The Difference Between Video Poker and Online Slots
March 11th, 2011
Many casino players are not attracted to online slot machine games because these do not offer so much of a challenge and can become rather boring very easily. In present times, online slot games have a series of extra added features that give players the chance to interact with the game rather than simply pull a lever or press a “spin” button. Bonus rounds, free spins and extra games within the slot complete these games and make them more of a video game and help the player stay active and continue building their bankroll.
However, some online casino players find that this is not enough and head to the table games like blackjack or roulette. These games are more challenging because they are not just based on pure luck or randomness but have a skill level involved to them. There are other games nevertheless that somehow combine the simplicity of slots with the complexity of a table game and these are called video poker machines.
Video poker machines are games that do require a certain level of skill and where players can actually put into use what they know about poker in a more relaxed environment. In most online casinos, video poker machines have a lower house edge than the slot machines; of course, this is if players play the game correctly. Just over the past five years there has been an enormous increase in popularity for online video poker machines and land-based casinos as well as online casinos are adding more and more machines to their game selection. Back in the 1970’s, when video poker machines made their first appearance on the casino floors, the only game players could enjoy was Jacks or Better draw poker but today players can choose from over 100 variations of video poker.
UIGEA Continues to Cause Trouble to All Online Casino Players
February 25th, 2011
It’s been over five years now since the United States Federal Government decided to enforce the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) to all online casino players that wished to take part in any type of gambling from the comfort of their homes. However, if gamblers do decide to visit a live casino venue in the United States it is perfectly legal to enjoy a slot machine game or poker table, but it is extremely frowned upon if bettors do it from their own homes and this has really outraged a whole lot of folks out there. Several focus groups, Senators from both parties and Gambling Associations have tried without rest to get the UIGEA bill repealed but so far have had no success. However, the Federal Government seems to have forgotten about one specific group of people in the gambling community and that is the handicapped gamblers.
This anti-gambling bill has discriminated the handicap gamblers so severely that it has completely outcasted these players from being able to enjoy their favorite casino games from their personal computers. Those gamblers that are on a wheelchair or rely on oxygen can not travel to a brick and mortar casino and let time pass by playing their favorite slot machines or table games like millions of other gamblers without disabilities do enjoy. The minute the Federal Government passed the UIGEA gambling bill they completely neglected to take into consideration the rights of those casino lovers who are unable to leave their home. Those people have rights too and their needs should be considered as well.
To partake in online casino games is something those handicapped players should be able to afford without so many obstacles and legal problems. The United States government needs to open their eyes and accept that online gambling is not only a financial benefit for the country but also a right for anyone who wishes to play an online casino game and especially those groups of gamblers that are unable to leave their houses.
Harry Reid’s Online Gambling Bill Comes to an End
December 27th, 2010
Everyone in the online gambling community has been upbeat lately with all the news about the different states and places in the world moving forward with the legalization of online gambling. In the United States folks were excited about the introduction of the Harry Reid bill which aimed to remove online poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which would allow for online gambling and online casino games such as slots to be legal in the country. However, all of the high hopes and excitement ended pretty soon in only one week after the introduction of the bill as it has come to and end.
The current session will not permit for the new online gambling bill by Harry Reid to get a vote and can not be added as an amendment to another law in these last days of 2010. The executive director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), John Pappas, has recently stated that: “We are disappointed that Congress failed to act and provide the necessary consumer protections and sensible oversight over this multi-billion dollar industry. Sadly, some politicians remain with their heads firmly in the sand. The leadership of the Poker Players Alliance got the debate this far and we are determined to see this through.”
Harry Reid’s bill was to be added to a different bill for tax relief however, that plan wasn’t successful and thusly the online casino gambling proposal will not be adopted in this new law. This online gambling bill was specific to the fact that the United States needs help to create revenue to bring the country to a recovery from the global recession of the past years. To legalize and regulate online casino games would be a great help on this matter and Harry Reid’s bill was to be added to the tax bill recently drafted by President Obama but faced a great deal of opposition that brought it to an end.
California Moving Forward with Online Casinos
December 10th, 2010
This year has been a big year for online gambling in general, which means good news for all folks who love to play free video slot games and the ever-so-popular casino table games without having to leave their house. In the United States more people are fighting towards new legislations and more states are joining in the battle. For instance, just after the Senate in the state of New Jersey approved their online gambling bill, the state of California has shown strong interest in improving their online casino gambling issues in 2011.
California is strongly trying to fix the state budget and have turned to online gambling for a possible solution. According to state officials the newest online gambling bill sponsor will be announced before the year ends. California has always had issues with the tribes in their state but have improved those relationships to a point where discussion is a possibility and their support is practically imminent. It seems as tough the political atmosphere in California is improving dramatically for the online casino gambling community and will continue as the new year rolls in.
In California the new governor, Jerry Brown, is said to be open for a new online gambling-related bill and things in the state are still looking good with both houses remaining predominantly Democratic. However, the success of this new proposal is California depends entirely on how the bill behaves in New Jersey. When online casinos are fully legal there, other states in the country will follow since legislators will take advantage of the momentum since other states have shown apprehension simply for the fact that they don’t want to be the first to try out this new law. Other states want to know what has been done outside of their home towns before they go ahead an change their legislations, especially when its a sensitive issue like online gambling.
More Obstacles for Online Casinos in the US
November 12th, 2010
This past October, the Republican party in the United States took control of the House of Representatives after picking up 60 seats in midterm elections. This is the largest gain in the House since 1948 for the Republicans. What does this mean for the online gaming community?
With President Obama’s Democratic Party loosing a great deal of control of the House, the Lower House of Congress and with minimum grasp of the U.S. Senate, both online gambling operations and regular land-based gamblers should be concerned as to what this will mean for the progress of American gambling laws. In 2008, when the new president was elected, the online gaming community was hopeful with the Democrat taking three chambers of government and placing majorities into both of the Congressional Houses.
However, these new results have largely dimmed the possibilities for positive changes in the next two years. Even though the Republican party has not been consistent about their view on online gambling, senior US Senator for the State of Kentucky, Mitch McConnell, has consistently voted against all previous gambling legislation and his state has been very unfriendly to offshore gambling. McConnell serves as an example for how the community can expect for Republics to react in newer, or even paused, legislations regarding the legalization of online casinos and gambling sites.
One of the positive figures to remain in office is representative Barney Frank, U.S. House Representative for Massachusetts and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who has been an activist for the legalization of online casinos in the United States. These online gaming sites would offer the same options land-based venues have including poker tables, video slots and more. However, the new Republican force in the House is not likely to to take Frank’s proposals into consideration even when in the past he did have bi-partisan support.