Top Online Casinos, And Their Distinguishing Features

 Anyone who is deeply involved in online gaming will agree with the fact that there are online casinos that have come, over time, to be almost universally regarded as the top casinos. Different schools of thought, of course, have different criteria for what qualifies a casino to be rated as being 'tops.' For some, if an online casino has very many members, so that pretty much everybody you meet in online gaming forums seems to be a member there, then it would be termed as a being a 'top casino.' For others, if an online casino has top-notch features, it qualifies to be rated amongst the top online casinos. Yet for others, if there is a lot of buzz around a given casino, so that everybody seems to talking about it, then it is termed as being a 'top' casino.

The question before us for determination, then, is as to what features distinguish these top casinos from the other poorly rated ones. And a number of features can be seen as being the distinguishing features, which set these top casinos apart from the pack.

One of the distinguishing features of the top casinos online is suave marketing. These are casinos which seem to have taken early cognizance of the fact that the online gaming niche is a relatively crowded one, and that to shine, they will have to be distinguished in their marketing. They tend to put in place measures that are certain to hook up members, and keep them hooked. These are the types of casinos that give things like 'no deposit bonuses,' things like bonuses on actual deposits, zero playing charges (so that they only make their money out of winnings, rather than charging patrons for basic memberships) and so on. This suave marketing has the long term effect of making the top casinos very popular, so that more and more people keep on joining them - which qualifies them for a place among the 'top casinos' on account of their gigantic memberships.

Another distinguishing feature for the top casinos online is their tendency to be path-beaters (pioneers) in the adoption of new strategies and technologies. They tend to aspire to lead the pack, rather than being late adopters. Whenever a new possible method for loading money into the online casino playing accounts emerges, for instance, they try to see if and how soon they can integrate it. If a new casino game emerges, they try to see to it that they create an interface for it as soon as possible. Sometimes, they create their own strategies, and leverage them greatly before others adopt them or counter them. They are 'fast on their feet,' in a way of speaking.

A good number of the top casinos are quite old, so that many people who got into online gaming early found them, and stuck with them. It is the 'age advantage,' and it is not to be taken for granted.

Most of the top casinos online offer a truly rich variety of games, and that attracts people to them. Sometimes, this turns out to be the only advantage they have. But it can be a huge advantage, seeing that most people have a game in mind when going gaming online, and they will only join an casino offering that game. It follows, then, that the casino offering the greatest variety of games would attract the greatest number of people, and soon earn a place for itself amongst the top online casinos.

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WSOP "November Nine" - Put Me Down For a 'Nein,' and Here's Why

WSOP "November Nine" - Put Me Down For a 'Nein,' and Here's Why
The World Series Of Poker: The Ultimate Poker Tournament is an event held annually at the Rio Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. To most of us, this is poker "nirvana," especially for those of us in the orange county casino party business. It's a fantastic game, one that we feature prominently in our presentation book portfolios. Bottom line: We LOVE poker, in all forms.
Well, maybe not ALL forms.
Make no mistake about it, we DO love the game, and can't wait to join our card-playing brethren out in the desert, and take our annual shot at the Rio when the WSOP kicks into gear. BUT.... there's something about the WSOP that has been bugging us for about two years now, and it's time to hop on the soap box and pontificate.
It has to do with the WSOP "Main Event," the $10K buy-in tournament that is considered by most as the "World Championship" of the sport. (Yes, I know, the question of 'is poker a sport' needs to be addressed. I'll get to that, sometime later, I promise.) Back in the 1970's, when the World Series Of Poker was in it's infancy, the tournament only took two days to complete, probably because the total number of entries in the tourney 35 years ago usually topped out at around 50.
My, how times have changed.
In 2006, there were a grand total of 8,773 players competing for what turned out to be a $12 million dollar first prize. This year, during what some in Washington might call a 'recession,' there were still 7,319 entrants into the WSOP Main Event at ten thousand bucks a pop. Take it from this casino night blogger: Without a doubt, poker's "World Series" is here to stay, and the Main Event, circus-like as it may be at times, IS for poker's "world title."
And, quite frankly, THIS is where I have a problem. I DO love the Main Event of the WSOP. I just don't like it's current FORMAT.
Let's take a quick peek at the other "world championship events" for some historical background, shall we?
NBA -- The NBA Playoffs began on April 17, 2010, and ended two months later, on June 17, 2010. Start to finish, two months. Two LOOONG months. Ask anyone that tracks the NBA post-season, and they'll tell you that it drags on forever.
NHL -- The NHL playoffs went April 11 / June 10. Two months, and it seems that THESE playoffs drag on longer than the NBA.
NFL -- Basically six weeks of playoffs here, including the Super Bowl. Not too shabby, time-wise. The NFL is also the king of sports marketing, so if THEY say five weeks will get it done, that works for me.
MLB -- Even less than the NFL. Surprisingly, the MLB post-season lasts just about one month (October 7 / November 4, last year). (The season lasts SIX months, though. Maybe THAT'S why we're tired of baseball in November each year.
Hmmmm.... OK.... If my info is correct (and it always IS), the 4 major sports need from 1-to-2 months to determine their champion, and when it comes to marketing the post-season, there's no better commercial for the action taking place than the games themselves, games that are on almost every day.
Now, let's move to the World Series Of Poker. Now, we first take into account that the WSOP consists of not one, but more than 50 separate individual "bracelet" tournaments that started in earnest on May 28th, 2010, and "ended" yesterday, July the 18th, in the Rio's Amazon Room.
Or DID it?
So, the WSOP takes about what, seven weeks from start to finish? But alas, my orange county casino party friends, the WSOP season ISN'T over. There's just one small problem, and that's what the WSOP calls "The November Nine," the last nine players left at the WSOP Main Event Final Table.
And WHY do they call this group "The November Nine?" Easy. Because the WSOP, in their infinite wisdom, is STOPPING the 2010 Main Event on Sunday, July 18th, and making the last nine competitors wait for an astounding 105 days until the tourney is resumed on November 1, 2010.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE DAYS.
Heck, anyone that plays games around MY house knows that if we started a game on day 1, and waited 105 days until we FINISHED it, most of the players wouldn't even remember how to PLAY the game, let alone play it well. Granted, these last nine players have quite a monetary incentive to remember how to play poker (First place in the WSOP Main Event will get you over $8M), but that's beside the point.
WHY in HADES does the WSOP make these players wait for over a HUNDRED DAYS, before getting to the biz of declaring a champion? Do they know something about marketing a major playoff series that the four MAJOR sports DON'T? I doubt it. This event used to be held at Binion's casino downtown up through 2003, which, for the record, didn't even HAVE a poker room, when the WSOP began back in 1970.
ESPN does a fine job of televising the WSOP events, albeit it a telecast schedule that has gotten smaller and smaller since 2008. Bottom line, the WSOP doesn't do one bloody thing to promote the final table of the WSOP main event. They just delay it unmercifully. In my humble opinion, this does NOTHING for the 'sport.' All this does is take any momentum away from the players that were totally dialed in during the last hours of the tourney, and make them all sit around and get stale.
I HATE this. Hey, sue me, but I don't want to sit around and wait to see all the already-recorded coverage hours of the 2010 WSOP Main Event. I want to see them NOW.
If the world would ever decide to anoint me as "Poker Czar," there's a couple of things that I would immediately change about the WSOP --
1. Cover more of the other 50+ events that are held earlier in the WSOP. I loved watching coverage of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event (5 types of poker played and rotated every two hours), as well as all of the individual $10K events that are held. Bring all of those back, cover them on a tape-delayed basis, but SHOW them to us after about 7-10 days pass.
2. Cover the 2010 Main Event as usual, but don't hold on to all of the footage that you've already SHOT, ESPN! SHOW IT TO US! It doesn't take months to post-produce the footage. Get to it.
3. OK, I realize that the last day of competition in the 2010 main event took 17 hours to complete, to get down to 9 players from 27. No prob. Give the November Nine a WEEK off to recuperate, not 15 WEEKS! Heck, ANYTHING can happen in 15 weeks. Lord help us if a player is injured in some accident, or worse, and the player(s) can't come back to finish the competition. Give 'em one week, then bring back the "July Nine" to find out who wins it all.
I mean, come ON -- All of the poker aficionados that follow the sport with any diligence whatsoever and have access to a computer or a telephone KNEW who the November Nine were in '09. There's no reason to delay this, WSOP. Do us all a favor, and make this the last year of this stupid elongated poker vacation. It's unnecessary, and it's just wrong.
OK, I've said my piece. Thoughts?

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Popularity of Pokies in Australia

Popularity of Pokies in Australia
The most popular form of gambling in Australia comes in the form of electronic gaming machines. Pokies, also known as poker machines, are incredibly popular in the country, with thousands of individuals trying their luck every year.
According to statistics, 40% of Australians play poker machines every year and the country is actually home to 20% of the world's electronic gaming devices. Australians are the world's most avid players, as these games have become very popular in the country over the course over the past few decades.
Recent years have seen the popularity of poker machines increase by unprecedented rates. In New Zealand, a $5 million increase was seen from $200 million in 2010. In Victoria, there was a $55 million increase in spending over the course of the past year. Other areas of the country have seen similar rises, such as Christchurch and Maribyrnong.
There are many reasons why the games have become so popular among the Australian population. While employment rates and the availability of poker machines have some impact on the popularity of these games, their inherent features are the reason that they have become so popular. Gameplay, jackpots and design are all aspects of pokies that draw players in.
Poker machines present Australian players with the unique ability to take part in gambling activities without having any previous experience or knowledge. Players are only required to spin the game's reels for the chance to win impressive jackpot prizes. Over the years, in addition to the growing number of players, jackpots have also grown. It is now common to find pokies offering jackpots of $1 million or more. In turn, the promise of even greater jackpots lures more individuals into playing.
Pokies are becoming even more advanced, as gaming technology develops. Land-based poker machine designers like Aristocrat are working on ways to make their games as enticing as those now available in the online casino world. These features include linked progressive jackpots, engaging themes and interactive bonus rounds. Aristocrat, IGT and other developers are increasingly employing these features, offering players a unique gaming experience that they can only obtain by playing pokies.
The popularity of pokies have even started to spread in the online gaming universe. Some poker machines have become so incredibly popular in the land-based world that they have been made into online pokies that are available at internet gambling sites. 5 Dragons and Cleopatra are just two of the many land-based poker machine titles that you can find in the online gambling world, as developers are setting their sights on conquering the online gaming market.

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Impressing Your Friends With Online Games

Impressing Your Friends With Online Games
Do you think that you are a pro gamer? Are you looking for an option to impress your friends? If so, challenging them through online games could be the best option for you. Today, there are many different types of games available on the internet, which you can share and play with other players. When you are looking online, you will come across different genres of games from which you will be able to select the right one. For instance, if you are looking for something simple for your kids, you will be able to find some simple games, which will not just entertain them, but also educate your kids on various topics.
Another social aspect of playing online games is that, you will be able to run these applications on the social networking websites, which means you can post your scores on your profile and challenge your friends to beat it. This will help your friends to play the games or beat your score. Most of the gaming applications available online also come with multiplayer options, which will help you to play with your friends or partners. When you are playing online games, you also have an option to interact with other players and build a good rapport with them. As internet is a gaming hub for all types of players, you will be able to find people from different parts of the world, who login and play games online. This could also start you off on a new friendship with some of the players you may never have met, or for that matter may never have the chance of ever meeting.
Most of the games available on the internet today are made with high quality graphics and audio options. Therefore, playing them can provide you with exciting and the real gaming experience. All you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection for playing the internet games. This will help you to get rid of your boredom any time of the day.
Now if you have a penchant for gambling you also have a variety of online gambling games that you can choose from. Right from the original roulette that people go to the real Las Vegas Casinos to play, you will find that today there are ever so many online casinos and online gambling sites that offer online gambling games exactly like what they are in the brick and mortar counterparts.

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Online Casinos Will Continue to Accept United States Players

Online Casinos Will Continue to Accept United States Players
Until online gambling is fully regulated and legalized in the USA, finding online casinos to gamble at is getting more and more difficult for United States residents. The legalization of online casinos is in the horizon, that fact of the matter is right now there are very few online casinos out there truly catering to USA players. For many people gambling online is for the entertainment value and to pass the time. No matter your bank roll or experience in the online gambling community if you're looking for a safe and fun gaming experience Slots Jungle Casino is the most popular online casinos for USA.
Slots Jungle for me was the first online casino I played at and continue to gamble here today. Established in 2010 Slots Jungle is quickly making a name for itself in the online gambling community. They continue to integrate new and exciting games every month. One of the first things the drew me into Slots Jungle is the brand itself, being an online slots enthusiast you can't help but to be drawn in to the green and purple jungle themed casino. And their online slot selection does not disappoint with over 100 slots to choose from, their online slots selection continues to grow. I have played at a number of casinos for free mainly to preview their games selection and yes many casinos have a big online slots selection you will notice many have the same game play with different themes, which gets old fast.
Slot Jungle is powered by Real Time Gaming the leading online casino software for USA players. They continue to lead the online gambling world with new games and exciting new features like their random jackpot feature which gives players a chance to hit a jackpot after ever spin and the latest win-win feature. For me the most exciting part of online video slots is triggering a bonus round or free spins which does not happen very often. One of the most frustrating things is not wining during your free spins and that's where the latest win-win feature comes in. It can be a lengthy process to explain but in a nut shell this feature is an assurance in place to award a payout regardless of the outcome of your free spins. Some of my favorite online slots at Slots Jungle are Return of The Rudolph a 5 reel 50 line video slot with three bonus round features and one of the latest online slots Mice Dice a 25 line slot with a minor and major random jackpot, win-win feature and the feature guarantee which assures a bonus round after a certain amount of spins.
Playing at Slot Jungle was a breeze for me with my Visa card, I deposited $20 and after a quick phone call to verify my deposit I was playing in seconds with a 400% deposit bonus. For a lot of people your visa may not work but there are a number of other options at your disposal. I suggest contacting customer support with help depositing as they are available 24/7 by phone or live chat. Things like Usemywallet which is a very popular method for USA players to deposit and withdraw funds require the assistance of customer support.
With all the changes in the online gambling industry for the USA I am confident that Slot Jungle will whether the storm and continue to accept USA players. If you are looking for more online casino reviews please visit top USA online casinos.

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How to Avoid Online Gambling Dishonest Schemes

How to Avoid Online Gambling Dishonest Schemes
The moment you invest your money in web based gambling games, you will most likely be at the risk of getting involved in scams. Irrespective of the kind of games you choose to play, you need to remember always that online scams exist. Therefore, to ensure you do not fall into similar situations, you should take the required precautions.
Do not forget that online gambling is relaxing and fun after you keep off these scams from interjecting your gaming experience. Fortunately, you can do something to ensure you do not become a victim of online gambling scams and here are the tips to apply:
Install the most recent virus protection and anti-spyware to your computer. This is something you should do prior to visiting any gambling website. In addition, ensure you have enabled the option for accessing automatic updates and occasional scans for your system and antivirus software alike.
Research thoroughly before you register with any gambling site. There are online reviews for each site. These reviews are from different users who have given their experiences related to the use of various sites. Reviews will tell you whether a site is legit or not and you should only sign up with any site after being convinced it is reputable and free from any fraudulent activities. If you cannot access information relating to any gambling site, do not join it.
Do not provide personal details through emails or give replies to any emails that gambling sites send you. In most cases, these emails are the source of defrauding hence if you should make any changes or provide extra information, ensure you do this from the main site.
Avoid accessing any software that purports they have the ability to raise your winnings by allowing you to access the hands of other players or assist you to win always. Most legit gambling games require that you participate in the game once at a time and your participation determines whether you will be the winner or not.
Check whether the gambling site has several communication options. A reliable gambling site should have a 24/7 customer support service and alternative phone numbers. This will allow you to contact the site administrator or support team whenever there is a problem with your gambling activities on the site.
Do not lend out money to fellow online gamblers. These people may seem trustworthy and loyal and might go to the extent of willing to pay an interest for the money they want to borrow. However, they are likely to disappear from the site after you give them the money. Therefore, the best way is to block these individuals if they try to get in touch with you.
Following the above tips will ensure you are always safe while participating in gambling. Most of the Internet gambling websites have tracking devices to help them catch those players attempting to scam fellow players hence you cannot easily fall into a scam once you sign up with such legit sites. If you notice any suspicious activity from other players, do not hesitate to contact the site support. If you follow these tips, you do not need to be worried about online gambling scams.

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Laws on Online Gambling - What Are They?

Laws on Online Gambling - What Are They?
The current laws on online gambling vary a great deal depending on whereabouts in the world you are. In the US, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006, but unsurprisingly, this has not stopped millions of Americans enjoying the many delights of gambling online.
Although the laws on online gambling in the US restrict the transfer of money directly from US bank accounts to online casino sites, the casinos have found ways around the problem. Most casinos online operate an e-wallet system whereby money is transferred from a bank account or credit card into an e-wallet, and from there it can be spent in the online casino.
So despite the rules and regulations, there are always ways to beat the system for those who look hard enough. However, many experts believe that the laws on online gambling in the US could well change in the near future as the US government begins to wake up to the realisation there is a great deal of lucrative tax revenue to be earned if gambling online is legalized in the US. Whilst Congress might have a moral objection to online gambling, in the current economic climate an extra few $billion in the government's purse would hardly be unwelcome.
But if the laws on online gambling in the US are too restrictive for you, try the Caribbean-gambling is legal in Antigua and many of the big online casinos operate out of this tiny Caribbean country. Gambling online in casinos is also legal in most of the EU and some provinces in Canada.

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