Online Casino Gambling

Essentially since inception, the online gaming industry has been plagued by rogue sites and scamming casino operators.  While many have been identified and shut down, quite a few still exist in some form of another, simply waiting for unknowing players to pay them a visit.  To help keep you protected, we have provided details on some of the most notorious fraudulent and untrustworthy gambling groups and websites.

Blacklisted Networks and Sites

Crystal Palace Group - This network of casinos has a received a number of complaints from players claiming that their winnings were confiscated.  It was also deemed by CasinoMeister as the “Worst Player Experience of 2006″.  The casinos to avoid from this group include the following:

- American Circus Casino

- American Grand Casino

- Casino Peru

- Golden Nile Casino

- LuckyPalm Casino

- Ringmaster Casino

- Royal Circus Casino

- Silver Sands Casino

- Vegas Frontier

- Vegas Riches

Wager21 Casinos – This network of online casinos has found itself on the blacklist for a number of reasons.  Perhaps the biggest issue is that players tend to win a lot more and receive bigger payouts with their free games than when playing with real money.  There have also been several complaints regarding non-payments.  The casinos to avoid in this group include:

Bet-Search

Casino Lucky Dog

Diamond Gal

Eazy Pay

Grand Casino

Lady Dream Casino

Largocasino.com

Luckydogsports

Player Vegas

Futurebet Network – Though it has gone by many names, the overall perception of Futurebet Network has always been the same – bad.  This network has a reputation of being horrible operators with some sites don’t even pay their players or affiliates.  The sites to avoid from this group include:

- 300chips.com

- AceCity.com

- BeachHousePoker.com

- BigDaddyCasino.com

- DonPoker.com

- DukesPalace.com

- LuckyRiverPoker.com

- PodiumPoker.com

- PokerSyndicate.com

- PokerPoka.com

- StarOnlinegaming.com

- TexasHoldemRoom.com

- The PokerClub.com

- WantMyPoker.com

- XtremeBluff.com

Blacklisted Online Casinos

Absolute Poker – Though incredibly popular, Absolute Poker is a room you want to think twice about playing in.  This site was blacklisted in 2007 for the infamous “Hole-Card Scandal” and the operator’s denial following the incident.  The scandal turned out to be a huge security risk and the fact that Absolute Poker denied it makes these guys very suspect.

Arcada Casino - You can try your luck with the jackpot at Arcada Casino put don’t count on a payout.  A player hit for $100,000 back in 2001 and this operator came up with a number of reasons not to payout the winning sum.  You may also want to avoid Automaticbet, AutoSportsBook, CasinoElDuce and SilverVegas as they are sister casinos .

Joyland Casino – These guys have been reported for deleting original withdraw requests and then changing them to only pay players a third of their winnings.   This is certainly a bold move for a very scandalous casino operator.

Vegas24 – This is another casino with a bad reputation.  These guys found themselves on the blacklist due to the lack of a valid gaming licensing and simply not paying their players.

There are literally thousands of sites that have been blacklisted for shady business practices and putting the security of their customers at risk.  These are just a few of several, so it would be wise to do your research to make sure the site you want to play at is not residing on the infamous blacklist.

Last week, a new lawsuit was filed alleging that Ed Scheetz, operator of Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, shares liability in the 2007 death of his 23 year old girlfriend, Michelle Hatchel.  The lawsuit filed this past Friday in a Las Vegas court by Hatchel’s family members contains a number of allegations and revelations regarding her death.  The suit was filed on behalf of Kim Hatchel, mother of the deceased, as well as her brother, grandmother and aunt.  It also targets Annie Darrohn as a defendant, who is said to be Scheetz’s former girlfriend.

At the time, authorities stated that Michelle Hatchel was found dead in a leased condominium where Scheetz had been residing.  According to police, Scheetz called at around 8 p.m on August 29, 2007 and reported that his girlfriend stopped breathing.  The coroner’s office in Clark County concluded that Hatchel died from an overdose of a lethal combination of cocaine and the opium derived pain killer oxycodone.  Three weeks following Hatchel’s death, Scheetz resigned as president and CEO of Morgans Hotel Group for personal reasons.

The lawsuit filed Friday claims that Scheetz blatantly lied when informing police that Hatchel was alive and well when he headed off to work at around 9 a.m. that day.  It also alleges that in contrast to what Scheetz told the authorities, at least two other individuals were also present in the condominium when he made the call to report that Hatchel was not breathing.  Now believed that Darrohn was in attendance during the time of death, those close to the deceased say that Hatchel was uncomfortable over Scheetz’s ongoing relationship with his ex girlfriend and feared for her life.

The lawsuit goes on to make a number of accusations, alleging very serious crimes such as assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy and wrongful death.  Some of the claims allege that Scheetz provided the substances that lead to Hatchel’s death, Darrohn failed to seek medical assistance or aid the deceased in a timely manner, and Scheetz physically abused Hatchel somewhere between Aug. 18 and the time of her death.  The suit also alleges that the condo leased by Scheets and Morgans Hotel Group was frequently used for entertaining high profiled guests, acting as a playground for Scheetz’ hedonistic lifestyle, and supplying controlled substances.  Per the lawsuit, Hatchel’s loved ones are seeking a whopping $645 million in both punitive and general damages.

The Friday lawsuit claims that Scheetz and Morgans Hotel Group were sued in January 2007 by a female employee alleging sexual harassment and unfair treatment.  The plaintiffs attest that Scheetz’s lifestyle was common knowledge amongst his peers, including the wild sexual encounters as well as the distribution and administering of controlled substances.  In the words of the plaintiffs, these acts were done with the full knowledge and consent of Scheetz’s employer.

As of now, Scheetz has not spoken out on the lawsuit while a spokeswoman for Morgans Hotel Group, which is a co-defendant in the case, reported that the firm does not comment on pending legal matters.

Online casinos emerged right alongside the mainstream introduction of the internet.  Software developers such as Boss Media AB, Cryptologic and Microgamming are credited with pioneering the development of internet casinos and online gambling in general.  Microgaming is known as the first to introduce software that allowed players to play free casino games while Cryptologic is famed for creating the first casino software platform able to facilitate financial transactions.  Boss Media got its start by powering Golden Club Casino and many casinos in the Europe, a jurisdiction where online gambling is arguably the most lenient.

In the Beginning

In the mid to late 1990s, online casinos evolved in terms of features and overall quality.  One of the most notable features introduced during this time was the progressive jackpot.  Still popular today, this feature allowed players across a network of online casinos playing the same game to contribute to a growing jackpot that grew large very quickly.  Another feature added in the late 1990s was a built-in function that gave players the ability to view details on their gaming and financial transaction history.

Evolution

Once the new millennium rolled around, online gambling had grown to become a phenomenon.  A large majority of the online casino software vendors improved their platforms significantly and new players were signing up at an amazing rate.   The 2000s saw the launch of many new features, including Flash implementation, which enabled casinos to be compatible with operating systems other than Microsoft Windows.  This revolution also provided players with a way to play casino games directly through their browsers without needing to download them.  With the industry growing fast, multilingual and multi-currency casinos were introduced to service new players emerging in the continents of Asia and Europe.  Around this time, the self regulation framework came into play and casino operators began to have their software platforms tested and audited by independent organizations such as TST (Technical Systems Testing) and eCOCRA.

The UIEGA Shakes up the Market

The popularity of online gambling continued to explode through the middle of the decade and it appeared as if that growth would proceed without interruption.  However, in 2006, the United States Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a legislation initially put in place to prevent terrorist organizations from laundering money through internet casinos.  Under this act, it was now illegal for financial institutions to process and transfer funds for players involved in online gambling.  With leading online casinos such as PartyGaming already facing legal ramifications over the Wire Act, Cryptologic, Playtech and many other prominent software providers fled the market by closing their doors to American players.  Microgaming is another well known vendor to recently flee the U.S. market.

Online gambling has come a long way but its progress has not been without controversy. And while several software providers have abandoned U.S. players, vendors like Real time Gaming, Wizard Gaming and Vegas Technology have remained and actually strengthened their brands in the United States following the departure of Microgaming.  Will others follow suit?  Only time will tell.

Supporters of online gambling suffered a crucial blow in the ongoing fight for regulation.  This past Tuesday, a U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia ruled in favor of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act against the iMEGA (Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association) in a 3-0 decision.  According to a few legal experts following the case, the court ruling should come as no surprise.

Joe Kelley, a Buffalo State law professor, explained that whenever you contest an act of Congress, you have an uphill battle on your hands and an incredibly long shot at winning.

Of all the arguments made, the iMEGA emphasized that the UIGEA was a violation of privacy rights outlined in the Constitution.  The online gaming trade body sited two cases in which the UIGEA infringed on privacy, using Lawrence vs. Texas and Reliable Consultants Inc. vs. Earle as its examples.

However, Judge Dolores Sloviter, who had the final say on the matter, didn’t leave any assumptions in regard to the decision to dismiss the iMEGA’s claims.  She firmly stated that the organization’s dependence on the aforementioned cases were misplaced and ultimately, irrelevant.  According to Sloviter, both the Lawrence and Earle cases specifically involved state laws barring certain forms of consensual sex between adults in the privacy of the home.  In regards to the UIGEA, she noted that even in the confinements of the home, gambling does not have the same constitutional magnitude of those individual cases.

While the court rejected all attempts and arguments by iMEGA’s high powered attorneys, there is one glaring loophole in the ruling that could give online gamblers and operators a small ray of hope.  In justifying the legality of the UIGEA, the appeals court did not find anything in the legislation that makes any form of gambling in the United States illegal.  Instead, the ruling verifies that similar to the Illegal Gambling Act, the UIGEA is only in place to enforce existing gambling laws.  Because there are currently no federal laws prohibiting online gambling, it can be concluded that the act only applies to online gamblers who reside in states that have laws in place against wagering over the internet.

The court applied the “reasonable man” test, a commonly used legal method asserting that the legislation could be perfectly comprehended by an individual of normal intelligence.  It then went on to specifically apply the UIGEA to existing state legislation, in affirmation that the court’s interpretation of the act only holds prevalence in jurisdictions where online gambling has been deemed illegal by other laws.  This essentially means that other than wagering on sports events over the internet, which is prohibited on a federal level, online gambling is legal and financial transactions should be allowed to those players in states without legislation against it.

Following announcement of the ruling, Joe Brennan Jr., iMEGA chairman, voiced that the court made it clear that online gambling is unlawful in states with existing laws in place.  He also noted that there is currently only six states that have laws against online gambling, which leaves a total 44 states where it is potentially legally.  Brennan declared that this isn’t a win of any sort, but a good start.

iGaming Business, a leading publisher and event organizer in the online gaming industry, recently announced that Bodog founder Calvin Ayre will be giving the keynote address at the BAC (Budapest Affiliate Conference) 2009, which kicks off September 9 and runs through September 13.  Scheduled to take place at the SYMA Sports and Event Centre in Budapest, the BAC is one in a series of events dedicated to the online gaming industry, starting with CAP Euro in 2007.  Since then, it has become one of the largest affiliate conferences in the industry, playing host to approximately 1,700 attendees every year.

Alex Pratt of iGaming Business and head organizer of the event, says the team is excited that Calvin Ayre has signed on for the conference and agreed to give the keynote speech at Budapest.  Pratt said that Ayre is an industry leading figure who comes in with a lot of credibility and entrepreneurial, remarking that iGaming looks forward to him sharing his invaluable insight with those attending the event.

Calvin Ayre founded the globally renown Bodog media brand just prior to selling its gambling business to online gaming solutions provider Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, which was done shortly after the United State’s passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.  From there, Ayre disappeared from the spotlight and abandoned the role as an online gambling operator.  Behind the scenes however, he continued to work on his new vision for Bodog, which he helped evolve into one of the most recognizable brands in the online gaming industry.

The Canada born entrepreneur recently made his return to the public eye in a big way, making the announcement that he would be retaining and consolidating the global rights to the Bodog brand, choosing to license its usage to certain brand licensees.  Ayre is hoping that Bodog will soon become a household name not only associated with the world of online gaming, but a lifestyle that spans multiple industries and continents across the world.

As of now, Ayre devotes most his focus to the BodogBrand.com project, working closely with others to help identify potential brand licensees.  Thanks to the recent brand licensing agreements, the Bodog gaming experience has global reach, leveraging Morris Mohawk Gaming Group’s existing market as well the original Bogdog.com website, Bodog Europe, Bodog Canada and most recently, Bodog Asia.  Each individual website operates independently under its own gaming license.

Ayre noted that he is quite flattered to be invited to the annual Budapest as this year’s keynote speaker.  He noted that the online gaming industry is where the Bodog brand got its start and remains to be one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in the entertainment field.  Ayre also mentioned that BodogBrand.com and its top-notch licensees offer their own regional knowledge and expertise to truly make Bodog a worldwide brand.  He expressed his excitement to continuously work with BodogBrand.com to establish new brand licensees and bring the Bodog gaming experience to even more markets throughout the world.

Online gambling can be fun and prosperous, but there is a lot players need to be aware of before creating an account and making a deposit.  You must take security into consideration, the software platform and overall quality of the casino.  One specific aspect that often gets overlooked is the withdrawal process.

The Typical Scenario

In most cases, players who do not take advantage of bonus offerings have the freedom to withdraw their remaining balance from an online casino at any time.  On the other hand, players who do take advantage of bonuses are generally required to meet the predetermined wagering stipulations before withdrawing their balance.  In both scenarios, the withdrawal process should be fast and easy barring the standard waiting period.  All you have to do is visit the withdrawal section, choose the appropriate options and enter the amount you want to withdraw.  Unfortunately, this process is not always is a seamless as it should be.

The Roadblock

After the withdrawal process is initiated, online casino operators usually let players know that their request will be processed in a certain amount of time.  This time period typically ranges from 24 to 48 hours depending on the casino.  The waiting period is necessary because of backlog requests and the standard protocol of payment processing.  Although waiting time is essentially unavoidable, during this period, some casinos extend the time frame then inform the player that they can cancel the withdrawal and transfer the money back into their account.  This common practice is known as a reverse withdrawal.

The online casino obviously benefits should the player decide to cancel the withdrawal and wager the remaining balance instead of retrieving it.  Waiting periods that exceed the norm are implemented to persuade the player into changing their mind and leaving the funds in their account.  While the funds are waiting to be processed, they are not in the player’s bank account, e-wallet or casino account.  In fact, you cannot use them in any way and because you requested a withdrawal, you must now wait for the casino operator to take action and initiate the process.  However, you can easily use the reverse withdrawal option to transfer the funds back into your casino account.  This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the player who feels that if they cannot withdraw their funds in a timely fashion, they should follow through on the reverse withdrawal and try their luck again by wagering the balance.

Conclusion

Though perfectly legal, reverse withdrawal is a questionable practice you want to avoid.  Sure, you have just as good of chance at winning as the next player, but hitting the jackpot in an online casino is never guaranteed.  If you feel the need to withdraw the balance from your account, stick to your guns and do so.  Never let the casino tempt you into canceling the withdrawal and risk losing all of your money.  Because of the growing outrage, more casinos are minimizing the waiting period while others are abandoning the reverse withdrawal concept altogether.  If you are someone who is easily tempted, it might be in your best interests to seek out such casinos and spend your money with them.