Online Casino Spotlight

Real Time Gaming, a leading provider of online casino gaming software, recently introduced a new video slot to its fast growing portfolio of casino games.  Known as the Mayan Queen, this bonus slot is the newest progressive jackpot game to hit the virtual casino market.  Though only available for a short time, this one already looks as if it could be a very profitable game.

When it comes to progressive games with twenty or more reels, hitting the max bet on the reels needed to qualify for the full jackpot can be a stern challenge.  The same holds true for the Mayan Queen video slots game.  RTG already has a vast selection of online slots that payout large winnings quite frequently.  Although your bankroll can diminish rather quickly attempting to win the progressive jackpot, it is essentially the same scenario when playing slots at online casinos powered by Cryptologic, Micrograming and Playtech, each of which no longer accept players from the United States.  And with Real Time Gaming possessing a huge network of more than one hundred casinos that are a big hit among American players, it also has a number of jackpots that consistently exceed and payout more than $1 million.

This past weekend, RTG casinos aided in building up the progressive video slot for Aztec Millions and helped produce the latest millionaire player at online casino gambling.  The jackpot, which required an additional $1 wager to participate, stopped at $1.26 million for a single player who is likely in the process of cashing a huge check as we speak.  Since the jackpot was spread out across such a wide network, it is still undetermined which casino this very lucky player games at.  We are banking that is one of the many RTG casinos deemed as the best of the best by the online gambling industry.

At the time of this writing, there are still two RTG progressive jackpots up for grabs worth more than $1 million.  Its Jackpot Pinatas has climbed to $1.4 million while both Mid-Life Crises and Shopping Spree combine for more than $1 million collectively.  As for Mayan Queen, RTG’s new video slots game maxes out at $150,000 in addition to the random progressive pot players can go after.   The game’s presentation is that of a jungle theme that portrays the Mayan culture and society.  The Emerald, which represents the scatter symbol, triggers a feature that awards a player with six free spins.  Also a multiplier, this symbol can award the player up to 500 times their original bet.  Players can also increase their winnings through a free spin bonus mode when the wild symbol, the Mayan Queen, is expanded over each payline of the third reel.

Mayan Queen was officially launched on September 16 and is currently available for play at all RTG online casino licensees.  The game is available in a Flash or downloadable version so give it spin and perhaps you could be the next lucky millionaire.

Based on the island of Cyprus, Rival Gaming is a company established by Black Chip Ltd.  Though just launched in 2006, it has already made a name for itself as one of the top software providers in the online gambling industry.  In fact, its software solutions power some of the most popular internet casinos in the world, many of which accept players from the U.S.  Aside from the superior graphics of its extensive catalog of games, Rival Gaming offers online casino management through a comprehensive back-end interface, which addresses issues such as reporting, affiliate management and security.  Well know for its series of interactive slots, Rival Gaming has an excellent reputation in the industry with quality games that outperform many of the other online casino software developers on the market.

Gaming Options

One of the best things about Rival is the nice selection of casino games it gives the player to choose from.  It offers blackjack in single and multi-hand varieties as well both American and European roulette.  Its portfolio also includes a number of online casino poker and video poker variations.  Some of its other games are craps, keno and baccarat along with less known games like Red Dog, Let it Ride and Casino War.  Rival receives high scores over the competition with the quality production of its slots games, which are rich in audiovisuals and deliver a thrilling gaming experience to the player.  These games are categorized in to various types that include three-reel slots, five-reel slots, progressive slots and iSlots.  Its most popular variant, the iSlots (interactive slots), are exclusive and only available at online casinos powered by Rival Gaming.  Each I-slot tells a different story, taking you through a unique adventure with video clips and skill-based bonus rounds.  Your performance in the bonus rounds ultimately determines the course of the overall game.

Online Gambling Features

Another rival advantage is that its downloadable software is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.  This is a big plus when considering that most software providers only cater to Windows users.  In addition, the company implements a great variety of features into its software to produce some of the most user-friendly online gaming applications around.  These features consist of tools like real-time player history, easy to use promotions, cash interfaces and a unique VIP system.  Unlike much of the competition, Rival Gaming platforms allow players to bet with real money, or play just for fun.

What’s to Like About Rival Gaming

There are many benefits to playing at Rival Gaming casinos.  The most notable are its feature-rich, audiovisual slots and exclusive iSlots.  Next comes the fact that many casinos running the platform accept U.S. players.  Last but not least, it is one of few companies that develops its software to support both Windows and Mac computers.

What’s Not to Like About Rival Gaming

There are also a few drawbacks to Rival gaming.  First, it is lacking in variety when it comes to blackjack and video poker.  And while it does have a nice selection of games, the number is far less in comparison to competitors such as Microgaming and RTG.

Gaming software is the most essential component of online gambling.  Without the software, there is no gaming.  The number of software makers in the industry has grown considerably but there are still only a few vendors producing reliable programs.  If you want the best possible online gambling experience, we recommend only utilizing gaming software from the leading providers.  Here are some of the top companies:

Parlay Entertainment Inc.

Parlay Entertainment is a global leading provider and top licensor of both online and TV bingo game solutions.  The inventor and holder of numerous internet bingo patents, Parlay is known as the first company ever to develop and launch a commercial online bingo product.  Its multi-platform, multi-player technology is utilized to power more online bingo sites than any other software provider in the world.  Some of the most renowned brands rely on Parlay Bingo solutions as both standalone licensees, as well as those on bingo networks such as St. Minver, Tain and TGN.  Parlay Bingo is available in the form of 75-number and 90-number variations and complimented by a complete roster of casino and lottery games and back-office applications.

Real Time Gaming

Better known as RTG, Real Time Gaming has been leading the way in online gaming platforms since 1998.   Based in the United States, this company has established a strong reputation due to an array of exciting games, user-friendly interfaces and gaming solutions designed for business platforms.  Real Time Gaming is known for a number of firsts, including the introduction of integrated bingo, multi-player poker and system-wide progressives.  Popular online casinos like Club USA Casino, Cherry Red Casino, Slots Oasis and several more are powered by RTG gaming technology.

Digital Gaming Solutions

DGS is a privately held online gaming software provider headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica.   The company prides itself on delivering the latest in gaming technology to the market.  Software packages developed by DGS are designed for sportsbook and racing sites as well as a wide variety of casino games.  Its technology is used to power world-renown platforms such as Bodog, BetUS, Action Bets, Island Casino and Bet Mania to name a few.  All DGS products come equipped with interfaces that support all major online payment services, providing an easy way for customers to integrate its product with third-party processing gateways.

iGaming Software

iGaming Software is a company that tailor makes unique and innovative gaming solutions for online casino owners.  Its products provide users with eye-catching graphics and secure, stable platforms to gamble on.  The company offers some of the most comprehensive online gaming software packages available, solutions that feature state of the art, interactive internet casino games, multi-player poker, real-time sports betting and a nice assortment of complementary products and services.  iGaming Software caters to online casinos located in the Netherlands, powering a number of popular gaming sites like Oddsmaker.com, i-SportBook, Casino Unreal, Rio Party Casino and Big Daddy’s Casino & Poker Room.

There are other gaming software providers on the market but these are names you can definitely trust.  Before creating your account, be sure to research the underlying platform to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

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.