied by a range of other charges such as conspiracy, money laundering and violations of the Illegal Gambling Business Act.  The one key point stressed by gambling proponents is that the Wire Act is enforced towards the gambling operator.  There is no language within the law that says it is illegal for the consumer to place a wager.

Because there was simply no way to have predicted online gaming in the early 1960s, from a practical aspect, there is no way the Wire Act could apply to casino gaming over the internet.  In recent times, the DOJ has been quite busy tangled up in legal disputes in pursuit of conviction for gambling operators, years before Congress even got involved.  In 2000, the DOJ garnered a successful conviction of Jay Cohen, World Sports Exchange president, for violating the Wire Act.

The So-Called Internet Gambling Ban

The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) was enacted in the fall of 2006, a law which states that it is illegal for any financial institution to facilitate monetary transactions between offshore gambling operators and U.S. consumers.  However, this legislation has been controversial from the start as it does not state that it is illegal for those consumers to gamble on internet sites.  The introduction of the UIGEA has led the online gambling industry’s biggest players away from the U.S. market, even though many private entities continue to service it.  These companies are banking that the UIGEA will not be able to block payments, giving them the ammunition to continue operating in jurisdictions in which U.S. authorities have no power.

No-Online Gambling States

Several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington have passed laws that prohibit all unauthorized forms of online gambling.  Both Hawaii and Utah have also passed similar legislation.  Lawmakers in Nevada passed a law that permits intrastate internet gambling but have taken very few steps to introduce a viable system.  The argument has always been that implementing such a system would require advanced technologies that have the ability to accurately verify a player’s age and location, a system the DOJ claims would violate federal legislation.

In April of 2008, federal regulators and representatives from the financial industry went before Congress and testified that attempts to enforce the UIGEA would lead to substantial regulatory problems.  Resulting from this testimony was a new legislation introduced by representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul, supporters of the legalization and regulation of online gambling.  This proposed legislation would prohibit the DOJ, Federal Treasury and Reserve from enforcing any regulations associated with the UIGEA.  To the current day, no official regulations for UIGEA enforcement have been adopted, leaving many still to wonder: what does this law really mean?

Online gambling has exploded into popularity, but just like everything related to internet and World Wide Web, this industry is vulnerable to a wide variety of security threats.  There is an alarming number of online criminals who are out on the hunt for that easy payday.  Those who participate in online gaming need to be very cautious for the fact that it calls for transferring money over the internet and interacting with various types of software.  The major threats to online gambling discussed in this article are adware, spyware and phishing.

Ad-firing, Snooping Malware

Two of the most common forms of malicious software, adware and spyware are quite similar but there is a notable difference.  In general, adware programs are designed to merely display advertisements on your computer screen.  Spyware often does the same but mainly seeks to spy on your computing patterns and transmit that data to remote sources.  While the presence of such programs could result in subtle annoyances and degraded system performance, they can also lead to much bigger problems that render your PC inoperable or put your identify in grave jeopardy.  So, what do these malicious programs have to do with your online gaming endeavors?  Well, when doing business with an internet casino site, you are essentially running the risk of downloading something that appears to be a gaming platform, but is indeed a dangerous program with the intent to harm you or your computer.

Phishing Traps

Phishing has become one of the most common and detrimental threats to internet users.  The term describes a scam where you receive a seemingly legitimate email from a company you have some sort of relationship with.  Well known companies used as phishing bait have included names such as eBay, PayPal and Washington Mutual.  When opening the message, you will typically find that the sender is asking you to click a provided link and enter your details on a website.  The tone of the email is usually one of urgency, a ploy used to persuade you into acting fast and handing over your sensitive information.  The trick is that when clicking on the link, you will be directed to a rogue website that looks just like the site of the company the scam artist is purporting.

Recognition and Protection

Although recognizing these threats can be difficult, there is a way to protect yourself.  You can start by purchasing and installing a reliable anti-virus software program on your computer.  Remember to invest in a solution that protects against viruses and other forms of malware such as adware, spyware and Trojan horses.  In regard to phishing, you should know that legitimate companies like eBay or PayPal will never approach you in such a manner.  They will never suggest that you submit sensitive details over the insecure email system.  The best way to elude phishing scams is to never click on any link in a suspicious email or avoid the message entirely.  If you didn’t initiate the contact, it is probably a sign that a scam artist is trying to bait you into a trap.