Online Casino Spotlight

There is something about casinos that seems to bring out the worst in some people; or rather it seems that the presence of large sums of money have the tendency to encourage people to cheat. Many people have gone in to the casino thinking they could “beat the system.” Truth is; you can’t. Casinos spend billions of dollars a year in security- employing some of the most high tech methods out there for catching everyone from your garden variety cheater, to card counters, and even high-level operations like the MIT Blackjack Team.

Casinos employ dozens of ways to protect their money and their casino. Each casino is different and uses a different tactic. However, there are three common strategies almost every casino from Las Vegas to the American Indian casinos uses to ward of cheaters.

The Eyes on Floor- Casino Staff

If you have visited a casino, you have probably noticed the hoard of casino employees walking around the floor. These employees serve a variety of functions; fixing stalled slot machines, making change, assisting visitors, etc. However, all casino employees have one thing in common- they are all trained to spot cheating. Every casino employee on the floor has their ears and eyes peeled for suspicious behavior. They have undergone hours of training from advanced security teams. Chances are; you will be spotted.

Table Managers and Pit Bosses

The dealer isn’t the only one watching your poker table. Casinos also have table managers and pit bosses. These casino employees are trained to notice patterns that could indicate cheating at the poker table. Most casinos assign a pit boss or table manager to one specific table or any area of tables. If there is a high-stakes game going on, you can be assured at least one pit boss is watching that table like a hawk.

Eyes in the Sky

Casinos don’t just rely on the human eye to watch over their investment. Every major casino has a set of security cameras installed that look over the flood. These cameras are manned off the floor by an entire staff. They are angled to watch the tables, the slots, the cashier, and just about everywhere in the casino. Odds are the casino you frequent has dozens of security staff who spend their days with their eyes glued to the security camera monitors. Security staff positioned at the monitors are equipped with two-way radios that connect them with other employees on the casino floor. Chances are; a cheater won’t make it out of the building if they try.

The urge to cheat your way into winnings can be great, especially for gambling enthusiasts. People who frequent one casino can start to believe that they “have things figured out.” Odds are; they don’t. Casinos invest a large portion of their holdings in to stopping these people in their tracks.

Casinos take their security very seriously. It can almost be a little nerve-racking to patrons, especially first time visitors to a newly built casino, but staying out of trouble is simple enough. Do not cheat the tables, do not horse around on the casino floor, and certainly do not steal the security guard’s truck. That last one may seem obvious to some, but not one Pittsburg firefighter.

Pittsburg River’s Casino Has Security Truck Stolen

The security patrol stopped a man in the River’s Casino parking lot when he noticed the man exhibiting strange behavior. The man asked to for a ride home, so the security officer drove the man to the front of the building where he could call a cab. Once the two arrived at the front of the building, the man got in an altercation with a woman standing at the casino doors. When the security guard got out of his truck to stop the altercation, the man jumped in the driver’s side and drove off.

Man Leads Police on Chase from Casino

The security guard contacted the local police who begin looking for the man. They found him when he was headed the wrong way down the street and almost struck their police car. The police followed the stolen security truck for several miles. Finally, the man parked the security truck and proceeded to run on foot from the police. When he was apprehended it became apparent to police that the man was intoxicated.

Driver of Apprehended Stolen Casino Security Truck Turns out to be Local Firefighter

As it happens, the man who stole a Rivers Casino security truck is actually a local Pittsburg firefighter. The man, William White, has been a firefighter in Pittsburg for nearly sixteen years. Unfortunately, this won’t help White much, as his blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit when he was apprehended in the stolen casino security truck.

William White, local Pittsburg firefighter, is now facing several criminal and civil charges. White was charged with drinking and driving after he was found to have an excess of alcohol in his system. He may also face charges of grand theft auto from speeding away in the security truck. There is no word yet if the River’s casino plans to press any civil charges for damages that may have occurred to their property, or if the woman who White was found to be arguing with plans to press charges.

eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) is a non-profit organization that exists to ensure reliability and fair play in the online gambling industry.  While the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Act) is a legislation that stands against the regulation of internet gambling in the United States, the purpose of the eCOGRA is to establish the basis for what it considers to be high quality standards in the industry as a whole.  Working as an independent contractor, this body services all legitimate online casino operators throughout the world.

Recognizing eCOGRA

eCOGRA is perhaps best recognized by its Seal of Approval, which signifies credibility and excellence in the online gaming industry.  When out hunting for a casino, you will likely observer a number of sites that bear this official seal.  This particular honor is given to casino operators that meet a wide variety of criteria, such as providing adequate security for players, ensuring fair gaming and ultimately running a responsible business.  These operators are approved because they not only meet criteria of eCOCRA, but player standards as well.  Honest promotional offers, unbiased RNG (random number generators) and efficient payment processing all goes into approval requirements.

Resolving Matters Through eCOGRA

Choosing to play at a casino site that displays the eCOGRA Seal of Approval is something you want to consider.  Why?  Well, it is this simple logo that ensures your questions or concerns will be addressed accordingly.  Of course you should try to get your matters resolved through the casino first, but if they do not cooperate for whatever reason, rest assured that eCOGRA is a trusted body that will stand in your corner.  The organization, does however, ask that you allow time to pass, generally two weeks from the original report to work out a resolution.  For better service, it is advisable to provide eCOGRA with copies of all documents and correspondence to support your claim.  While it does not support any players you have been involved in questionable online gaming practices, if you have truly been wronged, this is the best ally to have on your side.

What separates eCOCRA from other independent regulatory bodies is the fact the it is not in the business for success or profits.  Instead, this organization is designed for longevity and to keep the industry fairly balanced.  Casino operators who earn its honorable seal agree to demonstrate their commitment to the both eCOCRA and the customer.  When choosing to play at a site approved by this reputable organization, you can relax a bit easier with the confidence of knowing your payments will be processed and distributed in a secure and efficient manner, and most importantly, that the site you are gambling on believes in fair play and will likely be around for some time to come.  If you are completely new to the online gaming experience, we highly recommend keeping your eyes peeled for the eCOGRA Seal of Approval.

You can find a list of approved online casinos on the eCOGRA website.

The online gambling industry has been able to garner the attention of gamblers across the world.  No longer do players have to deal with the hustle and bustle of land-based casinos as they can bring the action right into their homes.  Thanks to the power of the internet, gambling fanatics now have an assortment of the most popular casino games at their fingertips.  While online gambling can be both exciting and prosperous, one of the most important factors a player must consider before making a wager is whether or not the casino is safe for playing.  It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or an expert, it is an absolute must that you put an emphasis on safety and security.

Schemes and Scandals are Abound

First and foremost, you should know that a large number of illegal gambling sites exist out in cyberspace.  The global reach of the internet and World Wide Web create a rather larger scope for fraudulent practices.  Because so many of these sites are created and run in other countries, the casino operators are often exempt from legal punishment by U.S. authorities, pretty much giving these fraudsters the green light to manipulate and compromise unknowing players.  With that said, it should at least be good to know that these illegal sites usually don’t last long.  If you do your research, you will find that several illicit online casinos have been exposed and shut down by the authorities in their respective jurisdictions.

Ensuring Security and Fair Play

There are a few solutions providers that have developed concepts to better assure integrity and security in the market of online casino gambling.   The OGA (Online Gambling Association) is one such body dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of players looking to gamble at online casinos.  This regulatory body performs regular checks to make sure internet casino sites are providing adequate levels of security to their customers and keeping them from engaging in illegal activities.  There are also organizations who have committed themselves to ensuring fairness.  Because this is such a major issue in the online gambling business, it is critical that you keep a casino’s payoff percentage in mind.  If the payout percentage is considerably low, it could be a sign that the online casino operator is not paying out its players the appropriate amount of winnings.  This is actually defeating the purpose of gambling and only adding to the casino’s wealth in the end. The eCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) is an organization leading the charge in making sure players are getting their fair share at the virtual jackpot.

Secure a Safe Environment

If you really want a chance to win and truly enjoy the online gaming experience, it is imperative that you seek out nothing less than a secure casino site.  Separating the contenders from pretenders can be difficult as a newbie, so it is advisable that you conduct extensive research to find yourself a reputable site.  In an industry that has been littered with so many scams and sharks, reputation is everything.  The researching process can prove to be a very tedious undertaking but when landing yourself that highly secure, dream casino, you will be glad that you put forth the effort.

As internet gambling continues to soar into popularity, the issue of online casino security increasingly becomes a major concern for players looking to cash in.  When it comes to gambling in general, you have to determine just how much you are willing to lose.  If you are dealing with an insecure casino site, you could end up losing far more than you bargained for.  Because of this, the first step you need to take towards online gambling is finding a secure casino.  The best way to ensure this is making sure you are dealing with a reputable company.

There are literally hundreds of casinos online, all offering you the chance to sign up and take your shot at the jackpot.  Unfortunately, many of these casinos do not have a good reputation.  Almost any online gambling site will let you play, but it is up to you to find one that you can trust.  Because online gambling has been closely tied with so many scams, some expert players suggest finding a casino that allows you to play for free before placing any real wagers.  This is very understandable because when you are playing for free, there is no money to lose.  Even then, you need to be very careful as free casino games have been associated with malicious programs such as viruses, Trojans and spyware.

Knowing Where to Look

You can learn a lot about internet gambling sites by reading reviews.  These sites are very useful as they can tell you what to expect in terms of bonuses, payment and withdrawal options, gaming software and the level of security.  If the feedback from other members indicate that the casino is not reliable, there is a great chance that the site is also lacking in the security department and could put you at risk.  Taking a gamble with a company you know nothing about could put you in a situation where you lose your money and possibly your identity, especially if the casino doesn’t put security first.

Proceed with Caution

As someone new to online gambling, you should take it upon yourself to find out more about the security measures a casino employs by doing a little investigating.  A reputable company will publish this information and make it easy to find.   If there security policies are sketchy and not comprehensive, you should probably find yourself a new casino to play at.  Furthermore, when your money and personal information is on the line, you should never hesitate to contact the casino staff and gather more details about their level of security.  If the online casino is truly reliable, it should have no problem answering your questions until you are completely satisfied.

When you don’t make security a priority, the gamble you take at an online casino could be much more than rolling a pair of cyber dice.  The internet is a haven for hackers, malware writers and more scams than you could ever imagine.  If you don’t feel that a particular online casino can provide you with adequate security, keep moving along until you run across one that does.