Percentage Payouts Explained

Like bonus percentages, payout percentages relate to the proportion of winnings or credits that players receive. The higher the payout percentage, the more cash that gamblers have won against their venue, making top numbers a good indication that players are actually profiting from an online casino environment.

Cinema Casino Payouts

It has been revealed that during the first and second quarter of 2011, Cinema Casino saw payout percentages of over 100 percent, resulting in players and not the casino profiting. The payouts were across a variety of table games including roulette, craps, poker, blackjack and baccarat, offering a high incentive for gamblers to head to the online venue if such games are preferred. The figures mean that, when combined with Cinema Casino’s promotions and deposit matching schemes, players could find that they are actually making decent online gambling careers without having to pay too much to use websites.

Casino Operations

With the official figures for Cinema Casino’s operations coming from e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) after an extensive independent audit, players can be assured that the figures for the four months are correct and not some advertising ploy to try and attract business. In a climate where online casinos are rebuilding customer confidence after a number of well known sites were shut down earlier in the year due to fraudulent activity, this assurance is vital. And if you’re looking for a secure online casino with a proven record of enabling players to win the big bucks, Cinema Casino looks an attractive option in today’s market.

Qualifying Tournaments

Microgaming has set aside a ten week period for its casinos to host the qualifiers. The ninth week ends on May 15^th. The qualifying tournament was available to all players at Platinum Play. The game of choice was Avalon, which is based on the English legend, King Arthur. This qualifier offered eight seats to the GSOS II in addition to a large prize pool of 5,000 credits.

The next qualifying event at Platinum Play was for VIP players only through an invitation. This competition featured a prize pool of 10,000 credits and granted 16 free seats to the mega tournament. The game of choice for the competition was an older version of Thunderstruck.

Upcoming Qualifiers

The final week of qualifiers at the casino will begin on Monday, May 16^th and end Sunday, May 22^nd. This qualifying tournament is open to all players and boasts a prize pool of 6,000 credits with 10 free seats to the GSOS II. The chosen slot game is Ladies Nite, a popular game for online slot competition. The second and final even will be based on a lucky draw and will feature 4 free seats to the larger tournament.

The Fortune Lounge Group

These same events are being held across all Fortune Lounge casino group including Royal Vegas, Vegas Palms and 7 Sultans. Overall there are 120 free seats being given away with 100,000 casino credits. Additionally other prizes include Diamond VIP status for an entire year coupled with triple reward points.

Powered by Microgaming software, these casinos are all licensed and regulated by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, a reputable jurisdiction. Also, all online casinos in the Fortune Lounge Group boast the Safe and Fair Seal by eCOGRA. These qualifying tournaments offer double the winnings in that players have the opportunity to win credits and a free seat in the upcoming mega tournaments.

To date, eCOGRA has granted its seal to 153 online gambling sites across the globe. The newest revision to its eGAPs is available on the eCOGRA website. The Chief Executive of eCOGRA announced that revisions have been made to confirm eCOGRA’s requirements will meet all new guidelines for CEN Responsible Remote Gambling Measures.

CEN is the European Committee for Standardization which creates technical specifications to create a single market for the European online gambling industry and its consumers. In recent months, the online gambling industry is one of seven new responsibilities that have been added the CEN’s jurisdiction. These new requirements are expected to meet the majority of regulatory authorities across the globe.

The CEN measures were developed by the CEN Workshop Agreement which was created in early 2011. As more European countries choose to implement a strictly regulated online gambling environment, the regulatory bodies will follow the guidelines of the CEN measures. Therefore, with eCOGRA aligning their requirements with those of the CEN, they can provide expert framework that can be used by many operators.

Those casino operators that currently feature the Safe and Fair seal must also adjust accordingly to the new requirements. eCOGRA approved gaming sites currently experience periodic inspections to ensure compliance. Therefore, those that are not compliant with the new requirements will not be renewed with the Safe and Fair approval seal.

There are nine areas of the online gambling industry that will be covered by the new eGAPs including:

• Protection of vulnerable customers
• Combating fraud
• Protection of privacy
• Prevention of underage gambling
• Fair gaming
• Accurate customer payments
• Customer satisfaction
• Responsible marketing
• Safe operating environment

The new eGAPs will features 134 detailed requirements within the nine aforementioned categories. There were a variety of experts and stakeholders at the CEN Workshop Agreement to ensure all parties were represented and had input into the new eGAPs.  This is an excellent step toward a more standardized system of regulation for the online gambling community.

Led by Chief Executive Andrew Beveridge, this buyout is expected to positively expand the structure of the eCOGRA business entity.  For instance, management plans to no longer include software providers, online casino operators and other business players into the arena of online gambling. This will confirm eCOGRA’s independence with regards to the liberation of its current tasks.

The buyout process was streamlined and agreed upon by all parties. The founders noted that the timing of this buyout was appropriate allowing eCOGRA management to make its own policy and strategic decisions. The announcement further emphasized that all directors prior to the buyout would remain on the board which consists of:

• Chairman Michael Hirst
• Bill Henbrey
• Bill Gaston
• Frank Catania
• Andrew Beveridge

The original goal of the eCOGRA directors was to enforce continuous improvement with regards to the credibility of online gambling and guarantee all players were protected while developing standards, regulations and policies. These will continue to be the goals of eCOGRA with the addition of an increase in commercial activity.

The future of eCOGRA services and the operational hierarchy will not change with this buyout. The Fair Gaming Advocate which mediates player disputes will continue. Additionally, the monitoring systems will be expanded with no-accredited gaming businesses. Furthermore, extensive assessment for awarding online casino entities with the Safe and Fair seal will continue as-is. Advisory consulting services will become a major segment of eCOGRA’s business services.

Beveridge believes the online gambling industry is beginning to mature and he would like to have eCOGRA a major part of that evolution. Across the globe, there is a trend toward national and state regulatory bodies so eCOGRA is aiming to shape new gambling jurisdictions through advice and assistance.

The buyout of eCOGRA by current management appears to be a positive event as business will continue as planned with the addition of several expansions and projects. eCOGRA has been a major contributor to the success of online gambling around the world and looks as if they will continue setting the standard of fair game play in the future.

There are many symbols found in the game which include:

• Eagle close up
• Flying eagle
• Eagles in their nest
• Salmon
• Eagles wings
• Lucky eagle coin

There are three symbols for the eagle, the close up version, the eagle flying in the sky and eagles living in their nest. Mixed into the various symbols that are representative of Mother Nature are high value cards ranging from Ace to Jack. The animations of the thematic symbols are quite interesting. The background is animated as well to make the player feel as if they are out in the wilderness. For instance, the salmon jump and the eagle fly across the blue sky.

Furthermore, the eagle’s wings icon represents the wild symbol which helps make winning combinations and doubling the payouts. The eagle’s wings symbol will appear stacked on the reels, often in combinations of two and three. Five logos on an active payline will result in the release of the highest fixed jackpot, 1,000 coins.

The scatter symbol is represented by the lucky eagle coin which is crafted in tribal-style. Three or more of these symbols activate the bonus game, Lucky Eagle. This game requires players to select coins which uncover the number of free spins. The most possible free spins in the bonus game is 60, at triple payouts. Therefore, the maximum payout is 15,000 coins.

The game boasts 25 total paylines with a coin denomination ranging from 0.01 to 0.25 and 5 coins per payline. Also, Eagle’s Wings features two modes: Regular and Expert. The only difference is Expert Mode delivers an auto play function.

Roxy Palace is powered by industry-leading online gaming software developer Microgaming. The casino carries the Safe and Fair seal due to eCOGRA approval. At this moment, Roxy Palace is offering a unique welcome bonus with a maximum match of $1,250 for the first six deposits. The fifth deposit releases 120 free spins which carry a value of $600. Stop by the casino today to enjoy Eagle’s Wings and generate a nice welcome bonus.

This contract is appropriately entitled, “Responsible Remote Gambling Measures” and outlines nine goals to assist with the protection of players from the European Union. Furthermore, the agreement specifies 134 measures to guarantee those ideas are met. The nine protection of player policies include:

• Prevention of underage gambling
• Privacy protection
• Tackling fraud
• Customer satisfaction
• Fair gaming
• Ensuring accurate customer payments
• Operating a safe environment
• Protecting vulnerable customers
• Responsible marketing practices

Although these goals are not new among countries that legalize online gambling, the idea of standardizing them across many countries is innovative. In the workshop developing these standards were industry representatives for various companies, problem gambling experts, online players, and addiction and criminology experts. Surprisingly, this diverse group of individuals came to a consensus on many of these issues.

The chairperson of the workshop was Andrew Beveridge, the CEO of eCOGRA. He publicly recognized that developing these standards over the past seven months has finally come to fruition with an excellent agreement to protect customers across the European Union. Also, this workshop has greatly benefitted eCOGRA and the associated seal-holders. Furthermore, he stated that this agreement will complement other current industry standards.

Following the release of the agreement, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) in conjunction with the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) commended this major achievement by the group. The European Committee for Standardization is one of three European standardization bodies recognized by the European Union. Currently there are over 60,000 business federations, technical experts and others involved with the Committee.

This agreement is a major step forward for the online gaming community in Europe and the rest of the globe. It shows that responsible gaming can occur among all parties involved. Other countries that question the morality and ethics set forth by online gambling should observe the progress this group has made. If the final implementation of these standardization policies is successful, it may create a trend across the globe among countries with legalized gambling.

In 2005 the Fortune Lounge Group received an award for the “Best Gambling Group” by Gambling Online Magazine. Also, eGaming Review recognized the Fortune Lounge Group as one of the leaders in the gaming industry today.  Additionally, the company has won awards for their rewards program and customer service. Unfortunately, the company has recently stopped accepting new U.S.-based players but those already with accounts can continue to play.

All members of the casino are automatically enrolled in the Player’s Club. As a member your rewards transfer between all nine Fortune Lounge Group casinos and three poker rooms. There are various levels within the Player’s Club program so the more points you collect, the higher your level and the better the rewards.

There are plenty of rewards to earn at all of the Fortune Lounge Group’s casinos. These include, merchandise, electronics, vacations, credits, gift cards, tournament entries and good old fashioned cold-hard cash.

The group operates nine online casinos and three poker rooms with 7 Sultans Casino being the first launched by the company. Every casino operated by the Fortune Lounge Group has been awarded an eCOGRA seal which indicates their commitment to strict fairness and reliability standards.

Some of the most popular Fortune Lounge Group casinos include:

• 7 Sultans
• Royal Vegas
• Platinum Play
• Vegas Palms
• Vegas Villa
• Vegas Towers
• Fortune Room

Additionally, the company offers an affiliate program entitled, “Fortune Affiliates.” The program offers numerous resources to aid in the promotion of Fortune Lounge Group casinos. The commissions offered are above average at 35 percent for those recruited to the casino. The group was the first company to be awarded the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust seal.

The number of casinos, the length of time in operation, regulatory information, the rewards program and the various awards over the years make the Fortune Lounge Group network a great place to play your favorite games. As they continue to grow and expand additional benefits will be available for an excellent gaming experience.

Platinum Play casino is strongly regulated within a reputable jurisdiction with many years of experience under their belt. These stringent standards and years in the business have allowed them to tweak their operation and give the player what they want. As a result, Platinum Play is consistently rated as one of the best in the industry.

Also within this network of casinos are brands such as, 7 Sultans, Vegas Palms, Vegas Villa and Royal Vegas. These are all members of the Fortune Lounge Group which is a leader in the casino business.

There are many advantages to playing at this casino including:

• Game selection
• VIP program
• Powered by Microgaming Viper software
• Excellent signup bonus
• Multi-lingual software
• Large progressive jackpots

Platinum Play casino offers over 300 games to its users. This casino offers some of the most games in the industry including the latest slots variants, table games and some not so well-known competitions. With so many games and stringent operating standards, Platinum Play casino is also one of the highest quality sites available.

Another advantage is the VIP program which available to all players. Many gaming sites require an invitation to begin earning points. This is not the case at Platinum Play casino. Also, a free $1500 no deposit bonus is one of the best in the business. Furthermore, the casino provides a multi-lingual software client. Finally, the progressive jackpots are tremendously large.

While there are many advantages, there are a few disadvantages to playing at the casino. These include:

• High wager requirements
• Website only in English

Compared to their competitors, Platinum Play casino has higher wager requirements in most games. This is a huge disadvantage for those looking to play or practice at lower limits. Also, despite the multi-lingual software client, the website is only presented in English. Therefore, the software is almost useless if those that do not speak English do not know how to download it.

Platinum Play is an excellent place to try your luck. There are many advantages that significantly outweigh the disadvantages. Due to their past success, years in the business, number of games, stringent standards, Platinum Play is one of the best online casinos in the industry.

The Big Three

eCOGRA provides online casinos that have demonstrated fairness and responsible gaming with three different sets of certificates.  The first set proves that the agency asserts that the operator’s games are fair, and that the company runs a safe and responsible business.  The second set is related to the RNG (random number generator) found in most casino games.  These certificates are generally issued individually to prove the fairness of the RNGs of games such as blackjack, video poker and roulette.  They are provided based on analysis conducted by eCOGRA over a six month period, showing that every number is indeed randomly generated and that the outcomes of all tested games are unbiased.

The Bigger Picture

The Percent Payout Review just may be the most useful and important eCOGRA audit report of all.  By viewing this report, you can learn the average payout percentages for a variety of different casino game categories.  These categories include “all games,” “poker games,” “slots games,” and “table games.”  Conducted on a monthly basis, the figures in this particular report display the percentage of total player winnings vs. the amount wagered in a given month.  It should be noted that these numbers represent an average of the payouts and do not determine whether a player will win or lose money.  We will provide some real life examples to show you how these percentages work.

In September of 2009, slots games at Platinum Play Casino paid out at an average percentage of 95.60%.  This basically means that players were paid out $95.60 for every $100 wagered on those games, with the house keeping $4.40.  In the same month, the report indicated that poker games payout at an average of 99.51%.  Why such a big difference?  Well, because slot games are based more on pure luck while poker requires strategy and optimum decisions.  Skilled players who make sound decisions may notice that the payout percentage is either around or above this average.  Bad players are more likely to find that the average is significantly below the reported number.  The point here is that new players should not automatically assume that the return on online poker games is 99.5% as anything could happen.

Conclusion

Checking out the audit reports published by eCOGRA is something that both new and experienced players should consider doing on regular basis.  At the very least, they should review the Percentage Payout Review and base their play on those trends.  If you obtain nothing else from these reports, they will give you the assurance that the games you play at a given casino are safe and fair.

Check for Licensing

Any reputable online casino site or poker room has a valid gaming license to show they are serious about the business.  The license is generally issued by an organization in the jurisdiction in which the operator is based, or through internet gaming authorities such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.  If want to make sure you are wagering with a reliable company, checking for a valid license is imperative.  Most of the reputable operators will publish information regarding licensing on their website.

Affiliation with Responsible Gaming Parties

There are quite a few non-profit organizations that exist to help ensure fair and responsible gaming in the online gambling industry.  Some of the most well know entities that fall into this category are eCOGRA, GamCare and IGC.  Gambling operators undergo routine audits of their gaming software platforms to prove that they are fair and safe based on the standards set by these non-biased independent third-parties.  Similar to licensing information, reputable gambling operators will proudly publish these certifications on their website.

Reputation of the Operator

Even if you have verified that a particular online gambling site has the proper licensing and certification, you still need to be cautious.  Some casinos in the industry have established a questionable track record during their tenor in the business.  Therefore, before making a wager at any online casino or poker room, it is advisable to conduct the necessary research to assure you are dealing with a company that is good standards in the industry.  You can start by checking out the online gambling forums to read feedback provided by existing players within the community.   Conducting this research is crucial because even some of the most well known casinos and poker rooms have been connected to scandals.

Level of Security

Security is arguably the most important aspect of online gambling. There is a lot of money that goes through this industry so naturally, it is a target for hackers and criminals.  It should be comforting to know that reputable gambling operators take various measures to make sure the players are protected.  This includes utilizing military grade encryption technology such as SSL, and relying on trusted third-party organizations for payment processing.   Because accessing the level of security can be difficult from the outside looking in, it pays to do your research to find out about the track record of company you plan to deal with.

Play Your Part

In the end, is up to you as the player to make sure you are protected when gambling online.  Not only must you take the time to find a site that ensures security, but also apply smart passwords to your casino account and keep your anti-virus software up to date.  What you think is gaming software could be a malicious program intent on ruining your life.