Online Money Services

Whereas in a real casino you have to buy chips to play with, with online gambling you’ll need to deposit cash into your account so that you can enter games. Many online casinos will accept a range of credit and debit card transactions so that you can fund your account directly from your bank. However, there are often fees which are charged for such deposits in addition to a range of restrictions which can include minimum payments. A great way to fund your account is by using online money services such as Paypal, Moneybookers or Neteller. These services often avoid fees and restrictions and, with most being widely accepted by online casinos, can often be the preferred method.

Free Money

Though it is inevitable that you’ll have to make payments at some point, a great way of maximizing your money is by utilizing online casino deals and offers. With competition high, most online establishments will offer to match or give bonuses on deposits, allowing you to get more money to play with than the sum that you added to your account. Bonuses may have qualification requirements including playing a certain number of games or earning enough points, but you can get far more to play with by taking advantage of these schemes.

Online Security

Security is always going to be a concern if you’re playing online and having to deposit money, which is another reason that money services are often the preferred. The majority of respected casinos take security very seriously, and you can be promised safe payments. And by making the right choices when it comes to online transactions, you can ensure a protected and positive gambling career.

Money Laundering and Corruption Charges

Problems with the industry were first noted when the US cracked down on illegal operations earlier in the year. April saw the Department of Justice take forcible action on websites including Full Tilt Poker; a hugely popular and famed casino with consumers. Many domain names across the internet were suspended as cases of money laundering and corruption were filed against top firms, with several key operators facing resulting sentencing. And when people discovered that access to funds for Full Tilt customers had been denied, consumer confidence in the sector fell even more dramatically.

Casinos Showing Rigid Adherence

With a difficult summer being felt by the industry, it has now been revealed that many online casinos are operating very strictly within legal parameters. Transparency is also vital in a bid to show consumers that online casinos are still safe to use. And whilst many of the sectors critics continue to place blame on the online casino industry, key operators and software services are going to great lengths to rebuild the lost trust and get back on their feet.

Government Support

In addition to staying within guidelines, experts in the online gambling industry have highlighted that companies are also attempting to gain recognition, support and approval from local government bodies. EU regulations are being taken very seriously by those involved; a fact ensuring that companies can continue to operate across international boundaries and stay stringently legal. However, consumer confidence does remain low, with many people unconfident that the industry won’t see another crack down similar to those that occurred earlier this year. And whilst sportsbook and betting software services continue to try and put customers at ease, it may be some time before people are as confident with online services as they were previously.

Ireland Takes Britain’s Lead

Ireland’s government has been discussing ways to add more regulation to the online gambling industry for some time, with officials wanting to reduce the number of risks for players. This includes banning the use of credit cards for deposit uses, removing the possibility for gamblers to get themselves into huge amounts of debt. This step has already been of great debate in the UK, with controls set to be tightened significantly so that online funding schemes are more in line with land based gambling establishments.

Proposed ‘Due Diligence Test’

As a means of player authorization, Ireland are expected to force online casinos to use a ‘due diligence test’ for every new player. This will be carried out within the first 12 hours of registration and prevent players to participate in any online gambling until their credentials have been checked. Players will be required to show proof of their identity and age, with the test an important step in removing the possibility for teenagers to use their parent’s credit cards to funds deposits and spend hours of entertainment online. It will also place greater responsibility upon individuals and online casino operators, making all parties as vigilant as possible.

Underage Gambling Concerns

It has also been revealed that the Irish government is to tackle underage gambling by bringing in legislation which restricts establishments from advertising their services in a fashionable or glamorous way. Whilst such laws are unlikely to concern many online casinos who might flout the rules, parallel laws giving severe prison sentences and fines to operators who break the new legislation may make the impact of the new laws far more significant. And with the online gambling industry growing in popularity around the world, the moves by both Britain and Ireland are just some of the steps being taken to provide more security and safety for those enjoying this popular pastime.

• License plate readers
• Biometric face recognition
• Angel Eye
• RFID chips
• TableEye21

License Plate Readers

Any suspicious car can be removed from casino property before security even sees the faces of those inside. This is due to Plate Recognition technology in which a camera snaps a picture of the license plate of every car entering the casino. Optical character recognition software then converts the characters on the license plate into text which is compared to the plates of undesirable individuals.

Biometric Face Recognition

The second you walk in the door of a casino, your face is scanned by the cameras. In the past, manned security cameras would identify unwanted guests. However, biometric face recognition technology has changed this method. Dumb biometric systems detect human faces and grab a snapshot of every guest. Smart biometric systems take a snapshot and analyze the face of each guest and compare them to a database of undesirables.

Angel Eye

Even if the undesirable character makes it past the biometric face recognition technology, the Angel Eye at baccarat tables will pick him up. This equipment was designed to eliminate card-switching problems in Asian countries due to bar codes on each card. As the dealer distributes the cards, a sensor in the shoe tracks the cards being dealt and communicates them to a computer. Once all cards a dealt, the dealer presses a button which analyzes each hand.

RFID Chips

Many casinos are now implementing small Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips into their playing chips. These mechanisms broadcast serial identifiers via radio frequency so counterfeit chips will not churn out the correct waves. Other users include tracking chips leant to players for credit as well as tracking playing information for specific tables.

TableEye21

TableEye21 is the combination of many technologies. An overhead video camera tracks all moves and is analyzed by software and information sent from RFID chips. The output is real-time information of the cards being distributed and chips being wagered. Meanwhile, the software tracks a variety of statistics for the table such as rounds per hour; trend reports and the player win percentage. If a player is counting cards, this software will identify an odd trend.

There are many different types of security mechanisms in place at casinos. Technology has advanced so far that the bottom line is, don’t cheat you will get caught. However, many thefts continue to occur daily and many individuals go to jail as a result.

The Easy Way

The process is inconvenient for the player and online gaming site. Luckily, PlayerVerify.com has been able to ease the verification process for both parties. PlayerVerify is an online background service provider that utilizes hub and secure technology to perform the interaction between the casino and player via an electronic means.

Matching Information

A representative from PlayerVerify recently explained how the system works so quickly and effectively. The process essentially involves matching the information provided by the player with the information on their driver’s license, passport or other form of physical identification. PlayerVerify has created a system that allows players to upload these hard forms of identification.

The Access Code

When players apply for an account at an online casino, they send an access code which allows the casino to confirm the uploaded documentation. This method allows for players and casinos to be confident that personal information remains private and secure. Another advantage of the system is that players can upload all documents to a single portal so information scattering does not occur.

Maintaining Security

The primary focus of the company is to maintain a high level of security. Therefore, the information uploaded can only be accessed by casinos when they provide the correct code. Also, the accounts that players hold at PlayerVerify come with a variety of features including the ability to see in real-time which casinos are viewing their documents and whether their account is approved.

Other Features

Also, players will be able to acquire a list of which sites viewed their verification documentation and the date when it was viewed. Additionally, players have the ability to lock specific documents once approved thus denying casinos from viewing them following the process.

The PlayerVerify system has added an entirely new level of security to the online casino industry. Once the word is out that the system is highly effective, PlayerVerify is going to explode with new customers.

Highlighting the Service

The payment processor investigated the issue and released a press release as to why this occurred. The statement began by reminding the audience that Quick Tender has been a reliable and efficient payment processor to online gambling players for many years. The company further detailed that excellent service can be offset by “the vagaries of the US administration.” This is a reference to the actions the U.S. Government has taken against the payment processors for the online gambling industry.

A Free by U.S. Bank Accounts

Next, Quick Tender got right to the point stating that the processor has transmitted withdrawals to their account holders in the United States over the past several weeks. They reconfirmed the funds had left their European bank accounts. Quick Tender went on to report that these funds are accumulating in American bank accounts because the money is frozen. The financial processor believes the funds are subject to a seizure order by U.S. Authorities.

Temporarily Freeze Future Withdrawals

They further stated that their intention is to ensure account holder’s funds are safe and has decided to freeze future withdrawals until the frozen funds are released. The specific release says, “If we continue to transmit bank wires into the US we could find that these funds also do not reach their ultimate beneficiaries. This would simply make the problem worse.”

Clarification from U.S. Banks

Quick Tender ended the statement requesting its users to be patient while it acquires clarification from the U.S. banks. Meanwhile, the processor will continue to investigate its exposure and how it can safely restart withdrawals ensuring the funds will not be frozen. The company has excellent exposure to U.S.-based online gambling players and is fully aware of the ramifications of going against the U.S. Government.

This is the same type of situation that knocked many other online gambling payment processors out of the U.S. market. Hopefully, this does not have a major negative impact on Quick Tender’s reputation and they will continue to provide payment solutions to U.S.-based players in the future.

Another Hacking Incident

Mitchell has a history of criminal hacking activity. In 2008, Mitchell hacked into a local government network which resulted in a 40 week suspended sentence. As a result, Mitchell had broken the terms of this sentence and issued an additional 30 week imprisonment.

The Zynga Network

Mitchell hacked into the Zynga network and stole 400 billion digital poker chips which equates to $12 million. These chips cannot be converted to cash. Therefore, the only way Mitchell could have made money from these chips is to sell them to other Zynga players. He attempted to do exactly this and received $86,000 total for a portion of these chips when he was caught. At his current rates, he would have profited $300,000 if never caught.

The Precision of Hacking

The prevailing judge on the case was Philip Wassal who recognized the expertise and precision used to hack into their computer system. Judge Wassal further stated the time Mitchell had spent researching the system must have been considerable. Since people and businesses rely heavily computer systems, the Judge issued Mitchell a stiffer sentence.

Virtual Money

During the trial, Prosecutor Gareth Evans indicated that the currency Mitchell stole exists only online and is available exclusively through Zynga. Therefore, the theft did not affect the company’s revenue unlike most other instances of stealing. Additionally, Zynga has the opportunity to recreate the digital chips stolen by Mitchell. On the other hand, the theft may have resulted in a loss of clients due to the potential for hackers at the website.

Gambling Addiction

In the end, Mitchell pleaded guilty and was found to be struggling with a gambling addiction. His lawyer recognized that Mitchell was spending at least 1,000 Pounds per day at online poker rooms and casinos.

Hopefully prosecution of Ashley Mitchell makes an impact on the online gambling industry forcing them to double-check all security systems to ensure this does not occur with real money chips. Although most online casinos are certified a secure, robust and reliable entities, it is still important to routinely verify no holes exist in the software.

When using card counting in blackjack to manipulate betting patterns, there are three parameters players must remember:

• Running count (R)
• Side count (X)
• Balance number of decks in the shoe (D)

The true count of cards is adjusted based on the formula: (R + X) / D. The result is a factor that helps the player decide how to deviate from the typical blackjack strategy. Therefore, the larger the count, the more beneficial the deviation is for the player. Variables R and X take on positive and negative values which combine to determine whether the true count is positive or negative. This is a direct result of the distribution of cards within the shoe.

The most critical parameter for determining the size of the true count is D. A small number for D results in a large true count while a large value equates to a small true count value. D is indicative of the rules set forth by the casino which communicates to the player where the card counting skill will be useful.

One of the primary factors in determining D is the total number of decks used. The second factor of significance is penetration which is the percentage of all cards from the dealing shoe prior to the shoe being exhausted. For example, if all cards in the shoe are dealt, then the penetration is 100 percent with the D factor being close to 0.

The aforementioned true count is utilized in two ways. The first method is a mathematical formula known as the “Kelly Criterion” which determines the overall percentage of bankroll remaining to be wagered based on the calculated true count value. The other method is to use the typical blackjack strategy which reflects the true count.

Card counting for blackjack can be difficult to learn and even more difficult to master. You also must factor in that casino surveillance is under constant scrutiny of all players betting patterns, therefore it is important to not deviate from normal blackjack play. However if you can master this combination, a great deal of money can be made.

The False Shuffle

The ring recruited and bribed dealers to perform false shuffles which are a method that creates a set of unshuffled cards of approximately 40. During this process a slug would be created which is a place card that notifies the criminals to track all subsequent cards. Other Tran Organization members would then track the specific order of the cards that were played in order to know which cards are next in the deck. This gives the players a significant advantage in games like blackjack.

When the slug would appear in the deck, Tran Organization members sitting at the table would know the order of succeeding cards and bet based on them. This led them to win thousands of dollars per hand from numerous casinos.

The Latest Conviction

The latest conviction of the Tran Organization was Mike Waseleski who was a dealer at Resorts East Chicago Casino in East Chicago, Indiana. He faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a hefty fine of $250,000 at his upcoming sentence March 28^th, 2011. In addition to the conviction of Waseleski, seven other dealers from the East Chicago resort were charged with similar crimes.

The Tran Organization

According to federal agents who have been tracking the Tran Organization, the card-cheating scam involved dozens of individuals many of whom work inside casino across the country. Card cheating techniques are being utilized by the Tran Organization on a daily basis.

The Process

In 2005, Waseleski was flown to Houston to learn the intricacies of the cheating scam. He and other dealers were taught how to false shuffle during mini-baccarat and blackjack games. Members of the Tran Organization bribed casino dealers and their supervisors to perform false shuffles and create slugs. Once the members at the table could successfully track the cards they would signal the dealer to execute a false shuffle.

This is a common but difficult to detect scam that repeats itself across the country and under the watchful eye of casino surveillance. Hopefully in the future, employee personnel will be better prepared to identify these illegal acts.

Indictment of Two Perpetrators

State police indicated the two charged utilized an electronic device to scam baccarat games during many visits to the casino between September 8^th and October 20^th. During this time they racked up a large amount of winnings.

Similar Scam in Atlantic City

Simultaneously, the other two assailants were picked up in New Jersey and are being held on $500,000 bond for felony charges. This pair was arrested during a cheating investigation where they were scamming the mini-baccarat tables at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. The two are being held as fugitives from the law.

Due to an ongoing investigation, state affidavits have been sealed. The state prosecutor argued for higher bond due to a lack of affiliation in the area, the sophistication of the scam and the amount of money stolen. Luckily passports were taken from the perpetrators.

Charged for Multiple Crimes across the Globe

The prosecutor revealed the four defendants were suspect in cheating crimes in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Foxwoods and many other casinos across the globe. The ringleader faces 16 counts of the possession of a cheating device for use at a casino, 7 counts of first-degree larceny and 3 counts of third-degree larceny.

A Large Investigation

The investigation set forth by Connecticut State Police is said to also involve Foxwoods Casino surveillance and security, the Foxwoods Office of the Inspector General, the New Jersey State Police Casino Unit and the Department of Homeland Security. This was a major investigation that resulted in a large bust of criminals.

The four aforementioned criminals have scammed many casinos out of an unimaginable amount of money with this electronic device. Now that they have finally been apprehended, they are facing some serious charges in multiple states for scamming potentially millions of dollars.

The large cheating investigation that spanned many states and departments was the primary force for tracking these perpetrators and bringing them to justice. This authority group will continue to follow through with the investigation, hopefully arresting other casino cheats.