Gambling

Overview of Online Casino Software

The most common form of the online casino is obtaining downloadable software usually for free once the gambler surfs to any online casino on the internet. In fact, many sites offer the download as an automatic process to encourage gamblers to play for fun or money, besides bonuses and other incentives.

An online casino offers as the main advantage, to allow you to take the gambling room to the comfort of your home by just installing the software that connects to the online casino service, which handles all contact without any browser support. This makes any game easy and faster to play. Audio, video and graphics reside inside the application and there you will not have any waiting time for the games to load as you do when you are playing through the web browser.

Downloadable software offered by an online casino may include a single game or a number of popular games including poker, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, slot machines, roulette, and craps, among the most popular casino games, also available outside many land-based casinos where they are playable on simulation machines.

As soon as the first online casinos started to operate, online casino software began its development. One of the first companies producing casino games was Random Logic, founded in 1996 and currently licensing its software consisting of 6 video poker games, 5 progressive jackpots and 15 new slots, to Cassava Enterprises with exclusive rights.

This company also implements and develops online transaction processing systems and other tools for tracking and analyzing internet-marketing campaigns, including but not limited to the gambling industry. This is another branch of online casino software for gamblers seeking to analyze their chances to win.

Casino software generally provides a predictable long-term advantage to the house, but offering the gambler possibilities of a large short-term payout. The advantage of online casino software is the way gamblers get an illusion of control with the given choices, although such choices do not eliminate the long-term disadvantage risk, or in other words the house advantage.

Some gambling companies are developers of their own software, for example, CTXM a software company with roots in the Insurance financial area and owner of gaming related domains operating since 1997. CTXM not only develops internet payment systems for several of the biggest online gaming companies but also online casino software including sportsbooks, race books, and casino platforms, system maintenance and other projects including security consulting and game application development with a Microsoft Xbox Division.

At the present, the gambling industry has listed a large number of online casino software developers including companies like Dynamite Idea, WagerLogic, NetEnt, Sunfish, Digital Gaming Solutions, Parlay Entertainment, Gamesys, Dobrosoft, IGW Software, Eclipse Gaming, Boss Media, IQ-Ludorum, SkillJam Technologies Corporation, World Gaming, Ongame, vsGaming, RealTime Gaming, Chartwell Technology, Microgaming, Orbis Technology, Finsoft, Wirex and Electracade just to name a few.

The Growing Popularity Of Online Gambling

It doesn’t take an Internet analyst to notice that online gambling has taken over a big chunk of the online activity that people participate in on a day to day basis. There are several reasons for this and the fact that it is gaining more and more momentum is a testament to just how incredible this market is.

For starters, there is money and excitement; what else could anyone want? Online gambling is quickly becoming the chosen method of online gaming across the globe. The strength that online gambling is showing is quickly surpassing mainstream gambling halls and casinos. The reason for this quick expansion is obvious. It is much more accessible for the average gamer to log on to their favorite online gambling site and play from the comfort of their homes as opposed to having to travel to a place where gambling is held.

Of course, as with everything there is a ceiling that eventually must be reached. There will be a point when the industry will reach a critical mass and will be unable to sustain the growth that it’s experiencing right now. At what point that ceiling will be reached is anyone’s guess and with new players coming on board everyday, coupled with more and more casinos springing up, they are pushing that ceiling further and further away. But there will be a time that that ceiling is inevitably reached. And that is a good thing.

Once the ceiling on the growth of the online casino world has been reached and there is no more growth of players or casinos the time will be ripe for more sophisticated games and gaming systems to be produced. Now try to follow me here. Once there is no more upward growth there will inevitably be outward growth.

Right now there are casinos cashing in on the ever increasing customer base by simply throwing together a mediocre gaming program and setting up shop. Once the industry has reached critical mass these mediocre online casino operations will be put out of business by better models that are more sophisticated and therefore able to attract players away from lesser sophisticated online casinos. Therefore, it is in the best interest of all online casino gamblers to hope that the industry stops swelling. The only people that won’t benefit from this is the lesser casino operators using lesser operating systems. Survival of the fittest is constantly at play in many systems and the online casino industry is no different.

With more and more online casino gamblers coming on board there is no way that the industry as a whole won’t continue to be able to take advantage of all that the future holds.

How to learn to gamble in an online casino

Gambling in an online casino can require more and better skills then when you are playing in a land based casino. This is why it is very important to pick the online casinos that are best for you. Here I have written some helpful ideas on how to find the online casino that is right for you.

Gambling in an online casino is not exactly the same as playing in a regular casino. Yes the rules are the same but the way you play may be slightly different.

One of the major differences between gambling in an online casino and a regular land based casino is the fact that you can’t look into the eyes of another player. Let’s say you are playing poker and you suspect the other player may be bluffing you can look at them to try to get a read on them to see if they have a tell, but in an online casino you have to be sharper then that.

In an online casino or online poker room you need to be good enough to know from the way the other players at the table are playing if they are bluffing or not, as opposed to at a regular casino or poker room where you can look into their eyes and try to get a read on them.

Other then poker most of the games are almost exactly the same as in a land based casino. If you are new to gambling online you may want to check out some online casino review sites. These sites not only offer reviews from independent reviewers, but you can also find reviews from regular everyday players like yourself and read about their experience both good and bad and make up your own mind.

To do this I recommend going to yahoo.com and typing In casinos into the search engine, and if you check out the top 5 or 6 sites I guarantee you will find all the information on what sites are reliable and which ones are a rip off. Some of the sites even offer their readers weekly gambling Horoscopes, and recipes for foods perfect for the next time you invite the guys over for poker night.

Before spending any money in any of the online casinos, open a free account and try the games out for free, see if you enjoy the software and the different options. Make a list of things you liked and things you did not like and find the site that offers you more of what you want and less of what you do not want.

Make sure to read all of the rules for each online casino. They will tempt you by offering you bonuses just for signing up, but make sure you read and understand the rules for accepting the money before you accept it or spend any of the allegedly “free” money.

Many of the online casinos will offer you a tutorial explaining how to use the features and to play each game and I highly recommend that you use it, because if you make a mistake the online casinos will not give you a refund.

Other then this the only advice I can give is that the more you play the better you will get, and will therefore be able to win more money.

Slovakia Casinos

Slovakia is the other half of the Czech Republic, which used to form Czechoslovakia before 1993 when it was split into two different countries. Slovakia has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and is proud to welcome a large number of tourists from all over the world by air, land, and by cruises on the famous river Danube which links it to Vienna and Budapest.

Slovakia casinos are placed in all major cities of interest including Bratislava, the capital, with two casinos, the Casino Café Reduta and Regency Casino; Kezmarok with the Admiral Club Casino; Kosice with two casinos, the Casino Kosice and Casino Sport; Piestany with the Casino Piestany, and Zilina with Casino Admiral Zilina. Gambling is legal in Slovakia, as long as you are 18 years of age or more, and the same rule applies for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Slovakia casinos feature all international games such as poker, roulette, and blackjack, as well as slot and other video gambling machines. Casino Café Reduta in Bratislava offers twelve table games, of which there are six for American roulette, four tables of blackjack, two of mini-baccarat, and one for draw poker. The only other casino found in Bratislava is the Regency Casino, which is a hotel, as well, and entertains its guests with 17 table games that include American roulette, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Mini Punto Banco, poker, and standard Punto Banco.

Besides the casino in the Regency, you can also find restaurants that offer national and international cuisine, a coffee shop, and shopping arcade with local souvenirs. Most Slovakia casinos are open between 1 pm and 4 am every day of the week. However, there may be some exceptions, and therefore it is advised to check the opening schedule beforehand.

The official language in Slovakia is Slovak; however, English is widely spoken, especially in places such as hotels, casinos, restaurants, and shopping, where tourists are expected to visit. To travel to Slovakia and enjoy the charm of their casinos and culture, you can either go by air, land or even take a cruise on the beautiful Danube River and experience the scenery and other beautiful places along the way. Slovakia has one other type of gambling which is legal and widely enjoyed by locals and tourist alike and that is horse race betting. While in Slovakia you might want to try both forms of gambling, as you never know which one you may win.

Belize Casinos

Anyone that has ever been to Belize knows that it is a truly magnificent place with things to see and do that cannot be seen or done anywhere else in the world. While there are some very unique things to see and do in the area, there is one thing that the people of Belize love as much as anywhere else in the world and that is gambling. There is not a wide selection of Belize casinos, but since casinos are the only legal place to gamble in the country, there is no doubt that more will open in the future. As the popularity of the two that are already in Belize spreads, the demand will likely prove to be the reason why other casinos open somewhere in the country.

Currently, there are two Belize casinos to visit. First, there is the Princess Hotel and Casino Belize located in Belize City. When this casino opened, the public was overwhelmed with excitement, since before the opening only a couple of slot machine facilities were in existence. Tourists visiting the area always make a stop at the Princess Hotel and Casino, because it is very popular and highly recommended. In addition to the casino in Belize City, there is The Palace Casino, which is located in Ambergris Caye. The slot machine facilities that were mentioned above are also located in Ambergris Caye, making this the gambling capital of Belize! Though hardly overflowing with gambling possibilities, when in the area, tourists will want to stop at The Palace Casino to test their combination of luck and skill.

For the people who are residents of Belize and don’t live near either Belize City or Ambergris Caye, there are still have some gambling resources. The Internet is a huge lifesaver for those that like to gamble, but cannot get to the brick and mortar establishments. Of course, Internet gambling is considered illegal by some and legal by others, but a lot of people take part in the online fun, because gambling is not available anywhere else that is as convenient. While the brick and mortar establishments can provide real excitement and fun in the way of poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots, the Internet does provide great entertainment for those who can’t get to the land-based casinos. Belize casinos are not that common, but the two that are in business make up for the lack of quantity with quality.

Estonia Casinos

Gambling in casinos is legal at 21, in Estonia, a small country in Eastern Europe, and there are many casinos scattered throughout its 12 cities. Estonia casinos are bright, typical gaming places, with gaming tables set up in the center of the lobby, and slot machines fixed in corners or even in separate rooms. The casinos include many of the popular international games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker, and a few offer sports betting, as well. Estonia casinos follow strict gambling rules and security regulations. They also offer a de-addiction program for customers who may have a gambling problem.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, has the most casinos, with 38 facilities and numerous slot machines. The Reval Casino in the Park Hotel is the largest Estonia casino, with 15 table games and 75 slot/video gaming machines. There are a number of other casinos in Tallinn, open 24 hours, including Bally’s, Aladdin, Casino Mapau, the Monte Carlo, and the Metropol. Other smaller casinos such as the Olympic Casino Baltic Station, the Russian Czar, the Ulemeiste, and the Viking Club and Casino offer only slot and video gaming machines.

The Olympic Casino in Tartu has three table games and 42 slots, and the Kristiine Kasiino, also in Tartu, has 16 slots. Another popular casino is the Mirage in Parnu. This casino has 20 slots and three table games of Poker, Blackjack, and Roulette.

Many of the Estonia casinos in different towns such as Rakvere, Rapla, Keila, Poltsaama, and Valga, or in the suburbs of Tallinn, are simply known in the individual town or area as the Play-In-Casino. These casinos have various opening hours and only offer slot or video gaming machines. In addition, there are a number of slot machine Videomat casinos in various other towns including Parnu, Haapsalu, Johvi, and Narva. They are generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and some have a bar and restaurant, happy hour, and occasional jackpots.

Estonia is one of the countries that has been selected as a stop on the Small Town Poker Baltic Championships due to its excellent gambling facilities and the number of amateur poker players here. There’s a good chance of winning a seat to the Amateur Poker Championships held in Las Vegas should you win at an Estonia casino.

Why Online Casinos Are Better Than Real Casinos

Online casinos and online gambling is the fastest growing industry online. Since the beginning of the internet boom, the world wide web has become a main staple of life, making it easier for a number of individuals. One can pay their bills, buy arena tickets, and even interact a live conference meeting all from the comforts of their home. These advances are all part of the online phenomenon. It is no question, that online gambling and gaming is one of these remarkable advances. You can now do all your sports betting, poker playing, and whatever gambling you choose to do online. So you may ask why are so many people interested in gambling online, versus at the real casino? The answer is actually quite simple.

Online casinos offer peace of mind and relaxation in a comfortable environment. Instead of playing at a noisy casino on the strip where you can easily be distracted, online casinos give you the opportunity to play in whatever type of atmosphere you choose. Picture yourself in a crowded casino with haunting eyes from your competitors staring you down, trying to intimidate your every move. With rowdy onlookers throwing you off your game and adding unwanted pressure and tension, wouldn´t it be nice to eliminate all these distractions and play at your own pace. Playing at an online casino, you don´t have all these elements that can put you in a bad frame of mind. For most, gambling in a bad frame of mind leads to the loss of money. With online gaming, one can play on their own schedule and play wherever there is a internet connection. With all these appealing benefits, it is really no wonder why online casinos are so popular and growing at such a rapid pace.

As was explained earlier in this article, online casinos have numerous features that attract people to play. One must know that you should always do your best to follow the rules set for you while playing at a certain sites casino. However, online casinos do not have as many rules as as the real life casinos. Take for instance, some casinos don´t allow you to smoke inside their building or one can´t talk on a cell phone while gaming. With online gambling you can do as you please, hopefully in a safe and lawful manner. Isn´t it nice to be able to light up your cigarette, pop open a beer and sit at the computer and talk on the phone and not have to worry about some floor manager reprimanding you. In addition, maybe you don´t look so hot and don´t feel all that great on a particular day, you can go to the online casino and not have to worry about fixing yourself all up to go gamble.

One of the biggest benefits of online gambling is that you can gamble with free money. Numerous casinos allow you to play for free with the opportunity to win real money. Intelligent marketing strategies are at work. These gambling services are very willing to pay-out money in return for satisfied clients and more business. One negative thing is that you won´t be able to win a huge online jackpot but you can earn enough bonus bucks to raise your bets and compete more frequently.

For many individuals the constant noise and unwanted tension that comes with a real life casino is a major distraction. The answer for you is to use online casinos to satisfy your gambling crave. This way of gambling gives you the freedom to play whenever you want in whatever environment you please. With all the benefits online casinos offer, it is hard not to join the phenomenon.

Arizona Casinos

Arizona casinos are located in the “valley of the sun,” in the Southwestern part of the United States. Arizona is known for its climate and magnificent scenery; from the desert to the mountains, the landscape is as varied as it is beautiful. The population of Arizona is over 5,000,000, and the capital and largest city is Phoenix, with a population of over 1,400,000.

Arizona casinos were legalized on Indian or Native American reservations in the 1990’s, and tribes are given “slot allotments” for the number of slot machines allowed in each casino. There are 15 cities, with Arizona casinos, run by various Indian tribes. The minimum age for gambling at Arizona casinos is 21, and the majority of these casinos are open for 24 hours. Harrah’s Phoenix Ak-Chin Casino Resort, in Maricopa, is open 24 hours and has 40,000 square feet of gambling space, with 950 slots, and eight table games. Casino Arizona, in Scottsdale, is open 24 hours, with 30,000 square feet, 500 slots, and 36 table games; and the Paradise Casino, in Yuma, has 30,000 square feet, 750 slots, and 15 table games.

The largest of the Arizona casinos, Casino Del Sol, is located in Tucson and is open 24 hours. This 240,000 square foot casino has 1,000 slots, 20 table games, and six restaurants. Another one of the larger Arizona casinos is the Desert Diamond Casino in Sahurita, with 185,000 square feet of gambling area, 498 slots, 15 table games, and four restaurants. The Desert Diamond Casino is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. There are several other large Arizona casinos, including the Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde, with 140,000 square feet, 575 slots, and ten table games; and the Gila River Casino – Vee Quiva in Laveen, with 89,000 square feet, 675 slots, and ten table games.

In addition, the Blue Water Resort and Casino on the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona, offers blackjack and poker, as well as slots, bingo, and keno. One of the most popular Arizona casinos is the Fort McDowell Casino in Fountain Hills, with daily no-limit poker tournaments, 24-hour tableside food service, and the highest poker jackpots in Arizona. Some of the smaller Arizona casinos include the Yavapi in Prescott, with 6,000 square feet, 250 slots, and eight table games; and the Spirit Mountain Casino in Mojave, with 9,500 square feet and 260 slots.

Arizona casinos offer great entertainment and non-stop gambling in true Las Vegas style.

Offshore Gambling keeps Vegas casino at home

Many gamblers have come across the term “Offshore Gambling”, but are not entirely sure what it means. A casino that deals with offshore gambling is one that basically operates outside the jurisdiction of a given country or it can be an online casino that has its servers in a country where online gambling is not prohibited. In short, then, it is a casino that operates outside the country of the player.

This form of gambling provides an easy and fun way to play all the games normally found at a land-based casino, but without the hassle of making the pilgrimage to Las Vegas. Online Vegas casinos are very safe, in that personal details are not required to be sent out and the payouts and odds are just as equal and fair as in a regular Vegas–style casino. Offshore gambling makes it a win-win situation.

Online vegas casinos are regulated by three organizations. These are OSGA (The Offshore Gaming Association), The IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association (FTGA), which is a smaller IGC in effect, in that it charges lower membership fees.

OSGA and Offshore Gambling
The OSGA is an independent “watchdog” agency that monitors the Off Shore Sports Gaming Industry in an effort to provide the public an avenue to find reputable companies to wager with. It aims to protect the rights of consumers and they charge no membership fees.

The agency is a professional non-biased third party organization that gives objective opinions, based on your feedback, independent research, phone calls, tips and inside news.

For OSGA they resolved to keeping the philosophy that there are safe places for sports gambling. Because of the climate in the industry today people need to have additional information on offshore sportsbooks and online casinos from an outside source.

IGC and Offshore Gambling
The IGC, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1996 in the US, relocating to Vancouver, Canada, incorporating there in March 2000. The organization was established to provide a forum for interested parties to address issues and advance common interests in the global interactive gaming industry, to establish fair and responsible trade guidelines and practices that enhance consumer confidence in interactive gaming products and services, and to serve as the industry’s public policy advocate and information clearinghouse. The IGC does what it has set out to do, and more.

IGC membership has increased significantly since being founded, drawing more and more attention from noteworthy industry groups to complement existing leading industry players. We have members from the U.S., the U.K., South Africa, Israel, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, Denmark and Sweden — to mention a few.The IGC has built a reputation for reliability, integrity and credibility through its high standards, and appeal to legitimate businesses. Affiliation with their association ensures that you have a trusted organization fighting for the promotion and enhancement of our industry, fighting for you when you need it and most importantly – with a collective voice.

The IGC regulates offshore gambling by utilizing a special 10-point code ff Conduct and charges casinos a fee to display their logo. Unhappy customers can also report their disputes to the IGC.

FTGA
The FTGA was formed in an effort to set a standard for online gaming operations. The agency believe that by conducting business with only reputable companies, they can form an alliance of the most fair and professional offshore gaming operations worldwide. To be sure that the companies they support are reputable FTGA do comprehensive background checks on not only the company but the individuals behind the company. According to them, they form a close relationship with their members and monitor their business practices frequently.

With the boom of the internet over the last few years, everything seems to have translated into an online version and offshore gambling has been no different. There are organizations that govern the fairness of online gambling which should serve to alleviate any fears of insecurity by skeptics. It eliminates the traveling costs, but still keeps the basic essence of a Vegas casino, but only now, in your very own home.

The Casinos in Las Vegas

Whether traveling to Las Vegas for business or pleasure chances are that you’ve always wanted to experience the magic of gambling within the hotel of a famous Las Vegas casino. How about the idea of taking on Las Vegas gambling and then writing the whole experience off as a business expense? Even though there are probably some individuals who choose to do such a thing, the better option to choose would be to simply experience the whole feeling and love the stay while visiting grand hotels and casinos throughout Las Vegas. There is so much to do that you’ll have your head literally spinning, but the casinos in Las Vegas are only part of the true Las Vegas experience.

Gambling and Casinos within Hotels

If you truly want to experience a casino within the hotel that you’re staying then chances are that you’ll have to choose one of the more expensive hotels to stay at within the Las Vegas strip. For example, the Bellagio hotel is just one of the accommodations that anyone can choose that will have virtually everyone begging for more casinos. Nevertheless, though, there are important experiences within the Bellagio to take advantage of. Whether you want to play blackjack with some of the professionals or you’re looking to play some of the other poker games that go on within the walls of the hotel, there are plenty of options to choose from if you decide you want to take the casino road.

In addition, though, there are also race and sports betting activities that one can take part in, slot machines that you can try your luck on, table games like Crap, Roulette, and Three Card Poker, as well as a bunch of other gambling experiences. The Bellagio, though, is one of the true Las Vegas casino experiences and is the ultimate place to stay if one wants to experience the whole package deal.

Casinos Outside Hotel Walls

Of course, there’s always the option of gambling and playing casino games beyond the hotel walls as well. There are plenty of standalone casinos that are ready and willing to let you into their gambling club and many of these casinos are on the Las Vegas strip that is well known for the neon signs and all the lights that are on! Virtually every casino within Las Vegas has a part of the magic and mystery that many people love to experience, though, and there are plenty of opportunities to do and see it all within the casino of your choice.

When planning a vacation to Las Vegas it is definitely important to consider all the possibilities of the casinos that you’ll want to visit. Considering that your luck might not turn at the first casino that you try your hand at, there are plenty of other options when it comes to gambling and the places to do it within the Las Vegas city.

Whatever you do, though, chances are that you won’t be alone. Millions of people come each year to the brilliant experiences of the true Las Vegas getaway. Whether you want to experience the casinos, though, or just stay in a Las Vegas hotel, they are usually readily available in the same spot!