Online gambling is a touchy subject in the United States, to say the least. Before joining any online casino, make sure they are based offshore and accept U.S. players. The legalization and regulation of online gambling may be coming to the U.S. In July, the House Financial Services Committee passed Congressman Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267). The bill aims to legalize and regulate online poker and other forms of online gambling. It would effectively eliminate the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act). Many states are currently in a budget crisis and are considering legalizing forms of online gambling on the state level to combat the deficit.
More than 70 countries have legalized gambling such as Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, South Korea and Canada. There are pros and cons to legalization and regulation in the U.S. You would be more protected from crooked online casinos trying to steal your identity and money. But, there may be less casinos to choose from if they must be licensed. Also, offshore casinos won’t be happy about the taxes and fees they would have to pay for the American audience.
This isn’t to say Americans don’t gamble online. There are plenty of reputable online casinos based offshore that accept U.S. players through alternative online payment methods other than VISA, which stopped accepting payments. Other payment methods include check and wire transfers, electronic money services, etc. These online casinos provide the same service and include the same games, bonuses and promotions comparable to anywhere else in the world.
The watchdog for U.S. online casinos is eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). Established in 2002 as a non-profit by Microgaming and 888.com, it reviews hundreds of gambling sites for fairness and security. It serves as a liaison between players and casinos. Look for the eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal before signing up for an account.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Best Casino Bonuses
You probably won’t get any comped hotel rooms, but online casinos offer some pretty fantastic bonuses to new and loyal players. Most online casinos offer a free cash bonus after joining. All you have to do is sign up for a free account. But be careful, because sometimes it isn’t as free as it first appears. There are strings attached with almost every bonus, so always read the terms and conditions before joining an online casino. The terms and conditions should be linked to the homepage. Usually, you must deposit money into an account and play through to a certain amount before receiving your bonus. These are the different types you should be aware of.
The match bonus is the most widespread online casino bonuses, especially for an initial deposit(s). The casino matches a percentage of the deposit. The matches could be 50% or 100%, for example. Find an online casino with a 100% match on your first deposit. It will only be worth up to a given amount and may only apply to certain casino games, but they are pretty widespread online. The amount will fluctuate with the current promotion they’re running. Look for a casino that is offering a similar match on your next few deposits in addition to the first deposit. Those are the kind of welcome bonuses you should take advantage of.
A cashable bonus is one where you must hit a given wager requirement before you can withdraw the bonus money from your account. The restrictions involved might be up to a certain amount of money or only playing on certain games. On the plus side, the bonus money is additional to your winnings upon withdrawal. A sticky bonus is similar but tricky. The bonus may not be withdrawn but any winnings from playing the sticky is. Got it? The last bonus is hard to find but it’s one of the best. It’s the cash back bonus. They are given following a loss, as in a portion of the stake is returned to your account. Depending on the promotion, you could get 20% cash back each week. That means you would get 20% of your losses back from that week. Obviously, a winning week would not qualify.
The match bonus is the most widespread online casino bonuses, especially for an initial deposit(s). The casino matches a percentage of the deposit. The matches could be 50% or 100%, for example. Find an online casino with a 100% match on your first deposit. It will only be worth up to a given amount and may only apply to certain casino games, but they are pretty widespread online. The amount will fluctuate with the current promotion they’re running. Look for a casino that is offering a similar match on your next few deposits in addition to the first deposit. Those are the kind of welcome bonuses you should take advantage of.
A cashable bonus is one where you must hit a given wager requirement before you can withdraw the bonus money from your account. The restrictions involved might be up to a certain amount of money or only playing on certain games. On the plus side, the bonus money is additional to your winnings upon withdrawal. A sticky bonus is similar but tricky. The bonus may not be withdrawn but any winnings from playing the sticky is. Got it? The last bonus is hard to find but it’s one of the best. It’s the cash back bonus. They are given following a loss, as in a portion of the stake is returned to your account. Depending on the promotion, you could get 20% cash back each week. That means you would get 20% of your losses back from that week. Obviously, a winning week would not qualify.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)