It was just one year ago when Maryland residents were given the option to use slot machine revenue as a means of bringing funds into the state. Much debate happened and the issue was one of a serious nature as opposing factions squared off. On one side legislators were pushing for the move due to a sagging economy and shortfall in budgets. On the other side were opponents of gambling who believed that legalizing slot machines and using funds from them would surely bring in corruption, crime and addiction to the state. Once put to vote, the people of Maryland opted for the move, citing gambling as a viable option when trying to fund the state’s budget. Analysts project that slots could potentially bring in $600 million a year to the state’s coffers.

Many considered the move a done deal once an official vote was taken, however that is proving to not be the case. Legislators from Governor Martin O’Malley down are pitching for the vote saying that gaming companies will come to the state once it is officially an option. They believe that tens of companies will move to the Maryland-state borders, in an effort to bring legalized gambling to the communities involved. Gaming is also being pitched as a means to save the state’s lagging race tracks. Since the recession, race tracks have seen their numbers drastically fall. Many have had to file for bankruptcy protection and many others have had to close. All have been struggling to make it through the economic downturn.

Although voters allowed slots into the state, only two gaming licenses have been given out. Anne Arundel County was slated to be a major player in the world of slots, but due to zoning problems, it has yet to venture into the world of slot machine gambling. There is a casino being planned for construction in the Baltimore-area, but it’s still waiting on paying the $20 million licensing fee. And Allegany County’s casino license has yet to have any bids. Magna Entertainment Corporation, which owns Pimlico and Laurel Park race tracks ruined their plans for slot machines due to financial instability.

Governor O’Malley’s spokesperson, Shaun Adamec, said that the slots plan has seen a few problems. Adamec said that it is a process that has never been previously undertaken and to some extent, the rules had to be written as the state developed the plan. Senate President Thomas Miller, however, said that Maryland has to start from scratch on the issue. He believes that the state’s gaming problems are due to the hefty opposition to the move. He stated that critics are the ones who “placed crippling changes” into the slots legislation.  Only time will tell who is to blame for the plan, but if the state does not get their plan in order soon it will be losing millions of dollars in gambling revenues.

Poland is a country that has wrestled with the issue of gambling as of late. The country has been in a lot of trouble due to politicians falling to gambling bribes and corruption. President Lech Kaczynski still gave approval at the end of November for laws restricting gaming to casinos and to remove slot machines from clubs, arcades, shops, cafes and service stations across Poland. Formerly slot machines were allowed in various business establishments and used to bring in additional funds to various businesses. Presidential Aide Wladyslaw Stasiak said that President Kaczynski requested the constitutional court of Poland to decide whether the hastily approved law was in line with the state constitution.

Under the new gaming law, slot machines are to be phased out of the business world. It is a difficult decision because it cuts back on businesses’ revenues considerably. Poland’s Liberal Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose government supported the hard line gaming legislation, has said that it is aimed at increasing the taxes imposed on the industry and limiting and if possible, banning highly addictive examples of gaming that threatens young individuals including children. This is an argument that has come up in various jurisdictions. Many believe that the surge of slot machine gambling will put children at risk and bring more crime to the area. They believe that corruption and crime go hand in hand with gambling and ok-ing slot machines is one step away from having to deal with more troublesome problems like addiction, corruption and money laundering.

The new Polish law bans gambling for people under eighteen years old. It also introduces strict six-year state concessions for casino facilities with the limit of one facility per district with a population of up to 650,000. Casino establishments will be limited to operating seventy individual casino gaming tables and gaming machines. The law also imposes higher gaming taxes as well as new taxes for the market. Casino facilities will also have to pass all ownership changes to the ministry of finance in Poland. The new gaming law was proposed after Prime Minister Tusk was forced to get rid of several ministers and political allies over allegations of influence peddling in the cabinet regarding the gaming proposal. The state of gambling in the country is still in the planning stages, but this new law is a step in the right direction for the country.

Ohio was one of the many states that received stimulus money. That money was a great find and helped it through the recession, but there was a catch. The stimulus money cannot be used to replace other Ohio funds. Though that sounds relatively simple, the state is having difficulties sticking to it. To qualify for the stimulus money, Ohio must spend at least what it spend three years ago on the K-12 education system in the upcoming two years. Without the $851 million from slot machine earnings, however, the state may not be able to qualify for receiving the additional federally-funded money.

On Septenber 29th, Governor Ted Stickland said that school districts in the state could see 10.3% cuts in budget aid this school year and almost 16% cuts in budget funding in 2010. The reason for the cuts would be if the state would not find another way to revive the slot machine funding plan.  Dayton Public Schools is at risk of losing $34 million in the next two years, according to a study by the Ohio Department of Education. Ohio could petition for a federal waiver to spend more for 2009 but it is not clear whether that would be approved. An adverse decision from the Ohio state Supreme Court cast a shadow on whether the slots plan of Governor Strickland to install 17,500 slot machines at 7 horse racing tracks by May 2010 will push forward.

The Supreme Court said that the slots plan is subject to a state voter referendum in November 2010. Strickland cannot re-allocate money into the K-12 budget from elsewhere without approval from the legislature. Governor Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Armond Budish are scheduled to meet to talk about the issue. Strickland’s Press Secretary Amanda Wurst said that the governor has yet to decide on his next step. It’s a difficult time for the state and its legislators. If they are unable to come up with a plan, then funding could be in jeopardy and the state could have to cut back drastically on various programs and education could be in trouble. The state has already fallen to many budget cuts regarding education and the system is looking for answers. With the next school year coming quickly upon the state, it is imperative that they find answers soon.

You also want to be aware of the game selection. Any casino you play at should offer you tons of slots. In today’s world of slots there are a huge variety of games to enjoy. It’s best to find one casino that you trust and make sure they have a variety of games for you to enjoy. Normally you should have two casinos that are trusted to enjoy. That way you can switch from each one to enjoy the best bonuses and specials. It also will help you to build up the amount of games you can participate in throughout your game time.

The next thing to watch out for is the VIP or loyalty program. Every good casino has a loyalty program for their players. In a program like this you should be able to earn credits by playing consistently. For example, at a casino you may be able to earn 1 point for every $10 you wager. Once you accumulate 100 points, you can turn them in for a certain number of credits. It’s a great way to extend your game play and earn free money. Some casinos also offer you a level-loyalty program, like a Gold, Silver and Platinum membership. As you move up levels, you earn more for wagering. Check with each website you want to play at and make sure they offer you a great bonus as you gain loyalty with it.

You also want to check out a website’s communication with its customers. Be sure the website you choose to play at has a wide variety of ways to ask questions. You want a casino with a 24-hour 800-number. You should be able to pick up the phone and have any of your questions answered at any time of the day. Remember that you will be playing at odd “off” hours and you want to have a troubleshooting department if you need it.  You also should make sure the casino has an email address for non-pertinent questions. It should have a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” that address the basics.  Finally, a lot of the newer casinos have instant-chat capabilities. Here is where you can log in and talk to a live operator at any time of day. This is a great feature if you are new to gaming and may have some problems. It also is a great way to settle immediate concerns.

Whatever casino you choose to play at, be sure to do some research and make sure it is a good casino. You want security, game variety and good customer service capabilities. Remember to do some research so that you can play worry-free.

You may love slots, but there are things to consider before you log-in to play.  First of all, you want to set a bankroll. Your bankroll is the total amount of money you are going to play. Think about when you go to a land-based casino. You have a certain budget you are willing to wager with, and potentially lose. Once you hit that limit, you walk away. It’s the same thing with online slots play. You want to set yourself a limit. Remember that when you are excited about winning it’s easy to make the mistake of wagering “just one more time” and going over your limit. It’s especially easy to go over limit when all you have to do is click a mouse a few times and reload your bankroll. Set a strict budget for yourself and stick to it.

Next, when it comes to gambling you want to be sure you are aware of the rules. Check out the individual payout percentages for each machine you choose to play at. Some have payout percentages of 95%, while others may have a percentage of 96%. That may not sound like a lot, but remember that the odds are always in favor of the house. You want to make sure that you get every advantage as you can and that 1-small percent can make a big difference in your gaming performance.

Also, be sure you do some research on the casino you are going to play at. You want to make sure above all that it is secure and encrypted. You are going to be sharing personal information and giving the casino access to your funding account. Make sure that there is high security. Read the Terms of Service of the account and find out how they handle dispute and safety for their customers. Also—you may want to look at some gambling forums and see if the casino you want to play at is on them. See what other people are saying about the casino and take note if problems are chronic or if one problem comes up a lot.

Part two coming next.

If you are a fan of basic slots games, such as the 3-reel game, then you may not be familiar with bonus games. Though “normal” slots are fun, anyone who loves slots should try the games with more complex bonus games. Here are some of the advantages:

·         Animations. One of the greatest advantages of playing bonus games is the animations. For anyone who loves great animations, these are the perfect games to find them. Developers work hard to create seamless animations and sound bytes to better the gaming experience. Most developers even put their real talent to work in the bonus game, rather than the regular game. Part of the draw is that they want you to get to the bonus and enjoy a totally different gaming experience than you did with the regular gaming portion.

·         Free plays. Free plays are another advantage of gaming via a bonus. They give you the chance to try out for extra free spins and normally if you do hit a winning combination, you get a multiplier. For example, if you get a winning combination in the regular portion of a game you may win $5. On the other hand if you get the same winning combination in the bonus game, your multiplier could be 2X, so you end up winning $10. It’s a great way to earn extra money for the same combinations.

·         Excitement. There is nothing better in the world of slots than to have a completely different game. The great thing about bonus games is that they are just that—something totally different. Normally the bonus game is a “Wheel of Fortune” like choosing game where you pick from a variety of items and then you get a multiplier based on what you pick. Although a regular 3-reel slots game can offer the general reel play, the bonus game is a totally different option.

Once you decide to play a bonus game, you’ll see how good they are. The world of slot gaming has come a long way in the past few years. The best thing to do is explore the world of gambling and see how much it has to offer. Grow with the industry and enjoy all the fun it has to offer.

Many states are looking to slot machine revenue to build up their coffers. In the recession states suffered great financial stress. The unemployment rate was at record highs, home values fell, lenders shut their doors and large car manufacturers collapsed.  The stimulus was brought to the economy and it did reinvigorate it, but the market has not yet returned to what it once was. Most economic experts are saying that true changes will be evident in mid-2010. That is when there should be tangible changes to the economy and consumers should start seeing visible improvements. In addition, some experts are citing that as the soonest time when jobs will be available to put a dent in the unemployment rate.

Because of the difficulties, many states are looking for slot machine revenue to shore up their deficits and expenses. Throughout the recession, all markets suffered. One by one markets declined and fell to the economic downturn.  One industry remained solid and even showed growth– slot machines. Slot machines never saw the decline in revenue other industries did. Slot machines continued to show strongly in the world of business. Because of this, legislators see the resilience of slot machines as something they can count on. They are trying to create legislation and regulation that will allow them to police the industry, but still take advantage of the huge dollars involved. Recent studies have shown that of the casinos in Las Vegas, almost 60% of their revenue comes from slot machines. Though there are high-end tables and high-roller specials, slots are the only aspect of gaming that has remained consistent. 

Legislators are working to regulate and legalize gambling. They are looking to earmark funds for various state programs such as education and scholarships, public works programs, police force expansion, roads and construction and other needed improvements to infrastructure.  The money brought in would go directly to programs that are not covered financially without gambling. The problem with their plan, however is that though they are already counting on slots revenue, there could be problems. Monty Flaire, analyst for GameTime.com said, “The states are in a lot of ways, counting their chickens before they hatch. Though slot machine revenue could help budgets, what if they are projecting too high? How are states going to compensate for money they don’t have?”  Flaire’s words are noteworthy. While states are hoping that slot revenue is the answer they need, it may be wise to project on the low-end when it comes to funds. Most states are looking at an aggressive slots plan but it may, or may not, pan out.

If you love the idea of winning big and having an exciting slots game, then check out progressive slots. Progressive slots are those that have huge payouts. The games are networked together and every time some one wagers, a portion of it goes to the overall payout. That’s why when you watch the jackpot, you can see it quickly rising. For example, if some one wagers $10, a portion of it, say 30% or $3, goes directly to the protgressive jackpot. Now imagine people all over a geographic area wagering $10 at the same time. You can see how quickly the progressive jackpot can build.

The one thing to remember about progressive jackpots is that there will be a wager requirement. If you are used to playing the smallest coin possible, then you won’t be eligible to win. The instructions on the individual game should let you know what the wager requirement is, but most likely it is the biggest bet possible and you also may have to bet on a certain number of paylines. Be sure to read the instructions carefully so you know exactly what you need to do to win. If you don’t, then you are paying into the progressive jackpot but never giving yourself the chance to win it.

The best thing to do when looking for a good progressive jackpot is to do a quick Google search for the biggest progressive slots games. You should be able to find a list of current progressives running.  Once you have your list, check the top five and see what other deals the online casino has. Does it have a start-up bonus? Does it have a loyalty program? How varied are the slots games on the website? Do they have the games you like? How often do they run seasonal specials? These are all questions you should ask yourself. The good news about online gambling is that if you don’t find what you want at one website, keep looking and you will surely find one that does. Online casinos are highly competitive with eachother and the best thing to do is keep searching. Take advantage of how competitive the industry is.  Remember though, progressive slots are the way to go if you are looking for big payouts and lots of fun!

The Polish Parliament just approved a new bill that restricts gaming at casinos in the country. The gaming bill’s approval is fast on the heels of a public scandal involving politicians that was referred to at “Blackjack-gate.”  It involved the cabinet members of Prime Minister Tusk. Prior to the scandal, Prime Minister Tusk began pushing aggressively for the approval of strict legislation regarding the gaming industry in Poland. In a vote of 48 to 3, the bill passed.

Part of the reason Tusk pushed the bill so quickly was to save political face after four of his cabinet members were embroiled in the scandal. Politicians were taking kickbacks from various casinos in the country. Tusk is making no moves to close down casinos, but rather to regulate them better. Like most political leaders, Tusk knows how lucrative slot machine gambling can be. He is aware of how many millions of dollars can be brought into the country via a good slots and gambling legislation. That is why this issue has been a priority for the cabinet since the former scandal.

Prior to acceptance of the bill, President Kaczynski needs to offer approval. Prime Minister Tuck is relatively secure that the President will support the new legislation “barring any new changes.”  He is hoping that the President will sign the bill into enactment prior to the end of 2010. In the new legislation slot machines will only be permitted in official casino facilities. That means that they will need to be removed from bars, pubs, cafes, shopping malls and service stations. There are an estimated 50,000 machines currently running in these facilities and they will need to be removed.  In addition, anyone under 18 will not be allowed to gamble and online gambling is no longer allowed at all.

Poland is working hard to change its current laws and to save face. It’s difficult to recover from a scandal, but the country is well on its way to change.  Tusk is hoping the new legislation goes through without incident and helps to monitor and regulate gaming. The strict move to only allow slot machines at casino-facilities is an added move to regulate and watch over any illegal or unscrupulous activities.

Broward County and the Palm Beach County Commission of Florida want to bring local gaming to their bars and pubs. The state already allows permits for other jurisdictions and now Broward and Palm Beach want in the game. The county is making moves to have their share of the gambling pie and are fighting hard for it. They are also fighting Governor Charlie Crist’s proposal involving the Seminole Tribe. It would allow the tribal community to have permit expansions within the state.  Broward County and Palm Beach County both believe that the expansion will greatly threaten their own gaming potential.

Commission Chairman Burt Aaronson presented his belief that posed an egregious disadvantage to the county if they are unable to gain approval for slots. Gaming critics however are arguing that expanding slots will inevitably bring more crime to the area. They also believe that addictions to gambling would grow exponentially.  Though there is no proof of the claim, many anti-gambling protestors are holding that this is the crux of their concerns regarding bringing slots to various communities.

Aaronson on the other hand, is hoping to get approval for slots in his county based on the fact that added slots would bring the need for more jobs. County commissioners see gambling as a way for not only jobs to be created, but to also have an additional revenue-generating possibility. The county, like all others, is suffering as a result of the recession and looking for ways to bring in more money. Currently the Palm Beach Kennel Club has 600 employees and brings in about 750,000 visitors a year. Commissioner Priscilla Taylor sees expansions as the only sure-fire way to bring jobs to the area. If slots are allowed at a proposed casino near Lake Okeechobee, it will provide jobs for Belle Glade, South Bay and Pahokee where the unemployment rates are hovering at 40%.

Aaronson is suggesting a hefty proposal regarding slots. He is proposing bringing gambling cruises on day-tours where the ships remain anchored at the dock on the coast. The day cruises would be promoted and advertised in local areas and hopefully bring in thousands of customers. Not only would jobs be created, but money would be generated. It is the hope of Broward County and The Palm Beach County Commission that they are not left behind in the fight for slot machine gambling.