Online Casino Gambling

Online gaming developer and innovator, Microgaming, created the Quest for Beer slot game in May of 2008. Upon release the game immediately became a big hit in the slot game community. The title alone is intriguing to any online slot game player. The slot game features five reels with 25 total pay lines. The graphics are animated with excellent sound effect features for each round.

The Viking Era Theme

The theme of Quest for Beer originates from the Viking era with tales of giants and golden beer. The wild symbol in the game is a beer tankard. This helps you acquire a payout for those reels that are missing one symbol. Additionally, there are free spins when you hit the correct combination. The scatter symbol is represented by a beer wench.

The Bonus Rounds

Additionally, there are bonus features such as double payouts and ten free spins. To enter the bonus round, you must hit the beer tankard on two, three and four at the same time. Also, there is a re-trigger function that adds to the free spin bonus. To get an additional payout during the bonus round you must hit three beer wench symbols.

Another interesting bonus round is the axe throwing competition. The goal is for the player to throw axes at beer kegs. If stuck correctly, earnings of 40 times will be awarded to the player. Furthermore, there is the option of double, triple and quadruple the winnings. For instance, a player can earn 25,000 coins and double it to 50,000 coins on the free spin round. An added bonus of 5,000 coins is offered in the keg round.

The Perfect Game for the Male Audience

This game has everything to satisfy the male audience: beer, women and axe throwing. Overall the game is fun and easy to play. It is a great place for new players to begin their slot gaming career. Since Microgaming has such a huge presence in the online gaming industry, this game is offered at almost all casinos that utilize Microgaming software.

Since the game’s inception, Microgaming has created numerous online slot games with updated features, promotions, graphics, bonuses and other innovative ideas. Many online slot games were modeled after Quest for Beer as it introduced new features not seen before in a slot game. This game will live on due to its interesting theme, fun game play and basic features.

Everyday in 2005 and 2006, Sandia Casino employees Lynn Gallo and Steve Roybal scammed the casino for a total take of $1.2 million. The first was a slot machine attendant, the second a slot supervisor. This has been the greatest casino heist in New Mexico’s history.

Stealing for Over a Year

Despite a plethora of surveillance cameras and security guards that see every aspect of the casino, Gallo and Roybal were able to loot the casino of thousands of dollars each day for over a year. An expert in casino management was appalled by the amount of money stolen for such a long period of time. They continued to get away with the crime for the simple fact that nobody was looking. Surveillance and security were not doing their jobs.

The Exploitation of Vulnerability

The two criminals were relying on the fact that nobody was being vigilant. Gallo and Roybal found and exploited vulnerability in the casino surveillance procedure. This vulnerability was found among the slot machines. The idea is simple; if a guest wins a few thousand dollars or more on slots, a casino employee will immediately give the winner the cash prize. This is a considerable vulnerability.

The Scam

Gallo and Roybal scammed the casino by creating fake jackpots on paper and keeping the cash. Gallo would hand the cashier a slip indicating a customer had won a large slot jackpot. The cashier would give the money directly to Gallo to take to the customer. This transaction required the signature of a supervisor such as Roybal. There was no jackpot, there was no winner, and it was a large con game.

A Failure by the Internal Controls

Since the Sandia Surveillance Team was not watching, the two criminals were able to steal up to $20,000 in one day. Over 15 months, the pair used this scam 550 times for a total amount embezzled equaling $1,242,581.75. The Sandia’s internal control should have identified this long before the first instance. The casino found that their Auditing or Surveillance Department did not follow correct procedure.

On October 5^th, 2006, the pair pocketed more than $20,000 and was reported by an employee for suspicious activity. The casino launched an internal investigation and the two were fired. Gallo died before being indicted and Roybal received 50 years in prison. In the end, greed overtook them and resulted in their capture.

3 Card Rummy is being offered by more online gaming sites each day. The game is a welcomed change from the traditional poker based games. As regular players become bored, they are looking for exciting new variants and this is one of them.

3 Card Rummy, also known as Vegas 3 Card Rummy, is played with a standard deck of cards. The game begins with the player posting an ante bet in addition to an optional bonus bet. The player is then distributed three cards up while the dealer receives three cards down. The hand rankings are as follows:

• Three of a kind, pairs and two suited cards equal zero points
• Single cards from two to nine are worth their face values
• Aces equal 1 point
• All other cards are 10 points

The object of the game is to have fewer points than the dealer. Based on the dealt hand, the player can either raise or fold. Folding results in a lost ante while a raise is equal to the original bet. Following this round of betting, the dealer’s cards are exposed. The dealer must have a hand of 20 points or less to qualify, if not ante wagers pay even money and raises are a push. If the dealer qualifies the two sets of hands are compared with the lower total winning.

If the player has a lower hand total, he wins even money. Any raise bets are paid by the house according to a payout table. If the dealer has the lower total, all bets placed by the player are lost. A tie is simply a push. Additionally, the bonus bet payout is based on a separate table given specific hands.

The game is simple allowing the player to only have to make two decisions. These are whether to place the bonus bet in the beginning of the hand, and whether to raise or fold. Therefore, the primary tip in the game is whether to raise or fold. Experts have evaluated the main game to have different house edges. If the player raises with 20 or less and folds with 21 or more, the house edge is at least 3.2 percent. Therefore, this strategy should be explicitly adhered too.

3 Card Rummy is a simple but fun game to play. With few decisions to make, new players can instantly become good at the game assuming they don’t veer from the above strategy. Try the game out next time you see it at an online casino.

There may be another mega merger on the horizon. Ladbrokes and 888 are talking about merging to form a mega online gaming company. Powered by Microgaming, Ladbrokes offers all online gambling products. The company, 888, owns software provider Dragonfish. Ladbrokes has valued 888 at around $314 million. Both companies have also told the London Stock Exchange they are in preliminary talks.

Talks Initiated in 2006

Despite the excitement, this is not the first time these two companies have discussed a merger. In 2006, talks were initiated but did not proceed due to the passage of the UIGEA in the United States. At this time, 888 was nearly double its current value. One potential issue that could arise is the fact that 888 does not have a non-prosecution agreement with the United States Department of Justice for activities prior to the UIGEA.

Decline in Share Price

At the end of May 2010, 888 posted a profit warning which caused a 13 percent decline in share price. Since that time there has been a great deal of speculation as to who will bid on their stock. In August 2010, the CEO of 888 stated the company will be talking with other gaming operators as well, one of whom was Ladbrokes. At that time Ladbrokes highlighted that it was too early speculate on specific conclusions.

The Future of Online Gaming

The future of online gaming is currently a huge topic in the industry and is constantly being discussed at expos and conferences. These discussions are based on the national regulation of online gambling in Europe and the expectation that it will become legal in the United States. Therefore, the prediction has been made that online gaming market will eventually be cornered by a select few number of operators and smaller operations will shut down.

As the industry is currently seeing, this prediction is becoming a reality. Just this past year, PartyGaming merged with BWin to form a massive online gaming company. If Ladbrokes and 888 merge, this will be another step in that direction. Although larger companies will have the resources to entice new and retain old players, there will be a lack of selection and choice which could result in a lack of innovation and hurt the industry.

A large bearing on the gaming industry moving in this direction will be the legalization of online gambling in the United States. This could result in plenty of new companies opening its virtual doors adding new selection.

There are many alternative options to making financial transactions at an online casino. One of these options is a wire transfer. Most casinos offer this payment method as a way to withdraw money from the casino to your bank account. Although not as popular as other transaction techniques, a wire transfer provides the desired outcome.

What is a Wire Transfer?

A wire transfer is the process of using an electronic medium to transfer a specific sum of money from one account to another. In the past, the medium was not electronic; however, due to the advancement of technology, this has changed. The account can be from a bank account to a casino account. However, it is more likely the transfer is completed from a casino account to a bank account.

Wire transfers are an extremely popular method in Europe. There are a few different types of wire transfers that even involve the use of your credit card to transfer the money. This is the most common form of wire transfer.

Amount of Time for a Wire Transfer

Since there are so many alternative funding options available across the internet, most visitors use those to fund their casino accounts. The main reason for this is the length of time a wire transfer takes to process. Typically it can be between 3 and 5 days assuming all the information inputted into the system is correct.

Wire Transfer Regulatory Agencies

There are regulatory agencies that track wire transfers. In the United States the Federal Regulation and Uniform Commercial Code follows Article 4a. In Europe, the European Commission manages this jurisdiction. The wire transfer fees in Europe to member countries are considerably lower than the United States which is why it is such a popular option. However, transfers to countries not in the European Union are much higher.

Benefit of a Wire Transfer

The major benefit to a wire transfer is online casino prefer receiving funds through this method. This is due to the fact that the funds are guaranteed and more difficult to charge back to the player. As a result, many online gaming sites offer promotions, bonuses and other incentives to use the wire transfer as a primary means of financial transaction.

For the European Union, the wire transfer is one of the best methods available when sending money to local countries. However, for those in the United States, the fees are typically too high to make it a feasible option. Depending on your country of origin, it is important to review all financial transaction options prior to making a deposit or withdrawal from an online casino.

Every casino is offering some type of holiday promotion. Since December 17^th, players have been engaging in a freeroll tournament entitled “Countdown to Christmas” which ends on December 24^th. There is a large prize pool in this slots tournament with the winner receiving $40,000. This is an excellent Christmas gift to all players.

Xmas Guaranteed Weekend Madness

Immediately following the Countdown to Christmas tournament is Xmas Guaranteed Weekend Madness. Throughout the year Go Casino runs Weekend Madness tournaments. Therefore, this is a special variant due to the holidays. The tournament will run begin on Friday, December 24^th and end Monday, December 27^th. This special tournament has a total prize pool of $75,000, double the size of the usual purse. The top 1,000 players will win a piece.

The Split of the Prize Pool

The prize pool is split into two parts; the top 15 will share $39,975 with the top 3 receiving $15,000, $5,000 and $4,500 respectively. The remaining players will share loyalty points equaling $35, 025. These loyalty points are aptly named, Bonus Bucks and can be used to purchase items and credits at the casino.

The Buy-in

Players must buy in to the Xmas Weekend Madness tournament. Luckily the buy in is only $10 with unlimited rebuys also for $10 each. As with any tournament, players must be careful not to rebuy unnecessarily. The initial starting amount and rebuy amount is $325; therefore, efficient wagering is necessary. It is best for the players to not aggressively bet too early in the tournament.

California Gold

The slot game of choice for the Xmas Weekend Madness tournament is California Gold. Those playing in this tournament are hoping to make a great deal of money, much like the California Gold miners. Powered by reputable Vegas Technology, Go Casino has been certified for fairness by an independent external auditor. The casino falls under the jurisdiction of Curacao which is one of the most reputable licensing countries in the business.

These tournaments are expecting have thousands of participants due to the exorbitant cash prizes. For those that win, this will be an excellent payday during a festive time of year. Most other casinos are giving away bonuses and prizes, Go Casino decided to go the route of a generous tournament, that way everyone has a shot at hitting the big prize. Stop over to Go Casino as soon as possible to register for this potentially large payday.