Online Gambling Regs on the Table in Illinois

May 16th, 2012

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Add the State of Illinois to a growing ledger of U.S. States considering the prospects of legalizing online gambling to one extent or another. With just over two weeks before a scheduled adjournment at the end of May, and amidst debate over Medicaid and pension reforms, Chicago Democrat and Illinois Senate President, John Cullerton, has introduced legislation to create a Division of Internet Gaming within the Illinois State Lottery. Not going so far to introduce legislation to regulate online casinos, per say, Cullerton said his goal is to make Illinois nimble enough to adjust to the reality of online gambling and position itself to capture the widest audience possible before federal regulation is implemented.

Cullerton, like several other State politicians, believes there is great value in being one of the first State’s to regulate online gambling. First, Cullerton believes that the sooner Illinois establishes itself in the iGaming industry, the more advantage it will have for long-term success and making a stake at what could be hundreds of millions of dollars. As first reported by CBS News, in his letter to Governor Pat Quinn and other legislators, Cullerton said, “The state could organize the first major poker pool, garner worldwide popularity, and position itself as a hub for multi-state and international iGaming”.

Secondly, Cullerton believes that it is imperative to pass regulations before the federal government takes the lead. Currently, there is legislation pending in the U.S. Senate that, if passed, could preclude State’s from reaping financial benefits if motions are not already underway if and when a federal law to regulate online gambling is passed.

While Cullerton has support from some of his colleagues, like Illinois Senate Gaming Committee Chairman, Terry Link – who cited Cullerton’s legsilation as having “unlimited potential” that would not cut into business – others, like Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, have expressed caution rushing into a vote on Cullerton’s proposal. Nor does Governor Quinn appear too keen on the idea of expanding gambling – in any form, at that. Having already expressed opposition to a proposal that would expand casino gambling and permit racetracks to offer slot machines, Governor Quinn’s office openly stated they will not take a position on Cullerton’s proposal so as not to distract from more pressing issues – namely, health care and public employee pensions.

Despite Cullerton’s pressing, his proposal will very likely have to wait until the Senate commences once again. Whether or not this “delay” will put Illinois at a disadvantage in the long-term remains to be seen. In the meantime, Cullerton can rest assured that the Illinois State Lottery is liking this whole internet thing. Since March of this year, when online lottery sales went live in Illinois  for the first time, the State has brought in almost $2 million in online sales alone.

Casino Bonus Tips – Reading Through the Casino Terms

May 8th, 2012

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Always read the red tape before claiming a bonus at an online casino

Always read the red tape before claiming a bonus at an online casino

When it comes to wagering with free bonus money at online casinos, one can never be too cautious before claiming said free money. In other words, no matter how many terms and conditions you have to dig through and read, ensure that you understand all of the conditions, or better yet, red tape, that will impede just how fast and likely you will be able to cash out any winnings derived from bonus play BEFORE you claim a bonus and start wagering.

For the seasoned pro’s out there, it’s likely you’ve heard this time and time again. Believe me, I’ve written about it so many times that I could probably recite it in my sleep. Nonetheless, there is always somebody new on the scene who runs into a snag at the time of trying to cash out (due to breaking casino bonus terms), and who consequently, makes a big stink on the forums about being cheated and denied rightful winnings.

Granted, there are some jilted newbies out there who wouldn’t have known better anyhow, because of a lack of disclosure of bonus terms. Needless to say, any online casinos that do not properly disclose their terms, including general and promotional terms, should be blacklisted. And yes, there have been plenty of blacklisted online casinos over the years.

These days, the word has gotten around so much thanks to reputable online gambling portals such as Your’s Truly, that you are much less likely to find an online casino withholding bonus terms on their website – albeit some sites will require you to dig around more than others. Instead, you will find some casinos that mail out unsolicited promotional postcards showcasing free bonus chips (without disclosing terms) and directing players to a stand-alone signup page that offers no direct links to the specific bonus terms. Free bonus chip offers are especially bound by terms, so you can imagine what a mess they can make when a player is not aware of the cashout restrictions.

When you are combing through bonus terms and conditions, be sure to verify the following:

1) The play-through or wager requirement – This is the number of times that you will be required to wager over the sum total of your bonus and accompanying deposit BEFORE eligible to cash out winnings (minus the original bonus amount). All casino bonuses have a play-through. Be sure to verify what it is.

2) Minimum number of wagers – If you’re a high roller or risk-taker, do not think that you can drastically increase your wager amount so that you can meet the play-through in just a handful of wagers. Most online casinos deem this to be bonus abuse. If there are no stated minimum wager amounts, ask customer service to explain their bonus policy more in depth. And remember, if you get an incompetent customer service rep who doesn’t know what your asking about (and just keeps telling you what the play-through amount is), demand to speak with a casino manager.

2) Restricted Games – In conjunction with the play-through, all bonuses will restrict certain games from being wagered until the play-through has been met. Be warned that the casino software will not automatically block you from playing these games. Nor will you be notified that you have played a restricted game. It is your responsibility to ensure which games are restricted. If you are unclear, contact customer service and get it in writing. Slots bonuses are the most common, however, even these may restrict certain slots wagers, such as tournament play and progressive jackpots. Again, if you are unclear, contact your casino rep or customer service.

3) Maximum Cashout Limitations – Although some casinos, do not impose maximum cashouts on winnings earned with bonus play, most do. Free chip bonuses ALWAYS have a maximum cashout amount. That means you are limited to the maximum cashout even if you hit a jackpot while using bonus money. Please note, in order to ensure you are free of any bonus restrictions after meeting the play-through, it is advised to withdraw all winnings earned from said bonus and make a new deposit. Again, if you are unclear about the extent of withdrawal constraints, contact customer service. Two great casinos that do not impose a max cashout on their welcome bonus are Club USA ($777 Free) and Lucky Red ($4,000 Free).

4) Time Constraints – Most bonuses require that the play-through requirement be met within a specified timeframe. On average, this is 90 days, which is reasonable. This is especially important for low-stakes bettors (penny slots, anyone?) to know, as it’s important to ensure that your time spent wagering online is sufficient to meet the play-through requirement within a designated timeframe.

In summary, if you can’t any validate any and all of the above terms (that means getting it in writing), take your business elsewhere. There are plenty of great online casinos out there offering free bonus money. Don’t buy into the hard sell.

Latest OCS Approved Site – Mona Casino

May 1st, 2012

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MonaCasinoMona Casino is a name you’ve probably already come across if you’ve visited Online Casino Suite in the last month. Grandfathered in our reviews directory, Mona Casino was given a top-rating right from the get-go due to the track record of Mona’s experience management team…not to mention an outstanding welcome bonus package and VIP program.

Owned and managed by the same team behind Rome Partners – Top Game Software’s most successful and reputable licensee – Mona Casino – offers a reliable playing experience for U.S. bettors. Unfortunately, there are not that many reliable online gambling destinations for U.S. players these days. Needless to say, much of this has been caused by the U.S. government’s unwillingness to regulate and efforts to make the processing of funds more difficult for offshore online casino operators.

For some operators like Mona, however, efficient payment processing protocols have been independently developed, resulting in fast and reliable payouts. Furthermore giving Mona a good dose of credibility is their use of a TST verified software platform. For anyone unfamiliar with TST, it is a renowned testing lab facility with experience validating the fairness of software platforms in both the terrestrial and online betting worlds.

The OCS Mona Casino review shares details about Mona’s welcome bonus offer and VIP loyalty program. As mentioned, these two components are that extra incentive making Mona can provide for U.S. players. The welcome offer is a slots bonus worth 400% up to $400 Free (available on four recurring deposits as well), or 25% cashback on losses incurred playing table games and video poker (also available on recurring deposits). See our Mona Casino Review for full bonus terms.

Regarding the VIP Loyalty Program, it is structured in four tiers, and offers some great benefits for a minimal amount of deposits. For example, the second threshold, Florence Class, is achieved on just four deposits, and provides access to daily promotions, special slots tournaments, quicker withdrawals, and best of all, a personal account manager.

Last but not least, another good reason to go with Mona Casino is that a rep will be active on our Player Discussion Forum, and will be around to answer questions and provide solutions.

OnlineCasino.net – Reviews of the Top Online Casinos

April 20th, 2012

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Here at Online Casino Suite, we specialize in online casinos. Big surprise, right? What you may not know, however, is that in addition to reviewing online casinos, we also do our part to review the other guys doing the reviewing. In other words, we also pay close attention to other website’s just like Online Casino Suite. Going off the title of this post, you should know we’re specifically talking about OnlineCasino.net. Sure, it would be easy for us to deem them as competition and do all we can to not give them any good press. But why would we want to do that to one of the good guys – to other sites like OCS who are working hard to raise the standards of the online gambling industry?

The fact of the matter is that reputation is everything in this business, which is precisely why online casinos are always looking for good press. And for those operators who can’t get it from independent sources – for one reason or another – they will simply make it for themselves.

You probably wouldn’t know this unless you worked in the industry and had a back-stage pass to see what really goes on, but the truth is that certain unscrupulous operators will actually create their own so-called “casino review sites”, using them to do nothing other than promote their casino brands. And when I say brands, I mean brandzzzzzz. No, those aren’t z’s for sleeping, that’s my way of emphasizing plurality. Another fact most online gamblers do not know is that the number of operators in business today – especially those doing business with U.S. online casino gamblers – is fewer than you might think.

That’s because most operators own and manage several brands using the same software platform. It’s the classic case of fishing. The more hooks in the sea, the better the odds of catching a fish – or even better – a whale. Needless to say, one lone big-spending, unlucky whale can keep an online casino in business.

From a player’s perspective, the end result is a lot online casinos with different branding design, but essentially offering the same exact online gambling package. Some casinos don’t even bother changing up promotions. And yes, these are usually the same folks who launch “independent” review sites, used for no more than giving high ratings to their casino brands.

So, to make a long story short, this is why we pay attention to the other gambling portals out there publishing online casino reviews. While we’re not going to tell you who the fakes are (there’s simply too many), we can tell you what to look for. Frankly, it’s pretty obvious when you come across it. It often amounts to a whole lot of generality and hogwash praise. Granted, there are some online casinos out there that deserve praise. However, there is a fine line between a biased and unbiased recommendation. One is frank and specific, the other is filled to the brim with generalized marketing lingo. In other words, a distasteful sales pitch.

Casino review sites that do indeed publish helpful, unbiased reviews are the minority. If we could pick just one (besides OCS of course), it would be  onlinecasino.net – Reviews of the top online casinos get no better than this. In fact, this site was a major inspiration and model for OCS. If we’re going to give credit where credit is due, then By God, let’s really give it! Not only are their reviews informative, they are in-depth and timely. To really get an idea of what we mean, give them a visit (tell ‘em we sent you) and have a read for yourself. And as always, do your own due diligence before gambling at online casinos for real money.

Virtual Reality Formula 1 Racing Game Online

April 16th, 2012

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Have you ever wanted to drive a Ferrari? Heck, for all I know, you might even own one (especially if you won a big chunk from Mona Casino’s aggregated progressive jackpot currently worth over $3 million). But for most of us who’ve never driven the cream de la cream of automobiles, aka the prancing horse, I think I can speak for everyone and answer that question with another  question: Who wouldn’t want to drive a Ferrari?

OK, maybe fast cars aren’t for everyone. But when we’re talking about a virtual fast car – that is, a virtual Ferrari – most folks wouldn’t pass up the opportunity for a non-consequential test spin, which in itself, will soon be put to the test at the WhirlyDome in Orlando, Florida – where Evotek Engineering recently installed an F1 simulator called SYM 026, which provides the most realistic virtual Ferrari Formula 1 racing experience one can currently experience.

The first simulator made exactly as the those used by professional F1 racing teams, the SYM 026 body shell is built to motor sport industry specifications, while the proprietary software driving the experience graphically renders the racetrack into high resolution based on scans of real tracks. Furthermore, SYM 026 processes and displays driving data, such as gas levels and wheel status, in exactly the same way a real Formula 1 Ferrari would. Check out this video for a taste. Even the video of the video invokes the feeling of the “real” thing:

Here’s more video of the EvoTekSimulator

Although the professional version of Evotek’s SYM 026 is not readily available to the mass public, other than at the WhirlyDome in Orlando this Spring, the company also offers a training version (used at car racing schools) and a virtual game version to be used for entertainment purposes, and hopefully,(keep your fingers crossed), online gaming.

Currently, the virtual game of SYM 026 provides the same visual and physical experience as that created by the professional version, with the exception of less driving data thought to possibly serve as a needless distraction. I, for one, would have preferred the extra data – sacrificing distraction for as authentic an experience as possible is fine with me. Also sacrificed was a little bit of graphic quality so that Evotek could integrate a platform made by software company, rFactor, that would enable virtual racing with a wider variety of cars and tracks, including INDIE races. No complaint about that.

But the coolest thing, in my opinion, that is coming out of Evotek and which holds the most promise for online gambling entertainment, is a software network feature called the Racing Center, which enables virtual races and competitions between networked players from around the world. Throw in a raked pot and you have yourself skilled based online gambling at its best…not to mention most exciting.

The SYM 026 Formula 1 virtual reality racing simulator will be available to experience firsthand at the WhirlyDome (WhirlyDome.com) later this month.

Maryland’s Prohibition Excludes Fantasy Sports

April 12th, 2012

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Not long after leading a charge to shut down the largest online poker site in the world, Poker Stars, lawmakers in Maryland passed a bill that exempts fantasy sports from gambling prohibitions just as the 2012 major league baseball season gets underway.  Now players in Maryland can legally collect the prize money that comes along with winning a fantasy sports league.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. John Olszewski Jr., D-Baltimore County, was unsuccessful in two previous attempts to pass this legislation.  To ensure better results on his third attempt, Olszewski relied on help from the fantasy sports industry.  The critical challenge was to educate members of the legislature on how prevalent fantasy sports are in today’s society.

For anyone unfamiliar with fantasy sports, the game allows players to act as team owners by utilizing a draft to select actual athletes from a given sport in order to build a team.  After determining their team’s roster via the draft, players compete with one another in a fantasy league.  The competition is based on statistics generated each week by the actual athletes, and the objective is to end the season with the best collection of statistics of all the teams in the league.

Selecting players during the draft that will generate strong statistics over the course of a season is considered to be a skill.  It is on this basis that Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services ultimately determined that fantasy sports should not be deemed as gambling.

While it makes sense that the Department of Legislative Services came to this conclusion, it is difficult to understand how games like poker can be classified as gambling when the level of skill required to be dominant is considered by many to be higher than that required in fantasy sports.

One might argue that because participating in fantasy sports leagues is so widely thought of as harmless fun, it is easier for lawmakers to exempt fantasy sports from gambling prohibitions. What do you think?

Play Online Blackjack For Money

April 7th, 2012

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We get a lot of people asking about the variations in blackjack rules, odds, blackjack bonuses, and of course, where the best places to play online blackjack are. It’s a good thing too, as we just so happen to know! So, without further ado, we decided it was nigh time to publish a comprehensive guide to help all the folks out there who are still searching for a reliable destination to play blackjack online for money. If that’s you, look no further. This comprehensive blog post digs deep, and represents over a decade’s worth of due diligence in scouting out the top online blackjack sites. Here at Online Casino Suite – an eCOGRA approved portal consistently ranked as one of the foremost authority portals on the Web today – we not only show you where to find leading, reputable online casinos offering Blackjack, we give you the inside scoop on different online blackjack games and playing with the best blackjack bonuses, the fairest blackjack odds and optimal blackjack strategy as used by professional Blackjack players. We begin with our topmost recommendations of casinos offering online blackjack for real money play.

ClubUSA-BlackjackClub USA – While operated out of the U.K. Club USA, aka Club World Casinos, is open to players throughout the international online gaming market. Club USA has been accepting real money bets since 2004, steadily earning an outstanding reputation with players ever since. Using Real Time Gaming’s RNG-certified software platform, Club USA offers six different versions of 21 – 6-Deck Standard Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Face Up 21, Match Play 21, Pontoon and Super 21. A standard game pays 3:2 on Blackjack and 2:1 on Insurance. Dealer must hit on Soft 17, player can double down on any two cards and 1 Card is dealt for Split Aces. Further solidifying Club USA as our top destination to play blackjack online for money is that Club USA offers a welcome bonus that can be played through with Blackjack wagers, as well as a steady lineup of Blackjack reload bonuses.

Bovada-BlackjackBovada – From Canada, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission-licensed, Bovada (Meadway Leisure Ltd.) operates a large sportsbook, poker room and casino, where bettors can partake in a variety of real money Blackjack games. Bovada’s software platform is powered by Real Time Gaming, and includes a selection of 6-Deck Blackjack, Single Deck, Double Deck, European Blackjack, Perfect Pairs, Face Up 21, Match Play 21, Pontoon and Super 21. For a standard 6-deck game, payout is 3:2 on Blackjack and 2:1 on Insurance. Player can double down on any first two cards, play up to 3 Split Hands (Split Aces dealt 1 card each; no re-splitting), and the dealer must Hit on Soft 17 (Stands on Soft 17 for 2-deck game).

WinPalaceBlackjackWin Palace – Curacao (Netherlands, Antilles) licensed and regulated, Win Palace Casino made a big splash with U.S. players during its debut back in 2009. Since that time, Win Palace has steadily made improvements to their user-interface and has become of the most popular instant, no-download Flash Casino’s for U.S. players. Powered by RTG, Win Palace offers six versions of Blackjack, including a standard game which pays 3 to 2 on Blackjack, 2 to 1 for Insurance, requires the Dealer to Hit on Soft 17 and all hands of 16, allows doubling down on any first two cards and deals 1 additional card to split Aces. Other versions include European Blackjack (Dealer must Stand on Soft 17), Face Up 21, Super 21, Perfect Pair, Pontoon and Match Play 21. But most of all, we like Win Palace Casino’s 200% Blackjack Welcome Bonus that pays up to $1,000 in bonus money.

mrgreen-blackjackMr. Green – Undeniably one of the most popular Euro/UK no-download online casinos today, Malta-licensed/regulated Mr. Green Casino offers a staggering selection of Blackjack games for an instant-play online casino. Powered by NetEntertainment, there are twelve versions of Blackjack, including Single Deck Blackjack, European Blackjack, Double Xposure, Pontoon, 21 Burn, Super 7, Pirate 21, 21 + 3, and several professional games, including a High Roller version. The single deck game requires the dealer to draw until 16 and Hit on Soft 17, paying 3 to 2 for Blackjack and 2 to 1 on Insurance. The European version follows standard “Las Vegas Strip” rules, with the exception of Doubling Down limited to hand values of 9,10,11, no re-splitting (however, doubling down is permitted after splitting) and no late surrender.

royalvegascasinobjRoyal Vegas – Our highest rated Euro/UK download casino, Malta licensed/regulated  eCOGRA approved Royal Vegas Casino offers a collection of the best Blackjack games Microgaming Software has to offer, including Microgaming’s premiere Gold Series. These include Atlantic City Gold Blackjack, European Gold, Atlantic City, Vegas Strip, Vegas Downtown, Perfect Pairs European, High Streak European, Classic BJ and Multi-hand Blackjack, High Limit European Blackjack, Double Exposure, Spanish 21 and Super Fun 21. In short, there are 17 different versions of Blackjack at Royal Vegas Casino – the largest selection we’ve found online. Playing rules are par to the best odds found in Vegas casinos. Thousands in free bonus money eligible for Blackjack wagers.

GentingCasinoBJGenting – Brought to you by the renowned Genting Resorts Group, Playtech Software-powered Genting Online Casino offers a suite of over 300 casino games, including at least eight different versions of Blackjack and Live Dealer Blackjack. Games include Classic Blackjack in which the dealer must Hit on hands of 16 and Soft 17 (paying 3:2 for Blackjack and 2:1 on Insurance), Blackjack Surrender (late surrender allowed), Pontoon, 21 Duel, Lucky Blackjack (paying 2:1 on Blackjack), Blackjack Switch (0.17% House Edge with “Las Vegas Rules” and only available at Playtech powered casinos) and one of the largest Progressive Jackpot Blackjack games on the Web. For the single deck game, the player may Doubledown on 10 or 11, may NOT Doubledown after Splitting and can Split only once. No surrender is allowed. For all games that use from 6 to 8 decks, the Dealer must Stand on Soft 17 and the player may Doubledown on any first two cards, Doubledown after Splitting and Split only once.

jackpotcity-blackjackJackpot City – From the famous Carmen Media Group, Belle Rock Entertainment’s, Jackpot City, is one of the oldest and most prestigious online casinos in operation today. Launched in 1998, this eCOGRA approved network is powered by Microgaming Software and has steadily delivered 97% payouts, a huge progressive jackpot network and an impressive lineup of ongoing promotions to help keep players loyal, no less catering to fans of Blackjack. Jackpot City offers at least ten different versions of Micrograming’s Blackjack games, inlcluding Classic Gold Series Blackjack, Vegas Downtown Blackjack, Super Fun 21, Vegas Strip Blackjack, Spanish 21, Double Exposure, Bonus Blackjack, European Blackjack and Atlantic City Blackjack. What makes Jackpot City a top choice for Blackjack, however, are their Blackjack Tournaments, which include daily freerolls and sit ‘n go’s. Unlike land-based casinos that use 7 decks per game, Jackpot City gives players the choice of competing with 2, 4 or 6 decks, and actually welcomes card counters with open arms. And they also offer $500 in free bonus money to play on Blackjack games for new players.

LuckyRedBJLucky Red – Lucky Red Casino is powered by Real Time Gaming, which means they have at least six versions of Blackjack offering the best rules conducive to lowering the House Edge as much as possible. As is the norm playing online blackjack for real money, Blackjack pays 3 to 2, and Insurance pays 2 to 1. In a standard 6-deck game, the Dealer must Hit on Soft 17, while the player is allowed to double down on any two initially dealt faceup cards. What makes Lucky Red Casino one of our recommended top online blackjack sites is their steady lineup of table game bonuses with conditions that permit blackjack wagers to go toward a very reasonable 50x play-through requirement.

CasinoTitanBJCasino Titan – Licensed and regulated by the Government of Netherlands, Antilles (Curacao eGaming), Casino Titan rounds out the OCS top-rated selection of Real Time Gaming online casinos offering a wide range of Blackjack games and free Black jack bonus money. It’s quick and easy to sign up and play Casino Titan’s instant-play, no-download casino, and experience, firsthand, the software, not to mention getting to know the game rules. Casino Titan uses RTG’s source code, which means their rules are in line with industry norms, including the use of Blackjack games with a default number of 6 decks.

888CasinoBJ888 – One of our absolute favorite all-around online betting sites and Euro/UK facing online casinos to play blackjack for money at, 888 rides on a tremendous track record and reputation that began back in 1997 and has since hosted over 25 million players. 888 Casino is eCOGRA approved, holds a Gibraltar Gaming License, is a pioneering member of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) and uses a wide variety of accredited software platforms to power it’s comprehensive selection of bets. 888 is known for delivering consistently high Blackjack payout percentages often exceeding 97%, and also offers Live Dealer Blackjack for real money. Keeping things simple, 888 offers 4-Deck Classic Blackjack (3 to 2 on Blackjack; 2 to 1 for Insurance; Doubling Down and Splitting allowed; Dealer Must Hit on Soft 17), as well as a unique black jack game called “Crazy Blackjack”, which is only found at 888.

Blackjack Bonuses

The top online blackjack sites, like those listed immediately above, are always keen to give away free bonuses that can be used to play blackjack for money. As with all free casino bonuses, the only catch is that you will have to make a real money deposit and are bound to certain wagering conditions before any money earned from the bonus can be withdrawn. If you are no stranger to casino bonuses, this shouldn’t sound unfamiliar. For everyone else, please listen closely, as it’s important to always read the fine print before claiming any bonus.

Essentially, there are two types of bonuses – No-deposit bonuses and Play Bonuses. As their name implies, no-deposit bonuses, aka free chips, do not require a deposit in order to receive the bonus. However, a deposit is required in order to cash out winnings directly derived from wagering with the bonus. Furthermore, no-deposit bonus winnings are always capped, no matter the amount won before the play-through requirement is met. In other words, if you happen to hit a $5,000 jackpot on a free $50 chip (i.e. you have not yet fulfilled the play-through requirement), your cashable winnings will not exceed the conditional limit, which generally never exceeds a few hundred dollars. This is why many online gamblers opt not to use no-deposit chips. Typically, a no-deposit bonus is worth $25 or less, rarely exceeding $50.

Play bonuses, on the other hand, often are worth in the thousands of dollars without any cashable winning limits. As always, it’s important to read the full bonus terms and conditions, which in addition to cashable limitations, may also include time restraints on meeting the play-through, also known as the wager requirement. The best blackjack bonuses typically have a play-through around 50x the combined amount of the player’s deposit and accompanying bonus.

For example, if a player deposits $100 and receives a $100 match bonus with a 50x play-through, the player will be required to make a minimum of $10,000 in Blackjack wagers before any winnings (minus the original bonus amount) can be cashed out; Hence, why these are called “Play” bonuses. The bonus money can be played to earn winnings, however, the bonus money itself cannot be cashed out. In the above example, if the player made it through $10,000 in wagers, and had a remaining balance of $800, the eligible withdrawal amount would be $700 (subtracting the original $100 bonus). Please note that game bonuses always have restrictions on certain games. For example, do not confuse a slots bonus with a blackjack bonus. If a player makes any wager on blackjack while using a slots bonus, the bonus money and any winnings are certain to become null and void. Blackjack bonuses typically also allow wagers on video poker and other table games. If there is any doubt about what games are covered, contact the casino’s customer support center and get it in writing.

While making $10,000 in wagers on a $200 bankroll might sound like a daunting task, when it’s online blackjack for money we’re talking about, it’s actually not that daunting at all. Of course, making full use of the Basic Blackjack Strategy is the best way to ensure the lowest Casinos Edge possible, and thus, getting one’s bankroll through the ups and downs. To this end, it is highly advised to use a Blackjack Strategy Card like the one further below.

Blackjack Strategy

The Basic Black Jack strategy essentially amounts to memorizing nearly 300 possible card combinations of the dealer’s up card and player’s total hand value. This is precisely what is charted on a blackjack strategy card.

By using the Basic Blackjack Strategy card below, you will be playing with the best odds possible. While there are slight variations in House Edge, depending on factors like the number of card decks used, payout and game rules, the Basic Strategy Chart ensures you will be playing to keep the House Edge as low as possible at a game of Blackjack.

Remember, it’s important to use mathematical strategy 100% of the time. Although hunches can sometimes result in lucky bets, your overall odds are the best when incorporating 100% mathematically correct strategy 100% of the time. With perfect strategy playing common online blackjack rules, the Casinos Edge is a variably low .0.4 – 0.6%.

blackjack-strategy-bodogSummarizing the chart to the right, the Basic Blackjack Strategy for common online blackjack rules (4 or more decks are played, Surrendering is not allowed, Doubling Down after Splitting is permitted and the Dealer must Hit on Soft 17) is as follows:

Splitting Hands:

Split 8’s and Aces no matter what;
Do not Split 5’s and 10’s;
Split 2’s & 3’s when Dealer card is a 4-7;
Split 4’s when Dealer card is 5 or 6;
Split 6’s when Dealer card is 3-6;
Split 7’s when Dealer card is 2-7;
Split 9’s when Dealer card is 2-6 or 8-9;

Doubling Down Hands:

Double Hard 9’s when Dealer card is 3-6;
Double Hard 10’s when Dealer card is 2-9;
Double Hard 11’s when Dealer card is 2-A;
Double Soft 13’s & 14’s when Dealer card is 5-6;
Double Soft 15’s & 16’s when Dealer card is 4-6;
Double Soft 17’s & 18’s when Dealer card is 3-6;
Double Soft 18 when Dealer card is 2-6;
Double Soft 19 when Dealer card is 6;

Hitting & Standing Hands:

Hit Hard 11’s or less, no matter Dealer card;
Stand on Hard 12’s when Dealer card is 4-6; Hit all other Dealer cards;
Stand on Hard 13-16 when Dealer card is 2-6; Hit all other Dealer cards;
Stand Hard 17 or more, no matter Dealer card;
Hit Soft 17 or less, no matter Dealer card;
Hit Soft 18’s when Dealer card is 9-A; Stand all other Dealer cards;
Stand Soft 19’s or more no matter value of Dealer card;

Blackjack Games

There are multiple versions of online blackjack for real money, with slight rule variations between each. The most common versions found at top online blackjack sites are as follows:

Classic Blackjack - In Classic Blackjack, 6 decks of cards, which are reshuffled after every hand, is the most common version found on the internet. The Dealer Hits on Soft 17 (raising the Edge), Re-splitting up to three times and Doubling Down on any two cards (one additional hit) is allowed, and there is no re-splitting of Aces, which receive only 1 additional card. Some versions allow Surrendering on any first two cards.

European Blackjack – Very similar to Classic Blackjack, the European version differs in that the Dealer Must Stand on Soft 17 (lowering the Edge), Doubling Down is only permitted only on hard hand totals of 9-11 (Raising the Edge), and there is no surrendering.

Pontoon – The primary rule difference between Pontoon and Classic Blackjack is that for Pontoon, the Dealer hand is dealt entirely face-down. Furthermore, a players wager loses on a Tie with the dealer, the Player cannot Stand on a hand of 14 or less, and re-splitting is allowed only up to two times (rather than three). However, Players can Hit after doubling down (which lowers the House Edge and is not permitted at Classic Blackjack) and receive an Edge Lowering 2:1 payout with winning hands that accumulate five cards total – called a “5 Card Trick”.

Spanish 21 Blackjack – The most notable rule variation for Spanish 21 is that there are no ten’s in the deck (aside for Face cards which count as 10) and that the Player will always win on 21 (no Push). Other rules that help to lower the House Edge are the allowance of Late Surrender, Doubling Down is allowed after Hitting and on Split Aces, with re-splitting allowed for up to four hands, including Aces. Spanish 21 also provides bonus payouts on Natural Blackjack hands (6-7-8 suited, 6-7-8 mixed suit, 6-7-8 of Spades, 7-7-7 suited, 7-7-7 mixed suit and 7-7-7 of Spades). Spanish 21 also offers a side wager called “Match the Dealer” in which the bet wins when the Player hand outranks the dealer’s by match and suit.

Perfect Pairs – Played with Classic BJ rules, Perfect Pairs offers an additional side bet and an extra payout on Pairs (mixed, colored and Perfect).

Double Exposure – Rules of Double Exposure may vary from casino to casino, but in general, differ from Classic Blackjack in that there are no Pushes in Double Exposure (player hand loses) except when holding a Natural Blackjack, and that only one Split per hand is allowed (depending if doubling down is also permitted after Splitting).

Blackjack Switch – Since having the ability to switch cards is obviously in the player’s favor, the House retains some of its edge by altering select rules, including a 1:1 payout on Natural Blackjacks (not 3:2), and allowing a dealer hand of 22 to tie a player hand of 21 (other than Natural Blackjacks).

Atlantic City – If you’re playing Atlantic City Blackjack, better get used to a 2:1 payout on a Blackjack hand. However, to make up for the increase in House Edge, Atlantic City Blackjack goes by the following rules: The Dealer must stand on all hands of 17-21, Late Surrendering is allowed, doubling down is allowed on any two cards, including those of a Split hand. Aces may be split once, while all other cards may be split twice. Due to the difference in rules from Classic Blackjack, players are advised to use a basic strategy card specific to Atlantic City Blackjack.

Vegas Downtown – A splitting image of Classic Blackjack, the rules of Vegas Downtown only vary in that all hands can be doubled down, including split hands. Basic Strategy can be applied directly to games of Vegas Downtown Blackjack.

Vegas Strip – Also quite similar to Classic Blackjack, Vegas Strip rules may vary from casino to casino, but typically involve the use of four decks of cards as opposed to six. Variations in Vegas Strip Blackjack include requiring the dealer to stand on 17’s, while some casinos will doubling down on split Aces.

Triple 7’s – Triple 7’s is a popular form of Blackjack, and can often be found on video blackjack machines in land-based casinos. At online casinos offering Triple 7’s Blackjack, 5 decks are used, and a mandatory progressive side bet must be made on each hand. Other rule variations pertain to splitting and doubling down, with the latter only permitted on hand values of 9-11, followed by a single dealt card. Splitting is only permitted on hands with identical cards and does apply to value. Therefore, a hand consisting of a 10 and Queen cannot be split. Regarding the progressive jackpot bonus, it takes a hand of three 7 of Diamonds. Three 7’s of the same suit (other than Diamonds) pay 1,000 credits, two 7’s of the same suit pay 50 credits, two 7’s of different suits pay 25 credits and a lone 7 pays 5 credits.

Blackjack Odds - As mentioned, contingent on rule variations (as seen above), the Casinos Edge will vary when you play blackjack online for money. To help you gauge what rule variations make the most impact on the Casinos Edge, pay attention to the following:

Number of Decks Used: The less decks, the lower the Edge. The difference between 1 deck and 8 decks is .53%.

Hitting on Soft 17:  When the Dealer is allowed to Stand on a Soft 17, the House Edge comes down 0.2%.

Doubling after Splitting: When doubling after splitting is allowed, the House Edge comes down by .14%.

Doubling on any Two Cards: This keeps the House Edge down by .17%, as opposed to only allowing doubling down on just 9-11.

Resplitting: Resplitting 4 hands as opposed to 2 hands lowers the House Edge by 0.1%

Resplitting Aces: Allowing Aces to be Resplit lowers the Edge by 0.06%

Hitting Split Aces: Allowing Split Aces to be Hit lowers the Casinos Edge by 0.17%

Surrendering:  Allowing late surrender lowers the House Edge by 0.08%.

Blackjack Payout: The biggest game changer of all, getting a 6 to 5 payout on Blackjack as opposed to a 3 to 2, raises the House Edge by 1.357%.

Casino Gambling at New York Meadowlands?

April 2nd, 2012

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MeadowlandsCasinoAssembly Democrats made their intentions known on Tuesday that they wish to explore the potential benefits of allowing casino gambling at the famed Meadowlands Sports Complex.  As if the NY Jets bringing in Tim Tebow last week wasn’t enough.

The Meadowlands consists of an indoor arena, a horseracing track, a retail shopping center and a rail station – but its crown jewel is without question an 80,000 plus seat, state-of-the-art, open-air behemoth known as MetLife Stadium.

In addition to being the home of both New York’s professional football teams – the Giants and Jest – MetLife Stadium is currently set to host the 2014 Super Bowl.  A notable achievement seeing as it took the building of the new stadium to finally secure a Super Bowl for what is hands-down the number one sports market in the country.  And due to the massive, worldwide attention that the Super Bowl generates, it could be a terrific platform to introduce the world to an expanded New Jersey gaming industry, not to mention, Donald Trump’s toupee.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) remarked on the subject, “We need to at least discuss the idea of bringing casino-style gambling to the Meadowlands and whether it has the potential to create jobs, incentivize the local economy and position New Jersey’s gaming industry to better compete against the casinos that have cropped up in neighboring states.”

While the idea has attracted a number of supporters, the state’s Democrats are not all in agreement on how beneficial it may be to explore bringing casino gambling to the Meadowlands.  Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney has expressed concerns that taking attention away from current efforts to revitalize Atlantic City’s casino industry would be a misstep on the part of the legislature.

It seems that more than simply being opposed to the idea of allowing casino gambling at the Meadowlands, certain Democrats just think the timing may be wrong considering the weakened state Atlantic City still finds itself in following the economic crisis of 2008.

Online Lottery Tickets Come to Illinois

March 26th, 2012

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In recent months, legislators across this country have been debating the benefits of legalizing online gambling.  Advocates have consistently cited increased tax revenues and the ability to regulate the industry as solid reasons to make the move towards legalization.  Groups that oppose the idea often suggest that revenues might not be as juicy as some think, and, ultimately, the major result would be an increase in gambling addicts.

While there are a growing number of states that seem to be on their way to initiating online gambling programs of one kind or another, until now, there hasn’t been one state in the U.S. to actually pull the trigger and put one in place.  As of Sunday, though, residents of the state of Illinois will be able to purchase lottery tickets online – provided they are of legal age, and within the state’s borders while doing so.

It may not seem like such a big deal, considering how commonplace it has become to purchase things online these days – but seeing as no other state has yet to put this simple measure into place, this move certainly has its significance.  In fact, it is likely that Illinois’s decision to take their lottery to cyberspace will now impact at least some of the debates, regarding online gambling, that are raging on at the moment in other states.

There are a number of reasons to believe that Illinois will be successful in this endeavor – which will, of course, only lead to more states following suit.  For one thing, the Illinois Lottery seems to be going to great lengths to prevent an increase in gambling addiction from being a result of this program.  It has even been suggested that by selling tickets online, the state may be in a better position to prevent individuals from purchasing lottery tickets excessively.

Michael Jones, the Illinois Lottery superintendent told The Huffington Post, “On the Internet, we will have, for the first time ever, the ability to monitor and stop people from playing too much.  Right now I can’t stop anybody from walking into a convenience store and spending all their money on tickets. Within the system we are going to have, we will know how much people are spending on the lottery.”

If someone wants to purchase Lotto or Mega Millions lottery tickets online, they will have to provide certain information in order to demonstrate they qualify to do so.  Social Security numbers will be used to verify the age of a potential ticket purchaser.  The Illinois Lottery will use software that tracks where purchases are being made from so as to prevent anyone from buying tickets outside of the state’s borders.  And to assure that only residents of Illinois are purchasing tickets, a home address will be required from anyone attempting to purchase a ticket.

As part of their effort to combat gambling addiction, the state may limit the number of tickets that can be purchased on any one drawing by an individual.  An across the board limit of this kind would most likely be easier than it would be to keep track of how many tickets a particular person is purchasing within a given period of time – though the statements that Jones made to the Huffington Post indicate the Illinois Lottery is at least considering monitoring individuals in that way.

In order to increase the number of lottery tickets that are actually being purchased, without relying on people that are already buying tickets to simply buy more, the state intends to broaden the customer base by utilizing the Internet’s ability to reach such a large number of people.  This will most likely require a new approach in terms of the state’s advertising strategy for lottery tickets, but if implemented correctly, Illinois should see a significant increase in tax revenue that can then be used for critical programs like education and infrastructure.

Possible Olympic Fixing Targets in 2012

March 21st, 2012

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When most people think of sports betting here in the United States, they probably think of men’s college basketball and NFL football. When they think of sports betting in England, they probably think of soccer and cricket. But with the 2012 Summer Olympics just around the corner, there will no doubt be a great number of bets placed on the various events that make up the Games. For this reason, efforts are being made to keep all bets associated with the London Olympics as free from scandal as possible.

Surprisingly to some, the British betting industry is spearheading efforts to keep the games clean of fixing scandals. They recently put together a seminar with Olympic organizers so they could collectively strategize on how best to accomplish this goal.

The driving fear is that Olympic athletes will be enticed by Asian bookmakers, operating illegally, to potentially throw events in return for financial pay-offs. Smaller sporting events would be ideal targets for this as they attract less attention than the more popular sports like gymnastics and swimming. But the legal betting industry, as well as the organizers of the Games themselves, all agree that scandals involving corrupted athletes have no place in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Business Director of the British bookmaker Ladbrokes, Mike O’Kane, discussed with Reuters how he intends to monitor bets placed on smaller events. “If I see a bet of more than 50 pounds I’ll be looking at who it is, because I’m not expecting 50 pounds on weightlifting or badminton.” He also stated, “Where the issues are, if there are any issues, will be illegal betting out of Asia.”

While steroid use is usually thought of as the number one concern, there is an increasing feeling that fixing scandals could do just as much, if not more, to damage the integrity of the Games.