Online Casino Spotlight

There are many features that add to the excitement of playing slots online.  One of them is the free spins bonus round.  As the name suggests, when triggered, then bonus round offers the player a number of free spins and payouts, which are provided according to the combinations on the slot reels.  The actual payouts are based on the wager placed on the spin that triggered the bonus round.  These bonus rounds are usually triggered when three or more scatters appear on the reels.  Although very rare, they can also be triggered randomly.  The free spins round can greatly increase your chip balance, giving you the opportunity to play longer and thus, increase your chances of winning big.

Popular Games with Free Spins Rounds

In online slots games, free spins rounds are defined by two parameters: the number of free spins and the multiplier.  With basic games, the house rules dictate that a specific number of spins will be given at a certain multiplier.  In more advanced games, the number of free spins and the multiplier are determined by playing a different game on a separate screen.  One example is the popular online slots game called Fat Lady Sings.  In this game, the first Fat Lady sings and the number of free spins is determined by the number of glasses she breaks.  Next, a different Fat Lady sings and determines the multiplier by the number of glasses she breaks.

The bonus game that collectively determines the number of free spins and the multiplier can also increase the element of chance in online slots.  A perfect example is Area 21, an online slots game recently launched by Cryptologic.  Microgaming’s Pedal Power is an example of slots games that allow you to select the combination you want from a list.  In Pedal Power, you have the option to choose from 25 free spins with a 2X multiplier, 10 free spins with 5x multiplier, or 5 free spins with a 10x multiplier.   Because you have to choose between a greater number of free spins and higher multipliers, making a decision is not always as easy as it sounds.

The free spins in slots games can be retriggered when playing at most online casinos.  This simply means that if the triggering combination appears on the reel during your free spin, you are rewarded with extra free spins.  However, some online slots enhance game play in more innovative ways.  A classic example is Sneak A Peek Doctor Doctor, a game in which a yellow capsule may appear on the fourth reel during your free spin.  When the capsule bursts, it provides you with additional free spins.  Likewise, the blue capsule may appear randomly on the fifth reel, which enhances the multiplier for the remaining rounds of the game.

Conclusion

Free spins rounds typically differ greatly from regular bonus rounds.  The background music often becomes more noticeable while colors of the reels or the background itself may alter to highlight the change in the game.  With online slots growing more popular by the day, new and innovative free spins features are sure to come in the near future.

Online gambling has grown to become a fiercely competitive industry.  This is evident when examining some of the top online casino software providers and their respective portfolios.  Take Microgaming for example.  This company offers more than 400 games, giving players the beauty of variety.  Rival Gaming on the other hand, only has about 60 games in its portfolio.  Does the number of games a casino offers really matter?  Does it mean that one software provider is better than the other? Although it all depends on who you ask, this article will strive to provide the answers.

Veterans vs. Newcomers

When trying to determine why one casino has considerably more games than their competition, one must understand that some online casino software providers have been in the business much longer than others.  For instance, Microgaming has been around for more than a decade now whereas Rival Gaming got its start just a few years ago.  This alone is a significant factor that accounts for the vast difference in the number of games a given casino has to offer.  The second reason is associated with the rate of releases.  Over the years, Microgaming has been committed to introducing three to four new titles every month, while Rival Gaming adds new games on a more sporadic schedule.

The Aspect of Variety

When you create an account with an online casino powered by Microgaming software, you will have your shot at well over 400 games.  More than likely, you will not have the time or desire to play all 400.  Some players prefer slots, some love scratch cards and others live for the thrill of table games.  For this reason, they are more likely to stick with the games that fall into those categories.  Hence, the power of Microgaming casinos does not lie in the 400 games, but the variety they offer to the player.  Everyone is different and has their own preference, factors that allow the software provider and its licensees to cater to the masses.  So while a company such as Rival Gaming cannot match Microgaming’s variety, one like Cryptoplogic, which offers a diverse portfolio of about 200 games, can.

Out with the Old, in with the New

The rate at which new casino games are added is another important factor on the market.  While certain games such as blackjack and poker will probably maintain their popularity for an eternity, other games will become dull over time once people grow tired of playing them.  For example, online slots without the additional bonus game on the separate screen are considered old news among many players.  While some players still prefer the old school version, that percentage is dwindling quickly.  For this reason, software providers that keep the market fresh with new titles are more likely to attract more players and maintain their interest.

Conclusion

The battle continues to wage on, but direct competition in the online gambling space is actually on the decline.  Today, operators are focused on strengthening their bottom line through niche markets.  A perfect example is Rival Gaming and its exclusive i-Slots.  As more players emerge online, they will likely discover their niche and find that the number of games a casino offers isn’t as important as it once seemed.

Today’s casino software is loaded with features that benefit the gambling operator and player alike.  One feature that can definitely work to the player’s advantage is the “Help” function.   Let’s have a closer look at this feature to see out it operates in some of the most popular software platforms.

Microgaming

When playing on Microgaming online casino software, you can usually access the Help feature by clicking on the “?” in the top left corner of the screen.  Once inside, you will find that the Help section is complimented by variety of menus on different topics.  The main menu gives you details about the game you are playing, symbols, bonus rounds, and payouts.  It also provides complete game rules, which makes it a valuable feature to new players.  Other information provided are general details regarding slots and the Expert mode functions found in Microgaming casino games.  You can also find contact information should you need to speak with the casino staff for any reason.  The Microgaming Help feature provides a wealth of comprehensive information that adds a nice touch of user-friendliness to game play.

Playtech

When playing at a casino powered by Playtech software, you can find the Help tab under the menu button at the bottom of the screen.  When clicking on the Help tab, you will be redirected to a different interface that acts as a Help Center.  Here you will find detailed sections that show you how to set paylines and place wagers, explanations on shortcut keys and the various functions they perform, information about special symbols on the reels, bonus games and much more.  Players who are uncertain of how the bonus games work tend to find the Help feature in Playtech software very useful.

Vegas Technology

When playing on Vegas Technology casino software, the Help function can be accessed by clicking the “Help” button on the game screen.  The Help section has a number of menus, providing information on how to play the game, in addition to details on coins, paylines and spins.  Under the rules section, you can find out how the software determines winning combinations as well as information about special symbols on the reels.  There are also individual sections that explain the bonus games and payouts, which make understanding them easy by reproducing the graphical table from the actual game.  The unique aspect of the Help feature in Vegas Technology software is that it allows players to print out the sections so they do not have to interrupt their game looking back and forth.

Conclusion

User-friendliness and simplicity are important factors when it comes to online gambling software.  Without these two elements, playing your favorite games wouldn’t be very fun.  The Help feature represents the effort of software makers to cater to players by creating a straightforward, user-friendly environment.  If you are completely new to a certain game, or just a need a refresher, the Help section comes through in the clutch with the answers you need.  Because it is so useful, almost all online casino software providers incorporate a Help feature in their gaming platform.

Recently, online casino software developer CryptoLogic introduced their Batman and Wonder Woman themed games into the online casino market.

“With the Batman and Wonder Woman on our side, we’re confident CryptoLogic will again demonstrate the connection between big brands and revenue growth,” said Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogic’s President and CEO. “CryptoLogic’s greatest strength is partnering with the brands that attract players to the biggest gaming sites in the world – providing increased revenue for our licensees and value for our shareholders.”

CryptoLogic developed the games after signing an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and DC Comics.

Both of the new releases are slot games. The Batman game is a 50-line game. In the game, Batman takes on the Joker. Players take on inmates at Arkham Asylum to stop the Joker in game that includes stacked wilds. The Wonder Woman game is also a 50-line game. The game features a bonus wager with Wonder Woman fighting an island of zombies.

The company has also introduced the Monkey to Mars and Triple Action Hold’em games into the market. The Monkey to Mars game is a 25-line slot game while Triple Action Hold’em is a new poker entry from CryptoLogic. This poker game uses only the top 28 cards in the deck. The player is given three betting options in the game. Their is a main ante bet plus a couple of side betting options. In addition, the company released updated versions of their Let It Ride and Three Card Poker games.

Other companies launch new games

On November 5th, online software game provider Microgaming will launch three new slot games into the online market. Each game features a 5 reel video bonus slot. The Dance of the Masai is a 25-line game with a 10 free spin bonus feature. The other new games are Alaskan Fishing and Kings of Cash.

Vegas Technology also has added some new slot games. Love Bugs and Bangkok Knights were recently launched into the online gambling market by the company. Love Bugs features a five-reel video bonus game with a romantic theme while Bangkok Knights is also is a five-reel game with themes tied to the Thailand city.

Realtime Gaming has introduced three new games, including a unique poker game. The company’s Texas Hold ‘em Bonus Poker brings casino poker together with the Texas Hold’em version of the game. Competitors will be able to place bets on the flop, the river, and the turn with the same structure and theme as regular Texas Hold ‘em. Also, the bonus feature allows for even more winnings in each hand.

Realtime has a couple of slot games as well. The Shopping Spree II is a progressive slot game. This game is a five reel, nine pay-line game. There is a minimum progressive jackpot of $100,000. The other new slot game is called Triple Twister. This video slot game is a five reel, fifty pay-line game. The game features two progressive jackpots.

Microgaming has been one of the industry leaders in casino software over the last 15 years. The company lays claim to launching the first online casino in 1994. In 2002, Microgaming introduced their Viper software into the market. Microgaming is based in the Isle of Man in Europe. It is not a publicly-traded company. Because of this, Microgaming casinos have the option of signing up players based in the United States.

Portfolio

Microgaming services over 120 casinos and 40 poker rooms on the internet. Their software is used extensively for some of the biggest poker and progressive jackpot networks. The company has developed some unique technology to support the player and casino operator. Microgaming’s PlayCheck is a tool that tracks a player’s gaming activity in a format that is easy to comprehend. The company’s CashCheck feature enables players to see their balance and activity in a simple click. Microgaming also offers payout percentage reports for their participating casinos.

Microgaming was involved in the development of eCOGRA, which stands for e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. The non-profit organization is a standards authority for the online gaming industry. This has enabled Microgaming to gain a solid reputation as a reliable operator in the online casino marketplace.

Games

Microgaming is constantly introducing new games into the online casino marketplace. The company has developed over 400 games. Roulette, video poker, slots and blackjack are among the game categories that Microgaming has been involved in. The company is able to cater to a large clientele by offering their games in the English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, German and Spanish languages. The games are available in a download or Flash version. Each month, Microgaming introduces at least four new online casino games.

For October, three video slot games and a Texas Hold’em casino poker game have been launched. The slot games are Kung Fu Monkey, Pure Platinum and Wooly World. The new poker game has some unique features. Unlike the traditional Texas poker game, Microgaming’s new game allows side bets. It is played with a single deck of 52 cards. In another rule adjustment, the new game does not allow any bets after the river.

Last month, Microgaming unveiled nine unique bingo side games. The games include a range of scratchcard and video slots while also featuring casual and pub-style titles.

The bingo side games are beginning to play a bigger role in the gaming industry.

Microgaming teams up with Ladbrokes

Microgaming has been actively involved in the growth of poker over the past several years. The Microgaming Poker Network software has been used extensively by online casinos. The technology allows multiple players to play a variety of poker games in real time.

Earlier this year, Microgaming Poker Network launched a major partnership with Ladbrokes Poker. The British gambling company has one of the most prominent brand names in the industry. In a promotional element to the deal, the companies are offering a monthly $1 million payout to 3,000 leading players.

For some time now, eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance or simply eCOGRA, has held the reputation as the number one independent accreditation organization for internet casino sites and online poker rooms.  Being that the body has considerably expanded its services over the past few years, it not only allows online casino licensees to apply for its coveted Safe and Fair Seal of Approval, but has also extended eligibility to various others sectors in the online gambling industry.  This includes sportsbooks, online gaming networks, bingo rooms, software providers and affiliates in addition to accredited eCOGRA casinos such as those powered by Microgaming.

Brightshare is the latest affiliate program to receive the quote on quote “green light” from eCOGRA.  This program represents the network of five traditional online casinos, two mobile casinos, a poker room and bingo room that compromise the popular casino group known as the Jackpot Factory.  Running on the powerful Viper software platform developed by Microgaming, the Jackpot Factory has one of the biggest collections of high quality casino games as well as a network of progressive jackpots renowned throughout the industry for creating a number of internet gambling millionaires.

All Jackpots and All Slots, both of which are Jackpot Factory casinos, have been on the scene for quite a while and received a lot of praise by some of the most prestigious portals in the realm of online gambling.  These two casinos are highly regarded as high ranking internet gambling destinations and make ideal places to open an account and try your luck.  Both give players the ability to play for real money and indulge in the experience of Microgaming’s innovative table games and realistic virtual slots.  The biggest downside to these sites or any online casino powered by Microgaming, is that they are not open to players residing in the United States, as the UIEGA led the company to turn its back on the American market.

Although it suffered a loss in business after abandoning the American market, the Jackpot Factory is recuperating nicely by racking up a great deal of traffic from other jurisdictions, particularly Europe, where the laws regarding internet gambling are far more lenient.  The BrighShare affiliate program has played a huge role in helping the Factory generate that traffic.  Affiliate programs have become essential drivers for many online industries as they help participants earn revenue from commissions and bring traffic to the business.  Lloyd Apter, Affiliate Manager at Brightshare, remarked that because of this, it is a must that online casino operators meet the defined standards in the affiliate management sector.

There are few organizations that are held in such high regard as eCOGRA.  Similar to how it consistently establishes transparent operative standards within online gambling, the body also helps to ensure that the best practices are enforced and maintained by affiliate programs throughout the industry.  Thanks to the eCOGRA, more affiliate programs are making a commitment to timely payments and accurate disbursement of affiliate revenues while assuring that reliable environments are in place to facilitate the efficient communications between the affiliate and player.

Online gaming is a fast moving industry that offers advantages to the player and casino operator alike.  Today, there are literally thousands of casinos located at virtually every corner of the web.  Sadly, some of these operators simply exist to steal your hard earned money and leave you in a world of financial debt.  What can happen if you fall for a scam employed by a shady a casino?  Well, you could find yourself receiving no payout at all or the latest victim of identify theft, both of which are being more common.  If you are indulging in the online gambling experience for the first time or venturing to a new casino, keep the following in mind before diving in head first.

1.) Look for Valid Gaming Licenses

All respectable online casinos should be licensed and regulated by the gambling authority from the jurisdiction in which the operator is based.  A valid license provides you with added security because if you ever become the victim of shady business practices, you will have your chance to file a complaint and possibly take action against the casino.  This information should be published and easily accessible so if you can’t find it, this could be a sign that you have encountered an illegal operation.  The ambiguous nature of the internet allows crooks to claim to be anything they want, even casino operators.  Unfortunately, this gives criminals the ammunition they need to create fraudulent gambling sites and steal from players who do not expect a thing until it is too late.  Keep your eyes peeled for legitimate licenses and get some validation before laying down a wager.

2.) Play with Reputable Software

Finding out the underlying software platform of an online casino is just as important as checking for a gaming license.  The best casinos are those powered by industry leading solutions by vendors like Microgaming, Playtech and Vegas Technology.  These firms have established solid reputations by offering fair and secure casino games with reasonable odds.  If you are new to all of this, it is important to understand that you have every right to know what software platform the casino operator is utilizing.  This is something that cannot be stressed enough because some casinos have been known to use software that operates in their favor and flat out cheats the player.  If a casino will not spill the details about their gaming platform, you would be better off playing elsewhere.

3.) Know That You are Protected

The fact that you have to provide personal information such as credit card numbers and your home address could make playing at an online casino very scary, and rightfully so.  However, keep in mind that if you are just playing for free, there should be no reason to give out such information.  If a casino tries to pump you for these details unjustifiably, it should be a warning sign you need to take seriously.  Should you decide to play for real money, only place your wagers with operators who employ SSL encryption to prevent sensitive data from being stolen and offer a Privacy Policy stating that your personal information will not be sold or supplied to third-parties.  Fraud has been a tremendous problem in the internet world and if you do not know how you are protected, you could learn the hard way that you were given no shield at all.

There are many advantages to playing blackjack online opposed to in a land-based casino and one of the most unique of them all is the luxury to play for progressive jackpots.  This is a significant benefit when considering that even the most skilled player may secure steady winnings over time, but rarely claim considerable single payouts when playing traditional games.  Over the past few months, some of the most well known online casino software providers have added progressive games to their portfolios and here are few that may pique your interests.

Cryptologic

There are many reasons to play progressive blackjack at a casino powered by Cryptologic.  For one, many players find that the pool is easier to win since it can be hit when you have four aces of the same color, meaning they do not have to be of the same suit.  Although there is no second jackpot to compete for, there are fixed payouts you can win through a number of combinations of both suited and unsuited aces.  If you want to contribute to the progressive jackpot, you can do so with a voluntary $1 wager.

Microgaming

Microgaming goes above and beyond to standout from the competition and this is reflected in its progressive blackjack game.  With this game, winning is not based on a combination aces but sevens, which makes the name Triple Sevens a fitting title.  If you assemble 21 from three seven of diamonds, then you hit the progressive jackpot.  Similar to the other games, this one also has fixed payouts for many different combinations of seven.  Microgaming’s Triple Seven blackjack game produces winners more frequently but the average payouts are lower than the games by other vendors.

Playtech

Leading casino software provider also offers a progressive blackjack game that gives you the opportunity to win big.  In this game, four aces of the same suit gets you the entire pool.  Unlike the offerings from other vendors, there is no combination that qualifies you for a smaller amount of the pot.  There are however, fixed payouts for specific combinations such as three aces of the same suit and four aces from different suits.  A major plus of progressive blackjack with Playtech casinos is that even a single ace offers a $5 payout.

Vegas Technology

In Progressive Blackjack by Vegas Technology, the jackpot is claimed when you are dealt out four aces of the same suit.  This powerful combination gets you 100% of the money in the jackpot pool.  However, if you are dealt four aces of different suits, then you receive 10% of the overall pot.  Vegas Technology’s progressive blackjack also has some fixed payouts that make the game more intriguing.  Keep in mind that you must place an additional bet of $1 in order to qualify for the pool in any of these progressive blackjack games.

Conclusion

Progressive blackjack carries the same level of high risk as any other progressive casino game.  What we mean by this is that your chance of hitting the jackpot are very low, especially if you are someone who prefers to play it safe all the time.  On the other hand, gambling in itself is all about luck so on any given day, you could hit big and make online casino history.

Online casino games have certainly come a long way over the years, especially from a quality aspect.  Technological advancements in graphics and animation have introduced a much more vibrant atmosphere to the gaming experience.  However, high-quality game play requires the aid of various components, some of which must be installed on your computer in order to get the full effect.  There are many such elements and one of the most important of all is the Adobe Flash Player plugin.  Without this addition, your online gaming experience will be quite dull and may not even happen at all.

How Flash Helps

The Adobe Flash Player offers a number of features that add to the quality and overall efficiency of online casino games.  This utility greatly simplifies the manipulation of 3D graphics and is able to create various textured meshes in the 3D environment.  It also has the ability to manipulate textual data and create appealing topography by automatically restructuring and restyling text.  One of the greatest benefits of this multimedia player is that it reproduces color with superior precision, making it appear as if the images were entirely crafted by the program developer.  Not only does it assist with graphic acceleration, but also supports a variety of audio functions such as sequencing and mixing, thus allowing for the implementation of music in real-time.

Perhaps the best feature the Adobe Flash Player has to offer the online gaming experience is the processing power it lends to a computer to accelerate bitmap manipulation.  This speeds up the calculation of bitmaps, blend modes and video overlays to better support animation, audio and high quality video streams.  The player is also an integral part of instant online gaming software as facilitates the serving of SWF files to the web browser.

Identifying Flash Games

Most of today’s online casino software vendors insert functionality into their platforms that require the use of Adobe Flash to work properly.  Cryptologic, Microgaming and Vegas Technology are just some of the leading providers that require you to install the Flash player on your computer system.  Adobe’s Flash technology helps to power many of the popular online casino games including slots, poker, roulette and several others that utilize animation, audio and video elements.  Without this is application, there is a great chance that you will not be able to play any of your favorite games online due to the inability to provide functionality to the browser.

Don’t Have Flash? Don’t Worry

The Adobe Flash Player is a very useful tool that serves purpose in many other areas outside of online gaming.  For example, you can use it to play non-gambling games, watch video clips or even full length Flash movies.  If you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer, don’t worry.  Getting a hold of a copy is easy.  You can download this media player for free and have it up and running on your system in no time.  From there, you can then take part in a truly enriched online casino gaming experience.

Any avid online casino gamer will tell you that one of the most disappointing experiences is downloading a game or signing up with a casino that simply doesn’t satisfy your needs.  A perfect example would be choosing a game of blackjack where the dealer wins on ties.  While some players will be fond of such a version because of the advantages, several others might want to steer clear of this variant for all the disadvantages it offers.   Indeed, it can be very frustrating when you take the time to research casinos only to download a gaming platform that just doesn’t work out.  For some, this is enough to deter them from playing at that particular casino or indulging in online play entirely.

The good thing is that many of the reputable online casino software vendors have taken note and acted by trying to deliver more user-friendly products that allow you to preview games before investing your time into them.  These previews typically offer screenshots as well as a brief summary of the games.  By viewing a comprehensive preview, you can learn more about that particular gaming platform and better determine if it meets your expectations.

Below we have provided details on some of the most popular online casino software providers offering previews of their games.

Microgaming

It is no surprise that Microgaming, an industry leading online casino software provider, would be one of the first working to accommodate the growing needs of players.  With casinos powered by Microgaming, you can visit the main lobby and then the games section to choose a specific category and obtain a listing of the selections it contains.  From here, you generally have two options.  You can either view all the listed games in text form, or view them in a matrix-style graphical presentation featuring logos of the available games.  With either option, the preview is basically the same as it is displayed in a box to the right of the screen with the cursor set on the name of the game or logo.  After accessing the preview, you can view a screenshot of the game along with a short list of features or rules.

Vegas Technology

With games powered by Vegas Technology, categories are presented on the main lobby page while individual games can be accessed through the drop-down menus.  After selecting a game, the preview is displayed in a small box in the lower-left corner of the screen.  The information you get with VT games is usually the jackpot ticker and betting limits when applicable.  Other details are provided to you via the screenshot.

Wizard Gaming

Although Wizard Gaming doesn’t offer nearly as many games as Microgaming and Vegas Technology, it does provide you the option to preview before you play.  All of its games can be found in the main lobby and when making your selection, the preview can be viewed in the upper right of the screen.  With Wizard Gaming previews you get a nice screenshot and brief summary of the game. The information it provides is often helpful with details on features, free spins and bonus rounds.  Wizard Gaming has some of the most comprehensive previews of all online casino software providers.