Archive for November, 2010

Current Disputes with Indian Gaming

Friday, November 12th, 2010

With any type of gambling establishments, there is often litigation and disputes. The Indian Gaming industry is no exception. Many private gaming companies are opposed to Indian gaming as it is said to interfere with their daily operations. This is mostly the case in large casino states like Nevada and New Jersey (specifically Las Vegas and Atlantic City).

Publicly Traded Company Support

On the other hand, public gaming companies have changed their views over the years. For instance, Harrah’s once withdrew from the Nevada Resort Association due to the association’s rejection of Indian gaming. Public gaming companies now see the financial opportunities associated with the industry. Typically, the executives of these companies see Indian gaming as an opportunity to open casinos in states that are opposed to gambling.

However, the relationship between tribal leaders and executive management is not always amicable. For example, Gaming World International was released from their contact with a tribe in Minnesota for gross mismanagement and misappropriation of tribal funds. Gaming World denies this claim stating they are in between tribal problems. The former chairman of Gaming World was arrested on embezzlement charges.

Non-Indian Gaming Issues

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There is also a current conflict between Indian and non-Indian gaming companies. In New Jersey a tribe is attempting to open a casino near Atlantic City but is under scrutiny for doing so. Another controversy is the attempt of the Coeur D’Alene Indian tribe to nationalize the lottery. Unfortunately the tribe cannot obtain an 800 number because of threats of criminal action by the opposing states.

Despite these conflicts, there is little competition between Indian and Nevada casinos. There are no Indian gaming properties in the same geographic location as the major casinos so this is not an issue.

Issues Within the Indian Gaming Industry

Within the Indian gaming industry, there are conflicts developing as well. Due to the number of tribes attempting to open new properties, other tribes are against them due to competition and encroachment of existing Indian gaming operations in nearby areas. This is becoming a large problem in states like California, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Indian gaming has come a long way over the past 40 years. The industry has developed into a profitable gambling channel. However, whenever there is money involved, conflicts will arise. Hopefully in the future, standardized regulations will be passed to settle these issues currently afflicting the Indian gaming industry.

Microgaming Craps Options

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Online gaming industry leader, Microgaming, is well-known for developing highly customizable software. One example of the many customization options found in their software is Microgaming Craps. Some of the features are useful while others are not. Therefore, it is important to learn how to utilize these customized functions to maximize your winnings.

There are two customizable options available in the craps game including:

  • Sound settings
  • Bet settings

Within the sound settings selection, there are four options; game sounds, background sounds, advanced sounds and win sounds. The software allows players to enable or disable each option. New players should experiment with different sound combinations to make the gambling experience more enjoyable.

The game sounds are the shaking and rolling of dice, the background sound contains light chatter and background music; the advanced sounds are commentary on the current game situation and the win sounds which are better suited for online slot games. Players that wish to gamble in silence can simply click the “switch off all sounds” option.

The bet settings menu allows the player to toggle specific bets during a come out roll. These bets include, Hardways, Buy, Place, Come and Big 6 and Big 8. The advantage of this feature is each bet can be addressed individually given the player much more control than at other casinos.

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For example, if a player is betting on a Hardway Eight and the point is a six, then if the six is rolled ending the round, the Hardway Eight continues to stand because no decision has been made. If the next round begins with a come out roll, bets are conventionally turned off or not aloud. This is signified by a marker labeled “OFF.” Therefore, the outcome of the roll will, once again, have no effect on the Hardway Eight bet.

Although these options do not make a significant difference in gameplay, they give the player much more control over the virtual environment. This results in a comfortable setting for placing quality bets and can, in turn, become profitable. Most online and all land-based competitors (especially in a busy, noisy casino) do not provide any of these options.

The games Microgaming develops add a little extra advantage to the player. In this instance, these options can make a difference on the mood of the player at the table. Customization of any type of gaming software in favor of the player is always a great feature.

A Review of AMEX use at an Online Casino

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

American Express is accepted at almost every location across the globe which includes many online gaming sites. When it comes to gambling, some credit cards are better to use than others so reading reviews is important to ensure successful transactions. It is important to keep in mind, not all gaming sites accept credit cards, this must be researched prior to deposit.

To review a credit card, the following five criteria must be considered:

  • Promptness
  • Multiple currencies
  • Security
  • Ease of use
  • Availability to U.S. players

In this review, Amex will be scrutinized use these five factors. The first consideration is the promptness of the transaction. For online casinos that accept American Express, when depositing funds, this credit card is tremendously quick. The amount of money deposited will be immediately credited to your account.

The availability of multiple currencies is also important. Most credit cards including Amex will process credit card transactions in whichever currency the player is using at the casino. Depending on your location and the currency you are playing in will determine how the deduction appears on your credit card statement. Overall, Amex is a multi-currency depositing alternative.

One of the most important considerations is security. This is one area where Amex leads the way, especially with web-based transactions. Most online casinos provide 128+ bit SSL encryption to ensure all transactions are secure. It is always best to review the casino and inquire about the security. The combination of Amex security features and 128 bit encryption will make your transaction as secure as possible.

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Finally, Amex is an available option to all U.S. players. However, this is the choice of the casino as to whether they accept U.S. players and credit cards. In many cases, some of the most popular casinos with the best reviews accept both Amex and U.S. players. Again, it is always important to conduct research to find which casinos accept both to ensure smooth deposits.

Amex is an excellent card to use at online casinos that accept both U.S. players and credit cards. Luckily, you can find several popular, reliable gaming sites that do provide both. It is best to look to playing at these casinos first then expand to others once you feel comfortable with this deposit method. There are comprehensive lists of sites that do provide both available on the internet for review.

The Future of Lotteries

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Overall, the United States lottery has been quite successful in the states that have allowed the game of chance. As society is constantly changing, lotteries must also do so to remain fresh and entertaining while still providing the chance to win. State lotteries have many new ideas for the direction they would like to head.

Video Lottery Terminals

One idea they plan to implement is through video lottery terminals available around the U.S. as well as betting at home via phone or through the cable box. Utilizing technology will help them market to the younger generation and improve the convenience for playing the lottery.

Sports Betting

Another direction they have considered is sports betting which is the most popular form of wagering, although most of it is illegal. Four states have integrated sports betting into their lotteries will success. However, Congress has since outlawed this on behalf of professional athletic organizations who were concerned that state-run sports betting could result in players worrying more about the bet than the game.

Quickdraw Keno

Many state lotteries have opted to use the Quickdraw Keno format which has been successful. Monitors are placed in bars and restaurants with drawings every five minutes. In the future, more of these will be implemented into public places. California made the most of any state on Quickdraw Keno. However, this was ruled by the state Supreme Court to be a game of banking and is thus illegal.

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National Lottery

The Coeur D’Alene Indian Tribe of Idaho has proposed the implementation of a national lottery which would be available in all states. This would allow customers to use their credit card over the phone to purchase a ticket. The player could purchase on credit and not have to leave their home. This version of the lottery would not have to earmark money which could prove too advantageous.

Selling to Private Investors

Many states are proposing the sale of a portion of their state lottery to private investors to quickly raise funds for the respective states. This would not have a significant impact on the regular lottery since only 6% would be sold.

Many exciting and innovative ideas have been proposed that utilize technology and the law to advance the progress of the United States lottery. Combining these proposals with making money for the state is a win-win combination for all parties involved and will hopefully be passed by the proper legislative parties.

An Overview of Crazy Slots

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Established in 2009, Crazy Slots Online Casino is powered by gaming software tycoon Vegas Technology. The casino is incorporated, licensed and under the jurisdiction of Curacao. Additionally, Crazy Slots utilizes a privacy policy that protects customer information and advocates responsible gaming.

There are many of exciting features at Crazy Slots Online Casino including:

  • Playful and easily navigable lobby
  • Range of games
  • Attractive welcome bonus
  • Accepts U.S. players

Crazy Slots has a bright and modern lobby that is inviting to all newcomers and veterans alike. Within the lobby are selections of games, the welcome bonus, an online tournament form and links to helpful information such as, the cashier and customer support. When first logging in, an animated Crazy Slots logo transforms into a slots arcade to welcome the guest.

Also, the casino provides over 120 games including, blackjack, variants of casino poker, roulette, various specialty games and of course slots, most of which have traditional features. Many of the specialty games are only available through Vegas Technology. The main attraction of Crazy Slots is the tournaments. There are daily and weekly tournaments, many of which offer massive guaranteed prizes.

Additionally, the welcome bonus is considerably attractive to new players. The maximum bonus is currently set at $12,500 between the first 15 deposits. Also, new players are eligible to participate in 4 freeroll slot tournaments. Other promotions include weekly surprise bonuses, a VIP club and daily reward offerings. The final advantage is Crazy Slots accepts players from the United States.

These many advantages certainly are not outweighed by the two disadvantages that include:

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  • VIP club is invitation only
  • Fewer games than other casinos

One downfall to the casino is the VIP club is by invitation only. Most other online casinos provide a club for all players that have different levels to earn different points. To be invited to the VIP club you must be a regular and play a great deal. Another shortcoming is Crazy Slots has fewer games than other casinos. Although 120 games is a lot, competing casino provide hundreds more.

The two disadvantages aren’t deal breakers for playing here. Although the VIP invitation is not attractive, if you play enough, there should be no reason it will not be extended. Also, check with Crazy Slots prior to depositing to see if they offer your games of choice. Overall, this is an excellent casino for which to deposit money and enjoy the gameplay.


Managing Complacency among Employees

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

One of the biggest dangers to casino assets and liabilities to the casino is complacency among its employees. These employees are typically most insidious within the Surveillance and Security departments. As an employee, this is also where they can do the most damage to the business, its assets, reputation and guests.

Within the Surveillance and Security departments, it is easy to fall into a repetitive daily routine without being alert and observant at all times during operations. These typical functions include:

  • Checking specific areas of the property
  • Patrols
  • Escorting fills to specific games
  • Slots drops

These actions become so routine the employee begins to get to know those individuals they interact with, even the less desirable employees. This type of repetitive activity dulls the sense causing the employee to be less alert and less ready to spot wrongdoers. This also creates procedural sloppiness and tolerance of error.

For example, if an officer carries money at a predictable time on a predictable route that puts them in reach of criminals and the money is stolen, the officer is likely to be responsible for the theft. The insurance company could also be hesitant to cover any injuries the officer may incur. This is because that employee did not follow the procedure for transporting money which consists of using pre-determined back-halls route.

From a corporate viewpoint, the company could be partially liable for the officer’s injuries if they had not been properly trained and corrected following the incident. For the same reason, the corporate insurance could hesitate in paying most of the medical bills. As a society, the United States is considered complacent and vulnerable to sneak attacks and this is a perfect example.

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However, since alertness and awareness are the job of a Security or Surveillance officer, there is no excuse for complacency. The job entails being responsible for the assets of the casino and safety of its employees and patrons. Without these job functions, balance would disappear and disorder would ensue.

Complacency is a serious issue in the security and surveillance world in an industry. Since they are hired to protect the company, its services and its guests, acquired routine can become the enemy. Any type of error by either department due to complacency can have catastrophic results for the business. This is one of the primary reasons Surveillance and Security Officers and staff are being constantly trained and retrained.


Helping others

Goodwill

Here at OCS we support the Goodwill® organization that inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified. Together, we are happy to help people who are looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families. For more info visit www.goodwill.org

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