Archive for June, 2010

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Welcome Bonus Updates for Super Slots & Ruby Royal Online Casino’s

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

Following up on the last blog post, it’s only right to publish an update on the latest free online casino bonus offers. Otherwise, what good are we for?! By “we” I mean Online Casino Suite (It always feels safe to put all responsibility on a name entity other than myself). Anyhow, before I start digging a grave, let me get to the chase and tell everyone what is happening at Super Slots Casino and one of the newest additions to the online casino reviews directory – Ruby Royal Casino.

Being that they’ve been around longer, let’s start with Super Slots, shall we? As a refresher, Super Slots is a member of the EH Gaming Ventures (EHGV) group – the flagship online casino operator for Curacao-regulated Vegas Technology software. In business since 1997, EHGV has paid out millions of dollars to players over the years, and certainly has its fair share of experience operating U.S. facing online casinos. An excellent testament to such experience, EHGV knows that in order to stay on top, it is vital to offer players new and improved bonuses and promotions.

Improved is certainly the word to describe Super Slots Casino’s latest welcome bonus offer. Specifically, Super Slots has expanded its longstanding welcome bonus offer so that it applies to four deposits instead of just one. Don’t quote me that it used to just be one deposit (I drank too many beers tonight), but I am definitely certain Super Slots welcome offer has changed and now covers four straight deposits worth a total of $2,000 Free. Not like those seemingly large bonus offers with varying amounts free (as low as 25% on some deposits), this offer is a true match bonus giving away 100% free on all four deposits.

The wagering terms and conditions are the same as before, which is a good thing. This amounts to a reasonable 20x play-through with no game restrictions (aside from European Roulette). Wager for wager, slots, keno and scratch card games contribute to the play-through requirement, while all other casino games are percentage-tiered accordingly. For example, 35% of stake amounts made at 3 Card Poker, Any Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Let Them Ride and Baccarat go toward the play-through. The lower the Casinos Edge, the lower the percentage :) . Needless to say, Blackjack wagers contribute 10%, which is actually very good for an all-games bonus (many other online casinos only count 2% of Blackjack wagers).

Turning our attention to Rival Gaming, let’s take a closer look at Ruby Royal Casino’s updated welcome bonus offer. Contrary to Super Slots, Ruby Royal has decided to take a whole different approach to their welcome bonus offer. At one time a solid 200% bonus worth up to $1,000 Free on the first deposit, Ruby Royal has now opted to give players a play-bonus. For anyone unfamiliar with a play-bonus, it is when an online casino gives new players free money and a limited amount of time (usually 30-60 minutes) to earn as much money as possible. When the time is up, any amount over the original free-play amount (capped, of course) is eligible for transfer as standard bonus money with a minimum deposit.

Many players actually end up banking much more in free bonus money (percentage-wise, at least) than a standard match bonus offer, for it only takes a minimum deposit of $25 to start playing with transferrable bonus winnings derived in the free-play mode. At Ruby Royal Casino, their play bonus is worth $888 in free money and 30 minutes of gambling. Although the max that can be transferred in bonus money is $100 (lower than some welcome bonuses), with a minimum deposit of $25 required to transfer said $100, this amounts to a 400% bonusd.

Even if you don’t win anything from the free-play bonus offer, Ruby Royal will still allow you to claim a 100% Match Bonus up to $888 Free. As with all bonuses, always read the full T&C’s printed in the cashier before claiming and wagering.

There you have it folks – the latest bonus changes being offered by the leading online casinos today. Read the OCS Super Slots Review and Ruby Royal Casino Review for more information.

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Getting the Best Online Casino Bonuses & the Best out of Your Bonus!

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

bonuses05As more and more online casinos get up to speed with best practice standards, it has become increasingly difficult to keep track of what should legitimately be classified as the best casino bonuses. Don’t get me wrong – I’m certainly not complaining. In other words, it’s up to sites like Online Casino Suite to keep track of all the current offers out there, which needless to say, often change without advance notice. In other words, I have my work cutout for me!

For all the serious online gamblers out there, it is common practice to open accounts at multiple online casinos so as to take advantage of as many free bonus offers as possible. While there is certainly nothing wrong with doing this, just be careful not to claim multiple welcome bonuses from online casinos within the same network, ie, owned and and managed by the same company. This is a straight ticket to having your bonus money and account frozen, as it is an industry practice only to award one welcome bonus per household, per gaming network.

Of course, you can claim as many reload offers as you like, which is basically an online casino’s way of recognizing your loyalty and keeping you coming back, if you will. Heck, some would argue it’s a way of trapping players via unreasonable, overly binding bonus terms and conditions. In other words, wager requirements that are either nigh impossible to meet with winnings to show for, or are simply not worth the effort to begin with.

Again, that’s were OCS steps in to help players. It has always been our promise to never endorse online casinos with entrapping T&C’s, which obviously applies to bonuses and promotions as well. Of those online casinos qualifying to even make it in our directory, only a select handful make it to our casino bonuses page. Forever updating these ever changing offers, we are always on the lookout for new online casinos with exceptional welcome bonus packages.

That said, be sure to subscribe to the OCS Newsletter to be forewarned about updated bonus offers, new offers, and even exclusive bonuses only available through Online Casino Suite.

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Summer Slots Series Online Casino Tournament To Award $500K

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Slots Galore Casino is our top choice for entering the Summer Slots Series

Slots Galore Casino is our top choice for entering the Summer Slots Series

It’s that time of year again, folks. No, I’m not talking about Spring cleaning, although since it’s still technically Spring, there’s still time for you to get out the duster and mop. Who am I kidding, right? Anyhow, this being the OCS gambling blog and all, what I am referring to is the wildly popular, annual $500,000 Summer Slots Series hosted by English Harbour Gaming Ventures (EHGV.

The flagship online casino operator of Vegas Technology Software-powered gaming destinations, EHGV manages some of the most popular U.S.A. online casinos in business today, including Slots Galore, Millionaire Casino, Super Slots and English Harbour Casino herself. Boasting all of the credentials that make for a safe and fair place to spin the reels, EHGV casinos make for a solid place to grab some free casino bonus cash, and certainly for taking part in online slots tournaments with guaranteed cash winnings.

SummerSlotsSeries2In the case of the aforementioned $500,000 Summer Slots Series of tournaments, obviously, there is lots of cash up for grabs, albeit not all at once. The way the tournament works is that it is broken down into four stages. Over the course of all four stages running from June 1 to August 31st, a total of $500,000 will be give out to over 1,500 players.

Stage 1 is taking place right now, continuing through the month of June and guaranteeing $100,000 in cash winnings. The breakdown of winnings dishes out $50,000 to first place, $20,000 to second place, $7,500 to third, $2,500 to forth and fifth, and $1,000 to the remaining top ten finishers. In total, the top 275 players will receive winnings (both casino credits and loyalty points). Tournament action takes place on the enormously entertaining “Funky Chicken” video slots, with entry fee and rebuys (up to 500) costing $10. Each rebuy qualifies for 75 credits.

Stage 2 runs for the entire month of July and ups the payout from $100K to $150,000. This time around, all action is hosted on the “Shaaark!” video slot (another fun and entertaining bonus slot) with the same entry and rebuy rules as Stage 1. Building on Stage 1, the top 500 finishers will receive a payout; however, with more money to give away, first place receives $60,000, second gets $25,000, third place bags $10,000 and all other finishing spots receive double the amounts awarded leaderboard placers in Stage 1.

Both Stage 3 and Stage 4 fittingly take place throughout the hottest month of the year – August. In terms of betting action, Part 3 is where it’s at, as Part 4 is simply a $75,000 cash award which goes to the player with the highest combined balance over all three tournaments (June-August). Part 3, which takes place on the “California Gold” slots, is the most generous stage of the Summer Slots Series, giving out a total of $175,000 in winnings and extending the leaderboard from the top 500 finishers to the top 800 scorers. First place walks away with $75,000, 2nd-5th place get the same as Stage 2, 6th-10th get an additional $500 ($3,000 each), while the next 190 finishers get the same payout as that given in Stage 2. Those players who make the leaderboard seated from 201st-800th place receive $25 each.

It is never too late to join the Summer Slots Series. In other words, even if one of the tournaments is already underway, you can join at any time. Furthermore, you will always be eligible to receive the Stage 4 payout of $75,000. All it takes is a big jackpot win, albeit seasoned tournament players will tell you the more you wager, the better your chances of winning at slots tournament.

While all of English Harbour’s online casinos make for a solid place to open an account, Slots Galore offers the best welcome bonus in our opinion, not to mention 25% reloads on all further deposits. The first deposit bonus is worth 100% up to $1,000 Free and has a low 20x play-through. Furthermore, all games (except European Roulette) count toward the wager requirement – at varying degrees, of course – with tournament play wagers also helping meet the play-through. Needless to say, many other online casinos prohibit tournament play with bonus money.

Read the OCS Slots Galore Casino Review for more information or Visit Slots Galore Casino directly.

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The Biggest Casino Loser in History; And Harrah’s Still Wants More

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Is toy magnate Terry Watanabe a victim of Harrah's?

Is toy magnate Terry Watanabe a victim of Harrah's?

Next time you experience a string of bad luck at an online casino, just tell yourself it could have been much worse. You could have experienced the fate of Terry Watanabe – the 52 year-old owner of Oriental Trading Company, and long time high-stakes (some would say high risk) gambler who could be forced to pay up nearly $15 million in gambling debt to Harrah’s Casino Inc.

Considered the “biggest loser” in the history of casino gambling, Terry Watanabe lost over $204 million to Harrah’s over the years, and apparently, still owes them another $15 million. While that’s no small chunk of change by no means, considering the bucket loads of cash Watanabe has hitherto thrown away at Harrah’s-owned Vegas casinos, the news that Harrah’s has filed for a civil court case (set to begin July 12th), is a little surprising.

Normally when a losing whale the likes of Watanabe owes money to a casino, anything outstanding – especially if it’s in dispute – would be written off by the casino. However, in today’s economy, $15 million goes a very, very, very long way. There is no doubt that Harrah’s is facing very tough times of their own, doing their best to turn a profit in a city that has been steadily losing gambling revenue for the last two years.

Whale or no whale, Harrah’s wants Watanabe to pay up. Whether he will be forced to do so remains to be seen. Watanabe has already retaliated with a lawsuit of his own, claiming that he was regularly doused up with drugs and alcohol (by Harrah’s management perhaps), only to be let loose on the casino floor thereafter. While there is certainly no crime to drink and gamble, it is against the rules to allow intoxicated people to gamble. Apparently, there’s proof to back up this claim. According to Watanabe’s defense attorney, a Caesar’s Palace Casino security guard is ready to testify that he never saw Watanabe in a sober state while on the casino floor.

One thing is for sure – Terry Watanabe was no smart gambler – sober or intoxicated. A personal handler for Watanabe (again, at Caesar’s Palace) is on record saying, “He (Watanabe) made such bad decisions at the blackjack table”, citing that he’d regularly bet $50,000 hands using no strategy. Needless to say, Blackjack is one of the few games in the casino that can be played with odds-improving strategy. Other casino games of choice for Watanabe included Slots and Craps.

The Craps table was especially home to many a show performed by Terry Watanabe. Drawing crowds who apparently would come to the casino just to watch Watanabe wager seriously high stakes and dish out $20,000 tips to dealers, Watanabe no doubt made a spectacle on the casino floor. As much as Harrah’s and the floor “fans” would have liked Watanabe to pay his debts and keep coming back, it looks like they will have to settle for David Copperfield from now on. If convicted, Watanabe could face up to 16 years in prison.

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Surfing the Web & Betting at Online Casinos From Your Television?

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

Bringing Online Casinos and More to Your Television...

Bringing Online Casinos and More to Your Television...

There are several forms of online gambling these days – some more popular than others. However, just because one particular form of online gambling is more popular than another, doesn’t necessarily make it better. In fact, the popularity factor is in large part due to the accessibility or availability of a particular mode of internet betting.

Take, for instance, mobile gaming, otherwise known as wagering from a cell phone. For anyone who loves to gamble at online casinos and who happens to have an iPhone or other smart phone, certainly knows just how exceptional the mobile wagering experience has become. It’s practically a given, that these folks will play at a mobile online casino to one extent or another.

However, the mass of online gamblers who sill carry that beat-up, outdated flip-phone will either never attempt to even try mobile wagering or will simply give up considering the inferior experience compared to their desktop online casino. In other words, the more available and accessible smart phone technology becomes, the more popular will mobile online gambling become.

Another form of internet wagering that you are likely to hear more about in the near future is television betting. Primarily available in the UK, gambling from televisions is made possible through a special cable box of sorts that transmits 3G technology from cell phone towers. Essentially, it is bringing the internet to televisions via an interface.

Needless to say, playing just about any online casino game on a widescreen, plasma television while sitting on your couch is a far superior experience than sitting at a computer desk or overheated laptop. While the popularity factor is hindered by the cost of the service itself, as the technology becomes more accessible, you can bet that television gambling will be on the map.

And who better to make innovative internet technologies available to the masses than Google? In case you didn’t hear already, Google will be offering Google TV service by the end of this year, and is expected to drive many more Web surfers to their televisions. Couple that with some paid search from online casinos specially fitted with a television gaming interface, and that, my friends, is a recipe for an explosion in television betting.

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Virgin Casino Launches Noah’s Ark Slot; More Weekly Promos

Friday, June 4th, 2010

noahsark2Virgin Casino, a gaming arm of Virgin Games, has announced the launch of a new video slot machine from WagerWorks. Noah’s Ark is the newest offering from this incredibly popular online casino. Noah’s Ark is a 30-payline video slot game that has a unique Split Symbols™ feature. The Split Symbols™ feature counts as two different symbols instead of just one. This offers a twist to the traditional video slot game where a winning payline can has over 10 matching symbols.

Warren Eloff, Product Manager at Virgin Casino, is quoted as saying, “WagerWorks have created yet another fantastic slot. Noah’s Ark is one of many great recent additions to our ever expanding casino, which offers games from a number of top developers. With the delightful animating animals that celebrate wins, the Split Symbols feature and free spin bonus, slot fans will love playing Noah’s Ark and enjoy winnings of epic proportions!” Virgin Casino has over 200 casino games and it is one of the most popular online casinos in the UK and throughout Europe.

Virgin Casino has a new slot game, which despite it’s name, isn’t just for the devout. Well, then again that all depends on what one is directing their devotion toward. If its spinning the slots, then by all mean, this new game is sure to please. Introducing “Noah’s Ark” video slot – a highly entertaining game with 30 paylines of action and a unique split feature that can create up to ten matching symbols per payline. Along with a free spin bonus, the action at Noah’s Ark is nothing short of biblical proportions.

If you need to see for yourself, just Visit Virgin Casino and open a free account to test Noah’s Ark out for free with unlimited fun money credits. Heck, while you’re there, be sure to check out their Recent Real Money Winners. You might even be inclined to take advantage of their standard 100% Match £100 free welcome bonus with 25x play-through on all slots, instant win games, Phantom Belle video poker and Ten Play Bonus Video Poker.

And if you are totally blown out of the water by Noah’s Ark (no pun intended), Virgin Casino is offering a special promotion from Monday, June 7th through Friday, June 11, 2010, in which they are giving away 20,000 in bonus cash. Simply wager a minimum of £175 on Noah’s Ark (as well as other select games) to earn a £5 bonus and a maximum of £3,500 to earn a £100 bonus (subject to wagering conditions) each day during the promotion period.

If you don’t want to wait until June 7th to get started playing with free money at Virgin Casino, and would rather pass on the 100% Match Bonus, Virgin is giving away a solid reload bonus right now. It’s worth 50% up to 75 Free and has a play-through of 20x. The bonus code is RELOAD, and while there are several game restrictions, this is a good offer for anyone who has played at Virgin before and still has an account in good standing.

With a name like Virgin Casino, one might just wonder if experience has got anything to do with running a successful online casino. And not that Virgin Casino hasn’t experienced the roll of the dice, the tossing of the roulette balls, obtaining a BJ on the felt tables (okay, I’m going a little bit overboard with the sexual innuendo’s aren’t I?) – the title of “Virgin” simply comes from parent company, Virgin – you know the one that has business ventures in everything from transportation to music.

More specifically, Virgin Casino is a branch of Virgin Games, which was launched in 2004 and also manages a poker room and online bingo room. One of the top UK facing online casinos in business today, Virgin Casino also has good “cred” due to their licensing of Wager Works online casino software. Wager Works is a subsidiary of the renowned land-based slot machine manufacturer, IGT, whose reputation precedes itself. Furthermore, Wager Works is a beacon for regulatory compliance, having received accreditations from Technical Systems Testing (TST), Gaming Associates and ongoing compliance with the UK white-listed Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

Our only complaint about Virgin Casino is their slight lack in transparency. For one, they do not provide links to monthly payout reports. Perhaps, with a branded name like “Virgin”, management thinks there is no need to be transparent with players. However, in this day-and-age of competitive and sometimes dangerous online gambling waters, it would serve Virgin Casino to be more forthright with the online gambling community. A good example would be 32Red. Better yet, just visit the OCS Best UK Casinos page for our top picks.<

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Illinois Lottery Looking for Private Management to Launch Ticket Sales Online

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

The Current Cool-less Look of the Illinois Lottery

The Current Cool-less Look of the Illinois Lottery...Have a Ball!

These days, it seems every State in America is doing all it can to close budget deficits and bring in more tax dollars. Obviously – as is all the talk of late – regulating online gambling would help tremendously in this regard. While some State’s like California, Washington and Florida are looking to liberalize online poker, other’s are looking for less progressive ways to bring in the badly needed revenue, albeit still related to gambling.

Take Illinois, for instance, where the State General Assembly is looking to the state-run Illinois lottery to improve a below-average (albeit profitable) sales record. And what better way to get a state-run entity to perform better? Easy. Turn it over to private management. And that is precisely what the Illinois General Assembly has mandated the Illinois Lottery do before 2010 comes to a close.

Currently, the Illinois Lottery is asking private companies to submit “expressions of interest” to manage the State’s fifth largest revenue generator under a contract lasting as long as ten years. While the venture will certainly prove to be a profitable one for the company bestowed with the winning bid, the contract will require the private operator to reinvent the face of the Illinois Lottery and ultimately improve performance and revenue.

Acting Superintendent for the Illinois Lottery, Jodie Winnett, said that for one, new management must provide funding for state-of-the-art technology to replace what amounts to severely outdated software and hardware programs currently in use. Secondly, the operator will be asked to improve user-experience by means of new, innovative games and improving customer interaction, all the while reducing operation costs, incorporating best practice standards and meeting responsible gaming standards.

Most importantly, the Illinois Lottery seeks to launch ticket sales online (thank God for the UIGEA carveouts right?). As part of a pilot program mandated by the State General Assembly, the private operator will be required to build a suitable website for accepting online lottery ticket sales. In short, whoever nabs this contract should be sitting pretty the next ten years. For everybody else – especially those of us who won’t be purchasing lottery tickets from the Illinois Lottery (not even online), perhaps this yet-to-be-identified private operator has some good stock up for grabs.

Posted in Land Casinos, News, Regulation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

New Online Casino Games:Microgaming’s Voila/High Speed Poker

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

In true form, Microgaming Software has diversified their latest game launch to not only include a “seasonal” slot machine (Soccer Safari, as described in the previous post), they have also launched another slot machine prototype using new playing innovations, and of course, another addition to their popular Gold Series of online casino games.

The second video slot in Microgaming’s latest new release of games is called “Voila!”, and is themed on the beautiful and romantic city of Paris. Following the release of Thunderstruck II, “Voila” makes for the latest new Microgaming video slot prototype giving players more ways to win, while keeping the confusion to a minimum.

Rather than your traditional multi-payline game, Voila offers 243 ways to win on a single spin. Of course, there are all the normal perks expected from Microgaming. There is still a Gamble Feature with quadruple winnings, and a bonus feature – this time awarding 20 free spins (that can be retriggered), with a 2x multiplier on all spins and up to 60,000 coins up for grabs total. The base game dishes out up to 40,000 and an additional 20,000 in free spins, mainly achieved with the Eiffel Tower symbol – serving as a wild multiplier to complete wins with 2x, 3x and 4x winnings.

Microgaming’s latest release of new games wouldn’t be complete without a table game, which also happens to be the latest addition to Microgaming’s Gold Series of online casino games. Gold Series High Speed Poker is a multi-hand poker game based on the rules of 3 Card Poker. Pitting the player against the dealer in head’s up play, he only difference is that the bettor can play up to five hands at once. The Ante bet, Play bet and optional Bonus bet are all available through the wagering interface, which being part of Microgamign’s Gold Series, offers stunning graphics and user-friendliness.

All of Microgaming’s new games can be played for free in test mode at any of the Microgaming Casinos approved by OCS. Non-U.S. residents may also be inclined to play with real money, while taking advantage of a free bonus offer to play Microgaming’s hundreds of online slots.

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New Online Casino Games:Microgaming June 2010 Launch:Soccer Safari Slot Machine

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Now that's what I call a Soccer Safari. Look out World Cup 2010!

Now that's what I call a Soccer Safari. Look out World Cup 2010!

White label internet betting software developer, Microgaming, is starting the month of June off with a new release of online casino games, including two new video slots and a new Gold Series table game. The most timely of the bunch debuts just prior to the start of the 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa. Called “Soccer Safari”, this 5-reel, 30-payline multi-feature video slot is like a cross between Microgaming’s popular safari-themed Mega Moolah and the game of soccer.

Offering 25,000 in the base game, over twice as much with free spins and 12,000 in the bonus round, “Soccer Safari” is a pretty loaded slot machine. There are plenty of scatters, wilds (including an expanding wild), free spins and a bonuses, including a Gamble Feature to obtain quadruple winnings.

The primary wild symbol is the Soccer Safari logo, while the Zebra serves as an expanding wild, 1x multiplier and free spins trigger when it comes up on reels 1 and 5. In free spins mode, the Zebra will expand the 1st and 5th reel, which serve as held wild symbols, while the reverse takes place for the sixth free spin (reels 2 thru 4 are held, 1 & 5 are re-spun).

To get into the bonus round at “Soccer Safari”, it’s all about winning the match. In other words, it’s the Trophy symbols that will give you the opportunity to win up to 50x winnings. Specifically, it takes three or more Trophy scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger the “Go for Goal” bonus round. Once inside, choose a team, then choose a player to take the penalty kick, which if getting passed the keeper, will award a 10x-50x multiplier. Nobody goes home empty-handed in the bonus round – even a missed penalty kick will deliver a 5x multiplier.

That said, if you would like to increase your own chances of not going home empty handed, it is advisable to take advantage of one of the many bonus offers available at Microgaming online casinos (not open to U.S. residents).

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