Senator Ron Wyden of Washington recently proposed a bill to legalize and regulate online gambling. His specific take on the move is to fund a portion of health care reforms needed for the state.  As a result the bill has been denied and Wyden has been put onto other agenda items for the state. Wyden’s director of communications Jennifer Hoelzer stated, “The last thing Senator Wyden wants to do is make it more difficult to expand subsidies for working families by introducing a new contentious issue to the debate. So when he offers the amendment, he will do it with other funding mechanisms.”

The Senator is truly experiencing the contentious state of online gambling within governmental ranks. Although many governments are looking to legalizing and regulating online gambling as a means of bringing in much-needed dollars, there is still a sharp debate on whether or not it will happen.  Almost every state in the US is in the midst of some kind of debate over online gambling. Some believe it is being used as a panacea and will not be the answer legislators are hoping for.  Others believe that it will open the door wide to gambling addictions and corruption.

Regan LaChapelle, spokeswoman for Senator Harry Reid stated, “Changing the laws regarding online gaming is a significant detour from health care, a detour that Senator Reid agrees is not appropriate at this time.”  On the other hand, Representative Jim McDermott from Washington stated, “Money’s money. If that’s the price we pay, that’s the price…I would consider adding [legalized online gambling.] It’s a great idea. Why should we leave all that money untaxed?”

The senator and the representative are metaphors for the sharp debates the country is in regarding legalizing and regulating online gaming. On one side, it is inappropriate to rely on casino-tax revenue for funding. On the other side, why not?  Only time will tell which side wins out, however the climate is already showing that most legislators believe that money should be utilized and if it can be found in millions within the online gambling industry, then that’s where the country needs to focus its attention.

The Maryland’s Attorney’s Office recently seized more bank accounts that are tied to illegal online gambling.  The state of online gambling in the US is in turmoil. The reason is because it’s a huge debate as to whether the hobby will be legalized and regulated by the government. Until the debate is over, it’s illegal.  Legislators are looking towards big-buck returns from online gambling casino-tax revenues. However, critics are warning of the moral ramifications of offering online gambling legally.

In the Maryland seizure, Forshay Enterprises, Inc was the company in question. They own the six Wachovia Bank-held accounts that are under investigation by the Federal Government. The government claims that after investigation the money in Wachovia Bank is connected and related to money laundering activities and therefore, illegally gotten.  It is not yet been released where the money came from or what will be done with the money, but the government most likely will officially seize the money and close down Forshay Enterprises, Inc.

Electracash, Inc was another recent company that had accounts frozen. Unlike the seizure though, they are still under investigation by the Attorney’s office. New York and Maryland are both active in attempting to thwart what is now known as the multi-million dollar internet gambling industry.  Michael Seyfried of the Attorney’s office stated, “Until the investigation was fully underway, we didn’t know the sheer amount of money involved. We were unaware of the vastness of funds we were going to freeze.”

That seems to be the one heart-stopping element of the online gambling investigations happening worldwide. Investigators share the sentiment of not realizing the huge amounts of funds that are being transferred via online gambling. Seyfried added, “We knew it was in the hundreds of thousands, but were unaware that it was in the millions…it’s startling but shows that something needs to be done.”  Seyfried is correct in that something needs to be done. Legislators need to revisit the issue until some resolution is found. Whether or not that is online gambling’s legalization and regulation has yet to be seen. But the reality is that online gambling exists and is big-money for companies. Without some legalization or regulation, it will continue to pull people into illegal activities.

If you go to any Vegas or Atlantic City casino, then you know the popularity of craps. In any casino, you can rest assured you’ll find the craps tables full of excited players.  Online casino craps are the same. If you log into any online casino, you’re sure to find the same. Craps is a great game, but there is some skill involved in knowing how to bet.  Here are some tips to playing the game and winning.

First of all, craps can be a confusing game.  Not the actual rolls, but the bets are difficult to get a handle on. It may take some review time, but if you know what you’re doing, you are going to get rid of a lot of the natural risk of gambling.  Remember that a lot of people who log onto a gambling website don’t know what the real rules of craps are. They have heard of the game’s popularity and seen it on TV and think, “Why not try it?”  But the truth is that doing a little preparation can sway the odds to your favor big time.  The best thing to do is to know what you’re doing, or have a general idea of how the game works, before you throw your money down.

Second, there are payouts involved with proposition bets.  A proposition bet is when you throw the dice and call out the bet you’re making.  The problem is that you get one roll. So after that roll, you’ve either won or lost.  With a proposition bet, there are payouts for any 7, any craps and craps three.  Horn high means that you are betting in $5s, $10s, $15s, and so on, in increments of $5.  The payout is also in multiples of $5. 

Finally, if you aren’t familiar with online craps, be sure to locate a casino that lets you log in and play for free. That way you can create an account, log-in and play live to get some experience with the game.  You also can find some online casinos that offer you the chance to dialogue with other players via a chat.  That way you can also get some added feedback on the online casino from them. They’ll let you know what problems they have had. Also, take a look at the FAQs part of the casino’s website.  See what issues have arisen in the past and how the manager of the website addresses them for the future.  It’s a great way to see what exactly the website offers in terms of value to the customer.

888 has announced that it will be bringing online bingo to South Africa as part of a deal with Tsogo Sun Gaming Group.  Tsogo Sun Gaming Group’s CEO Marcel Von Aulock stated, “Tsogo is a dynamic and innovative leader of gaming in South Africa so our move into online gaming is a natural progression for the business. Dragonfish has a proven pedigree in online gaming technology delivery and this partnership provides an excellent platform to expand our offering.”  The online gaming market in South Africa has only gained steam over the past few years. Like the rest of the world, online gaming is growing quickly. Tsogo Sun Gaming Group capitalized on this growth and has made itself a huge name in the market by bringing dynamic and unique games to the gaming public.  The merger with 888 will only mean more success for the company in the future.

Dragonfish’s managing director Gabi Campos stated, “Dragonfish’s technology infrastructure provides an excellent platform for partnerships with land based casinos. Tsogo Sun Group’s casinos provide a world-class, personalized gaming experience, and through partnering with Dragonfish we can provide them with the expertise and cutting-edge online gaming solutions to convert their strong brand into a successful position in the online gaming world.”  Dragonfish has the technologies Tsogo Sun Group needs to move forward in business development. This is evident because Tsogo is looking to Dragonfish for a wide variety of services and business set-up help.

Both parties involved in the partnership are excited to see where the development takes them. The world of online gambling is growing exponentially and each one is a leader in what they contribute to the market.  Tsogo Sun Group will begin offering an online sportsbook first and then it will develop into offering online bingo, casino table games and poker for the South African public. They are looking to acquire games, technology, payment processing protocols, call centers, customer service agent management systems and business analytics through Dragonfish. The merger is a hefty account for Dragonfish to handle. Currently Tsogo Sun Group serves over 21 million customers annually and has seven casino locations throughout the country.

If you’re an online gambler, be sure to check out online slots.  Just like in a “real” casino, you can find online slots that are exciting and tailored to whatever interests you have.  If you walk a casino floor you’re sure to see a huge number of slots.  Some are focused on entertainers, some on racing, some on boating, some on golf…the topics are endless.  The same goes for online casinos. Developers have seen the popularity of slots in brick and mortar casinos and created online versions with the same intent—to cater to the preferences of potential players in an effort to create loyal customers.

Online there is the same variety of slots games available in real casinos. For novice players there are the 3-reel games and for seasoned players there are more intricate 5-reel games.  The higher the number of reels, normally, the higher the bonus features and progressive slots possibilities.  Some slots players don’t care and prefer playing on the smaller 3-reeled slots however. Again, it just depends on your preference.

A lot of websites offering online slots use online browser-based platforms. Research found that many people don’t like downloading software to their computers, but rather prefer instant play. This is why browser-based platforms are so handy. You may have to download a plug-in to play the game, but it’s a universal third-party download and not software that needs to be run to install.  These websites opt to use software like Flash by Macromedia and Java to bring you casino games. 

Just like with in-house slots games, with “virtual” slots games you spin by pulling the handle. Whatever your spin brings on the reels, is what you’ve won or lost. Online gaming is just like a real slots game in that it’s all based on chance and luck. There isn’t a whole lot of logic or skill to the game because of that. However, many people still spend hours at a “real” casino’s slots area and many online users do the same.  It’s easy to get addicted to the great visuals, good payouts and casino-like atmosphere.  Try your hand at virtual slots or online slots and see if you like it. It’s similar to “real” play but you can do it from the comfort of your own couch.

If you want to start playing in online casinos, be sure to keep a strict set of requirements handy. You want to be able to enjoy the game play, but also to be safe. Remember that in today’s highly advanced technological world, almost every casino has a ton of offers that seem too hard to pass up. It’s easy to get dazzled by the graphics, the virtual casino floor and the promotions.  Be wise about your online gambling and remember that you’re still gambling with your hard-earned money. It’s just like being in a real casino, but from the comfort of your own home.

• Make sure the website is secure and uses encryption.  Hackers love online websites that ask for sensitive and private information. It’s not hard for an advanced hacker to get into a system and steal information that could potentially cost you your identity, time to fix it and money.  Make sure whatever website you use is on your side in terms of information security.
• Set a limit in terms of how much money you can comfortably lose if that’s how things turn out. Remember that when you’re at home, you’ll be naturally more relaxed. While at a casino you may be tense and remember your limits, playing in the comfort of your own home may not lend itself as easily to strictly monitoring your losses.  In addition, if you win, that may cause you to lighten up on your budget and go overboard.
• Search for online casinos that offer free game play options. These are great as you get to know the rhythm of the game and the rules.  You can log-in and play just like you would a normal game, but without the potential loss of money.  You also can see what specific rules the casino plays with if there are any differences in the normal game your accustomed to. The free game play option is a great learning tool.
• Look at the casino’s About Us and FAQs pages. You want to be sure you know a little about the development of each online website. Make sure you understand how payouts work and how free coins are paid out. Some websites pay out free coins, but only pay out when you reach a certain limit. This limit may, or may not, be realistic with what your gaming habits are. Be sure to check.

In the end, online casinos are great pastimes. Do a little research first, but then enjoy their offerings. You could not only get a new hobby, but start winning some extra money!

For any avid online gamer, be sure to check out online slots. Though many people play slots at a “real” casino, there is still a base of players who have yet to venture to online portals for slots.  There are many reasons why slots online are great and here are some of them.

1. Online slots websites are working hard to woo you. They are creating dynamic promotions and specials that you can’t refuse. Check out Bingo.com for example. They have slots that are diverse, and also offer loyalty bonuses. So if you log-in and play for a full week, you’re earning extra coins to continue playing with. It’s like “free” money and can be a great bonus.
2. Online slots are as diverse as “real” slots. The virtual world is a creative one. If you’re accustomed to playing a certain type of slot in a real casino, you’ll surely find it in a virtual casino. Just look around and you’re sure to see what you want.  Virtual casinos take their basic formats from real casinos. When a new online casino is born, its the result of hours of research done at actual casinos to see what areas of the floor are most populated. 
3. Online slots pay off. If you do a search for great bonuses, you’ll find them.  Sure you can earn “free” money to play, but there are other websites that offer cash prizes.  Check out what each website you visit offers in terms of prizes. Some may surprise you with their useability and novelty.  Remember that websites are competitive and working to outdue each other. This is great news for players because there will always be a better deal out there. You just have to find it.
4. Finally, online slots are great because they are convenient.  Think about it. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to play online slots. You used to have to get in the car and drive down to the local bar or casino. Then you may have to wait for your favorite machine. That’s not the case with online gambling. Games are readily available when you are– 24/7.

If you’re an online gambler, be sure to check out online slots. They can be exciting and fun and potentially pay out big!

In today’s recessionary market, many people are looking for jobs. The Department of Employment Security in Illinois just announced that for every job, there are at least six job applicants. It’s also evident that many businesses are not creating jobs just yet because they are still regrouping from the recession and its aftermath. Though the job market is sorely lacking these days, there are ways to maneuver.

Look at the industry of online casinos, for example. This is a consistently growing industry that hasn’t seen a detrimental affect from the recession. In fact, online gambling has consistently shown huge growth despite the market conditions of the last year. When it comes to running an online casino, many different people are needed.  Considering an online casino can bring in upwards of $10 million every month, there obviously are many people working together to make it run effortlessly.

Any online casino has an IT department. They work closely with programmers and developers to seamlessly integrate online games and bring them to users’ computer screens. They also need graphics artists and web developers to work together. This is the creative part of the online casino and many artistic people find their home here. Not only does it allow them a great creative outlet, they get paid accordingly. Normally their salaries are above average in the world of online gambling, as compared to say an in-house design company. Studies have shown that graphics designers working in the online medium make an average of 10-15% more than their counterparts who are working at a desk on physical products.

Another important department of an online casino is the customer support division. Most reputable online casinos offer 24-hour a day/7-day a week customer support.  For this reason their staffing has to be adequate and they are always looking for agents who can effectively lead their customers through difficulties and troubleshoot with them.  This also ties in with other behind the scenes workers: the advertising and marketing departments. Advertising and Marketing are integral to the success of the online gambling websites. Advertising is what continuously brings players to the particular casino and marketing keeps them coming back. This field has many creative aspects to it and can also pay well. If you’re unemployed, look into the field of online gaming and see if you fit into a certain department. You could just find that it’s the perfect venue for you.

Online bingo is quickly gaining steam in the world of virtual gambling. If you’re a bingo fan, why not try the online option?  It’s a great and convenient way to experience online gaming and can be just as exciting as playing in a hall or church basement. If you’re looking for online bingo, do a Google search and find out what websites are currently doing promotions and having specials. These are the best to start with. You also may want to test a few websites and see which ones have a ‘chat’ option. Part of the distinction of bingo from other gambling games is that it’s a very social game. Just because you’re playing online doesn’t mean the social aspect is eliminated. Many games offer chat rooms and let you communicate with various players as you play.

One great place to check out bingo online is at Red 7 Bingo. The website offers great bonuses to its players so be sure to look into it. You have tons of chances to stretch your playing dollars with Platinum Bingo, Blackpool Club, Littlewoods, Crown Bingo, and Mecca.  Not to mention Foxy Bingo and Bingo Day, which are also noteworthy choices when viewing the websites. 

LittleAbout.com is one website that is focusing on the dangers of online gambling and how it poses a “dangerous problem for gamblers and teens.”  Spokesperson Gail Abigeneau stated, “Legalization is more of a financial issue for each municipality to deal with; we are concerned about regulation. Without it, teens, young people and people with gambling addictions are all at risk.” While the company isn’t necessarily against the legalization of gambling, they do see the need for some type of government regulation. 

The debate over legalizing online gambling is a sensitive one. Many legislators are looking to online gambling as a way of bringing in much-needed revenue. They see the issue as mostly a financial one that has advantages they cannot pass up in the difficult financial times they are under. On the other hand ethical and religious-based groups are condemning the legalization of online gambling and its potential ramifications. They are claiming that regulating and legalizing online gambling will only create more gambling addicts and create the need for more outreach programs in the community. They don’t believe that legalizing online gambling is the catchall answer to the additional funding that law makers are hoping for.   

Though they would like to deny the legalization, these groups are aware of the huge revenues potentially available. They are also aware that it is highly unlikely that the government will not want to bring gambling taxes to the mix.  Lawmakers will most likely find a way to work the law so that they get a good portion of all online gambling money spent and use it to fund public works programs, rehabilitations and growth.  Ethical and religious groups are looking for some type of regulation, however, that will help to protect the gambling public.

The UIGEA ban remains in place. It was the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which first brought the question of internet gambling to the fore.  The commission believes that more that 1,300 casinos are making over $650 million annually from US gamblers.  Lack of regulations for online gambling has left the people contributing to that huge number at risk for dishonest games, identity theft and fraud.  Despite religious and ethical groups concerns, the legalization and regulation of online gambling will most likely move forward. Hopefully legislators will set up the necessary precautions and safeguards into the system and not just look to the potential revenues at hand.