Online Casino Gambling

Progressive jackpots are popular at both online and land-based casinos. In Atlantic City, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement regulates the rules for progressives’ at all land-based casinos. Recently, a new rule has been announced with regards to progressive jackpots which could potential hinder a player’s small advantage. Luckily, this rule does not apply to online progressive jackpots but could be used as a precedent in the future.

The Amended Law

The rule states that casinos have the ability to eliminate progressive jackpots at any time and retain the accrued money. However, there are a several conditions attached to the bill. First, casinos are required to notify the public 30 days prior to the termination of a progressive jackpot. If no player wins during that period, the casino has the right to remove the jackpot and keep the money.

Second, this rule only applies to progressive slot games within a single casino. Therefore, those games that a linked across several casinos cannot be terminated under this law. Therefore, players who add to the jackpot size may never have an opportunity to win the money after 30 days.

History of the Law

The policy was initially implemented in 1992. Within the first three months, Atlantic City casinos canceled a variety of jackpots totaling $16.6 million of which they retained. As a result, customers complained and the law was amended to require the casinos to transfer any remaining jackpot money other progressive slot games. Most players found this to be an acceptable arrangement. This also allowed the casinos to terminate games that did not bring in high traffic.

Statements from Representatives

The Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement explained to the public that the change was a small portion of new regulatory reforms recently passed in New Jersey. The goal of these reforms was to eliminate specific rules the casino operators felt were outdated. Therefore, this specific regulation gave casinos the flexibility to remove slot games that are no longer popular and replace them with newer and more exciting games.

The Director assured concerned players that casinos will not be permitted to allow the jackpots to build up, then be cancelled and then be added back to the gaming floor. This is not only an unethical practice but would also be illegal. It seems to be a coincidence that this reform comes at a time when the casino industry and State of New Jersey are struggling with financial crises.

Atlantic City, New Jersey is the gambling Mecca of the East Coast. Just a short distance from both Philadelphia and New York City and in the heart of the biggest population belt in the country, Atlantic City continues to attract millions of players each year. However, it does not share the same regulations as Nevada.

This is primarily due to passing laws that permit gambling in the state much after Nevada. Also, prior to the laws being passed, there were several types of gambling already authorized. The laws were passed later due to the long history of organized crime in the state. Officials worried about regulating a clean gaming business.

At the time, Nevada gaming held a reputation of being captive in the industry. New Jersey wanted their establishments, workers and overall standards to lead the industry and consistently be exemplary. To some extent, they were successful in following their blueprint. As time passed, the gaming laws loosened allowing casinos to increase advertising and reduce labor by eliminating specific functions.

The state level is divided between an investigating office under the Attorney General and an adjunctive function. The structure is modeled after Nevada. The two departments are divided into:

• The Casino Control Commission
• The Division of Gaming Enforcement

The Casino Control Commission licenses all casinos, their employees and the numerous firms the casino conducts business with. The commission consists of five members, three cannot be from the same political party and falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Treasury. The members are appointed by the Governor for five-year terms.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement falls under the Attorney General’s Office. They are responsible for investigations regarding licensing applications as well as prosecuting violations prior to the commission.

Since the two agency system reviews the regulatory process, they are greatly valued in New Jersey and Nevada. Unfortunately on occasion, there are conflicting views and practices between the two agencies. In some cases, the commission will question the staff of the division and vice-versa. This causes resentment towards the other party.

The members on the board of both agencies must adhere to strict post-employment policies. They are usually not allowed to work in any type of casino-related job. This is an attempt to eliminate any type of link between the regulatory bodies and the casino industry. Like Nevada, New Jersey has an exemplary casino regulation system that continues to keep balance in the state.

Online casinos have been around for more than a decade now but really exploded over the last five years or so.  These web-based platforms present a dynamic virtual atmosphere that mimics the real-life casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City nearly to the tee.  Best of all, there are plenty of options for game play, thus finding your favorite game should be quite easy.  Here are some of the most popular casino games you have to choose from.

Baccarat

Though many people are not familiar with the game, baccarat is a major hit in online casinos.  The object of the game is to draw a hand with a face value as close to 9 as possible.  You begin with two cards, add their value and if they equal 10 or higher, the first digit is discarded.  From there, you play the hand against the dealer.  In baccarat, the winner isn’t necessarily based on who has the better hand.  Instead, you place a wager on who you think will win a particular round – you or the dealer.  Make the right choice and you get paid out at the odds, no matter whether you lose the hand or not.

Blackjack

Originated centuries ago in Europe, Blackjack is one of the most exciting and easiest casino games to play.  The object is simple – draw your cards until the face value adds up 21 or close as possible.  You start out with two cards and can be hit with more until you decide to stay or get busted.  The dealer than draws until they reach 17 or bust.  You generally get paid 1:1 odds if you win.

Roulette

Poker is huge, but roulette is crowned as the “King of Casino Games.”  What makes roulette so fun is that it is a game of pure chance with little to no skill involved.  The wheel consists of number slots, usually colored black or red.  You place your bet on the number or color you think will come up, the dealer spins and drops a silver ball into the wheel, which bounces about until it stops at one of the slots and reveals the winning number.  If it stops on the one you chose, you could win big.

Slots

Online slots are basically the same as those you would find in a real casino.  Simply place your bet, pull the virtual level and the drums go spinning.  Once they stop, the images are aligned and of course, different configurations result in different payouts.  The most exciting part about online slots is the progressive jackpots as they tend to mount up very quickly.  Some pots even climb into the millions.

Video Poker

Just like Saturday night poker at your buddy’s house, the goal of video poker is to build the most powerful hand you possibly can.  You place your bet and the virtual dealer gives you five cards.  If you get something good on the first try, click the buttons underneath your cards to hold them.  The dealer discards the ones you don’t choose and deals you more cards, which result in your final hand.  With a good casino, the payouts are increasingly higher the better your hand gets.  With poker being such a phenomenon right now, finding a casino that offers video poker should be a breeze.