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Today's popular culture is shaped by some of the most fashionable trends in our society. There is no doubt that the online casino is one of them. This is apparent in the overflow of Internet gambling related activities and entertainment that exist today in pop culture. There are a number of popular TV shows, publications and events that revolve around some of the most popular games you can find. Poker, for instance, is one game that has gained immense popularity in the recent past. Poker TV has become extremely popular and you can now watch poker dedicated programming featuring poker tournaments, live poker competitions, and celebrity poker games just to name a few. Poker has always been a popular game and is often played in private circles as well as at land based casinos. Since the online industry emerged in the mid 1990's, casino games such as poker and blackjack have gained tremendous popularity. The concept of the gambling web site has revolutionized the way traditional gambling games are played. Using state of the art software, the player can enjoy all the best games right from the comfort of their own home. The popularity of gaming has no doubt contributed to the infatuation that has spurred on TV shows and other entertainment about games like poker. Celebrity poker is one of the favorites. It's a nice blend of poker playing, celebrity antics and a healthy dose of comedy. You've also got televised poker tournaments and other shows such as World Series of Poker. This game will give you some excellent insight into how professional poker players play the game. You even get to see each players hand and every move they make. This is great for people who want to pick up some tips and poker playing strategies. It's arguable that the influence of the online casino on poker entertainment is the main reason for the creation of TV shows like this. Obviously their popularity indicates a serious interest in poker and poker strategy among the public. With new inventions such as webTV it's the fusion of television and the online casino has already become a reality. Apart form some classic movies like Casino there has yet to be a real blockbuster hit about games such as poker. Perhaps we'll see the movie industry following in the steps of the TV industry some time soon. Until then, you can try the real thing at your favorite gambling site.
The sportsbook and sports betting sites have gained enormous popularity on the net but unfortunately they are not as well regulated as online casinos and this opens up the doors to potential scams. No matter which site you play at, always look for 3rd party certificates that verify the operation is totally clean. Also, read reviews and find out about what's going on in the world of online gambling. One particular area of online gambling that players really should watch out for is online sports betting. One recent online scam involved a sports betting website and an unwitting player. The most basic scam that can occur is when the player makes a bet and never gets paid out on it after the player wins. But there are more sophisticated scams going on that you must be aware of. One industry expert recently described the classic scam: "The scam goes like this. The operation identifies their target through a free online casino sports pick service. Once the player calls to get his free picks, the supposed pro handicappers, from Vegas, bait the player with a profit-sharing arrangement. The player is promised a 50/50 split on all profits from specific bets placed in a joint account where the sportsbook will front $86,000. The catch is the player has to invest $18k in this joint venture. The con artist convinces the player to deposit some if not all of the $18k into the sportsbook. When the $86k doesn't show up, the player is told he must deposit more to meet the program requirements. When the player refuses to deposit further and demands a refund, the sportsbook announces that there are no refunds and the deposit is forfeited." In general, online sports betting is not as heavily regulated as the online casinos. This opens up a greater possibility for con artists and scammers to try to take advantage of unsuspecting players. "You have to do extra research because there are no safety nets and only you are responsible for your funds." says Mr. Dozer. In the end, the victim lost close to $10,000 in this one scam and had this to say: "I feel duped and will do all I can to put these cheats and con men out of business. At the very least, keep this from happening to others."
This influx of new online casino payment methods left players with a lot of choice when it came time to choose a preferred method of payment. The online casino banking business has become an industry of its own. When a player wants to bet real money wagers at an online casino they must first set up an account with one of the online payment systems in order to make deposits and receive their winnings. The online banking company is the go-between that enables players to bet at online casinos. They usually work in conjunction with a credit card or a personal bank account. You'll find that some online casinos even offer players an extra bonus of 5-15% when they make deposits with a specific online payment method. It's always worth examining what kind of perks an online casino offers when it comes to payment method. One online casino banking method that is making waves in the industry is Moneybookers. Moneybookers is a UK-based e-wallet solution that allows players to transfer funds into a secure and fully regulated account. It is one of the most secure online payment methods and it uses advanced fraud screening systems to help qualify cardholders thus reducing embarrassing rejections. When it comes to the security of your money, Moneybookers is a safe bet. Moneybookers submits itself to UK Financial Services Act (FSA) regulation the only e-wallet to do this insuring financial security. If you are playing for real money wagers then you want to rely on a method that is completely secure and risk free. David Barker, a manager of a leading online casino had this to say: Not only does Moneybookers allow players safer and easier depositing, but it allows them to get winnings out faster than ever before. When a player requests a withdrawal from the casino account, winnings are issued directly back into their Moneybookers account where it becomes valid for additional internet purchases and available for cash withdrawal to the player's high street bank account and/or get posted by check. There is no other payment option offering this much for the online casino player.
Some of the online casino operations on China are not completely legal and recent Chinese authorities have begun to crack down on illegal online casinos in recent weeks. In total, Chinese authorities have arrested 597 people association with an underground internet gambling network thought to have generated over $60 million in illegal betting funds. In a recent wave of online casino crackdowns and busts, Chinese authorities have been sweeping up nearly 600 people in connection with illegal betting operations. Online casino gambling has gained widespread popularity in Asia and China in particular. The Chinese Ministry of Security claims that the illegal gambling network, which spanned 22 provinces and major cities, was purportedly run by a Taiwanese company in cooperation with criminal syndicates operating on the Chinese mainland. In Shanghai alone, police apprehended 87 suspects that were in some way of involved with the gambling circle. In the Jiangsu province, 106 people were held and $20 million in gambling money and suspected gambling proceeds were seized. 395 people suspected of organizing the network and 202 suspected gamblers have been detained The recent operations in China have targeted overseas gambling, online gambling and illegal lotteries across the country. Popular, state-authorized lotteries were not affected by the ban and neither was private gambling that take place in amateur, home circles. Private betting games like mahjong have traditionally involved wagering and this forma of home gambling is regarded as a major form of entertainment in Chinese culture. Because if this, it is unthinkable that the authorities would classify this type of gambling along side illegal online casino gambling. The Chinese government does plan to clarify which activities were allowed and which were illegal.
The 41 biggest casinos on the Las Vegas strip announced record profits of over $1 billion net earnings for the financial year. At $1.325 billion in net profit, it's the second highest earning in the history of Las Vegas since 1996. All in all, the total income of the Las Vegas Strip hotel and and gambling resorts was $11.7 billion, a 12.1 percent increase from a year ago. Net earnings on the Las Vegas Strip were $1.03 billion which was up 99.7 percent from the previous year. In total, more than 3,000 new guest rooms were added to the hotels on the Strip in the fiscal year of 2004. The trend is usually a drop in the hotel occupancy when new rooms are built, but in 2004 the occupancy for the year rose from 91.2 percent to 92.2 percent and the average price of a room in Vegas went up from $103 to $113 per night. Also, food profits at the Las Vegas hotel casinos went up 9.7 percent to total $2.7 billion; beverage sales were also up 10 percent to $1.1 billion. 1996 is considered the most profitable year for Las Vegas . That year profits hit a record $1.355 billion. Total revenue in all the casinos across Nevada hit a whopping $19.6 billion, up 8.9 percent from the previous year. Downtown Las Vegas casinos claimed a total of $42.1 million in net profits, up 76 percent from fiscal 2003, and $1.1 billion in total revenue, unchanged from fiscal 2003. In contrast to the Strip casinos where 41.9 percent of the total revenue comes from gaming, the downtown clubs receive 60 percent of their income from the tables and slot machines. Looking at what games account for what percentage of profits over the past 4 years, gaming tables and slot machines are contributing less of the total revenue to the resorts in the state. Last financial year, gaming accounted for 50.5 percent of the $19.5 billion, down from 51.5 percent in fiscal 2003 and 53 percent in fiscal 2000. In 2000, the 37 largest casinos on the Strip reported 45.9 percent of their income came from gaming. In fiscal 2004, 41.9 percent of the biggest casinos' revenue was received from the tables and slot machines. Last fiscal year, 53.5 percent of the gaming revenue in Strip casinos came from slot machines with 43.4 percent from the table games including keno and bingo. The sports pool and the race book each accounted for 1.1 percent of the $4.9 billion in gaming income. However you look at it, Las Vegas gambling is big business.
What a way for gambling amateur Jonathan M to kick off the New Year. This past New Year's Day Jonathan M was playing a few hands of Bermuda Poker at an online casino. He was playing for the jackpot and to his complete astonishment, he won the big one. He's fairly new to online gaming, and this is what he had to say about his big win: It hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm not sure what to do with a huge chunk of cash like this. I guess one New Years resolution I should make is to keep on playing at sportingbetUSA! Jonathan only started betting last fall but obviously it has paid off. He just registered with the site last September and he's been a regular player ever since then. His game of choice is Bermuda Poker. Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director for the online casino commented: Can you imagine the thrill of winning a huge jackpot like that one? Our players love our progressive jackpots; they can play their favorite games for hours and sometimes hit the ridiculously large jackpot!" About the online casino game Bermuda Poker: It's a solo version of the world's most popular card game, poker. Bermuda Poker the player against the dealer and you are paid out according to the rank of your poker hand (as is standard procedure for online poker). It's the second most popular casino game at sportingbetUSA.com. The last winner of the Bermuda Poker Jackpot was Tim H who took home $233,704 in September 2004 when he pulled a royal flush while playing on the progressive bet. The Jackpot has continued to grow since the last big win. Remember to read all the betting rules so that you qualify for the progressive jackpot when playing poker online. Bermuda Poker is played as follows: the object is to make the highest-ranked poker hand. Players must decide whether to fold or raise their bet to continue playing. Bermuda poker uses a one deck shoe. Try out a game of Bermuda poker at your favorite online casino and remember, if you are playing for the jackpot make sure to read all the betting rules so that you can qualify for the progressive in case you make the winning hand. In general it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the online casino rules.
Online casinos are a lot of fun and provide a great source of entertainment on the web but the land based casinos are still attracting heavy investment. Perhaps this land based gambling establishment will consider opening an online casino as well. Landry's restaurants, a huge chain of restaurants and entertainment venues across the US, originally announced they were buying the Nugget and the Golden Nugget Laughlin for $215 million back in the summer 2003. The actual purchase was made in January 2004, capitalized much of their acquisition from MGM Mirage with funds acquired from the sale of an online reservation company. Landry's Restaurants Inc is the nation's second largest and fastest growing casual-dining, full-service seafood restaurant chain. Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas has a lot of history. This land based casino originated as a gambling hall in 1946. It is the largest resort in downtown Las Vegas with 1,907 guest rooms and suites; 38,000 square feet of gaming space including 1,300 slots and 50 gaming tables, and 29,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Golden Nugget Las Vegas picked up the AAA Four Diamond Award perennially since 1977. Online casino gaming is a great alternative for many casino players but the Las Vegas experience is something completely different. The casino gained exposure on the nationwide Fox reality show "The Casino," which also featured their purchase of the Golden Nugget and the way in which the casino was managed. Obviously compared to an online casino there are many more factors involve din managing a large land based casino. Tilman Fertitta, chairman, president, and CEO of Landry's recently had this to say about the purchase: "Landry's is thrilled to add casino gaming to a varied and diverse collection of entertainment offerings that already includes casual and fine dining, hospitality and aquarium properties. The Golden Nugget is the premier property in downtown Las Vegas, has outstanding brand recognition across the country, and is a perfect fit for us." The deal, which includes $140 million cash and the assumption of $155 million in debt, is subject to approval by Nevada gaming regulators. If you aren't planning to be in Las Vegas any time soon, check out our online casino directory for all the same great action and casino games you'd find at any land based casino.
What exactly is the payout rate, how important is it to the over gaming experience and why should you be so concerned with it? In short, it may be the most important factor in choosing a site. The payout rate of an online casino indicates whether the establishment is offering the player good odds and also offers some insight into the fair gaming policies of that specific site. The payout rate is usually displayed on the homepage on the payout percentage page. You'll notice a number, usually in the 90's although each has its own payout rate. It's important to note a few things when examining the payout rate. First, an honest casino should display an accurate payout rate. How can you tell what's accurate? You should see the payout rate fluctuating every month. If the payout rate stays the some then something is wrong. The outcome of the game is determined by random number generators therefore the wins and losses should not be the same month after month. The other thing to check for at the online casinos is that the payout rates are actually verified by a 3rd party auditing house like OPA or eCOGRA. An honest operator will want to display its honesty. Therefore they will hire a 3rd party auditing company to double check the integrity of the software and all the financial data thereby verifying if the payout rates displayed are accurate. You can usually find these 3rd party verification forms right on the home page of the site. If your favorite operator does not display any verification forms you may want to contact it and find out why. This is an important part in recognizing the legitimacy and fair gaming policy. Therefore you should take it seriously. Once you've done all your homework you'll find the overall gaming experience much more pleasurable because it means you can play all your favorite games with peace of mind. It's better to find out first and then enjoy the fun of online gambling rather than playing first and finding out about these important aspects of the game later. The more homework you do in the beginning about the online casino the better off you'll be in the long run. Be sure to check out our online casino directory and search for the casinos with high payout rates. Remember the gold rule: the higher the payout rate, the better your chances of winning. Good luck.
You may have heard about organizations like OPA and eCOGRA. These organizations are set up in order to protect online casino players from fraudulent operators. Check to see if your favorite site proudly displays a certificate from any of these well known regulatory boards. If so, you know you are playing on a honest site. eCOGRA has recently started working with the Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4) to provide the online gambling community with tighter security and regulations. eCOGRA, along with other organizations like OPA, are on a quest to make the industry as safe and responsible as possible. This step is just one more feather in their hat. Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA explains the reasons behind the recent merger: "The top online casinos regulated by eCOGRA have all made in-house responsible gambling provision as part of their operational structures, and we will beef up this vital function through a partnership with the respected and professional G4 organization. eCOGRA and G4 have teamed up in order to create a set of regulations and values that will set new standard in responsible gaming. This means that the sites proudly displaying the eCOGRA seal of approval and fair gaming will have to implement these detailed policies as part of the Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP), and compliance will be reviewed on an ongoing basis by 3rd party auditors. G4 management has been implemented in a wide range of different online and land based casino gambling environments. Their track record is solid and their policies have proven to be extremely effective. Top G4 executive Pieter Remmers explains more about the recent partnership with eCOGRA: "These 51 first rate Seal casinos represent a very significant share of the gambling sector, and the real enforcement that is part of the eCOGRA system makes for effective application." Remmers added: "Although we have other partnerships in process, this is the big one for us, because eCOGRA will offer brand recognition and allow us to contribute to their sites. It is the first step in getting their members to come aboard. We have also held discussions with other groups, like the Interactive Gaming Council and certain large online poker networks, and those will continue to be our focus in the short term." Ultimately, the stricter the responsible and fair gaming policies of an online casino the more benefit the individual player stands to benefit.
Blackjack is just one online casino game that has gained much popularity in the Flash instant version. Check your favorite online casino to see if they offer Flash blackjack games online. There are also many Sportsbooks & Racebooks websites that are also making use of the Flash instant technology. With each release of the instant Flash software the games are become more and more realistic, more fun to play and very smooth. Online casino Flash blackjack is becoming so popular that one well known online casino recently featured a "Super Bowl Halftime Blackjack Extravaganza" so that people could play a few hands of Flash blackjack during the Super Bowl half time show. With the popularity of Flash blackjack games on the rise this turned out to be a smash success and has boosted the popularity of flash blackjack games at the online casino. Randolph Shea, Director of Corporate Communication at Oasis Casino had this to say: "While we are certainly happy with the practical results of our first try at Flash casino software, we were even more delighted with the overwhelming positive response we received from our customer base." The beauty of Flash online casino games is that they allow the player to try out all the same games you get from the regular casino software only without having to do a download. Flash casino games are designed to help players who don't have the ability of the time to download online casino software enjoy the same great advantages as regular players. For instance, there are many people who play at the online casinos in Asia but may of them access the web from internet casinos not from home PC. With Flash online casino gaming they wouldn't be able to play casino games on the net. Flash casinos were designed to help service these people. Flash technology has been continuously improving and the flash casino games are not just as smooth and enjoyable as the downloadable software. In many ways it can often act as a way to preview what an online casino has to offer. Before committing to downloading and installing the online casino's software the player can first try out the Flash software and games to get a fee for the online casino, its theme and the games it offers. What's more, almost all the top quality online casinos are now featuring the option to choose between downloadable software and Flash software. Find plenty of great online casinos that offer Flash instant play in the Online Casino Reports' gambling directory.
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