Category Archives: Online Gambling

TWO FORMER gambling addicts have turned their losses into gains by starting a tech business to help other affected people.

Jack Symons is the founder and CEO of Gamban, an app that blocks thousands of gambling and stock trading sites to benefit individuals struggling with gambling addiction.

1

Symons and Matt Zarb-Cousin, his partner in GamBan, were tens of thousands of dollars in debt according to a spokesperson.

Just before I turned 20, I really wanted to take my own life," Zarb-Cousin explained in a post for the Addictions Provider Alliance. "I dont think it was about the money.

"It was about where the addiction had led me to. Gambling had distracted me from my life for so long."

Problem gamblers are the most at-risk individuals when it comes to self-harm.

A 2017 study found that one in five gambling addicts attempt suicide, higher than any other addiction disorder.

Symons told The Sun that casual gamblers can be a family tragedy, work-related incident, or adrenaline hunt away from crossing the threshold to problem gambling.

"It culminated for me with one big win, something around $35,000 in one spin of a slot machine," Symons told The Sun in an exclusive interview. "I think I was kind of both unlucky and lucky in equal measure on that night."

The United States is rather taken with gambling - in Arizona's first three months of legal digital gambling, Arizonians wagered $1.2billion.

Content machines like Barstool Sports made their mark by producing gambling content while legacy media outlets plaster wagering odds into on-screen graphics.

Meanwhile, new gambling start-ups are popping up every day trying to gain footing in the $60billion dollar industry.

The silent epidemic has an estimated two million Americans addicted to gambling, and millions of people abroad are struggling with the same issue.

Over the last seven years, Symons has been refining GamBan, an app and web plug-in that blocks tens of thousands of gambling and gambling-adjacent sites for problem gamblers for a small fee.

GamBan runs on proprietary technology to block gambling sites without being invasive.

Available on all platforms, GamBan is meant to supplement other treatment options for gambling addiction.

During his own struggles, Symons downgraded his cell phone to a Nokia clamshell - while effective, few are going to be able to sacrifice a smartphone no matter how deep into debt their gambling addiction has led them.

"There's a tradeoff between being able to have the technology that I need and being able to have that device free from the tyranny of constant temptation," Symons said.

The app is made to be deliberately difficult to uninstall. On iOS, deleting the app from the home screen will not lift the restrictions.

Later in GamBan's evolution, they reached a crossroads when it came to stock trading apps and gamified crypto platforms.

Studies showed that most people considered it gambling, but the deciding factor was the company's correspondence with a gambling addiction hotline.

Workers for GamCare, a gambling addiction hotline, told the company that callers were regretting commitments to gamified trading platforms and cryptocurrencies.

GamBan even blocks Robinhood, the common trading platform with almost no barriers to entry.

Inexperienced traders can engage in complex transactions without fully understanding their mechanics. "Typical trading on these platforms doesn't look like a well-executed, responsible trading," Symons said.

Symons and the GamBan team also found "a lot of the crypto platforms that allow you to gamble with crypto."

They determined it was "essentially gambling on your gambling" and blocked access for GamBan users.

The Biden administration has been tight-lipped about the federal government's general position on gambling and has mostly focused on shutting down illegal sports books. Legal or not, one thing is certain:

"They say the house always wins and that is 100% true," Symons concluded.

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I was an online gambling addict I wanted to take my life at 19 but now Im saving others... - The US Sun

If youve been betting for some time now on online casino Canada platforms or land-based venues, you must have witnessed a remarkable gambling industry transformation with every passing year. This is because of the emergence of online casinos that have allowed punters to bet from pretty much anywhere they may find convenient. As with any change or new developments in any industry, debates have been brewing about which is better. The most significant differences include:

With the player experience differences in mind, lets review some numbers that may help point to which of the two is succeeding based on the fan base and the revenue.

Have you thought about why some land-based casino operators have shut their brick-and-mortar businesses and migrated to online platforms? Well, its time to consider the financial implications for businesses and jurisdictions. For jurisdictions with legalized online gambling, the post-COVID 19 stats seem to be pointing to a massive shift in revenue and betting handles.

The numbers are so overwhelming that tribal casino operators in the US have been opposing legislative efforts to make online gambling legal unless they get a bigger share of control in the market. This is not that strange considering the multiple community projects the tribes have been supporting from revenue generated through land-based gambling facilities. However, the tribes have not been the only ones affected by the rise of online casinos, as commercial operators have been seen offering both online and in-person betting options to maintain existing customers.

2020 was a major turning point in the gambling industry as online gambling became a multi-billion-dollar industry. The possible reasons for this include the low cost of setting up an online gambling site and the ability to hold more games than in a land-based casino. In addition, the multi-currency option in online casinos also widens the reach for players from different places. Due to the iGaming industrys rapid growth, recent projections indicate that the market will be worth $92.9 billion by 2023.

Online casinos have been gracing the internet for quite some time now, and they have been growing more and more popular every day. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus pandemic limited in-person gambling activities due to mandated lockdowns and casino shutdowns. As a result, the online casino scene soared high to a point where punters who would have never imagined betting using their devices had to hop onto the online betting bandwagon.

Most players have found that playing online affords one of the most precious commodities that seem to be elusive in recent years time. Players can switch between several casino sites from the same browser without moving a muscle (save for the ones on the fingers, of course). This can be done as the gambler pursues other important activities in their lives, hence saving them the time that would have had to be spent at a land-based casino.

Another reason online casinos have become a fan favourite in the past decade is the broad product offering. The fact that users are always looking for more in a casino provider is a no-brainer, and it is no wonder that the space available at a land-based casino is limited. As a result, the online casino operators who get to fit as many products as they like onto a single platform get an edge over their more traditional predecessors.

Besides, the generous welcome bonuses that come with registering at an online casino are hard to beat. And on top of the welcome perks, players also have the luxury of redeeming the weekly bonuses and tournaments that are constant at most online gambling sites. Land-based casinos also offer bonuses and promotions, but they are mostly seasonal and require a little more effort to claim, and they are usually available to loyal customers only.

As we delve deeper into the digital era, its becoming more and more obvious that the approaches used to attract clients to any business years ago are becoming less effective. Thus, business proprietors have to look for ways to match the increasingly evolving customer profiles.

As the industry begins to embrace virtual reality technology as a great way to have your cake and eat it, the number of physical casinos shutting down keeps going up daily. However, this does not mean that players arent going to bet at brick-and-mortar casinos as they have some advantages. But, of course, there are lots of challenges to be overcome for the physical casinos to stay afloat and continue being relevant to the modern punter.

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Which Gaming Sector is Ahead: Land-based or Online Casinos? - About Manchester

Online gaming has swiftly emerged as the most engaging form of entertainment in India owing to younger demographics, increased internet penetration, and affordable smartphones. Evolving technologies resulting in immersive experiences have led more people to adopt this new form of entertainment instead of the passive ones.

The popularity of online gaming including e-sports, online casual games and real money gaming can be gauged readily with the industry growing at a rate of about 35 per cent in 2019-20, outpacing OTT, television, and social media platforms. Propelled by the mobile-first phenomenon and around 420 million gamers already active, online gaming is disrupting conventional forms of entertainment.

Like any social change and most new technologies, the industry has been functioning under the weight of societal ramifications and perceptual ambiguity online real money gaming is often confused with gambling. Whilst games of skill (fantasy chess, bridge, rummy, and poker) are legal and protected under the Constitution, games of chance (roulette, teen patti, and dice) are essentially about gambling and hence deemed illegal.

As per the Indian Constitution, gambling is classified under the State List. States have the power to regulate or prohibit such activity. Failing to distinguish between online skill-based gaming and gambling, some states have either placed restrictions or buried the sunrise sector under regulatory ambivalence.

This is unfortunate given that games of skill are legitimate business activities protected under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution as per the rulings of the Supreme Court and several High Courts till date. These rulings have also emphasised a clear distinction between games of skill and games of chance.

Last year, the Tamil Nadu government amended the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws, 1930 banning online games. The ordinance banned all forms of online gaming and stated that games of mere skill if played for wager, bet, money or other stakes cannot be allowed in the state. The Madras High Court, however, struck down the law in August 2021 observing that a complete ban was unconstitutional. The Court also acknowledged that a game involving substantial skill would not amount to gambling. It also protected online gaming and the nuances surrounding it, thus, clearing the ambiguity between gaming and gambling as well as the legal status of online skill games in India.

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The government recently constituted a four-member committee to examine issues related to online gaming and make recommendations for the promulgation of an ordinance to regulate the sector. Constituted against the backdrop of reports on unfortunate instances of people indulging in irresponsible gaming, the committee will examine the ways to identify the online games which are addictive and suggest whether these games really involve skills or mere tricks. It will also study the algorithms of online games to ascertain whether they can be tweaked to the benefit of online gaming companies.

This initiative is certainly a welcome one and demonstrates the governments progressive intent to protect the interests of the players. However, to really protect players, the regulatory muddle needs a comprehensive review. The way forward is to formulate a structured gaming law that allows players to enjoy the thrills of online gaming responsibly, safely, transparently and securely.

For the players, the industry and government, the need of the hour is to acknowledge the significance of responsible gaming and develop a regulatory framework defined by progressive policies to monitor and mitigate the possibility of irresponsible gaming. Attempts to solve the potential issues with bans will only result in players migrating from legitimate online skill-based operators to fly-by-night operators and lead to uncontrolled illegal activities, inadvertently compounding the problem the government is seeking to address.

Regulation and responsible gaming will provide players with a secure and trustworthy environment. Combining responsible gaming elements with effective policies and recommendation services would aid in defining a strategy centred on ensuring player protection and increasing stakeholders awareness and education. While keeping responsible gaming and self-regulation at its core, EGF has already designed and implemented our own code of conduct that requires operators to have features like KYC, SSL level encryption, risk-flagging mechanisms, daily and monthly restrictions, self-exclusion, and so on, to provide a secure user with an experience that cultivates healthy gaming habits and encourages appropriate gaming behaviour.

Globally, gaming is a well-regulated industry, and many countries, including the UK, US, and EU, have regulations in place to ensure that players enjoy this form of entertainment responsibly. Studying these global best practices would help in creating a gaming law that protects players, encourages responsible gaming, and assists legitimate operators while weeding out those who break the law.

The online gaming industry is committed to providing expertise and cooperation to the government in developing an effective regulatory framework for the sector. In view of this, a dialogue between the government and the industry is urgently needed to discuss the ground realities such as how the industry operates, available safety measures, and how it can be enhanced to develop a standard system that will establish a regulated industry while encouraging responsible gaming.

This column first appeared in the print edition on June 25, 2022 under the title Notes from a binge-watcher. The writer is CEO, E-Gaming Federation

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We need to formulate a structured gaming law that allows players to enjoy the thrills of online gaming responsibly, safely, transparently and securely...

ONLINE gambling is almost commonplace and ads for such activities can be seen in dodgy websites, spam email as well as unsolicited SMS and WhatsApp messages.

Is gambling on online casinos and betting sites illegal?

Verdict:

TRUE

Online gambling is illegal under the current Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 (CGHA), the Betting Act 1953 (although the Act does not explicitly cover it) as well as Syariah Law.

The Betting Act is a broad-based one that bans all forms of gambling unless the company has a legal licence to operate and covers telecommunications and other means of transmitting bets between customers and betting houses.

As per this Act, anyone caught running a betting house or caught in one will be penalised with a RM200,000 fine and five years in jail.

The CGHA (with further amendments) is more inclusive than the Betting Act in its coverage of types of gambling. The CGHA defines gaming as "the playing of any game of chance or of mixed chance and skill for money or money's worth".

In 2020, the punishment for both illegal gamblers and gambling operators was increased 20-fold, from RM5,000 to RM100,000 and a minimum jail sentence of six months.

Syariah law bans all forms of gambling among Muslims in the country.

Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar operations, however, it is easy for online gambling providers and users to mask their identity online.

Furthermore, regulation of such sites is difficult as all the authorities can do is block offending sites.

However, according to LGMS Berhad chairman and cybersecurity consultant CF Fong, even doing that is difficult.

"They will (just change) their domain name once their servers have been blocked. They can notify their users about the new sites that can pop up quickly. It will be difficult for the authorities to keep track and block (all of) them," he said.

Fong added that many online gambling sites had their servers hosted abroad, making it harder to identify the owners.

Fong also believes legalising online gambling could lead to other social issues.

"When you allow online gambling, anyone can set up a site and collect money from people. So unless the (act of) gambling is based in (physical) establishments, it will not be feasible to regulate.

"Ethically, I dont think (allowing) it is good because you are encouraging and giving the public more access to gambling," he said.

On the other hand, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry has estimated that the country loses RM2bil in taxes annually to online gambling.

Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin told The Star in a recent interview that the government was looking into updating the CGHA to better tackle online gambling.

He said it was even considering allowing certain online games that involve "betting" and "gift offers" to be regulated.

He said online games (the non-gambling kind) were very popular in Malaysia and some charge people to play.

"Some of the operators also offer 'gifts', and we are hoping to regulate this as well," he said.

While not strictly gambling per se, some of these games do have gambling-like features, especially those that use loot box mechanics.

In video games, a loot box is a consumable virtual item which can be redeemed for a random selection of in-game items, some of which are highly prized.

These are obtained either through events within the game or directly from the game maker with cash.

Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Finance Ministry was contacted about two months ago, and offers to amend the law on its behalf were made.

"In principle, the law is under the Finance Ministry's jurisdiction, but we cannot amend it unless we are given the power to do so," he had said.

Wan Junaidi added that he was awaiting Finance Ministry confirmation on the issue.

He also said the current laws on gambling were outdated, especially when it came to online gaming.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8274414/

2. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=452f5e91-2251-4a8a-bd07-f55b94e10e9e

3. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/22/gruelling-to-navigate-online-gamblingin-cyberspace

4. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/22/rm2bil-loss-from-online-gambling

5. https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2022/06/02/groups-urge-us-to-probe-039loot-box039-on-electronic-arts-video-game

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QuickCheck: Is online gambling currently illegal in Malaysia? - The Star Online

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BGaming is delighted to announce that the studio has implemented all the technical improvements required by the German market regulator and is ready to provide its iGaming content to the local operators.

BGamings portfolio of online slots is now fully compliant with the German regulation. The company has started supplying its high-quality games to partners working with German traffic and operating in the .de national domains.

After changes in the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021, which allowed operators to provide online slots on a federal level, there were still several significant restrictions regarding the content casinos could provide to their players. The regulations related to the length of the spin, stake limit, auto-play, and other online slot performance.

BGaming has finished the adoption of its existing slots to all the required by German regulator guidelines and is ready to distribute its content to partners operating in the .de domains or working with German-located players.

The requirements BGaming added to its portfolio of games for the German market are as follows:

Five seconds spin length;

No autoplay feature;

1 per spin stake limit;

Games description in German language, where the RTP must be visible.

Alexandr Shavel, Head of Business Development Department at BGaming, commented: Thanks to BGamings agile technical team, we could quickly define the needs of the local operators and help them overcome the difficulties of the German regulations. We aim to strengthen relationships with German partners and will continue supplying them with the best content compliant with the local law.

These improvements are expected to grant BGaming further content distribution to the German region and strengthen the studios position in regulated markets.

BGaming is a fast-growing game provider converting gambling into gaming. Thanks to an expert team and a player-driven approach, the studio creates innovative and engaging products featured on reputable platforms and 700+ online casinos worldwide. BGaming is the worlds first to support cryptocurrencies and offer Provably Fair games. Today the brands portfolio includes 80+ products with HD graphics and a clear user interface for every device.

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BGaming's portfolio of online games is now fully compliant with the German regulation - European Gaming Industry News

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One word that can rightfully describe cryptocurrency is volatile. The prices can soar really high quickly, but they seem to crash almost as quickly. The idea of sudden gain attracts investors, but the risk tolerance is not for all. The volatility attracts traders, but it can get nerve-racking for new investors to deal with such a volatile market scenario. In early June this year, in 4 days, the value of bitcoin declined by nearly 23% ($30,500 to about $23,500). The Ethereum value plunged as low as 31% in the same period. Seems like the entire crypto market is sinking this year.

With the volatile crypto market and the crash of Bitcoin, it is interesting to understand its effect on online casino gambling, which is only growing popular because it is still widely preferred by gamblers due to its convenience and anonymity.

The Benefit of Anonymity:

It is a well-known fact that certain gambling sites are notorious enough to phish your personal data and market it to third-party dealers. This is one of the main reasons why gamblers worry about sharing their details with any gambling site and choose the path of anonymity that Bitcoin casino offers. As this method ensures that you need not share your personal information, it has a tight influence on the gamblers because the freedom it offers to bet without worrying about a breach of personal data is much appreciated.

The Ease of Transactions:

One of the major issues gamblers encounter is moving their winnings to the account. Any other mode of payment will take some time to process the money as it has a financial institution involved. That is not the case with Bitcoin, though, as it is independent. This means moving your winnings from the online casino to the account is a quick task. While traditional payouts take at least a weeks time, Bitcoin transfer can happen in about 30 minutes.

The Influence of Low Gambling Cost:

Gambling is all about spending money, trying your luck to win more, and having fun while doing it. But it really helps if you could cut costs somewhere in the process. The conventional betting websites controlled by financial groups are known to impose small fees for money transfers from one betting account to another. This significantly changes in the bitcoin casinos, where they charge an insignificant fee that goes to the miners who sustain the blockchain.

Another issue that bitcoin casinos address is eliminating the withdrawal limit, which is a substantial negative aspect of conventional casinos.

Because of the numerous advantages offered above by bitcoin casinos, it is quite popular among gamblers. Additionally, it even helps gamblers enjoy these casinos that reside in places that do not permit gambling.

The market has suffered a deep plummet for sure, but such scenarios have also occurred before, and the market has seen a steady rise ever since. Hence, though the market has dipped again, bitcoin gambling will still see a steady rise in 2022.

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The Effect of the Bitcoin Crash on Online Gambling - Programming Insider

games found

Even if you already gamble online for real money, playing free casino games can still be exciting and fun. While there is no cash to win in free games, they still contain the same free spins and bonus rounds found in real money games that keep the gameplay fun.

Players can also use free casino games to test whether a game is good enough to play for real money. Gamblers can find the best free online games and perfect their gameplay before raising the stakes.

Most online casinos provide free casino games with no download or registration requirements with their sites. This means you can start playing the best free online games straightaway, without worrying about viruses or divulging personal data. Anyone gambling with a recommended casino featured onOnline Gambling though can rest assured their details are safe and secure.

Free games with no download or registration requirements also mean gamblers can avoid joining online casinos that don't offer competitive bonuses. Undecided whether free online games with no registration and no download are suitable for your gameplay needs? Check the table below:

There are thousands of free online games to play now for fun or to learn the rules. Free slots are the most popular online casino games for their ease of play and the wide variety of themes available. Online casino games such as craps, roulette or poker are also excellent options for improving strategic skills and confidence, before making the transition over to real money play.

Slots

This is the easiest casino game to play. Simply spin the wheel and if you're lucky,it will land on a winning combination! From classic slots to multi-line slot machines, our recommendedpartners offer some of the bestfree slot gamesonline.

Craps

Craps is a particularly important game to experience for free because of the complexityof its rules and the variety of bets you can place. Find thebest craps gamesas well as promotions and bonuses with our online selection.

Roulette

This table game may be deceptively simple, but bettors can deploy a variety of strategiesto mitigate their wins or losses, depending on their luck. Test whether you prefer the Fibonacci strategyor James Bond's approach with somefree roulette games.

Blackjack

Hit 21 or at least get closer than the dealer and win the game. Don't go over though,or you automatically lose. Head over to our selection of recommended casino partners and practice yourcard skills with free online blackjack.

Poker

Whether it's Texas Hold'em or Stud, all styles of poker require players to have a goodunderstanding of the hierarchy of hands, and when to bow out of the game. Check out some of these topfree poker gamesand get to grips with the different types available.

While free casino games do not pay out any winnings, they do offer players the chance to win bonus features like those found at real money casinos. These perks are integral to forming strategies and it is worthwhile practicing their execution in free casino games before transitioning to real money.

Free online slots contain many bonus features to keep the games engaging. Here are the most popular bonus rewards to land in free slot games online:

Gives players additional rounds on the game

Represent any symbol on a slot's table, can help complete payout lines

Offers players another round on the slot games

These appear anywhere on the reels and trigger a win

Increases winnings or other bonuses from 2x to 100x the original

As these symbols can affect the progressive probabilities in a game, it is worthwhile finding free slot games with these bonus features.

In other casino games, bonus features can include interactive storyline videos and "Easter eggs" in the form of mini side-games. Rewards and bonuses found in real money games, like progressive jackpots and free credit, are sometimes awarded in free casino games to keep the gameplay realistic. However, free casino game players should note bonuses in these games will not result in winning real money.

Online casinos frequently offer generous welcome deposit bonuses, cash freerolls, and merchandise for card and table game signups, but other bonuses that extend free play can be found in the free versions of these games.

With thousands of free casino games available online to play straightaway, many new gamblers wonder if there is a catch. After all, why would an online casino offer so many free games for nothing in return? Well, there are several reasons:

Thousands of casino sites are competing for your time and attention. Offering freecasino games encourages new players to choose their site over their competitors.

Many people are uncertain about gambling online. With free casino games, people candiscover which types of games suit their style, without the potential negative repercussionsof real money games.

Experienced gamblers will sometimes want to play new games, but don't want to lose anymoney. For casino sites, it is better to give gamblers the option of trialing a new game forfree than have them never experiment with new casino games at all.

Beginners to free casino games generally wish to learn a new online game or improve their skills. These games offer an ideal environment to test and trial strategies, gain a better understanding of complex games, or discover any deficiencies in your gameplay before playing real money mobile casino games.

When playing any online casino game for the first time, it is best to start simple and then progress to more complex versions. For instance, classic Vegas slots offer newcomers the chance to understand how a slot machine works, what each symbol represents, and the probability odds of different combinations. More complex machines, such as nine-line slots or progressive jackpots, pay out higher rewards, but require more in-depth knowledge to earn any winnings.

Throughout this process, take note of which online casinos offer the best rewards. Free spins, welcome bonuses or casino credit points will help you get the most out of your play at an online casino.

Think of your real money play as a performance. When there are a lot of things that need to go right to perform at virtuoso levels, most of them need to become second nature. And that's where free casino games come in.

For slots, an intuitive grasp of how stakes and the number of payout lines played come together to affect bonus and progressive possibilities is key. You don't want to waste time trying to remember how it all works when deciding whether to ride out a cooler streak at lower stakes or hit the machine hard.

For a table game like craps, a deep understanding of when to embrace different combinations of bets relative to your bankroll is vital. In a way, it's a bit like fishing.

In 2022, online gambling casinos want to stand out from the pack whenever they can. Offering free casino games is a way for them to show off the breadth and depth of their game offerings. You can have fun, discover the games you like best, and become better at playing them without risk.

But there are tons of online casinos these days. Where should you begin?

We continuously monitor the ever-changing landscape of online gambling sites and the free casino games they offer. We look at who is offering the most games and the best variety.

But we go much further. We know you'll eventually want to play for real money. So we only recommendonline casinosthat pass our rigorous standards for integrity, security, customer service, and transaction alternatives. That way, you'll already be seated in a top online casino when you're ready to up the ante.

You were lucky enough to find us in your search for the top online gambling experience. Improve your odds going forward by visiting us frequently so you're always in the know about the top online gambling sites with the best free casino games!

Players will not be able to claim their winnings when playing free online casino games. As an alternative though, many online casinos offer promotions such as no deposit bonuses or free spins. These offers give players the opportunity to play real money games without risking their own cash.

This website features over a thousand recommended partners offering a variety of no download casino games, including blackjack, poker and roulette. Classic single-line slot games and multi-line combo slots are available too, as are themed TV slots like Wheel of Fortune.

In a game of slots, sometimes a casino will offer a player free credit, i.e. $5. This will give the player extra rounds on the slot machine, depending on how much the player wishes to bet in one turn.

This is dependent on a variety of factors. Some newcomers prefer certain online casinos for their in-depth guides to casino games. Other online casinos might specialize in a particular game or offer a wider variety of games than its competitors. We recommend doing your research and playing free games with multiple online casinos.

As many free online casino games do not require players to signup or register, or download software, they are relatively safe to play. Take the same precautions that you would when browsing the internet, however, and be wary of websites asking for random details or containing viruses. All recommended casinos on Online Gambling have been vetted through our solid reviews process to offer players a safe environment to enjoy gambling.

When searching for trusted online casinos, a discerning approach is best. Research for any tell-tale patterns of bad reviews from other gamblers, and if you have already deposited money, be on the alert for flaky software, slow payouts or random fees. Our website regularly researches and reviews online casinos to find the most trusted partners, and alerts gamblers to sites best avoided in our blacklist page.

Online casinos that offer strong security protection for players' personal bank details, process transactions in an efficient time frame and manner, offer fair games, and are certified by an independent third-party auditor can generally be trusted. Like surfing the web, be suspicious of any website asking for random details, or containing viruses.

Free online casino games are well-suited for mobile players, as they can be accessed anywhere, at any time. Android users can access hundreds of the best free casino games through Google Play, which offers compatible casino game apps with free demos. Apple aficionados can also discover the best free casino games for iPad and iPhones via the Apple Store, or visit our recommended mobile casinos for instant play.

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Play Free Casino Games - Online Gambling

For many years, Atlantic City casino wanderers have been liable to notice a small backup of slot machine players waiting for an open chair to pop up among some very specific and extremely popular machines: the Wheel of Fortune games.

Now, BetMGM on Tuesday announced an agreement with Sony Pictures Television and International Game Technology (IGT) to launch Wheel of Fortune Casino, described as the first full brand-led online casino in North America.

According to the partners, more than 250 versions of Wheel of Fortune slot games have been introduced over the last 25 years. And its only appropriate that the launch will kick off sometime later this year in New Jersey, arguably the most innovative state in the U.S. when it comes to new gambling options. In May, fixed odds betting debuted at Monmouth Park, while esports enthusiasts can now legally bet on their favorite players and games.

Wheel of Fortune is watched nightly by millions of people, and BetMGM is honored to partner with Sony Pictures Television and IGT to bring this online casino experience to life, BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost said in a statement. Once live, Wheel of Fortune Casino will offer players the excitement of their favorite game show and real money wagering in the palm of their hand.

Enrico Drago, CEO of Digital & Betting for IGT, added, Were excited to celebrate the evolution of the IGT Wheel of Fortune slot brand with BetMGM and Sony Pictures Television through the launch of Wheel of Fortune Casino. The Wheel of Fortune brand has been synonymous with slot gaming for more than 25 years, and this unprecedented brand-led online casino, driven by BetMGMs compelling platform and promotional capabilities, is well-positioned to engage and entertain new and long-time players.

Officials for BetMGM, which is headquartered in New Jersey, said that responsible gaming education remains a key focus for the company, including a partnership with GameSense and its responsible gaming tools.

While casino visitors like the Wheel slots because of their fondness for the game show, occasionally the machine provides a lot more than mere nostalgia. For instance, last September a female Jersey Shore resident playing a Wheel of Fortune Progressive Jackpot machine at Resorts casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk won a whopping $1.64 million.

According to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, there was a $101,000 winner on PlayMGMcasino.com on a Wheel of Fortune game on May 9 as well as an $80,000 Wheel winner at the Hard Rock casino on March 31 on a machine with a $100 denomination wager. And backon Feb. 9, a lucky Wheel player cashed $52,500 on Caesarscasino.com.

A key part of the game shows allure seems to be familiarity. Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been hosting and turning letters for four decades, so even those who may have not seen the program for a number of years can return to the same old game show without missing a beat.

Photo: Ed Komenda/Reno Gazette Journal

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Wheel Of Fortune To Become Standalone Online Casino - NJ Online Gambling

Hollywood has come to accept that content is the primary weapon in the streaming wars. Quietly, as legalized online sports betting spreads across the country, content also has become the weapon of choice for digital casino operators and betting firms looking for that edge in what has been an expensive grab for consumer dollars. And content creators, from production companies to podcasters to established TV talent, are cashing in.It is the streaming wars version for casino operators, former Wall Street analyst Hal Vogel says.

Online sports betting has been on a steady expansion across the U.S. since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Murphy vs. NCAA paved the way for states to permit the practice. As each state legalized access to sports betting (its legal in 21 states, with another nine pending and others expected to follow), gaming operators jumped into the space, both digitally native firms like DraftKings, and legacy casino brands like MGM and Caesars. Even media companies entered the fray, with Fox launching FoxBet in partnership with Flutter (now owner of FanDuel).

But the expansion has proved to be expensive, with each state launch requiring a local marketing blitz. As anyone who lives in a state that has legalized sports betting in the past year or two would tell you, as soon as it becomes legal, TV ads, targeted digital marketing campaigns and mailed flyers proliferate. So gaming companies have turned to content as a point of differentiation. The result has been a flurry of deals covering podcasts, social media content like TikTok videos and Instagram pages, and even talent deals, as athletes, entertainers and sports media celebrities sign on with various gaming firms to produce originalcontent.

Most recently, Caesars Entertainment, owner of the famed Las Vegas casino resort and the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app, inked a deal with Peyton Mannings Omaha Productions to produce video and podcast content for its various platforms. Caesars big bet is that Peyton drives his rabid audience to its gambling platform and keeps them there, and away from others, says Peter Csathy, chairman of advisory firm Creative Media. Its all about customer acquisition and customer retention in an increasingly hyper-competitive online and offline world of gambling, gaming and crypto.

We do believe that consumers are smart, and it is much better to engage them with content and to let them get to know the world we are creating, Caesars Sportsbook chief marketing officer Sharon Otterman says. You dont have to keep hammering them over the head with this offer or that offer. It is a strategic way to build a relationship with customers, and to respect both sides of the equation.

It is, in the words of a finance world source, a wash, rinse, repeat cycle. Players come into the ecosystem because of the content, play, and then, hopefully, stay.

If anything, Caesars deal with Manning and his production company is the culmination of a years-long effort by betting firms to differentiate themselves through content. Penn National Gaming acquired a sizable minority stake in Barstool Sports in early 2020, and plans to become majority owner of the company next year. In addition to Barstool content like original podcasts, Penn also launched a Barstool-branded sportsbook.

Pat McAfee, the popular radio host and YouTube creator, inked a nine-figure deal with FanDuel last year to bring his program to the betting companys platforms. BetMGM struck deals with The Athletic, now owned by The New York Times, and Yahoo Sports, and Caesars hired former ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne in a content role, to name just a few deals.

Otterman says the company moved into content after it found that customers were tiring of the transactional experience of betting apps, with users saying the space felt more like a bank than the experience when you first walked into Caesars Palace.

Users enjoy and relate to talent and content on a different level than they do a game or betting app, and betting firms are more than willing to pay to secure that relationship for themselves. So far, many of the deals involve podcasts, and in particular podcasts that touch on sports, where the betting company is the presenting sponsor (and can also sell ad space). With sports podcasts already a top genre and betting already a frequent topic of conversation, the deals have proliferated. But deals for video content (again, usually sports-related), distributed on social platforms, YouTube, or within the apps and websites of betting firms, also have become morefrequent.

Former ESPN talent have been in particularly high demand. In 2021, DraftKings inked a multiyear deal with Meadowlark Media (co-founded by former ESPN chief John Skipper) to sponsor and distribute former ESPN radio host Dan Le Batards podcasts in whats been described as a mid-eight-figure deal. It is not a big leap for these companies to invest in media, because it gives them alternate ways to diversify their revenue streams, but also build their own audience and content, says Meadowlark Media COO Bimal Kapadia.

But more than anything, its about getting those consumers into their own ecosystems. It really is all about collecting those email addresses, says Joe Favorito, a sports media consultant and adjunct professor at Columbia University. Increasingly, content is becoming the most cost-effective way to achieve that result. As a high-level source on the content side of the business tells The Hollywood Reporter, online sports betting has reached a point where the street wants to see ways that are less cash-intensive to raise awareness and increase engagement for their platforms.

With much of the country on board or likely to launch legalized online sports betting in the next year or so, the localized land grab is giving way to more efficient national campaigns. The rapid growth of our footprint has opened up scale efficiencies that make some national initiatives accessible and attractive, whereaspreviously they were uneconomic because there was leakage into states where we were not active, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said at the companys May12 investor day.

That efficiency becomes more necessary as the country stares down a possible recession. Consumers are tightening purse strings, and sports bets could be an easy expense to cut. That environment could make content investments even more important, thanks to their inherent stickiness. Even if people dont make bets, they are likely to keep listening to podcasts or watching funny videos created by Manning or Mayne (like Maynes Betting 101 series for Caesars, which uses his quirky sense of humor to introduce betting concepts to users).

Dans voice, whether it is in a bear market or a bull market, is still relevant to his fanbase, Kapadia says of Le Batards loyal audience.

And the economics of the deals also work to help betting firms amortize their costs by selling other ads on owned podcasts or videos, or reselling content elsewhere if so desired. If betting companies can have their own content, or licensed or partnered content, they have an ability to lower those [consumer acquisition] costs because they can then recoup it through their own ad sales, their own licensing deals, their own partnerships, Kapadia adds.

Another content-side source notes that the strategy has already proven itself in between major sporting events, when, as one would expect, sports betting slows down. But consumers keep engaging with the content and return when things pick up. While a recession is certainly a different beast, the strategy shares a North Star.

We have no ambition to be a media company, that is not what we do, Caesars Otterman says, adding that increasingly the worlds of advertising and content are converging, and the best way that you can make sure a potential customer knows what we stand for, and to have an emotional connection to us, is to be immersed in our content.

And just as companies like Netflix, Disney, Paramount and NBCUniversal have found themselves in bidding wars for top-tier comedy and drama talent, betting firms are finding that authentic content from established names could be their ticket to consumer cash. Or at least their email addresses.

Gambling, gaming and crypto share the same opportunity and same dilemma, says Csathy. Consumers are willing to spend massive amounts of dollars, but they first need to know where to go spend that money.

Georg Szalai contributed to thisreport.

A version of this story appeared in the June 22 issue of The Hollywood Reportermagazine.Click here to subscribe.

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Las Vegas Sports Betting Giants Roll the Dice on Hollywood Talent - Hollywood Reporter

The Gambling Commission has told operators to stop marketing to customers who spend a significant proportion of discretionary income on gambling, and that they should perform responsible gambling interactions with one in every 12 online gaming customers.

The Commission published guidance today (21 June) as a follow-up to its new rules for players at risk of harm, which were published in April. These rules, as outlined at the time, instructed operators licensed in Great Britain to ban marketing to customers deemed to be at-risk.

Licensees must also flag indicators of harm and take action in a timely manner, as well as implementing automated processes for strong indicators of harm.

At the time, the Commission announced that further guidance would come in June.

This guidance has not provided specific details of what an at-risk customer may be, but noted that a wide range of factors may play into determining this. This includes personal and demographic factors such as age and health, situational factors such as financial difficulties, behavioural factors including attitude to risk, market-related factors such as the type of bets placed and access, which related to factors such as literacy and numeracy skills.

Specifically, the Commission highlighted certain behaviours that are much more associated with harmful play, such as unmonitored overnight gambling.

Rather than mentioning specific thresholds that could apply across all customers, the Commission noted that operators need to do more to create tailored thresholds based on open-source information about their customers.

Historically, gambling licensees have not systematically considered customer affordability when developing their customer interaction policies, it said. Many have used deposit or loss thresholds as a main or sole prompt for a customer interaction, but these have often been set at levels that were inappropriately high, in comparison to the average amount of money that the majority of people have available to spend on leisure activities.

This has led to a number of examples of customers spending more than they could afford, and this not being identified sufficiently early, as seen in much of the Commissions compliance and enforcement casework.

Open source data exists which can help licensees assess affordability for their GB customer base and improve their risk assessment for customer interactions. Thresholds should be realistic, based on average available income for your customers.

However, the regulator added that most people would consider it harmful if they were spending a significant proportion of their discretionary income on gambling. Discretionary income, it noted, excludes essential costs such as housing and bills.

The Commission also said that further guidance on financial risk will come soon, but licensees should be considering how they manage those risks now.

Further clues of the Commissions definition of an at-risk customer came as the regulator noted that different types of gambling activity may require different strategies. Here, the regulator said that licensees must must take account of problem gambling rates for the relevant gambling activity, and perform customer interactions at minimum, in line with this level.

However, it noted that this provision cannot mandate the outcome of the interactions.

Quoting the 2018 Public Health England survey, it said that 8.5% of online gaming players are classed as problem gamblers, as are 3.7% of online sports betting customers and 1.3% of customers at lotteries other than the National Lottery.

If the licensees systems do not identify numbers of customers at least in line with the problem gambling rates for the relevant activity, those systems are likely to be failing to identify the rightproportion of customers, the Commission said. Operators must ensure that they are on track to meet the minimum levels of customer interactions over an annual period, and to do so should assess progress monthly.

This would suggest that the regulator would expect minimum interactions with more than one in 12 online gaming customers.

We will update the guidance over time where we consider it necessary to reflect recent problem gambling prevalence statistics, the Commission said.

The Gambling Commission recently announced it would launch a new method of measuring harm, following a pilot survey. This method found that levels of gambling harm were higher than in the PHE survey, but it cautioned that the survey should not be used as an estimate of problem gambling at this stage, for reasons including the fact that it appears to oversample gamblers compared to non-gamblers.

All of the new rules will come into effect on 12 September,

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GC: Operators must interact with one in 12 online casino players - iGaming Business