Online Casino Gambling

Gaming regulations vary greatly depending on the region, state, city and town within the United States. Some states only allow gaming on Native American reservations, others permit only video based games and others allow any type of betting to occur at any establishment. Although not generally known, Montana allows gambling in a few different types of settings. These include:

• Video poker
• Video keno
• Live card games
• Sports pools
• Casino nights for non-profits

Montana has a long history of slot machines, blackjack and roulette. When gambling was made illegal, it wasn’t enforced by authorities in Montana until the late 1940’s. Once the State Supreme Court found it illegal, it took over 30 years to make a comeback. The Gambling Control Division was established in 1989 and they license, audit and enforce laws within gaming establishments.

Prior to the creation of this division, gaming was regulated on a local basis. Local governments had the ability to levy a gambling tax and lower the number of machines in the area. The Gambling Control Division collected all revenues, taxes and laws into a single governing body.

The gambling tax is split two-thirds to the state government and one-third to the local government. The state governing body allowed local agencies to extend gaming closing hours and restrict gambling in specific geographic areas by utilizing local zoning regulations.

The Gambling Control Division within the state of Montana employs only 36 individuals. Aside from creating gambling laws, they also test different gaming machines against the standard. Also, they grant, deny, renew, revoke and suspend licenses through a judicial review. Within the division is an auditing branch that examines tax records and scrutinizes other financial issues. Their primary focus is compliance of the law.

There are currently 11 total states that have gaming commissions but do not allow casinos. In many of these states the commission only overseas charitable, non-profit gaming. Other states regulate Native American gaming, card clubs and various smaller-scale gaming operations.

Montana is a unique gaming state in that it doesn’t allow any casino’s; only smaller establishments. These are highly-regulated and taxed at the federal level. Many of these establishments are in taverns that offer video poker, keno, card games and sports pools. Others, such as fundraisers (non-profit) are also regulated. Perhaps one day the gaming commission will elect to allow casino operations into their state.

Slots have a rich history beginning over 100 years ago. They went from a mechanical machine to the glitz, glamour and appeal we see today. The first slot machine was produce in 1895 by Charles Fey. Over the next 12 years, Fey tweaked and perfected this machine until it was ready to be sold to Mill Novelty Company. The first slot machine was named “Mills Liberty Bell.”

The Old Design

The original slot machine design had both feet and toes and was completely made of cast iron. The toes soon disappeared from the design leaving feet which were tremendously detailed. The first machine also had reels, similar to those available today. The reels had actual playing cards (king, queen and jack) instead of bars. Also, each time a player won the spin, a bell would ring. This has since been replaced by a bell that sounds when the max jackpot is won.

The New Design

It’s interesting to note that many current slot designs continue to be based on the design of 1907. Many older machines were limited to 20 symbols that could be achieved. The newer machines contain computer memory that can store hundreds of randomly generated symbols. Also the three reels are rarely still used. Instead many machines currently provide five reels.

Operation Bell

In 1910, the Operation Bell slot machine was introduced. The design was based on the Liberty Bell. It contained a coin entry with various fruit symbols. Many machines were modeled after Operation Bell. The slot machine weighed over 100 pounds and sold over 30,000 units.

Wooden Machines

The design of the machines changed again in 1915 to wooden material. The wooden material provided a quieter gaming environment in addition to lower costs and an easier production cycle. A double jackpot was also added to the machines. In 1931 Mills added color and began producing the first themed machines to improve the fun factor. As a result Lion Head, War Eagle and Roman Head were released to the market.

It took thirty years from conception for the slot machines to become popular with the gambling community. Bugsy Sigel first introduced slot machines into the Flamingo Hilton Hotel during the 1940’s. At first the main players were females as it gave them something to pass the time while waiting for the high rollers to finish playing.

Slot machines have had many different designs over its 100 year time frame. It began with heavy cast iron material and has become a lightweight electronic machine designed to please the senses. Since slots comprise 2/3’s of U.S. casino’s revenue, the designs will continue to be innovative and appeal to the masses.

The internet opened a brave new world for gamblers. Suddenly, we can join in on our favorite table games, play the slot machines, or even participate in poker tournaments all from the comfort of our homes. With the invention of online casinos, one no longer needs to plan a vacation for a chance to gamble, you can gamble anytime and anywhere you can get an internet connection. However, anytime there is money involved, there is a small risk of theft, and on the internet that theft can mean more then just your wallet, your entire identity could be at stake.

The Risks of Gambling at an Online Casino

The majority of online casinos have several methods of protecting your private information, such as encryption, which jumbles your credit card number making it hard for a hacker to steal. However, there is always a small risk when submitting personal information online. Internet hackers can steal your private information. Your computer is also at risk. Worms and viruses are common on the internet, as well as online casinos. Worms can steal your personal information or take control of your computer, making it a gateway for hackers. Viruses can literally destroy the components of your computers hard drive.

How to Protect Your Computer When Gambling Online

Before gambling online chose an online casino that uses heightened security methods, most casinos will list this information on their website. Be sure the online casino has a contact number for their business so you can get help if you need it. It is essential that you only work with a casino that makes security a top priority. If you are unable to locate any information on their website which discloses the means in how they protect their clients, this is a severe warning sign.

Gambling at an online casino that has security measures in place to protect you is only half the battle. There are also software programs you can download and install on your computer for added protection against viruses, Trojans, and worms. Install an anti-virus software program that has routine or automatic scans. These programs will search your computer for any possible threat and remove it before it becomes a problem.

Slot machines are a tremendous money maker for casinos. They are also the most popular game in the house. People love slot machines because they are easy to play, can be very entertaining, and they do often pay out. However, slot machines can also be an easy way to loose your entire bankroll. It is important to have a strategy going in to the casino for every game you play, even slot machines. You stand a much better chance of winning if you plan ahead.

How to Come Out a Winner at the Slot Machines

Play Multiple Pay Lines

Machines with multiple pay lines offer more chances to win. However, they also offer more chances to loose. You have to be realistic when playing this type of slot machines, but if you play smart, you stand to win a lot more then you would on a standard reel slot machine.

Play Higher Denomination Machines

The quarter and dollar machines typically offer more pay outs then the nickel and penny slots. If your bankroll can afford it, stick to the higher denomination slot machines. You can also move up to the higher slot machines once you have increased your bankroll on the smaller machines.

Do not Spend Your Winnings

One of the easiest ways to ensure you walk away a winner at the slot machines is to save what you win. Anytime you win, cash out of the machine and start over with new money from your bank roll. This way you are ensuring that you only spend your bankroll, meaning you take away some money from the slot machine when you leave.

Do not Play a Slot Machine That is not Paying

A lot of slot players will stay on one slot machine, even if it has not paid out, under the assumption that it will eventually pay them big. Sometimes, a slot machine can go from not paying at all to hitting a jackpot, but slot machines are not designed this way on purpose. All slot machines have to pay out a certain percent of the time, but there is no guarantee on when that will happen. If the slot machine you are playing has not paid you in several rounds, then move to another machine. Your odds are much higher in moving then staying at the same slot.

Traditionally, slot machines are solo devices that player’s play alone. You may strike up a conversation with the player next to you, but slot machines do not offer near the community involvement and group spirit that a poker table does. Walking around a casino, you will notice most of the noise and good times are coming from the poker tables. While slot machines are a quieter game- that is, until AC Coin & Slot developed the first community slot machines.

What are Community Slot Machines?

Community slot machines are a both one large slot machine and several individual slot machines. Typically, the community slot machine is made up of several individual slot machines tied together in front of one larger, interactive screen. In community slot machines, players have a shot at winning individual bonuses as well as sharing in the communal bonuses when it comes around.

How do Community Slot Machines Work?

When a player sits down at a community slot machine, they will notice that they have a small independent slot screen in front of a much larger bonus screen. The player will start playing the smaller slot screen. This works as any slot machine, offering payouts and bonuses. However, the larger screen will all give out bonuses, (some community slot machines offer more then one.) While the player is plugging away on his or her own slot, the bonus screen will start at random. Any bonus achieved on the community screen is paid out to every player participating in the game based on his or her betting amount.

What is the Upside to Community Slot Machines?

For one, community slot machines dish out far more bonuses then standard slot machines. However, most players enjoy the community slot machines for the sheer fun of it. A community slot machine can be as active as a poker table, with players routing for each other and joining in on the phone. In addition, since these slot machines are state of the art, the game play is highly interactive and most of the slot feature popular movies, companies, or themes like Monopoly and Ebay.

Overall, the community style slot machine was a huge step forward for AC Coin & Slot. The games draw in many players, both for the community aspect as well as the highly recognizable themes. For example, the Monopoly based community slot machine has bonuses based around the popular board game that many players are drawn too. The games are fun to play and worth checking out at the casino.

Not long ago lucky slot machine winners were forced to gather up their spilling coins and carry them to a cashier, quite often leagues from where they were initially playing. Today, the majority of casinos have opted for a more convenient, and much safer voucher system. These vouchers eliminate the need to keep track of hundreds of quarters and make it easier on casino employees to deal with the cash flow.

How Does a Coin-Less Slot Machine Work?

A coin-less slot machine uses a paper voucher instead of a coin slot and dispenser system. With a coin-less slot machine a player will sit down and the machine, insert their player’s card and insert cash in to the receptacle. The player can then play at will. When they are ready to leave the player will select the “cash out” button on the controls or on the slot machine itself. The slot machine will then print out a cash voucher. This voucher can be taken to another machine and played or redeemed for money. Typically, the player must take the voucher to a cashier to collect their winnings, but more casinos are starting to offer ticket-redeeming machines that eliminate the need to stand in line at the cashier booth.

What are the Up-Sides to a Coin-Less Slot Machine?

A coin-less slot machine benefits the casino by cutting down on the amount of human interaction they have to do with the slot machines. Players are visiting the cashier’s desk less often because they do not have to carry around buckets of quarters. The casino also no longer has to keep track of all of these quarters going in and out of the machines, freeing up their time for other tracking activities.

Coin-less slot machines also have benefits for players. Players are better able to enjoy the game when they have less to worry about, such as keeping track of loose quarters. Players also find the ticket system more efficient, as they are able to hop from machine to machine without having to collect, count, or head to the cashier’s desk.

Coin-less slot machines are the wave of the future, there is no doubt that more, and more casinos will continue to switch to these devices. Coin-fewer slot machines are safer, more efficient, and better for both the players and the casino.