Facebook.com has been in the news quite a lot recently. Apparently, with the acquisition of Instagram, they have proven themselves to be the giant corporate entity that they once fought against. Instagram users are distressed to the point of harassing the site managers, and leaving the site altogether (supposedly in droves). Fb has taken over much of social media on the Internet. More people use its site than any other. It is therefore not surprising that it has taken on this image of conglomerate, power-hungry virtual beast that threatens to eat up all smaller, start-up online companies. What does this have to do with online gambling you might ask? Quite simply, for all its flaws, FB may be what brings online gambling to the states in a readily accepted, secure format…without you having to move to Las Vegas.

It’s no secret (as much as CEOs of FB may protest) that the company has been looking into transitioning some of the games it offers into real money gambling. It won’t happen overnight- but it definitely seems like it’s on its way. They’ve been hitting up all the industry leaders recently, in what can only be judged as an attempt to see what method of development and launch will work best for an online gaming platform. If you’re a company that already has millions of active users that log into your site every day, the move into providing real money services is a simple decision to make. Of course, there’s going to be a bit of backlash, which means FB will have to make sure any online casino it offers up is associated with another company name and reputation beforehand.

Thank goodness FB is so good as eating up smaller companies. I’m ready to gamble!

There are a couple of big name developers out there producing online casino software, and new ones popping up from time to time that have a big impact on the direction games are taking. Rival, Real Time Gaming, Microgaming, and Playtech are some of the larger companies that have been around awhile, but there’s also Wagerworks, Betsoft, NetEntertainment, and Cryptologic that are worthy of note as well. Some of these companies you may be very familiar with. Others, you may not be, especially if you are a resident in the U.S. This is because one of the biggest differences between these companies is that only some of them will license their software to casino operators that accept U.S. players.

Ever since the UIGEA ruling of 2006, the legality of online gambling in the U.S. has been a subject of hot debate and online casinos were not allowed to operate from within the country. The transferring of funds then became more difficult for banks, as gambling online necessarily meant processing, sometimes large, financial transactions with all off-shore corporations. Because of the difficulties involved in payment processing and perhaps also due to wanting to stay on the better side of U.S. law for the time being, many developers decided it was not in their best interest to let online casinos that allow U.S. players utilize their software. This severely limits the number of online casinos U.S. players can visit.

Real Time Gaming is one of the developers that will license their software to most operators, including those that accept U.S. players. Most RTG casinos are great places to play, with a large number of games available, excellent video poker, and several progressive jackpots that are hit regularly. Their Real Series slot games are fast becoming one of the most popular series of slots available. However, because RTG will license all or a portion of their code to most applicants, do not have the same security measures in place for all of the casinos running their software. RTG is only liable for a few of the operators running their software. It’s important to make this distinction because some casinos utilizing RTG software have gone rogue in the past (for more info on rogue casinos, look at my our post).

All of the RTG casinos we advertise on this site are vetted, fair, and secure places to play online. They also happen to be some of the best when it comes to quality, variety of games, site design, and customer service. But if you should choose to play at another online casino running RTG software, be aware that the type of software they are using does not necessarily prove that they are a safe place to play online and invest your money. Do your research first, ask questions, and verify that the casino you’ve chosen is one of the ‘tried and true’ RTG casinos. And remember, it’s never too late to try another casino if it turns out that yours isn’t one of the better known RTGs. Get the games you already love, but in an online environment you can be sure of.

Blacklisted, or rogue, casinos are all over the internet and it’s important that you learn how best to avoid them before you ever begin gambling online with real money. A rogue is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as a dishonest, knavish person or as something that deviates from the norm. How I usually think of it, in terms of gambling, is by thinking of a rogue espionage agent. A rogue agent is a spy that turns against the person they’re spying for while still pretending to be legit, and who uses their association with their employer to gain certain advantages. In the movies this works out pretty well because often the government the agent is working/spying for turns out to be a corrupt one, and when the agent defects from their assignment they are actually doing something better than what they were doing before. Wiki uses Jason Bourne from the Bourne Identity movies as an example.

However, in gambling what it means is that the online casino is pretending to be legitimate so that you provide both your personal information and money. Should you win, they will refuse to pay you or may refuse to respond to your inquiries. Often they’ll give you some pretense for doing so, and fool you into thinking it was your fault in the first place. This keeps many players from outright distrusting them, even after having their withdrawal denied. Should enough public outcry finally reveal their criminal behavior to others, they’ll simply disappear from the virtual world, and the operators will likewise. What likely happens is that the rogue operator re-emerges in the guise of yet another new online casino. It’s impossible to know, because so few of the individuals behind these enterprises are ever caught.

Always, ALWAYS, check the credentials of the casino site you are thinking of registering with BEFORE you deposit any money. Look to see what other users have said about them- and don’t just trust in the hype. Remember, this casino is run by some person(s) who may only pretend to be offering you fair games. You’re placing a lot of trust in them by providing information that only select other organizations have (your personal information and bank codes). When you give them this information and pay real money to play with them, you are contractually bound to them. If they turn on you or defect on their agreement, there may be nothing you can do about it after the fact. Have fun, but play safe!

In terms of ringing in the holiday season, one unidentified man showed everyone what the Christmas spirit is all about in a Tesco store in Sampford Peverell, Devon. This unidentified good Samaritan was seen roaming the store, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and handing out blank envelopes to customers in the store doing grocery shopping. He reportedly also dropped blank envelopes into baskets and carts of shoppers who weren’t looking. The lucky shoppers who were in the store opened their envelopes to discover a £50 note and a letter that read:

“Happy Christmas. I have recently been fortunate enough to have come into quite a lot of money – more than I need for myself and my family. So I thought that I would share some of it with other people – the £50 enclosed is for you.

‘I hope this enables you to have a little extra cheer this Christmas. You do not have to do anything other than spend the money – and it is real, there is no trick, no hidden cameras or catch. Just have a happy Christmas.”

One couple took the note to the bank to be authenticated. IT was, in fact, a real spendable bank note. Upon realizing that this stranger had given them this gift with no thanks or gratitude necessary they had this to say (and I think it sums it up best), “’It’s not just about the money, it just made us feel that there are people out there who are genuinely good and selfless, and realize there is more to life than money.”

Though we all love gambling online and few things feel quite the same as that occasional decent payout, it’s important to remember that money isn’t everything. We do what we do for the fun of it; and if you win big, perhaps you’ll feel like spreading the good cheer too.

Remember, gamble responsibly. If you or anyone else you know seems to have a problem with excessive gambling, contact www.gamblersanonymous.com today.

And Happy Holidays!

Anyone who’s interested in blackjack knows that there are plenty of variations out there. What you may be wondering is whether any of these variations are offered online and what the differences between them are.  Many times the differences come down to whether or not the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, whether the player can surrender, how many decks are used in the game, and if the options to split or double exist. These differences are predominantly between American blackjack and European blackjack. For instance, in most versions of European blackjack, the dealer always stands on a soft 17 and surrendering is not an option. In the American version the dealer hits on a soft 17 and you can usually surrender. Both are generally played online with 6-8 decks and offer splitting, doubling, and insurance.

However, there are far more exotic forms of blackjack out there. Some online casinos will give you an additional payout if you get a suited blackjack or get 5 or more cards without busting. Some blackjack games are linked to a progressive jackpot, which is generally won if the player gets a specific arrangement or combination of cards (such as three same-suit of a number).  In blackjack switch by Playtech, the player places 2 wagers and plays 2 hands. The best part about blackjack switch is that the player can switch the 2^nd card dealt on one hand with the 2^nd card dealt to the other, thereby possibly improving both hands. This variety of blackjack offers the meager .17% house edge, making it one of the better varieties of casino games to play; even beating the low-edge craps at its 1.46%.

Before playing any blackjack variation, however, it’s up to the player to fully read the rules in order to make sure they understand the game  play. Most reputable online casinos will have the rules clearly listed so that the player can refer to them at any point in time while playing. It also helps if you can find a free version to practice at. The different variations of blackjack will have varying degrees of a house edge (though standard blackjack generally has one of the lowest5 in the industry). Always do your research before playing.