Intertops Online Casino Leaves Microgaming for RTG

by Devon Chappell, News Staff Writer

June 1, 2009

Microgaming was the last of the premiere online casino software developers to cease allowing its licensees to open new U.S. player accounts. Finally deciding to give into the threats of a power-abusing U.S. Department of the Justice was probably the wisest decision. However, that doesn't mean Microgaming isn't regretting the major loss of business resulting from this decision.

Adding just a punch more of regret was the recent announcement that longtime online casino licensee, Intertops, would be ending its relationship with Microgaming, presumably so they could once again allow U.S. residents to open real money accounts. Actually, there's no doubt about it. This is precisely what Intertops is going for now, already making the platform shift to Real Time Gaming (RTG).

What makes RTG casinos one of the best options for U.S. players is that, for one, RTG does not impose oversight on its licensees. Once an online casino licenses RTG's software platform, it is up to the individual operator whether or not to take bets from U.S. citizens. While some might argue this leaves more chance for unethical practices on the operators part, the bottom line is that RTG's software source code and RNG have been accredited for fairness by esteemed third-party testing house, Technical Systems Testing (TST).

Coupled with proper licensing credentials in a regulatory jurisdiction like Curacao (Netherlands, Antilles), and U.S. players can find haven in a protected and safe online gaming environment - hence Intertops decision to go with RTG. A spokesperson for Intertops, Michl Posch, had nothing but great things to say about Microgaming. After ten years of one of the longest running partnerships in the gaming industry, Posch said it was a tough decision to leave Microgaming. However, following the domain seizure debacle in Kentucky, which is when Microgaming finally decided to drop out of the U.S. market, Intertops began contemplating whether the U.S. market was indeed worth leaving Microgaming. And indeed it is.

The transition to RTG apparently has not taken place, for a visit to Intertops Casino website still shows Microgaming's progressive jackpot games on display. The only concern that U.S. players may have is the fact that Intertops also permits online sports betting, which is an area where the U.S. has been particularly touchy over. In other words, Intertops is putting itself more at risk of a crackdown by U.S. authorities by allowing sports betting through their website. And that means online casino gamblers are more at risk of having their accounts seized.

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