Online Casino Gambling

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  A democratic lawmaker is back at it again in attempts to remove the ban on internet gambling, a legislation that was put into effect when Republicans dominated congress.

Introduced this month, the legislation by Massachusetts representative Barney Frank would give the Treasury Department the power to license and regulate online gambling organizations that serve customers in the United States.  Under the current law, which was approved by Congress in September of 2006, financial institutions are prohibited from handling momentary transactions made to and from online gambling sites.

Making announcement of the legislation at a news conference, Mr. Frank cited that the federal government could collect more tax revenues if online gambling was regulated.  However, he also said that it should be legalized as a matter of personal preference, basically stating that the government should butt out of such affairs.  Franks’s bill currently has about two dozen co-sponsors, most which are Democrats.  He decided not to seek the backing of the Obama administration nor leadership in the House or Senate.  The proposed bill does have the backing of several poker lovers.  For instance, the Poker Players Alliance and its group of more than one million strong are lobbying for the legislation to pass.  Surprisingly, former Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato, a Republican of New York and well known chairman is also looking to support Frank’s case on Capital Hill.

The voice of the opponent is strong and they are mobilizing to have the bill defeated.  This group of protesters includes social conservatives as well as professional and amateur sports organizations.  These parties fear that increased gambling competition could pose a threat to the integrity of their competition.  Representative Spencer Bachus, an Alabama Republican and highly touted member on the House Financial Services Committee, speaks quite negatively about the legislation.  In a recent statement, he took things to another level by stating that the legalization of online gambling would present a danger to the youth and subject them to forming addictions at any early age.

The new legislation somewhat differs from the bill Frank introduced in 2007, one that never even made it out of committee.  This particular bill prevents American gamblers from betting on sporting events, while the earlier version proposed to allow the sports organizations to decide whether or not they wanted to permit internet betting on their games.  Similar to the previous bill, this version would allow Indian tribal lands and states to opt out if they don’t want their citizens gambling on licensed websites.  It also requires organizations seeking licensing to implement safeguards to prevent minors from accessing online gambling sites and also fighting compulsive gambling.

While Frank makes a lot of sense and has his fair share of supporters, his biggest roadblock could be Harry Reid, Senate majority leader and Democrat of Nevada.  Opposed to lifting the ban in the past, Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley says the gaming is very important in the city of Nevada, citing that the legalizing online gambling would be a major threat its existing revenues.

One of the biggest concerns for internet gamblers is the safety and security of online casinos.  These concerns are warranted when considering that sensitive information such as credit card and bank account numbers and residential details are often involved.  Not only must you be on the look out for hackers who slither through the cracks of the internet, but shady casino sites as well.  This article will provide some information to help ensure that your transactions are secure when partaking in online gambling.

No Encryption, No Gamble

When it comes to internet casinos, it is a good rule of thumb to look for a site that offers a level of security similar to online banks and e-commere stores.  These sites protect their transactions with a security protocol known as SSL.  SSL stands for Secure Lockets Layer and enables a method that creates an encrypted tunnel for sensitive information to pass through.  This basically means that instead of your credit card or bank account information traveling over the internet in plain text, it is scrambled in a manner where the content cannot be viewed even if it was to be intercepted by a cyber thief.  Although most online casinos incorporate SSL certificates, the level of encryption is what you need to pay attention to.  128-bit encryption is currently the industry standard, which essentially means that anything less has been rendered insecure.  Before opening and funding an account, you need to make sure your casino has mechanisms in place to protect you against the roaming threats.

Beyond Secure Transactions

Having a safe way to transfer funds is good, but it isn’t enough to ensure the full-proof security you need to gamble at an online casino.  Once the information arrives at the casino, how do you even know if will be sold or misused in some other way?  You will never know unless you are absolutely sure that you are dealing with a reliable casino.  So, how do you get the proof?  It is actually a simple process that shouldn’t take up much of your time.  In order to prove reliability, an online casino should meet the following criteria:

Be Licensed

Any casino you want to play with should be licensed by a certain jurisdiction.  This basically means that a local jurisdiction such as Antigua or Barbuda has provided them with an official license to legally host a gambling site on the internet.  If the casino has no such license, you shouldn’t play there.  It is as simple as that.

Have Reputable Software

The underlying software plays a major role the efficiency of the game and security as well.  This is especially true if you intend on downloading the application onto your computer.  To make sure you are not unknowingly infecting yourself with malware or using an insufficient gaming platform, check out the software and find out who produced it.  Some reputable names you may want to look for are Cryptologic, Microgamming and RTG as they are industry-leading software developers.

Legitimate Payouts

Online casinos often publish reports detailing estimates on how much they paid out in the form of winnings.  Be that as it may, these reports can be altered or bogus entirely.  To make sure a casino is honest about its payouts, check these numbers with an independent accounting firm.   Price Waterhouse Coopers has a great reputation for helping new players find out if they are dealing with a respectable casino, or another fly-by-night crook.

Online casinos have exploded to popularity in recent years as more players come to grasp the intricacies of web-based wagering.  The major draw to these casinos is the array of games up for grabs.  The most common options you have are table games and there are quite a few to choose from.  Because there is such a wide variety, it is good to know just what is available so you don’t find yourself wondering aimlessly from room to room.

Head up with the Dealer

Table games are generally the same games you will find at the tables in brick and mortar casinos.  Two of the most popular choices are baccarat and black jack.  Both of these games are favorable to the player and make a great option for beginners.  Baccarat has become such a hit because it is simple and doesn’t require any real skill to play.  While the concept isn’t difficult, blackjack tends to be a little more challenging.  However, the fact that it does require a little know-how and gets so intense makes a favorite among serious players.  Because winning against the dealer is much harder, you will probably want to get familiar with blackjack before placing a wager online.

The Many Faces of Poker

There are many other card games available but most fail in comparison to the popularity of poker.  With poker you get options such as Texas Hold ‘Em, Let it Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, Tri Card Poker and the list goes on.  In many of these games, you aren’t necessarily playing against other players, but against the dealer, similar to black jack and baccarat.  There are numerous poker rooms online, most of which offer generous incentives such as bonuses, promotional offers and huge progressive jackpots that seem to never stop growing.  Competition is heavy in the poker room so you definitely don’t want to approach the tables without your skills and virtual game face intact.

Dice and the Big Wheel

The main table games that don’t involve cards are craps and roulette.  Arguably the most popular land casino game, roulette typically gives the house a higher edge but that doesn’t take away from the excitement involved with spinning the wheel.  This game is often a first choice of beginners for the simple fact that it doesn’t require any skills – roulette is the ultimate game of luck.  Roulette comes in many niche variations such as French, European and American, which ironically is the least popular.  Craps is another risky game filled with plenty of sucker bets that make it harder to distinguish between the good wagers.  Though exciting an nearly as fun as the real life version, this isn’t a table you want to try without your head in the game.

The plethora of online casino games is enough to make your head spin.  While many of the rules are the same, it would be wise to get some information on online play before heading into a room.  Fortunately, there are numerous communities and tutorials that will provide you with essential tips on how to play virtually any game.  Even better, there is also a nice variety of casinos that will allow you to play for free and gain the confidence you need to play for money.

While many casino games are identical, there is no hiding the fact that online casinos are far different from their real-world counterparts.  Depending on how you look at it, these differences could be for the better or worse.  Having an understanding of these differences is very important for someone preparing to make their first wager online.  This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online gambling as they relate to the experience in a land casino.

The Good Side

For some, the beauty of online casinos is the mere thrill that comes along with playing.  However, several more are attracted to all the incentives and promotional offers.  Because the competition has become so heavy over the last few years, casinos are doing whatever they can to attract new business.  This is made evident by the wealth of bonuses that are offered to new customers.

Some casinos will give up to 100% of your initial deposit as a bonus, free money that provides you with added depth to your bank role.  The other advantages of online casino play are in the convenience.    You don’t have to worry about traveling out of your way or dealing with noise, smoking and all the other irritations associated with real life casinos.  You can play right from your computer, at your own pace, and even save a little money because there is no waitress to tip nor gas charges.

The Bad Side

Even when dealing with a reliable casino, there are many drawbacks that can take away from the experience.  For example, cashing out your winnings can be a slow and difficult process.  Aside from the waiting periods on the casino’s end, there may also be delays with your credit card company.

You can expect to wait anywhere from two to four weeks in between cashing out your account and waiting for it to be applied to your credit card.  Wire transfer and debit cards usually go much faster at around 3 to 5 business days.  Another disadvantage with online casinos is often the lack of customer support.  There are some companies that provide excellent service with a toll-free phone number or email but others aren’t so responsible.  You will have a rough time with a company that takes days to answer emails and has no phone number to call.  When deciding to play online, you are also binding yourself to the rules of the casino.  This means that fighting disputes is usually a loss cause, especially once you sign your name on the dotted line.

Stay on Top of the Rules

While you certainly need to be cautious of the casino, it is the players who pose one of the biggest threats to the online gambling industry.  This issue has boiled over so much that a few casinos have started to blacklist players looking to defraud the business.  Players are getting themselves blacklisted for seemingly trivial matters like disputing or threatening to dispute charges, as well as more serious offenses such as using stolen credit cards and manipulating the gaming software. Unfortunately, a couple of bad apples are making it a bit harder for everyone.

While there are pros and cons, it is a must that you know the rules to ensure a smooth gaming experience. In taking time to work with a reputable casino, you are sure to enjoy the many benefits and profits that are available at online casinos.

Well known for its reputation as the king of Microgamming online casino games, leading mobile gaming solutions provider Spin3 has just upped the stakes for gaming enthusiast on the go.

This week the company unveiled the Mermaids Millions bonus slot game for mobile users. Making the announcement, Matti Zinder of Spin3 touched on how Mermaids Millions now stands alongside a portfolio of 17 Java games designed for a wide variety of web-based applications, catering to users with smartphones such as the Android G1 and Apple iPhone.  Zinder notes that Mermaids Millions is one of the most popular of Microgaming’s online games and expects that it will garner the same success on the mobile platform.  Mermaid Millions has joined classics such as Blackjack, Roulette and Royal Derby as the sixth web-based title made for smartphones.

Mermaid Millions delivers a vibrant atmosphere to the smartphone but it is far from your average casino setting.  The game is centered around the treasures found in the realm in King Neptune, complete with a cool sea theme to match.  Adding to the underwater look is the oyster, pearl and seahorse as well as King Neptune, who plays the wild symbol, the Mermaid, who is the scatter symbol, and the Treasure Chest starring as the bonus symbol.  Mermaid Millions does a fine job from a presentation aspect as even the symbols for high cards are decorated with various trinkets that can be found floating under the sea.

As far as game play, the web-based slot offers 5 reels and 15 pay lines to try your luck.  The coin value ranges from $0.01 to $1.00 and you get to wager up 5 coins per line, making the total maximum bet $75.  Our Mermaid friend triggers the free spins you need to get triple payouts and your free spins can be re-triggered.  You also want to make friends with the Treasure Chest as it leads to the wealthy ocean bed where get to pick from King Neptune’s jewels.  Each item represents various bonus credits so it is all in the luck of the draw.

It looks as if 3Spin has launched another hit to keep gamers glued to their smartphones as the company is revolutionizing the mobile platform with features players have yet to experience.  Mermaids Millions features the acclaimed Microgramming Expert Mode, a built-in function that allows players to manipulate Auto Play.  With this feature, you can run the Auto Play for 5 spins, 10 spins, or any other number you may choose.  You also have the luxury to stop Auto Play once your winnings reach a certain amount.  The features and easy of use of Mermaids Millions make it great choice for mobile gamers.

About Spin3

Spin3 is a major player in the online gaming market, specializing in popular table games such as blackjack, roulette, slots and a diverse selection of poker games.  The company is famed for its industry leading Microgaming products that include Major Millions, Thunderstruck and Tomb Raider.  These games and several more can be obtained at one of the several casinos powered by Spin3 technology.

Online casinos have been around for more than a decade now but really exploded over the last five years or so.  These web-based platforms present a dynamic virtual atmosphere that mimics the real-life casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City nearly to the tee.  Best of all, there are plenty of options for game play, thus finding your favorite game should be quite easy.  Here are some of the most popular casino games you have to choose from.

Baccarat

Though many people are not familiar with the game, baccarat is a major hit in online casinos.  The object of the game is to draw a hand with a face value as close to 9 as possible.  You begin with two cards, add their value and if they equal 10 or higher, the first digit is discarded.  From there, you play the hand against the dealer.  In baccarat, the winner isn’t necessarily based on who has the better hand.  Instead, you place a wager on who you think will win a particular round – you or the dealer.  Make the right choice and you get paid out at the odds, no matter whether you lose the hand or not.

Blackjack

Originated centuries ago in Europe, Blackjack is one of the most exciting and easiest casino games to play.  The object is simple – draw your cards until the face value adds up 21 or close as possible.  You start out with two cards and can be hit with more until you decide to stay or get busted.  The dealer than draws until they reach 17 or bust.  You generally get paid 1:1 odds if you win.

Roulette

Poker is huge, but roulette is crowned as the “King of Casino Games.”  What makes roulette so fun is that it is a game of pure chance with little to no skill involved.  The wheel consists of number slots, usually colored black or red.  You place your bet on the number or color you think will come up, the dealer spins and drops a silver ball into the wheel, which bounces about until it stops at one of the slots and reveals the winning number.  If it stops on the one you chose, you could win big.

Slots

Online slots are basically the same as those you would find in a real casino.  Simply place your bet, pull the virtual level and the drums go spinning.  Once they stop, the images are aligned and of course, different configurations result in different payouts.  The most exciting part about online slots is the progressive jackpots as they tend to mount up very quickly.  Some pots even climb into the millions.

Video Poker

Just like Saturday night poker at your buddy’s house, the goal of video poker is to build the most powerful hand you possibly can.  You place your bet and the virtual dealer gives you five cards.  If you get something good on the first try, click the buttons underneath your cards to hold them.  The dealer discards the ones you don’t choose and deals you more cards, which result in your final hand.  With a good casino, the payouts are increasingly higher the better your hand gets.  With poker being such a phenomenon right now, finding a casino that offers video poker should be a breeze.