Online Casino Gambling

Released by Rival Gaming on New Year’s Eve of 2010, Reel Party Platinum is an upgraded version of the original: Reel Party. New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to distribute this game due to the party atmosphere brought about by this day. Remixing online slot games is a common practice is the gaming industry. However, this game tops the cake by finding the perfect balance between providing players with something new and maintaining the brand equity of the old game.

The Introduction

The new game begins with an introductory 3D clip that guides players into a square lit by neon lights where the party occurs. This replaced the old 2D clip that featured 2D fireworks animations. This scene remains as the backdrop behind the reels throughout the game. The symbols on the reel are transparent so you can still view the party behind them.

The Graphics

The graphics of the symbols in the game are spectacular. These symbols bear a resemblance to the original game to maintain brand equity. The clothing and grooming of the hosts are more accurate with regards to today’s trends. The symbols include; a lime cocktail, which replaced a glass of beer; champagne toasts instead of rum; and food. These symbols have been reworked to showcase the superior graphics.

There are plenty of new animations in this version of the game. First, when the host creates winning combinations, the party becomes alive in the background animations. Also, the bonus game is played at a liquor cabinet. Unused glasses must be added to the cabinet with the help of the host.

Betting Opportunities

Both versions offer identical betting opportunities. Each utilizes 15 paylines with a maximum of 5 coins per payline. The coin denomination ranges from $0.01 to $1.00 with identical payouts. Furthermore, there is a round that offers 10, 20 and 100 free spins. However in Reel Party Platinum these free spins are worth triple.

Each of these games is available at all Rival Gaming online casinos. While there have been many old games revived with new graphics and new gameplay Reel Party Platinum is one of the best updated slot games available to date. The graphics simply engulf you with a sharp picture quality and realistic graphics. Also, Rival Gaming has tweaked specific aspects of the game to maintain the brand loyalty that the original Reel Party created among its loyal followers.

The time line for the enactment of the ban of online gaming by the government of Cyprus was for completion by the end of 2010. However, this objective has been delayed despite their proposal to the European Commission in September. The government planned to allow sports betting but ban all other types of online gambling. The reason for the ban was to protect citizens from the negative aspects of online gambling.

The European Court of Justice

The precedent for this decision arose from the European Court of Justice. The European Commission stated the Cyprus must obtain feedback from other member states which would take at least three months. If everything continues as planned, the ban would be enacted in March 2011.

Statements of Objection

Unfortunately for Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Malta have filed statements objecting to the ban. The Democratic Rally Party Chairman accused these two countries of attempting to disrupt the plans of the Cyprus government. Regardless of their objections, the Chairman proclaimed this is only a minor setback and Cyprus will be able to pass the law.

From his review of the paperwork sent by the European Commission, he believes banning online gambling is only an issue if the goal was to draw competition from land-based casinos. Furthermore, as long as the process follows the European Union laws regarding online gambling, there should not be a problem.

Clarification of the Specifics

The European Commission is requesting confirmation as to how customers will pay for online sports betting, why there are a limited number of licensees in the outline and further clarification of specific articles that appear to be discriminatory in nature.

Opposition to the Bill

Opponents of the ban such as Henrik Witt, a Cyprus-based online gambling company, state that the ban could have unfavorable consequences to the economy. All online gambling operators will relocate from Cyprus taking jobs and income with it. Also, local players will continue to gamble illegally at suspicious sites resulting in the exact opposite of the goal of the ban.

Despite opposition to the bill, it looks as if it will be passed in 2011 once all paperwork is completed. The result will be a major change in the Cyprus economy due to a decrease in the number of jobs and thus money to purchase items. Players will look to spend their money on gambling in other countries. Perhaps in the future, the Cyprus government will overturn this bill.

The Isle of Man is a reputable regulatory and licensing jurisdiction country of online gambling. The Government actively supports local gambling business as well as online gambling companies. The regulatory body on the island is the Gambling Supervision Commission which functions under the Department of Trade and Industry. The Commission supports fair gaming by creating a strong regulatory environment while offering much business perks.

As a result, the Isle of Man provides a world class gambling model and even offers support for the industry. The Commission follows a few core principles including:

• Keeping the online gaming industry crime-free
• Protect new businesses and those at risk
• Ensure fair services
• Ensure players receive their winnings

The Commission consists of a Director that manages the entire operation, a Policy Officer, five Gaming Inspectors and two Secretaries that have greater than 60 years of licensing, regulation and operational experience in the gaming industry. These are the primary reasons for their excellent reputation.

Founded in 1962, The Isle of Mann Gambling Supervision Commission began focusing on internet gambling in 2001 with the passage of the Online Gambling Regulation Act. However, this has not been an easy nine years. In 2003, the gambling market crashed on the island resulting in no licensing from that jurisdiction for the year. Therefore, the Commission restructured its regulations.

One step was reorganizing the fee structure which made it much more affordable for smaller operations to startup. Since 2005, the Isle of Man does not charge a corporate income tax to online gaming providers. The only condition is the operator cannot provide services to local residence or else they will be taxed. In the past three years, the country has added ten amendments to the Online Gambling Regulation Act covering topics like advertising and disaster recovery.

The two strongest areas of the regulatory body are protecting the player and managing problem gambling. To protect the player, it is a requirement for those regulated by the Commission to ensure the player’s funds are secure, this is enforced by law. Additionally, software must be tested by independent testers pre-approved by the Commission. Furthermore, every aspect of online gambling companies is constantly reviewed for fairness and consistency.

The strict guidelines from the Online Gambling Regulation Act are one of the reasons the Isle of Man is the best jurisdiction to be regulated. Many upcoming casinos are waiting just to be reviewed by the Commission for licensing.