Online Casinos Directory

The topic of online gambling is a big one in the world today. Almost every country is now debating over whether or not online gambling is the way to go in terms of finding additional tax-revenue options. The recession was difficult on communities all over the world and gambling is one of few ways legislators see to build up the millions needed to overcome the deficits. One country that is having problems implementing rules is South Africa. Back in 2008 the country passed a range of laws that were meant to help regulate online casino gambling activity. Much like the US-passed bill called the UIGEA, the South African laws for the most part failed.

The failure of the South African implementation of rules regarding gambling wasn’t due to the same reasons the UIGEA failed for the US. The US saw failure because gamers who were unable to wager online in the US quickly opted for casinos that were offshore. This of course meant they also were channeling millions of dollars into the other countries and the US was losing the money. Now that the US legislators realize the potential money that could come in from legalizing online gambling, they are quickly working to rewrite the laws.

South Africa for the most part had rules that could have worked but the government showed a true reluctance to implement them. Again the problem was that people who wanted to gamble moved to offshore companies that were able to handle their gaming needs. Again- the result was the same. South Africa, like the US, lost millions of dollars in revenue. Now the country is trying to rectify the problem. A few weeks ago the National Gambling Review Commission did a survey that proved how denying the implementation of standing laws regarding gambling is increasing the number of illegal gambling activity in the country. Their solution is to allow ten casino operators to request licensing and start up their own online companies to handle gambling. It is the beginning of a bigger implementation process and is said to help usher in more and more companies throughout the coming years.

In the midst of the post-recessionary economy, there are many problems to overcome. One of the main problems the Obama administration is facing is finding ways to overcome the unemployment rate. In the past two years, the unemployment rate has soared and millions of Americans have found themselves without jobs. Businesses cut back on jobs to stay in business and those jobs are yet to be recreated in the market. With a lack of jobs, the unemployment rate is stifled and unable to recoil from disaster. Though the government is giving tax breaks to businesses if they create jobs, the revival has been slow in coming.

One of the biggest pushes of bringing gambling and new casinos to various cities is the job creation that inevitably will come along with the new constructions. Developers are pining for casinos hoping that not only will jobs be brought to various areas, but also money will be brought into the markets. For example, Kentucky has long been toying with legalizing and regulating gambling. The state, like most others in the US, is hoping that gambling will be the answer to the state’s overall budgetary problems. The recession brought many states to their knees in terms of funding. Many programs are going to be cut without some viable way of bringing in additional funding. There are few options available but gambling is proving to be one that most legislators are at least willing to hear out. The UIGEA was the last ruling the federal government made regarding gambling and it stopped financial institutions from managing activities relating to gambling. This caused people who wanted to gamble to merely gamble elsewhere. They moved to offshore gambling entities and channeled billions of dollars out of the country.

Now that the government is realizing what a mistake the UIGEA really was, its legislators are working together to change things. They want to legalize and regulate gambling for the purpose of not only bringing jobs into the market, but also bringing in millions of dollars to the state, city and federal level of government. It’s a difficult time for the US states and budgets throughout, but hopefully new laws can aid in bringing in much needed funds.

The US is expected to legalize the regulation of online gambling.  In anticipation of this legislation,  a U.K. based supporter of the legislation has announced that it will launch a department to aid in processing U.S. online gambling once the legislation is passed.   The company is ready to provide a complete roster of services that assure safe financial transactions and outstanding consumer protections. Leading Secure Trading Inc.’s U.S. operations are three former senior executives from MasterCard Inc., Chris Thom, Ted Friedman and T.J. Chris Thom said, “Momentum for regulating Internet gambling in the U.S. has been building for some time. As Congress prepares to take the final step, Secure Trading Inc.’s turnkey system is primed to enable our customers to go live the moment Internet gambling is regulated.”

Chairman of UC Group, LTD Kobus Paulsen said, “Individually and collectively Chris, Ted and T.J. have extensive experience in the Card and Banking industry for providing Internet payment services across multiple market sectors. They bring substantial value to SecureTrading Inc. and our customer base as we prepare for the passage and implementation of online gambling regulation in the U.S.” The goal of Secure Trading Inc is to help gambling websites be more efficient and stay up to code with rules and regulations. The company also helps with financial processing of payments and to avert fraud. Online fraud is a serious concern in the market today. Especially with the huge surge in online businesses, there is a true concern that more and more crime is going to virtual businesses. It is hoped that the three executives of Secure Trading, Inc. will be able to work together to ensure positive movement in the world.

Before working with Secure Trading, Inc., Chris Thom was the Chief Risk Officer of MasterCard. That gives him some great insight into the world of fraud and security online. Tim Friedman, COO of Secure Trading, Inc., was the Chief Operating Officer of MasterCard New York and Europay International in Belgium. Friedman also served as the Global Head of Credit Products and SVP of Change Management. They have built a strong team to manage the initiative and are hoping that as the US heads closer to legalizing online gambling, the proper safeguards will be put into place to protect consumers.

 Sports’ betting is in the midst of debates throughout the country. With the recession hard on the heels of Americans everywhere, people and businesses are looking for additional revenue-generating tools to create. The biggest issue is that the recent 2008-2009 recession created an economy that is still suffering. Many businesses closed and others filed bankruptcy protection in an effort to stay afloat. Lenders closed their doors and businesses had to lay off people in mass numbers to sustain themselves. With consumers experiencing unemployment, they weren’t able to spend. Their lack of spending caused more businesses to suffer. The cycle became chronic in the market and many industry experts projected huge losses. They were right.

Now that the recession is considered “over” by many, it’s time to regroup and find out what damage was done. The lending industry is proving to still be having difficult times. Though financial institutions are starting to lend again, this time they are doing it will stricter requirements. For example, Wells Fargo is beginning to advertise lending specials, but the promotion is only open to current customers who have 700+ credit scores.  That greatly narrows down the pool of customers who are eligible for the loans and makes it more difficult for anyone to get back into their normal way of life.  

The economy is still struggling and sports’ betting is coming back into the forefront for debate. Though president Obama said he is not in support of using gambling to fund state coffers, the state of Delaware has had some success with its test round of gaming. Betting on football games in Delaware is proving to be lucrative. The state just announced that it brought in $810,000 in revenue throughout their first three months of operations. Prior to the move, industry analysts were projecting the state would make $500,000. Everyone within the state is excited at the true number that was over $200,000 more than anticipated.  Other states are watching closely the successes in the gambling market and what it means to state budgets. Since Delaware has had success, expect to see more states looking into legalizing sports’ betting and gambling in general.

When it comes to playing on the electronic table games, the reviews are still not in.  Some people like the electronic games and others prefer the real-live dealer feel.  Shannon Ridenour, an avid slots gambler, was among the first to enjoy the touch screen terminals offering roulette. As the automated wheel spun and bets were placed, Ridenour and others watched the ball settle via a live feed transmitted to their screens by an overhead camera. “I like it better than the regular table roulette, where everyone’s crossing their arms over each other,” said Ridenour, 38. “This is much quicker.” Ridenour, a casino regular, characterized the atmosphere at Indiana Live, which has 2,000 slot machines, as “Vegas lite.”

Other patrons of electronic table games in Indiana and Pennsylvania weren’t as positive about the electronic games, though their criticisms didn’t stop them from playing.  Ernie Turner stated, “I like a live dealer, and I like a real deck of cards.” Gambling analysts said avid players have better odds of winning at live games, because their chances are not restricted by a computer. Payouts at slot machines are typically set and regulated by states. Jeffrey Hooke, a gambling consultant, “It’s not like the player is battling against a dealer or against a deck of cards that could run hot or cold.”

The decision to accept table games and slots will ultimately be in the hands of Maryland officials. The state is solely responsible for purchasing and leasing the slots machines for the state and it is in their best interest to act wisely.  Roogow and other state officials are all determined to find the most cost-effective and lucrative option for the state because it gets a large percentage of the slot machine proceeds.  They want to maximize their dollars and bring in as much as possible. “Since this is about competing with neighboring states, we would hope they’re included in the mix,” said Eric Schippers, a spokesman for Penn National Gaming, which will operate the Cecil County venue. “In other jurisdictions, electronic table games have been found to be slot machines, because they are.”

Part of the campaign’s strength was advertising the hundreds of millions in revenue that would be accessible with the approval of slots parlors. That money was to be targeted to fund growth, education, and public works programs. Opponents warned of gambling addiction, crime, and corruption. Neither side focused on the kinds of games that would be allowed, but there was nothing secret either, some lawmakers said. “People should have done their homework if they thought this was some quaint little industry coming to Maryland,” said Representative Justin D. Ross, a slots opponent. “As far as I can tell, these machines are perfectly legal. It’s getting close to the line for sure, but it’s on this side of the line.”

Spokesperson for Governor Martin O’Malley, Rick Abbruzzese said electronic table games were “fully anticipated when the law was being crafted and the referendum went to voters.” He emphasized that Maryland needs to be competitive in its games choices with surrounding states that have slot machines. At a Pennsylvania slots casino run by the same firm that Maryland recently awarded a license to open a 1,500-machine slots parlor in Cecil County, the nearly life-size image of a woman in a tight blue dress appears on the video screens of virtual blackjack tables. “Want to play blackjack?” she asks playfully, before appearing to deal cards that show up on monitors in front of the players. An Indiana casino operated by the same firm just proposed a 4,750-machine casino at a mall in Anne Arundel County, real-life employees often greet players at the virtual blackjack tables. They serve beer and offer high-fives when a player beats the computerized dealer.

Gamblers at Indiana Live, about 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis, also are privy to an electronic version of roulette and compete at electronic poker tables. Next month, the casino plans to introduce electronic craps. Players will wager on virtual dice that are thrown electronically on a green screen. On a recent weeknight, the dozen six-seat blackjack tables were nearly full, and the roulette game was in full swing. Slots parlors all over the nation are moving to bring in additional methods of gaming. They cite the necessity to remain competitive as their impetus to the expansion.

Part three coming next.

Last year Maryland legalized slot machines, much to the approval of legislators looking to capitalize on the huge tax revenue dollars the machines inevitably bring in. One thing the state did not do however, was include legalizing blackjack, roulette and other table games. The reason was the state wanted to avoid the full onslaught of arguments against building casinos in the community.  Now however, things are set to change.

Although simple slots parlors were initially on the agenda, now it seems that the parlors may be expanded to include more. Voters authorized five venues and many believe that that limits the venues to slots parlors. State officials are now saying that they probably will allow electronic versions of the banned games when casinos start opening next year.  Buddy W. Roogow, director of the Maryland Lottery, stated, “I fully expect them to be included. We in Maryland have to be competitive.” Although the games do not use actual cards, chips or dice, they still manage to replicate the real land-based casino feel. For example, players who gather around electronic blackjack tables can double down or buy insurance with the press of a button as they try to beat the hand of a computerized dealer, sometimes wagering hundreds of dollars. The virtual table games are classified as slots in most states largely because the chances of winning are determined and monitored by a computer with no direct human interaction. They are all based on “luck”, or the random number generator inside, and therefore not games of skill.

When the community was at its initial debate over allowing slots games into the economy, not talk of additional table games were discussed. This most likely was due to lawmakers’ hesitations about expanding gambling. Slots were considered more acceptable because they are less susceptible to fraud. And little was said about electronic versions of the games, which have become popular only in recent years.  “It’s no surprise this industry would stretch the definition as far as it will go, but I don’t think that was the understanding of voters or the General Assembly,” said Representative Tom Hucker, who said he voted to put the slots measure on the ballot last year because he feared school budget cuts loomed as an alternative. He later changed his mind and campaigned against the ballot proposal.

Part two coming next.

“Problem and pathological gambling occurs in only 4% of the population,” said Dr. Suzanne Graupner Pike. “Gambling, in and by itself, does not ‘cause’ problems. When betting reaches a high-wager level and a player commits a crime to maintain that level of play, gambling is no longer about the money. It’s about how the wagering itself makes the player feel. In the end, when people escape into gambling to avoid uncomfortable feelings, resolve pre-existing life problems, or get adrenaline rushes, it is the feeling that becomes addictive.” Dr. Pike is just one of the professionals checking in on the growing problem of gambling addictions.  Many are concerned because as gambling moves to legalization, it may open the door to more people having problems.

Legislators worldwide are reviewing the issue of legalizing and regulating online and land-based gambling in their society. The problem is the huge hole in the budget the recession left.  Businesses and governments both saw their incomes decline drastically and their revenues either stay the same, or increase. Either way it left a mess of a budget to try to clean up post recession.  Now that the recession is officially over, governments want to bring in the huge tax-dollars available from legalizing gambling. Overall it is a billion-dollar industry. And studies have shown that if governments don’t legalize gambling, citizens will just gamble offshore. This means that billions of dollars are being diverted out of the country and bringing revenues to other countries.  It is causing legislators to think twice about the issue. If they can legalize gambling and take advantage of the billions of dollars readily available, then they can close up the gap between income and revenue and balance budgets.

Critics however have another position on legalizing gambling. They believe that it will only lead to greater problems and cause the amount of addictions to skyrocket. They believe that making gambling so readily available will open the door for problem gamblers everywhere to fall into serious addictions. A new study even showed that while only 4% of adults have gambling problems, the Harvard Public Health Task Force of the nation’s college campuses reports that problem gambling among students is reaching 11%.

A new Congressional report is estimating that legalizing and regulating online gambling could potentially bring over $41.8 billion in revenue to the country in the next 10 years. Representative Jim McDermott, who is sponsoring the Barney Frank gambling initiative, announced the results of the survey. It was completed by the joint committee on taxation and is being used to provide the staggering benefit gambling can have to the US economy if legalized and regulated.

McDermott stated, “I suspect that many of my colleagues, especially those on the fence, will take more interest in this issue once they see $41 billion available that they can match up with any number of worthy programs. I would suspect it’s only a matter of time before Congress appropriately moves to regulate the industry in order to protect consumers and reverse the flow of billions of dollars currently lost offshore as Americans gamble billions online despite attempts to prohibit the activity.”

McDermott has introduced a accompanying bill to Barney Frank’s amendment, that would raise money for the US Treasury through taxes and license fees on internet gambling companies. Michael Waxman, a spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said that he expected the report would “encourage immediate interest in this issue on Capitol Hill, as they struggle to pay for health care and other government programs.”

Frank’s bills seek to reverse — or at the very least, delay for one year — the acceptance of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, that forces banks to monitor and block all unlawful gambling transactions with debit and credit cards online. The UIGEA, however, does not identify which forms of wagering are unlawful. This has been its one major flaw. No one knows exactly what “gambling” is so banning it specifically is proving difficult.  That is why many legislators are seeing this as the opportune time to change the laws and amend them to legalize and regulate online gambling.

Considering the recession’s aftermath, almost every city and state government is looking for bringing gambling into their economy. The numbers are huge in terms of potential revenue from taxing.  If the US does not allow its citizens to gamble legally in the country, they have already proven that they will gamble in offshore companies. This is hard for the economy because billions are then being diverted out of the country.

Gaming analyst Brad Dawkins stated, “US states are realizing that gambling is the one thing that can get them through these tough economic times. That is why we are seeing a shift in policy from limited gambling, to full-scale gambling in many of these states.”   In Ohio there have been serious moves to bring gambling to the forefront. Director of the State Lottery Gerald Aubin just authorized a slots parlor Twin Rivers to run 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. It hasn’t been announced yet when the slots parlor will move to the new hours, but the move is expected to generate much-needed funds to the state.

Voters in Ohio have rejected casino gambling on several previous occasions, but recently the vote turned around. Now citizens seem to be accepting gambling slowly. The idea was pitched to them from an economic standpoint. Legislators cited job creation and tax relief with the added revenues from gambling as a reason for voters to support the legalization of gambling. It seemed to have worked.

In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are closing in on allowing table games at their casinos. It is part of an aggressive casino gambling expansion that has taken place over the past couple of years in the Northeast. Several other states have also expanded their casinos’ hours of operation and betting limits.

Some critics believe lawmakers around the country have simply turned their backs on morality and ethics due to the hope of making millions of gambling dollars. They believe that by accepting gambling as legal, legislators are opening the door for many other problems to enter the market. They cite the growth in crime and addiction as the two main reasons to not allow gambling to be legalized. They also believe that legalizing gambling as a way to fund government and public programs is highly unreliable. It may answer the immediate need for funding, but is it going to be the long-term solution many legislators are hoping for? Critics believe that it won’t serve the community well over time and it will do more harm than good. They also believe that without the necessary precautions such as an expansion of gambling addiction resources and locations, the public is in great jeopardy.