The Casino Scrutiny Guide to Online Casino Gambling

So I thought it would be fun to own and operate a guide to online casino gambling, but I didn't want to run the same old "you can get a $200 bonus here type site". There are plenty of guides to casino bonuses already available on the internet, and some of them are very good at what they do, very comprehensive. What I'm hoping to do with this website is something a little different, something a little more personal.

My Personal Experiences

Casino Scrutiny is going to consist of nothing but my own journals and logs of my experiences playing at some online casinos. I've played poker for some time now, but I've never really done much online casino gambling, because I always had a problem with the odds being inevitably stacked in the casinos' favor. But that's how they make their living, and I'll admit to having spent some time playing Major Millions and some other online slot machine games.

Online Casino Reviews

That being said, I'm not entirely sure how much actual "casino reviewing" I'm going to be doing. I'll detail whether or not the customer service crews at these sites treated me right, and I'll go into whether or not I liked the software. But what I'm really hoping to do is capture the feeling I get playing at these casinos.

What's it like to hit a royal flush playing video poker on the internet? What do the frustration levels feel like when playing blackjack for an hour and hitting a bad losing streak? How much play does it really take to clear the bonus requirements at these casinos? These are the kinds of questions I'd like to answer.

So yes, these are online casino reviews, but they're not the kind of reviews you're possibly used to reading. They're not sales letters. Think of these as casino inspections, and think of me as being the guy who is scrutinizing the casinos to see what value can be found there, if any. I'll include the usual details that everyone has in their reviews, like the licensing and banking info, etc, but those details will always be secondary to my main content, which will consist of relating my experiences as an internet gambler.

Why Gamble at an Online Casino Anyway?

This is a good question, and I'm not sure I have an answer for it. I've been playing Gambling Online Poker now for at least 2 years, and I enjoy it. But now that I've gotten reasonably good at that, I'd like to see what it's like being on the side with the disadvantage now. And I think that like all gamblers, I want to beat the odds just once today. And maybe again tomorrow.

Yeah, I know the odds are against me, and I also know they'll eventually catch up with me. Being a casino gambler is like being mortal; eventually the odds will catch up with you either way. It doesn't mean you want to give up easily or early because of the eventuality. So, in the pursuit of things bigger than myself, onward I travel down the gambling rabbit hole. And what better way to get things going than a strategic tip.

New Las Vegas Strip Casino Plans Not on Hold, Says Developers

The Las Vegas Strip is one of the few areas in the world that no matter what the economy, people will always want to visit. That does not mean that owners and future developers are not feeling the effects of a troubled economy.

A rumor has been circulating that a new multi-billion dollar casino resort developer was putting their plans on hold. The struggling credit market was cited as the reason.

The Plaza is going to be the name of the new casino resort, and the developers are denying that there are any holds on the project. "We are forging ahead," said Miki Naftali, President of the Elad Group.

The plan is for a super resort that would have 3,500 rooms. It would be built on the Las Vegas Strip and would have many amenities that customers have grown accustomed to in Las Vegas.

The Clark County Commission will get to review the project on Wednesday when the plans will be submitted. The developers are hoping to have the casino resort open for business by 2011.

Las Vegas is in need of some new establishments in the city. They were recently surpassed by Macau as the gambling capitol of the world. Macau is also making advancements on their end, which could lead to a battle for gambling supremacy in the future.

Online casino types

Online casinos can be divided into three groups based on their interface: web-based casinos, download-based casinos, and more recently live casinos. Some casinos offer multiple interfaces.

Web-based Online Casino Gambling

Web-based online casinos are websites where users may play casino games without downloading software to the local computer. Games are mainly represented in the browser plugins Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave, or Java and require browser support for these plugins. Also, bandwidth is needed since all graphics, sounds and animations are loaded through the web via the plugin. Some online casinos also allow gameplay through a plain HTML interface.

Download-based online casinos

Download-based online casinos require the download of the software client in order to play and wager on the casino games offered. The online casino software connects to the casino service provider and handles contact without browser support. Download-based online casinos generally run faster than web-based online casinos since the graphics and sound programs are located within the software client, rather than having to be loaded from the Internet. On the other hand, the initial download and installation of a download-based online casino client does take time. As with any download from the Internet, the risk of the program containing malware does exist.

Live-based casinos

Live-based casino gaming allows web players to interact with games played in a real world casino environment. Online players can see, hear, and interact with live dealers at tables in casino studios worldwide.

OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY ONLINE GAMBLING

Like combinations always win in gambling, the winning of Online Casino Gambling tremendously are based on the combination of two hot industries – Internet and Gambling. While the first one is comparatively newer and a brain-child of scientists in technology, the latter is much older for centuries. Both have a universal application irrespective of caste, creed, color, ethnicity, language, territory and gender limitations whatsoever. The internet has made e-commerce possible through out the world and so also gambling which was confined to brick and mortar gambling dens inside various countries.

Simply because of this universal nature of internet gambling, countries through their governments are scratching their heads as how to promulgate laws forbidding online gambling. However some countries like U.S., Germany and Australia have enacted laws with a view to cripple wagering on the gambling sites by round-about methods of restricting financial transactions. These statues can only contain the citizens of these countries but here also there is a great escape for them to circumvent the enforcement of such poor-sighted enactments through offshore financial accounts. The organizers of the gambling sites also have a variety of options to cross the barriers of curbs on them, by incorporating their establishments elsewhere in foreign countries. Thus the “forbidden apple” for these countrymen becomes theirs for the tasting, once they launch themselves into the cyber-world as netizens.

The revenue loss is cited as the main reason for prohibiting online gambling sites by the respective governments, who are being pressurized by the barrens of the real world gambling outfits on the one side for fear of competition and the inability to track the taxation accountability of the online gambling sites owing to the vastness of the internet transactions on the other side.

As regards the gamblers are concerned online, they are least bothered about these promulgations and worries of their state governments and embark on their activities of indulgence in a plethora of online gambling sites. They are immensely pleased with the opportunities being offered by online gambling. The foremost of them is they can blissfully engage into gambling online right from the comfort of their homes; no commuting; no dressing up; no hassles of traffic jams; no waiting for a seat in their favorite game table; no jostling in the milling crowds with their annoying smells; an array of games to select from the sea of varieties offered; the warm welcome and offer of a seat in the gambling table any time and every time; a gathering of players in thousands from the nooks and corners of the universe; preference for appearing as self with introduction or in total anonymity; no entrance fees as demanded by the offline clubs and casinos; on the contrary there is offer of welcome bonus on registration as member in some websites; easy and hassle free transactions of money with secure software; modest price of tickets for betting for a long time and in different options of games; chances of playing free games and acquainting with the techniques of the intended gambling game, before risking their own money (never imaginable in a real-world casino or club) and above all fabulous prize monies through jackpots accumulated through an enormous number of players online, which is never possible in any of the offline gambling dens.

What Is Compulsive Gambling?

Moderate gambling, like moderate alcohol use, is an accepted part of our culture and causes no problems. As with alcohol use, however, gambling to excess is a common weakness that may lead to serious security problems.

Compulsive gambling, or pathological gambling as most psychiatrists prefer to call it, is an inability to stop gambling even when one recognizes that gambling is causing serious financial, family, work, or other problems.

Compulsive gambling parallels alcohol and drug addiction in many ways. Compulsive gamblers lose control over their behavior and commonly lie and cheat in order to continue their gambling. They frequently try, unsuccessfully, to cut down or quit.

Compulsive gambling does not involve use of a psychoactive substance, but the "action" which compulsive gamblers crave is an aroused, euphoric state comparable to the "high" sought by drug users. This aroused state is accompanied by changes in brain chemistry similar to those caused by alcohol or drugs. There may be a "rush," often characterized by sweaty palms, rapid heart beat, and nausea which is experienced during the period of anticipation.

Alcoholics and drug abusers develop "tolerance" for their drug of choice and then must increase their consumption in order to feel the same effects. Similarly, compulsive gamblers develop "tolerance" for the "action" and must increase the size of their bets or the odds against them to create the same amount of excitement.

About 2 1/2% of the adult population now has some degree of gambling problem. The rates of compulsive and problem gambling among 16 and 17 year olds are similar to those for adults.

The key difference between compulsive or problem gambling and Gambling Internet is self-control. Each social gambling session usually lasts for a set period of time and involves pre-determined spending limits. It typically occurs with friends or colleagues rather than alone. The player gains satisfaction whether he/she wins or loses.

Online Casino Offering Revenues For Life

Online casino Ilovegambaling.com has announced that it has joined the Everleaf Gaming network and launched a new program offering affiliates up to half of the total revenues they generate forever.

This latest deal takes the total number of online poker sites for the Red Planet Poker-powered network to 18 with the promise of more to come in the future. The Malta-licensed network provides fully managed turnkey solutions to independent poker websites and, according to independent poker tracking site PokerScouts.com, has recorded up to 206 concurrent players during peak periods with weekly averages of 91 players.

Also licensed in Malta, Ilovegambaling.com launched in August of last year and offers online and e-mail support to both players and affiliates. New players depositing at least $20 receive a full match up to $100 on their initial deposit and a weekly ten percent reload along with a monthly free bonus depending on their activity.

The St Julian’s-based online casino stated that, unlike many other affiliate programs offering revenue shares of up to half for the first few months, it is giving newcomers the chance to share half of the revenues for life with sub-affiliates receiving ten percent for the duration.

Affiliates have no minimum requirements in receiving their commission and may cash-out at any time of the month even if their account only has one dollar in it. Automated payments take place on the fourth day of every month and affiliates receive $100 to establish a freeroll tournament exclusively for their players upon joining.

The program also offers a mass-mailing feature meaning affiliates can contact current players at Ilovegambaling.com with messages regarding new tournaments and poker leagues.

What is Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological", or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.

Our Purpose and Mission:
The Mission of the National Council on Problem Gambling is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education.

Guide For Users:
Go to the Problem Gamblers section for information and referral resources, frequently asked questions, self assessment tools, state by state help, directories of counselors and treatment centers.

Go to the About Gambling for information on the Board of Directors, staff, committees, conferences, programs, goals, annual reports and tax returns.

Go to the Public Awareness section for NCPG press releases, reports, literature, prevention and education tools, as well as first person stories of problem gambling and recovery.

Go to the Advertising Gambling Online for the National Certified Gambling Counselor application, exam information and an online searchable directory.

Problem & Compulsive Gambling

One of the biggest problems related to gambling and other compulsive and addictive behaviors is that the person with the problem tends to be the last one to see it. You probably picked up this brochure because you wondered either about your own gambling or the gambling habits of someone you care about. We're glad you had the courage to do so, and we hope the following information will increase your understanding of this problem area.

What is Gambling?

Risking money or valuables in hopes of winning more than you're risking is gambling. Calling it a "friendly bet," or a "gentleman's bet," or saying "We're just making the game a little more interesting" does not alter the fact that it is still gambling.

Gambling can include buying instant lottery tickets, playing the on-line or video lottery games, playing cards, dice, or dominoes, playing in casinos, playing slot machines, betting on sporting events (with or without a bookie), betting on the horses or greyhounds, betting on games of skill (bowling, pool, golf, video or arcade games), and many other activities.

But Doesn't Everybody Gamble?

Most all of us have sat around and fantasized about what we would do if we won the lottery or hit it big in Las Vegas. But for most of us, these fantasies remain fantasies. Perhaps we buy an occasional lottery ticket, but that's about it. And some people can gamble occasionally without it affecting their lives seriously.

But many can't. Time magazine estimates that there are nearly eight million compulsive gamblers in America, one million of whom are teenagers. An Illinois criminal justice professor found eight times as many gambling addicts among college students as among adults. Closer to home, a study by the Texas Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling found that teenagers and young adults are at much greater risk for developing serious gambling problems than are adults.

In the central area of Texas (including Austin), the average gambler was more likely to be a White male (although females and minorities are definitely included), younger, never married, relatively well educated, but with an income on the low side.

More so than gamblers from other regions, the gambler from Central Texas said he liked gambling on games of skill, video lotteries, sporting events, high-risk investments, and card games. He said he gambled out of curiosity or for the challenge, he was more likely to have used alcohol or drugs, and he reports a higher number of substance problems. These problem gamblers also had significantly lower academic grades, and they were more likely to skip school.

What if a Friend has a Gambling Problem?

As we said at the beginning of this brochure, one of the hardest things about helping people with gambling problems is that they are very likely to deny they have any problem even when it's obvious to people around them. "It's no problem for me. I can quit any time I want." "It's not a big deal. I can cover my debts." "When I'm hot, I win back even more than I've lost." "My friends all bet on college football-it's just for fun."

If you think a friend has a gambling problem, show your concern. Don't avoid the topic. Do avoid sermons, lectures, judging and verbal attacks, however. Don't continue the conversation if you begin to feel impatient or angry. You may encounter defensiveness and denial. Don't take this personally, but make it clear you're concerned and tell the person how his or her gambling behavior affects you. You may have to set limits with the person. Don't be manipulated into excusing, justifying, overlooking, enabling or participating in the person's self-defeating behaviors.

If the person agrees that he or she has a problem, try to:

• Remain supportive and reinforce even small efforts toward change.
• Be prepared for some steps backward as a normal part of the recovery process.
• Help the person make contact with recovering gamblers and organizations like the Counseling & Mental Health Center and Gamblers Anonymous.
• Encourage activities that are not related to gambling, and curb your own gambling behaviors.
• Educate yourself about problem and compulsive gambling.