Online Casino Spotlight

Grand Virtual Online Gaming Technology is a leading software provider in the online gambling industry.  In the business since 1997, the company has been an innovator from day one and never stopped making enhancements to its products.  What sets Grand Virtual apart from the competition is its commitment to flexible, highly scalable solutions that can be easily extended for future growth.  In simple terms, its software is able to accommodate a wide variety of casino operators and their ever changing requirements.  The company’s large number of international clients serves as a prime example being that each operator enjoys feature rich gaming systems that support multiple languages and currencies.   Considering the distinct advantage it has over the competition, it is no surprise that Grand Virtual casino games are used by millions of players in more than 200 countries around the globe.

Notable Qualities

Boasting an extremely high level of modularity, Grand Virtual gaming platforms are capable of supporting traditional and emerging models.  This includes innovative features such as skilled-based, chance-based, multi-hand, lotteries, progressive games, real-time and many others.  The software also supports a variety of client platforms, most notably personal computers, mobile phones, gaming consoles, and interactive TV systems.  Furthermore, Grand Virtual software is compatible with an array of multimedia and web development technologies for enhanced graphics and user interfaces.  These technologies include Flash, Active X, Shockwave, AJAX, Java, DHTML, and various streaming formats.

Key Components

Grand Virtual software is compromised of various components.  One is the Universal Gaming Platform, which consists of the back-end of the gaming infrastructure.   Based on the powerful Unix operating system, the platform enables the functioning of several related components.  These components include gaming servers, a game points manager, e-commerce engine, financial stored value manager, and central database.   It also includes a robust toolset that facilitates data mining, fraud screening, player support, and affiliate and partner programs.  Due to its flexibility and extensibility, the Universal Gaming Platform enables Grand Virtual software to support virtually all forms of online gambling.

Another important component is the Casino Client Software.  This platform is essentially a customizable gaming module that runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems and features a visually impressive 3-D casino floor.  The software allows operators to gives players the power of choice when it comes to selecting the types of games they play and how funds are transferred.  Players also have access to their transaction records and the ability to customize the audio and video effects of game play to their liking.   The Casino Client Software offers a variety of casino games including multi-player poker with 3D tables, selectable avatars, step-by-step tutorials, automated training rooms, and a wealth of promotional features.

Conclusion

The online gambling market is changing rapidly and the Grand Virtual software platform is perfectly suited for the evolution.  It has been strategically designed to support new modules for emerging applications and can be easily integrated into existing platforms.  Therefore, it is clear to see that Grand Virtual technology will not only power the industry today, but into the future as well.

It looks as is if the online gambling industry in France will be changing very soon as the country is on the verge of enacting a new legislation largely based on the successful models of the UK and other European nations.  One of the most important components of this legislation is to prevent problem gambling by setting fixed limitations on wagers among other measures.  In addition, gambling operators will be required to post warnings about underage wagering and the potential dangers of compulsive gambling.

The opening of the online gambling market in France will consist of sports betting, horse racing, and community games of skill such as poker.  At this point, it is believed that online slots games, lotteries and common casino games such as black and roulette will be excluded from the market as the French government considers them to have a higher risk of addiction.

French Gaming Authority

ARJEL, a new independent public gaming authority, will be established specifically to regulate the online gambling market.  This authority will be responsible for the following:

Making suggestions on requirements for different types of gaming licenses to the government.

Ensuring compliance for policies associated with internet accessible games.

Preparing and attributing requests for online gaming operation licenses.

Monitoring internet gaming operations and taking action against illicit gambling sites and fraudulent activity.

According to a recent report, ARJEL with be given the power to prevent access to illegal websites through a direct relationship with internet service providers, which will allow them to block financial transactions.

Operator Responsibilities

The new online gambling legislation will impose strict requirements on the operators that service French players.  These requirements include:

Operators must provide information and confirmation on their identification, shareholding, and experience in the gambling industry.  They are also required to take the measures necessary to secure online transactions, protect minors, and prevent fraud and money laundering.

Online gambling websites must be accessible via a first level domain ending in the “fr” TLD (top level domain).

Licensees must be located within the member states of the ECC and EU.  If any headquarters of operators or shareholders are based in jurisdictions considered as non cooperative tax havens, they will be refused the licenses needed to legally offer their services in France.

Possible Time of Implementation

With the implementation of the legislation known as the Draft French Gaming Law in the works, ARJEL will likely need more time to establish an efficient architecture for regulation and license distribution.  According to senior officials within the French government, France will not begin granting online gambling licenses until sometime until 2010.  In all likelihood, the Draft French Gaming Law will not be officially enacted on January 1^st as originally expected, partly because of the detailed opinion of the EU Commission rendered back in June.  For this reason, French government officials are expecting the online gambling market to open up for the launch of the World Football Cup in June at the very latest.

Founded in 1998, Slotland Entertainment has been in the online gambling industry nearly since the beginning and many players would agree that its experience is starting to show.  The veteran software provider offers a wide variety of no-download slots games that do not require the use of Adobe Flash or Javascript, making its selections compatible with virtually any computer operating system capable of browsing the web.  Slotland Casinos are a premiere choice for online gaming, boasting the industry awards and thousands of loyal players to show for it.

Layout and Presentation

Slotland casinos do not try to overwhelm the player with glitz and glamor.  In fact, there is nothing fancy at all about its presentation.  All you will find when visiting a Slotland casino is an excellent selection of slots and video poker games.  The layout is compromised of well arranged rows featuring all the available slots and video poker options, making it easy to choose the game you want to play.  After making your selection, you simply register, fund your account, and start playing right from your browser, all without the hassle of a time consuming download.   If you are seeking quality online slots or video poker games and can do without all the bells and whistles that come along with the typical internet casino, a Slotland casino could be the place for you.

In-Game Graphics and Sound

In comparison to many other online casino providers, Slotland is lacking when it comes to replicating the visual realism of the land-based casino in the virtual world.  Because the vendor only specializes in slots and video poker, this is its sole focus.   With that said, the slots and video poker machines at Slotland casinos tend to have a more realistic look, sound and feel than what is currently offered by most other software providers.  The company also offers quality versions of their games for mobile platforms, opening up its technology to the market of players who enjoy wireless gaming.

Gaming Variety

Slotland online casinos offer an extensive assortment of slots games to keep you busy.  Some of its most popular slots include the extra bonus filled Lucky Stars, the action packed Slotris and the original favorite Golden 8.  All of its games contribute to the same progressive jackpot, which hits the six-digit market quickly.  The jackpot is usually cashed out every 40 days with one of the biggest winners taking home $163,000.  Slotland casinos ofeature some of the best video poker options around with options like Deuces Wild, the classic Jacks or Better and Striking Sevens as well as the increasingly popular Fourcast card prediction game.

Conclusion

Slotland casinos are not big on flare, but they do offer all the excitement an avid online slots or video poker needs.  Its software is easy to use and equipped with security features to ensure secure payment processing.  As a member of the Interactive Gaming Council, it is a vendor you can count on to deliver a safe and fair online gaming experience.

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 in the United Kingdom has been shaken up by the recent news that greatly impacts its legislation known as the UK Gambling Act.  As of last week, the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sports, a regulatory body that governs the country’s Gambling Commission, is no longer providing whitelisting services to online casinos and wagering sites looking for advertising opportunities.  There is however, a bright side for operators still seeking approval and addition to the whitelist.  According to the announcement, the whitelist is only on hold temporarily while the Department of Culture wraps up its thorough analysis and review of the UK Gambling Act.

Similar to the United State’s UIGEA, the UK Gambling Act has always been a controversial matter and even more so in recent times.  Most of the chaos has been centered around the significant tax increase that is leading some of the country’s premiere gambling operators away from the UK.  Ladbrokes and William Hill are just two notable companies that moved their operations to the offshore locations of Gibraltar and Malta, regulatory jurisdictions where taxes are much cheaper and more in line with their competitive needs.  In addition to the issue of skyrocketing taxes, online gambling opponents are expressing concern that the UK Gambling Act is not doing its part to prevent compulsive and underage gambling.  Though many published reports attest these claims, the current state of internet wagering in the UK has given anti-gambling parties all the ammunition they need to stir up some noise.

For the most part, the concern of problematic and underage gambling is directed towards land-based casino gaming.  This is because UK Gambling Act passed in 2005 allowed the opening of numerous brick and mortar casino establishments.   However, the concern over higher tax rates seems to be the more glaring issue because it is specific to the UK’s online gambling sector. A number of UK bookmookers, prominent firm Will Hill included, are not thrilled about the recent happenings, stating that whitelisting allows the online casino operators regulated outside of the United Kingdom to unfairly reap benefits.   Their big gripe is that whitelisted companies are given the privilege to advertise their business in the UK., while not being subject to same regulations and most importantly, the same tax rates handed down by the UK Gambling Commission.  To make it simple, Will Hill and others are being forced to pay more than ten times in tax dollars as operators regulated in other jurisdictions.

When taking all these problems into account, it becomes clear to see that the need for the UK Department of Media and Culture to review the UK Gambling Act is well warranted.  This is especially true if the body wants to keep its most profitable gambling operators on UK soil.  As of this time, the study is projected to be completed later this year and lobbied to Parliament early in 2010 for further review.  This final review will determine whether or not the whitelisting of offshore online casino operators will simply be a temporary or freeze, or dropped altogether.

The major focus of Barack Obama’s presidency campaign were the issues of education, health care and tax cuts for middle class U.S. citizens.  Now the head of the state, the new President, is working diligently to make his campaign slogan become a reality – change.  Sure, Obama has a lot on his plate as there is no easy fix the damage that was years in the making.  With that said, it would be nice if he could take a look into another mess – the regulations of online gambling in America.

Billions up for Grabs

The online gambling industry is flourishing to say the least.  In fact, the market has globally generated more than four billion dollars in the past two years alone.  Keep in mind that these revenues were garnered with very little participation from the U.S., which has pretty much been isolated from the market since the implementation of the UIGEA in 2006, a legislation that some online gambling proponents are calling the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.  Observers are projecting that the online gambling industry will exceed $15 billion by 2012.  That is, with or without the participation of the U.S.  A recent study released by Price Waterhouse Coopers shows that the United States has the potential to rake in at least $8.7 billion and up to $17.6 billion in as little as 10 years.  That is, if Congress decided to legalize, tax and regulate online gambling.  The study hints that if all U.S. states got onboard, a whopping $33.9 billion in taxes would be collected over the next decade.  Considering the current economic state, this seems like a move U.S. lawmakers should seriously considering.

So, what is the United States Congress waiting for?  Well, in their defense, there are still a number of aspects that would need to be addressed in order for online gambling to be regulated in an effective manner.  Some of these issues include age verification to prevent underage gambling, policing rogue and black market casinos, and the fear of compulsive gambling among others.  However, just as the nation has done with the prohibition of alcohol, which actually shares many similarities with internet gambling including an economic crisis at the time, there is a way around these issues if U.S. lawmakers could just see the big picture.  Just as alcohol proved to be a lucrative business in the way of taxes, online gambling could be the same and breath life into an economy that is obviously struggling.

The Bottom Line

The factor of the matter is as simple as this: the UIGEA remains unclear to this day and was a terrible idea from the start.  Anyone looking at the situation with a clear head would agree that it needs to revoked and quickly.  While there may be bigger fish to fry in terms of health care, education and national security, it wouldn’t hurt for the Obama administration to take a closer glance at the state of online gambling and its potential as a huge generator for future tax revenues.  Alcohol prohibition proved that it can be done and because of that, sensibly regulating online gambling should be a heightened priority.

Real Time Gaming has placed its stamp on the online gambling industry by delivering some of the most realistic gaming platforms around.  Definitely among the fastest growing casino sites, Lucky Red Casino is one of several powered by RTG gaming software.  Though a relative newcomer on the scene, the Lucky Red management team has been in the business for a number of years.  When considering the casino’s quick rise, it appears that these seasoned professionals know what it takes to be a major player in the realm of internet gambling.

One of the reasons Lucky Red Casino is constantly attracting new players and keeping them loyal is the plethora of free money promotions they have going on.  This casino is well known for its generous welcome bonuses, ongoing reload bonuses and routine special giveaways.  For new online casinos especially, it is important to roll out a large number of promotions in order to make themselves known and establish a favorable reputation on the market.  And while you can say that this is a step Lucky Red Casino didn’t necessarily need to take to make a name for themselves, particularly because of their association with world renown Club World Casinos, they have still gathered up an impressive portfolio of promotions to continuously attract new and experienced online gamblers alike.

Lucky Red’s latest free money bonus offering is a series of Weekend Game Bonuses that is available to all players.  These bonuses can be played with a variety of popular games including video poker, blackjack and slots as well as keno and scratch cards.  Although online casinos owned by Isagro Holdings such as Cherry Red and Rushmore are also run on RTG gaming software, these attractive bonuses are strictly available through Lucky Red Casino.

We have gotten word that Lucky Red is offering five free money weekend casino bonuses that can be used for keno, slots and scratch cards. These bonuses are worth 150% and up to $1,000 each.  In addition, they come with a 20x betting requirement, which is pretty reasonable when compared to other offerings on the market.  There are five total bonuses and the codes for claiming them with the cashier are LuckyRed1, LuckyRed2, LuckyRed3, LuckyRed4, and LuckyRed5.   As mentioned above, there also bonuses for blackjack and video poker as well.  These bonuses are worth 75% up to $750 each and call for a 50x wager requirement.  To claim these bonuses, use the RTG bonus codes of BigWin1, BigWin2, BigWin3, BigWin4 and BigWin5.

Perhaps the most attractive part of these 10 weekend bonuses is the favorable cash out policy.  Unlike most online casinos that have terms and conditions stating that only a certain amount of free money can be withdrawn from bonus wagers, Lucky Red Casino has no such restrictions.  While other terms and conditions do apply, particularly abstaining from wagers on restricted games and trying to make withdrawals before the betting requirement is met, you will find that Lucky Red’s are pretty reasonable and complimenting to the new bonuses.