With so
many online casinos out there
fighting for your business,
choosing just one to open an
account with can be a
difficult decision. That's why
we have created the following
Online Casino Guide - to guide
you in choosing the online
casino that's best for you.
Not only does our guide sort
the good from the bad, and the
best from the good, it will
help you find the perfect
online casino suited to your
particular betting needs.
In order to give yourself
the most betting options
possible, the very first thing
you need to do is find an
independent, objective and
reliable review portal, such
as GamblingReview.com. Of
course, there are other great
portals out there, but since
we've already got you here,
please allow us to share with
you our in-depth Online Casino
Guide. And remember, you don't
have to pick just one online
casino to wager money with. If
two equally rated online
casinos each satisfy a
specific need you have in a
gaming host, then it makes
sense to open an account at
both sites and divide your
bankroll accordingly.
When it comes to gambling
online, there is nothing more
important than your safety, in
the sense of both sharing your
personal/financial information
as well as the betting
activity itself. In other
words, it is of foremost
importance to ensure the
casino you are playing at
offers a safe and secure
platform for transferring
funds and that the casino
games being offered are not
rigged. And the simplest way
to go about doing this is to
take a discerning look at the
software platform being used.
Software Fairness
RNG
In fact, here at
GamblingReview.com, the very
first thing we look into
before playing at an online
casino, is the software. In
terms of fairness, the
software alone determines how
the cards are dealt. To be
more precise, the Random
Number Generator (RNG) of the
software is what determines
winning and losing hands. The
RNG is apropos to the
microchip used in brick 'n
mortar casino slot machines.
If a hand can be predicted or
the odds are unreasonably in
favor of the casino, then the
RNG is not functioning
properly, and in some cases,
may be rigged to function that
way. Software that has been
verified for fairness by an
independent testing house is
said to have an RNG that
delivers random and
unpredictable results. It
doesn't matter if someone is
betting $10 or $1,000 on a
hand, it is the precise
millisecond in which the mouse
is clicked that determines the
final outcome of the hand.
Payout Percentages
In the mind's of most players,
it is the payout percentage
that confirms whether a casino
is fair or not. While there is
value to this, the basis for
fairness lies in the RNG. The
payout percentage, however,
does go hand-in-hand with the
RNG. The only difference is
that the payout percentage is
not random, but rather, is
programmed into the RNG,
according to the odds of the
game. This is why an online
casino will have separate RNG
reports for different games
(most commonly for Blackjack,
Roulette, Slots and Video
Poker). When all is said and
done, a financial audit of the
software logs at the end of
the month should equate a
payout percentage that falls
within a certain range for
each game. If it doesn't, then
the RNG's functioning could be
based on rigged odds.
Banking Security
The
second major aspect of your
safety as an online gambler is
how you transfer your money.
Again, this is primarily
contingent on the software
platform being used. If we are
considering making a deposit
at an online casino, we will
check that a cashier is built
into the software platform
itself, which essentially
permits you to view your
transaction history, billing
details etc. For transferring
money, the casino must use a
minimum of 128-bit encryption,
which is the same technology
that leading financial
institutions use to transfer
online funds. Furthermore, all
personal information and
financial details stored on
the casino server must be
protect by a SSL (Secure
Socket Layer) server.
So, whether an online casino
uses its own proprietary
software or is a licensee of a
software developer, it's
important the software has
been subjected to independent
testing and provides a stable
and secure cashier for banking
purposes. Since the dawn of
internet gambling a handful of
software providers have
surfaced (some even helping to
found and build the industry),
including Microgaming,
Playtech, Real Time Gaming,
Cryptologic, Vegas Technology
and Rival Gaming. These are
the leading software platforms
in operation today.
Best Software Platforms
Microgaming - Being the
world's largest online gaming
provider, Microgaming powers
over 120 online casinos and 40
poker rooms (many of which
still accept U.S. players), as
well as a comprehensive
tournament schedule and
progressive jackpot network
that has paid out over $250
million to date. Microgaming
also has more new game
releases than any other
software provider.
Playtech - Quickly becoming
one of the foremost names in
the European and UK-facing
online gambling industry,
Playtech powers a powerful,
intuitive gaming package with
some of the most outstanding
animated graphics of any
software platform. Licensees
have earned a reputation for
providing great customer
service over the years.
Real Time Gaming - Also
known as RTG, Real Time Gaming
is a leading licensor of some
of the newest and hottest U.S.
facing online casinos on the
market. Characterized by
outstanding graphics and fast
upload speeds, RTG is a leader
in the gaming technology
sector.
Cryptologic -
Proud of the fact they are not
open to U.S. residents,
Cryptologic was one of the
pioneering founders of the
online gaming industry (along
with Microgaming). A
well-established software
developer, Cryptologic has
securely processed over $60
billion in bets from some 3
million players around the
world.
Vegas
Technology - Known for their
broad selection of U.S. facing
online casinos, Vegas
Technology has close ties to
the Caribbean island of
Curacao - one of the premiere
gaming regulatory
jurisdictions today.
Rival Gaming - Another U.S.
facing software developer,
Rival Gaming has made leaps
and bounds in a few short
years, launching some highly
successful casinos and one of
the best innovations in slot
gaming technology - the
interactive i-Slots.
Licensing & Regulation
While gaming software is the
most important component of
all in choosing an online
gambling host, there are other
factors we consider as well.
Since there is no
international standard of
online gambling regulation and
licensing (the industry is
getting there slowly but
surely), there are several
international jurisdictions
providing licensing and
regulation. Whether licensing
is held in Gibraltar or
Kahnawake, it is important the
casino you are playing at is
indeed licensed, for this not
only keeps out organized crime
and irresponsible gambling
practices, it ensures the
casino is being monitored on a
regular basis. For an online
casino to be reviewed here, it
must be licensed by a
reputable jurisdiction, which
includes the UK, Gibraltar,
Kahnawake, Curacao, Malta,
Isle of Man, Antigua and
Barbuda, Alderney and
Tasmania.
The Best
Online Casinos - Customer
Service and Promotions
When it comes down to choosing
the best online casinos out of
those which use accredited
software and are properly
licensed, the chief factors we
consider are the customer
service and promotions being
offered. An excellent customer
service department not only
deals with their players
courteously and timely, they
are efficient with financial
matters (meaning you should
receive fast payouts).
An excellent promotions
department should not just be
limited to a generous welcome
bonus. Ongoing bonuses and
tournaments, as well as a
multi-tiered Players Club, in
which all players earn comp
points and eligibility for
special giveaways, contests
and appreciation bonuses,
makes for the best promotions
scheme.
Again, amongst
online casinos with the
necessary safety, security and
licensing accreditations,
those with the most
comprehensive promotions and
outstanding customer service
track records make our Best
Casinos List. Visit our Best
Casinos page for our top
selections.
