Law

Blacklisted and Unlicensed Online casinos

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

In this new age of web technology and online gambling, several unlicensed and unregistered online casinos are beginning to pop up and catch people out. It’s very difficult to know which online casino is authentic and isn’t, however, in this article we’ll tell you about subtle differences in these illegal websites and why you should use the legal options posted on our webpage at CompareCasino.

What is a Blacklisted Online Casino?

Blacklisted online casinos are those which haven’t got a license from the authoritative gambling commission within its specific state.

Within the USA, if an online casino wants to offer gambling options for its users, it will need to apply for a gambling license, where several checks are carried out. These checks ensure the online casino is legitimate and are sticking to all the guidelines and regulations set out by the commission.

However, blacklisted online casinos will disregard gambling licenses on purpose, so they can get away with stealing money and the identities of the players who opt to use their websites.

How to check the authenticity of online casinos

Blacklisted online casinos will most likely forge the license number located at the bottom of their website. If you think an online casino is illegal, simply check the gambling license number with the respective commission in that state, and they’ll let you know if it’s authentic or not.

Some won’t even provide one, as most users aren’t bothered with checking these things. Those companies that don’t provide users with easy access to the license number are most likely illegal and should be reported to the authorities.

The Risks of Playing at Blacklisted Online Casinos

There are several risks that are involved in signing up to blacklisted online casinos in the USA. Here are a few of the risks, and issues you’ll encounter at illegal online casinos:

Money and Banking Issues

The moment you make the first deposit at an illegal online casino, the owners will have full details of the credit and debit cards used on the site. However, if you used an e-wallet then they won’t have the details for those accounts as e-wallets have added security. Once the details are taken for cards users may experience funds being taken from accounts from unknown individuals.

The usual mishaps that occur with money at these blacklisted casinos occur when withdrawals want to be processed. These establishments will go to the world’s end to stop any withdrawals from being made, and, in most cases, say the withdrawal has been accepted. Then they’ll never process the withdrawal and remove the user’s account from the website entirely.

Promotions and Bonus Issues

The bonuses and promotions will be unreal, and extremely high. Giving users 300x — 500x on their first deposits. Users will then be able to use these funds on all games provided on the website, which will most likely be rigged as well.

The wagering requirements will be unobtainable when you apply for the bonus. The typical wagering requirements for legalized online casinos go along the lines of ‘35x wagering required to be carried out within 30 days.’ At blacklisted online casinos, this wagering requirement may be in excess of 50x to be carried out within as little as 5 days.

What happens if you manage to complete the wagering requirements? The online casino will most likely remove your account upon asking for a withdrawal.

Software Issues

The software provided at illegal casinos will be rigged. Return to player percentages won’t be as high as expected, and random number generators won’t be audited by the well-established authorities. A live dealer casino will not be provided as this is where most players make their money and these establishments only work with companies who have a credited gambling license.

Customer Support Issues

The customer care is very basic. On occasions, someone will answer the phone and help with small queries. On other occasions, the phone will ring out, and companies won’t get back to you at all.

Why Use Legal Gambling Options?

Legal betting options provide everything that the blacklisted casinos can’t provide their users, in terms of safety and security. Users can be assured that the top level of web security is used with SSL encryption and bank-level security at the top-rated casinos. Other perks of using a legal online casino include:

Betting License from accredited commissions
Easy withdrawal process
Simple wagering requirements
Amazing customer support
Responsible gambling advocates
Regulated software and games

We recommend having a look at the top listed online casinos featured on our website here are CompareCasino. The online casinos will have all the good points mentioned above and exclude all the bad points mentioned earlier.

Final Thoughts

Gambling at Blacklisted online casinos in the USA is a risky business. It might be fun at first with the huge amounts of free money you receive, but then it’ll take a turn for the worst when you decide it’s time to make withdrawals and try to take your money back. This is why we recommend using the legal options featured on the CompareCasino website.

References

https://www.casinoonline.co.uk/guides/blacklisted/
https://gamblescope.com/casino/casino-knowledge-base/choosing-a-casino/casino-licence-check.html
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/for-gambling-businesses/Do-I-need-a-licence/Do-I-need-a-licence.aspx

Your Guide to Texas Sports Betting

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Online sports betting in the USA is becoming increasingly popular. The once illegal act has recently been legalized in several states this year including; Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Maine, Arizona, and Kansas.

As it stands Texas is not set to legalize online gambling within its state. Sources suggest that legalization may be sped up due to pressure from other states, however, it’s unlikely to occur until 2023.

When it does happen Texas will see a massive increase in revenue, this will be the driving factor to getting legalization put through. The sheer volumes of cash flowing into the industry.

The Current Gambling Situation

There are no plans to allow online gambling within the state of Texas. The government officials didn’t join states this year in allowing the legalization of online gambling. This was quite the despair for players and several companies waiting on the state – all of which want a slice of the action.

There are still exceptions for players to place bets, with the option to do so only on specific sports. Currently, punters can bet on horse racing at specific establishments. This usually occurs at the racetrack, where the races are being held. Online and mobile app gambling is not permitted for horse racing, only in-person betting.

DraftKings and FanDuel are also restricted but can still operate in the state. These companies can offer players the chance to play fantasy sports games. This isn’t regulated just yet, but regulations may come into place over time. However, it seems that users are still able to gamble with offshore sportsbooks and place bets such as prop bets, in line bets, and in-play betting.

Recently, regulators from Texas have spoken to their respective counterparts in New Jersey, about what’s the best to go about bringing sports betting to the state. These discussions are hoped to lay the parameters for legislation in the state.

The Future Layout for SportsBetting in Texas

Online sports betting is inevitable in almost every state across the USA. Without a doubt, Texas will eventually join the other states in legalizing online sports betting. There’s simply too much money within the sports betting industry. So what may happen on day 1 when legislation happens?

There will be a select few online sportsbooks that will be selected and allowed to operate in the state. Typically, big companies may come in like Draft Kings, and MGM. Alternatively, the state may allow smaller companies to create sites and provide services to try and keep money within the state rather than having several giants coming in. Once these companies have the green light from the state they’ll be able to onboard players on a specified date.

One proposed plan is the idea that 14 – 20 licenses will be available for an online sportsbook. With this awarded to selected sportsbooks.

Users will all receive awesome bonuses and promotions for signing up to these sportsbooks. Sports such as soccer, football, horse racing, baseball, basketball, boxing, MMA, and many more will be available for users to bet on.

Final Thoughts

The pressure to legalize online sports betting in Texas is beginning to grow. The government will eventually cave in and allow players to begin sports betting. As we mentioned, they’ve been reported to be speaking to officials and regulators in NJ for advice on legalization. This could mean it will come sometimes within the new few years and 2023 at the latest.

Most players are going to offshore websites to place bets. So it only makes sense for Texas to legalize gambling and take a portion of the revenue. Before that happens we recommend brushing up on your sports and learning some new betting strategies so you can make money when legalization occurs.

References

https://sportsbetting.legal/states/texas/
https://www.legalsportsreport.com/47079/texas-sports-betting-push/
https://www.lineups.com/betting/texas-sports-betting/#:~:text=Currently%2C%20sports%20betting%20is%20not,go%20to%20and%20place%20wagers.
https://www.actionnetwork.com/legal-online-sports-betting/texas-2021

A “Deep Dive” into Boat Casinos in the USA

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Boats have been around for 100s of years. The first efficient steamboats were made in 1807 by a man called Robert Fulton, an American inverter. It wasn’t till 1989 when modern casino boats were established in Iowa. US Casino riverboats were a great alternative to land-based casinos and were a great attraction for many people.

When these boats were first legalized for gambling some states required the ships to set sail before gambling commenced, to be in line with the gambling laws set in place. In today’s age, most USA casino boats don’t move from the docks they’re shipped at and simply act as a vessel for gambling and many other uses. The boats come in all shapes and sizes, from the grand ships to much smaller yachts.

More recently, they have seen a new surge in interest prompted by the Netflix series, Ozark. In this very exciting series, the protagonist opens such a casino in order to launder money for a crime boss making the riverboat casino the focal point of the show.

While, naturally, this show is fictitious, these boat casinos are a real and popular fixture in the US and are one of the more unconventional ways for US players to enjoy legal gaming. Of course, with the further legislation of USA online casinos, this has becoming easier and the need for them has waned slightly.

So, how do boat managers run their business? What do they need to think about when starting up their casino? How do you start a casino boat business? These are some things we’ll give you information on in this article.

What is a Casino Boat?

A casino boat is the river-based version of a land-based casino. These boats were originally made to provide people with an alternative option to gamble as land-based gambling was not legalized at the time. All the popular games are involved such as blackjack, roulette, video slots, and many more. There are currently 6 states that allow casino riverboats those being:

Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Lowa
Mississippi
Missouri

So if you live a bit far out from one of these states, you’ll need to drive or fly over to the state to check out some hot spots for casino boats. Most of the boats are located in Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri.

Top Casino Boats USA

There are several boats to choose from in quite a few states. But which ones do you decide to go to? It’s all down to convenience and personal preference as most boat casinos will offer similar gambling experiences and a good variety of games. Here are a few amazing boat casinos in the USA for you to check out.

Mississippi Belle II — This is a luxurious riverboat located in the state of Mississippi. Games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and Caribbean stud are available at this casino. If you’re looking for great food you’ll find a nice deli onboard.

Amelia Belle — Boyd Gambling operates this boat, and supports games such as blackjack, roulette, Mississippi stud, Texas hold ‘em, 3 card poker and several slot machines. The defining feature of Amelia Belle is the all-you-can-eat buffet. This boat is located in Louisiana.

River City Casino — This is a monster-sized boat, serving a 90,000 square foot of space where players can walk around and play games. Located in Lemay, Missouri, in the St. Louis area, this casino has over 2000 slot machines and 55 table games to choose from.

Casino Azar — This riverboat is known as the best attraction in Evansville, Indiana. It’s a replica of another boat that ships across the rivers of Ohio. If you’re ever in Evansville this is a great place to check out and have some fun playing at.

How to Open a Riverboat Casino

Starting up a riverboat casino business can be quite challenging for even the best business minds. There are several things aspiring business owners need to think about, from regulations to location and even health and safety. If you’re thinking about opening a riverboat casino here are some simple guidelines to follow:

You’ll need to begin with getting a consensus of the area. Do some market research and find out about what the community likes and if the riverboat casinos are one of those options. Use this information in your business plan you create to give you the best chances of success.
Contact the gambling regulatory boards for the state. Obtain information on the level of gambling allowed on riverboats in the state you’ve chosen. It’s best to choose a location within the 6 states mentioned above. Ensure to obtain a gambling license as this is required to act as a casino.
Hire the staff to run the casino, such as dealers, bar staff, and kitchen staff if you’d like to have a restaurant. Hire a few supervisors to overlook the staff. If you want to be a silent owner it’s good to hire a boat manager to run the business for you organizing day-to-day operations.
Buy the riverboat and the equipment to run the games. Pick a boat that’s in good condition, big enough to host the games and guests, and follows the right regulations given by the governing authorities.
You’ll need to hire an accountant and attorney to sort out your taxes and assist you in any law matters and setting up an employer identification number which is provided by the IRS.

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Things Owners Experience and Need

Let’s say you’ve finally set up everything to open the riverboat casino for its 1st day of business. What can you expect to happen? There will be good days and bad days as there always challenges when running any business. However, owning a riverboat casino is similar to owning a land-based casino, and it’s also very different in other areas. There are a few interesting things owners experience and need to think about when running their business.

Competent Driving Crew — If the boats are going to set off on sail down the river, the crew will need to be effective at getting the ship from A to B without having a titanic situation. Always a good idea to have a random drug and alcohol test on the crew to ensure no one’s under the influence while driving.

Health and safety — If you’re on a boat there are a little health and safety regulations that need to look at. For instance, if you’re setting sail you’d need staff trained in first aid to help people who may need it.

Food Regulations — The food needs to be met to a servable standard. People can get sick from eating food that’s not cooked properly or old. This is how many restaurants get caught out when the people who eat there get sick from the food made. Hiring competent chefs is essential.

Security — Fitting security cameras and having security staff is essential to stop people cheating on games and trying to steal money from the casino. There will also be the odd person who is drunk too much and starts getting rowdy when they are losing. Owners usually have their security staff sort this out.

Regular Income of Players — Smaller less known casino boats may find that it’s difficult to get people into their casinos to play. These days everything is online and casino boat owners need to think of ways to get people into their boat, through events and special offers.

Final Thoughts

Casino boats are a great place to spend the evening playing traditional casino games and eat exceptional food. Running the business can be tricky but is extremely rewarding as we all know the odds are with the house.

Opening a casino boat is a challenge, however, if you get it right and follow all the necessary steps and regulations it can be done. If you are looking for a simpler way to play casino games, then an online casino USA should be the answer,

Visit our page here to find one that works for you!

UK Gambling Commission Introduces New Restrictions For Online Casinos

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Slot games form the bulk of casinos, both online and physical. They form about 70% of the total online casino games. Slots are the cash cow of casinos as most British players play them a lot. In 2019, Britons spent £2.2 billion on online slot games. In many states in the United States, casinos make between 65% and 80% of their revenue from slots.

The UKGC has been working on making sure the gambling environment is safe for both casino operators and players. They have been enacting new rules to ensure this happens and also creating new bodies. One of such bodies is the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), whose contribution is evident in these restrictions.

Why Slots?

As mentioned earlier, slots are a major source of revenue in the casino industry. There has been an increase in online gambling total revenue, from £2.36 billion in 2016 to £3.18 billion in 2020. 70% of this increase is attributed to slot games. Data from the UKGC shows that each slot player spends an average of £67 ($91) monthly on slot games. Meanwhile, a monthly average of £36 ($36) is spent on casino products and £45 ($61) for live betting.

Compared to other games, slot games have a higher addiction rate. In a survey carried out by the NHS in 2018, less than 4% of those who bet online are addicts, and 5.7% of those who bet in physical casinos are addicts. For those who bet on online slots, casino, and bingo games, 8.5% are addicts. Also, the UKGC mentioned that slot games of all online gaming products have the highest average losses per player.

image with the transformation of slots from the first old-timey machine to today

Restrictions

With the restrictions given by the UKGC, online casinos will have to do a complete overhaul on the slot machines to meet the UKGC’s requirements. The UKGC told online casinos to reduce the intensity of the slot machines and bettors’ misleading features to make gambling safer for players. According to the Commission’s statement, the rules are to strengthen the protections and controls for those who gamble through online slots games.

Casino operators have been ordered to slow down the time in between spins to at least 2.5 seconds. They are also required to remove the Autoplay option, allowing players to leave the game spinning for a specific number of spins. According to UKGC, these functions allow players to lose track of how much money they spend on the slot game.

Also, slot machines are expected to stop playing positive sounds when a player loses money. Positive sounds after a loss cause a phenomenon referred to as “losses disguised as wins” causing players to think that their loss is positive. This phenomenon thereby encourages them to put more money into the game.

Another rule concerns the slot features that give players the “ illusion of control” over slot games because, in actuality, players are playing against the random number generator. They also introduced a ban on “reverse withdrawals”, where players try to collect their winnings and then change their minds and put the wins back into their betting account. This control appears to all forms of online gambling not only online slot games.

Neil Arthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said, “Evidence shows that reverse withdrawal functions present a risk to players because of the temptation to continue gambling. Operators are also required to show players total losses and wins and total time spent at an online slot session.

Also, the UKGC, in support of these restrictions, said, “Also, the slot features being removed or more closely controlled have been associated with increased intensity of play, loss of player control or binge play”. All these control measures will take effect on the 31st of October.

Response to the restrictions

Sports, Tourism, and Heritage Minister, Nigel Huddleston, said: “Today’s steps will help curb the intensity of online gambling, introducing greater protections that will reduce the risk of gambling-related harm. I welcome the Gambling Commission’s tough measures as we continue our comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they’re fit for the digital age”. The chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Michael Dugher, said they are determined to drive change and promote safer gambling.

He also said, “That’s why we welcome the Gambling Commission’s announcement, which builds on the BGC’s new code of conduct from last September for the design of online games in a bid to improve player safety further. BGC members have already introduced measures, including the slowing down of spin speeds and banning several gaming features, which have caused concern. Among the major commitments we have already introduced, are minimum game cycle speeds of 2.5 seconds, the ending of turbo play, which allows players to speed up games, and the scrapping of multi-slot play, where a player can place multiple stakes on different games at the same time.”

Effects of Restrictions

The recent restrictions have not affected the gambling stocks’ value since the announcement of the new restrictions. This means that investors do not think the new restrictions will have any effect on the revenue generated.

UKGC Restructuring

With the on-going restructuring in the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, new rules and regulations are enacted to accommodate the online gambling industry’s growth. Recently, the UKGC has been accused of lacking the capacity to handle the rapid growth of the online gambling industry. Many are suggesting that the UKGC is funded poorly to control a $15 billion industry.

However, the UKGC has been showing that it is up to the task despite these claims. It has been releasing new regulations to ensure that both the casinos and players are well catered for. In 2019, the UKGC enforced a £2 betting limit on fixed-odds betting terminals. It added new verification rules to protect minors and vulnerable people from gambling and prevent fraud and money laundering in the same year.

In 2020, they banned the use of credit cards to place bets to reduce the rate of problem gambling. Other new regulations include the ban on under 18s from playing the National Lottery, which will also take effect from October 2021. These new regulations are aimed at controlling the addictive nature of casino games giving players the chance to make clear-headed gambling decisions.

Conclusion

The new restrictions from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission clearly demonstrate its commitment to responsible gaming and customer protection. The measures are well thought out and will improve fairness in online casino gaming. Judging by the market’s response to these new restrictions, they aren’t likely to have any adverse effects on the industry’s profitability.

The First Two Weeks of Legal Online Gambling in Michigan

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

After decades of missing out on the opportunity to enjoy a good sporting event or online casino game and win money from it through online bets, residents of The Wolverine State can finally participate in online gambling activities.

The State of Michigan permitted the launch of legal online gambling within its borders at noon on Friday, 22nd January 2021. The timing of this development was perfect, especially for sports betting, because of the lineup for that weekend. For instance, NFL conference championship games were live and Michigan sports bettors got to watch and place wagers.

Some people have theorized that the license to operate given to some sport betting giants in the state was done in a bid to help the gambling industry recover faster from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever the reason is, online betting statistics within the first two weeks of this launch clearly show that Michigan is well on its way to becoming one of the foremost states in the US with thriving online gaming industry.

10 online casinos and sportsbooks were approved to launch that Friday by The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), which will now regulate their activities going forward. A new round of operators was added to these the following week. Seeing how things are going, it is only expected that we’ll see more online gambling operators trooping into the market.

Industry experts predicted that there would be an impressive response from gamblers across the state after the launch. Their projection was based on the residents’ attitudes to prior legal gambling activities in the state, the time of the launch of the casinos, and the anticipation that had built up over time. Many reports have come in about the gamblers’ activities so far in Michigan and they have shown that these predictions were right.

BetMGM’s CEO, Adam Greenblatt, confirmed that the platform’s launch in Michigan was their “strongest launch yet.” BetMGM Michigan reported that over 200,000 successful logins were recorded on their platform and more than 2 million spins were seen, all within the first seven hours of being launched in the state.

However, some customers complained of problems with the BetMGM app. A representative from the company affirmed that there were glitches at some point, but it was as a result of unusually high traffic. He said that the problem was rectified the same day.

Google Trends were analyzed by Michigan Sharp, a website dedicated to the online gambling space in Michigan. They discovered that the launch of online sports betting in the state generated more interest than any previously recorded launch within the past year.

Furthermore, GeoComply, a company that facilitates geolocation tracking for many online gaming operators also announced that over 7.5 million online gambling transactions were recorded in Virginia and Michigan. Virginia has only two online operators, compared to Michigan’s ten at the time of launch, hence, the location with the higher percentage is obvious.

Since virtually every bettor in the state of Michigan would be a first-timer, there was an avalanche of bonuses being claimed on all the platforms. Bettors who could not join the thousands that flooded the Michigan online casinos and sportsbook did so the following week. Many of the operators, having had the experience of the previous week could manage them better.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has not released reports on the revenue generated so far, but they have corroborated reports of a large influx of players into the online gambling space since the Michigan online casino launch.

If you live in Michigan and are yet to jump on the wave of excitement sweeping through the Michigan online gaming world, you’re not too late. There are still loads of bonuses to be won and more than enough games and sports betting features to explore.

EXPLORE MICHIGAN CASINOS and SPORTSBOOKS HERE!

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