Online Casino Gambling

Online casinos emerged right alongside the mainstream introduction of the internet.  Software developers such as Boss Media AB, Cryptologic and Microgamming are credited with pioneering the development of internet casinos and online gambling in general.  Microgaming is known as the first to introduce software that allowed players to play free casino games while Cryptologic is famed for creating the first casino software platform able to facilitate financial transactions.  Boss Media got its start by powering Golden Club Casino and many casinos in the Europe, a jurisdiction where online gambling is arguably the most lenient.

In the Beginning

In the mid to late 1990s, online casinos evolved in terms of features and overall quality.  One of the most notable features introduced during this time was the progressive jackpot.  Still popular today, this feature allowed players across a network of online casinos playing the same game to contribute to a growing jackpot that grew large very quickly.  Another feature added in the late 1990s was a built-in function that gave players the ability to view details on their gaming and financial transaction history.

Evolution

Once the new millennium rolled around, online gambling had grown to become a phenomenon.  A large majority of the online casino software vendors improved their platforms significantly and new players were signing up at an amazing rate.   The 2000s saw the launch of many new features, including Flash implementation, which enabled casinos to be compatible with operating systems other than Microsoft Windows.  This revolution also provided players with a way to play casino games directly through their browsers without needing to download them.  With the industry growing fast, multilingual and multi-currency casinos were introduced to service new players emerging in the continents of Asia and Europe.  Around this time, the self regulation framework came into play and casino operators began to have their software platforms tested and audited by independent organizations such as TST (Technical Systems Testing) and eCOCRA.

The UIEGA Shakes up the Market

The popularity of online gambling continued to explode through the middle of the decade and it appeared as if that growth would proceed without interruption.  However, in 2006, the United States Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a legislation initially put in place to prevent terrorist organizations from laundering money through internet casinos.  Under this act, it was now illegal for financial institutions to process and transfer funds for players involved in online gambling.  With leading online casinos such as PartyGaming already facing legal ramifications over the Wire Act, Cryptologic, Playtech and many other prominent software providers fled the market by closing their doors to American players.  Microgaming is another well known vendor to recently flee the U.S. market.

Online gambling has come a long way but its progress has not been without controversy. And while several software providers have abandoned U.S. players, vendors like Real time Gaming, Wizard Gaming and Vegas Technology have remained and actually strengthened their brands in the United States following the departure of Microgaming.  Will others follow suit?  Only time will tell.

One of the biggest concerns for internet gamblers is the safety and security of online casinos.  These concerns are warranted when considering that sensitive information such as credit card and bank account numbers and residential details are often involved.  Not only must you be on the look out for hackers who slither through the cracks of the internet, but shady casino sites as well.  This article will provide some information to help ensure that your transactions are secure when partaking in online gambling.

No Encryption, No Gamble

When it comes to internet casinos, it is a good rule of thumb to look for a site that offers a level of security similar to online banks and e-commere stores.  These sites protect their transactions with a security protocol known as SSL.  SSL stands for Secure Lockets Layer and enables a method that creates an encrypted tunnel for sensitive information to pass through.  This basically means that instead of your credit card or bank account information traveling over the internet in plain text, it is scrambled in a manner where the content cannot be viewed even if it was to be intercepted by a cyber thief.  Although most online casinos incorporate SSL certificates, the level of encryption is what you need to pay attention to.  128-bit encryption is currently the industry standard, which essentially means that anything less has been rendered insecure.  Before opening and funding an account, you need to make sure your casino has mechanisms in place to protect you against the roaming threats.

Beyond Secure Transactions

Having a safe way to transfer funds is good, but it isn’t enough to ensure the full-proof security you need to gamble at an online casino.  Once the information arrives at the casino, how do you even know if will be sold or misused in some other way?  You will never know unless you are absolutely sure that you are dealing with a reliable casino.  So, how do you get the proof?  It is actually a simple process that shouldn’t take up much of your time.  In order to prove reliability, an online casino should meet the following criteria:

Be Licensed

Any casino you want to play with should be licensed by a certain jurisdiction.  This basically means that a local jurisdiction such as Antigua or Barbuda has provided them with an official license to legally host a gambling site on the internet.  If the casino has no such license, you shouldn’t play there.  It is as simple as that.

Have Reputable Software

The underlying software plays a major role the efficiency of the game and security as well.  This is especially true if you intend on downloading the application onto your computer.  To make sure you are not unknowingly infecting yourself with malware or using an insufficient gaming platform, check out the software and find out who produced it.  Some reputable names you may want to look for are Cryptologic, Microgamming and RTG as they are industry-leading software developers.

Legitimate Payouts

Online casinos often publish reports detailing estimates on how much they paid out in the form of winnings.  Be that as it may, these reports can be altered or bogus entirely.  To make sure a casino is honest about its payouts, check these numbers with an independent accounting firm.   Price Waterhouse Coopers has a great reputation for helping new players find out if they are dealing with a respectable casino, or another fly-by-night crook.

Well known for its reputation as the king of Microgamming online casino games, leading mobile gaming solutions provider Spin3 has just upped the stakes for gaming enthusiast on the go.

This week the company unveiled the Mermaids Millions bonus slot game for mobile users. Making the announcement, Matti Zinder of Spin3 touched on how Mermaids Millions now stands alongside a portfolio of 17 Java games designed for a wide variety of web-based applications, catering to users with smartphones such as the Android G1 and Apple iPhone.  Zinder notes that Mermaids Millions is one of the most popular of Microgaming’s online games and expects that it will garner the same success on the mobile platform.  Mermaid Millions has joined classics such as Blackjack, Roulette and Royal Derby as the sixth web-based title made for smartphones.

Mermaid Millions delivers a vibrant atmosphere to the smartphone but it is far from your average casino setting.  The game is centered around the treasures found in the realm in King Neptune, complete with a cool sea theme to match.  Adding to the underwater look is the oyster, pearl and seahorse as well as King Neptune, who plays the wild symbol, the Mermaid, who is the scatter symbol, and the Treasure Chest starring as the bonus symbol.  Mermaid Millions does a fine job from a presentation aspect as even the symbols for high cards are decorated with various trinkets that can be found floating under the sea.

As far as game play, the web-based slot offers 5 reels and 15 pay lines to try your luck.  The coin value ranges from $0.01 to $1.00 and you get to wager up 5 coins per line, making the total maximum bet $75.  Our Mermaid friend triggers the free spins you need to get triple payouts and your free spins can be re-triggered.  You also want to make friends with the Treasure Chest as it leads to the wealthy ocean bed where get to pick from King Neptune’s jewels.  Each item represents various bonus credits so it is all in the luck of the draw.

It looks as if 3Spin has launched another hit to keep gamers glued to their smartphones as the company is revolutionizing the mobile platform with features players have yet to experience.  Mermaids Millions features the acclaimed Microgramming Expert Mode, a built-in function that allows players to manipulate Auto Play.  With this feature, you can run the Auto Play for 5 spins, 10 spins, or any other number you may choose.  You also have the luxury to stop Auto Play once your winnings reach a certain amount.  The features and easy of use of Mermaids Millions make it great choice for mobile gamers.

About Spin3

Spin3 is a major player in the online gaming market, specializing in popular table games such as blackjack, roulette, slots and a diverse selection of poker games.  The company is famed for its industry leading Microgaming products that include Major Millions, Thunderstruck and Tomb Raider.  These games and several more can be obtained at one of the several casinos powered by Spin3 technology.